Al on America

Rating:
Summary: Leader with Specifics, with Dignity, with Persistence
Review:

Black Commentator noted in November that Al Sharpton has assumed the mantle of leadership for black America, and that it is highly likely that he will receive a majority of the black votes, at least in the South. For that reason alone, this book is *must reading* for every Democratic and non-Republican voter.

Below I summarize a few highlights from this rich book that took an afternoon to absorb:

1) Reverend Sharpton is strongest in his articulation of the hypocrisy of America, its lip service to slogans. I take him at face value when he speaks of the need to unite the country again around its values, and when he speaks of the emerging black/Latino coalition that resonates on the street level.

2) He lists some of his role models, and it merits comment that three of the four are pioneers of non-violence: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Ghandi. Later on the in book Reverend Sharpton discusses James Brown and Adam Clayton Powell as length, and I found his account of their merits and his lessons drawn from them to be compelling and credible.

3) Fidel Castro comes in for special mention, as do Ronald Reagan and Minister Louis Frarakhan, and I have to give Reverend Sharpton very high marks for directness and accuracy. Others, those with less integrity, might have left Fidel Castro out for fear of the kind of unethical attacks it might unleash against him from the extremist Republicans. I for one agree with Reverend Sharpton, as I agree with his view that the embargo against Cuba should be ended immediately.

4) He is powerful and convincing when he addresses the prison-industrial complex, a complex as threatening to America's long-term security and prosperity as the more well known military-industrial complex. As he points out, prisons are big business, and politicians on pay-offs have every incentive to keep pumping out contracts for major construction and related services including guard employment.

5) Reverend Sharpton is intellectual and emotional dynamite when he describes the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) as an anti-Rainbow Coalition organization, and Bill Clinton (and by extension, Joe Lieberman) as rich boys eager to stay to the right and reap the benefits, rather than true Democrats committed to delivering people from poverty. In brief, Al Sharpton has to run for President precisely because neither the DLC nor Dean are unwilling to reach out to and represent black America in the truest sense of the word. On this basis, I see Ralph Nader's 2000 campaign in a different light--Nader was campaigning for those that the DLC had shut out of the Democratic Process, and Al Gore was too slow to understand that he was leaving a very big crowd out of the big tent.

6) Reverend Sharpton impresses me on the foreign policy front. Although his experience is limited to foreign travels and specific interviews, his intellect and his gut instincts are totally consistent with the 430+ books I have reviewed on national security and international relations. Reverend Sharpton gets it: America has made many deals with the devil, with dictators like Saddam Hussein, with terrorists like bin Laden, and the American people do not realize that 9-11 is in fact the beginning of payback for decades of official US hypocrisy in its international relations.

7) Although very short on the topic, in my special area of interest, intelligence qua spies and secrecy, I give Reverend Sharpton the highest marks. He is the only Democratic candidate to really understand that we need "an intelligence unit that would allow us to really know what's going on out there in the world." Reverend Sharpton is also committed to allies, investments in nation-building, and strong relationships nurtured over time. He also understands that you cannot threaten those who are not afraid to die suicidally, and that whipping out a bigger gun against them is precisely the wrong thing to do.

8) He focuses correctly on the internal dynamics of America as its greatest area of vulnerability, as the area most in need of attention if America is to be strong and prosperous. He correctly notes that the 30 percent increase in the US military budget in 2002 was *not* about making America safer, but about buying all the things that could not be rationalized before, and at the expense of domestic priorities such as health and education.

9) There are several chapters that offer up specific lists of initiatives that he would support, across many policy areas, and I find them all sensible. This is a man I could work for and follow.

10) I am satisfied that he puts the Tawana Brawley matter to rest with a chapter.

11) His chapters on black leadership, Jessie Jackson, why anti-Semitism is strongest in the Billy Graham-Richard Nixon crowd, and how the hip-hop movement is both wrong to be obscene and yet a major power in waiting, a power that can mobilize youth toward a more Christian vision, are quite fascinating, words that are not to be found anywhere else.

Bottom line, and I say this with the utmost respect, being scornful of most beltway politicians and bandits: Al Sharpton may have baggage and be a spendthrift in some ways, but when all is said and done, his voice absolutely must be fully and consistently heard as America charts its course into the future. Like Pat Buchanan, Sam Nunn, and a few others great voices that may never be President, Rev Sharpton has a depth of intuition, understanding, and experience that he has ably articulated in this book. We need to read it and we need to ask for his views in all major future decisions bearing on the security and prosperity of American's core black community and constituency, a community and constituency that too often in the past has been over-shadowed by new immigrant communities--Asians and Hispanics, for example. America cannot be great if its black community is not itself great. Rev Shapton stamds fpr this.

Rating:
Summary: Shameless Self-Promotion
Review: I am a huge fan of Rev. Sharpton. A lot of people don't understand him mostly because they haven't taken the time to listen. Well, Sharpton sets the records straight in this book -- buy it. I thank him for keeping in the spirit of Frederick Douglas -- agitate, agitate, agitate!! Rev., you have my vote!

Rating:
Summary: Hypocritical, yet entertaining
Review: I just happened to wander upon this book at my library. I read a few pages, and due in large part to curiosity, had to check it out. First off, I would never vote for Al Sharpton due to his far left politics. That being said, I respect him nonetheless for the passion and enthusiasm he brings to the table. Let's face it, he's the only Dem candidate with even an ounce of genuineness and passion. He's the only reason to watch the debates.

I admire the Reverend for doing things he discusses in the book such as sticking his neck on the line and getting thrown in jail while in Vieques to protest the naval bombings, which has led to cancer and other health problems among its inhabitants. However, I must call in to question the legitimacy of Mr. Sharpton being "a man of God" when he states things such as the following in his book: "My religion does not support homosexuality, but I do." & "I will not stand in the way of a woman's right to choose." & "Sexual orientation in no way matters when it comes to parenting-all children need is love."
Read the book and be your own judge. As for me, I take Mr. Sharpton for what he is - a man who has admirable passion and enthusiasm for his beliefs, no matter how misguided they may be.

Rating:
Summary: Hypocritical, yet entertaining
Review: I just happened to wander upon this book at my library. I read a few pages, and due in large part to curiosity, had to check it out. First off, I would never vote for Al Sharpton due to his far left politics. That being said, I respect him nonetheless for the passion and enthusiasm he brings to the table. Let's face it, he's the only Dem candidate with even an ounce of genuineness and passion. He's the only reason to watch the debates.

I admire the Reverend for doing things he discusses in the book such as sticking his neck on the line and getting thrown in jail while in Vieques to protest the naval bombings, which has led to cancer and other health problems among its inhabitants. However, I must call in to question the legitimacy of Mr. Sharpton being "a man of God" when he states things such as the following in his book: "My religion does not support homosexuality, but I do." & "I will not stand in the way of a woman's right to choose." & "Sexual orientation in no way matters when it comes to parenting-all children need is love."
Read the book and be your own judge. As for me, I take Mr. Sharpton for what he is - a man who has admirable passion and enthusiasm for his beliefs, no matter how misguided they may be.

Rating:
Summary: Words of vision, courage and faith
Review: In the book AL ON AMERICA by Reverend Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist and 2004 presidential hopeful states his positions on some of the problems affecting American citizens. As the presidential campaigns heat up between now (I write this April 14, 2003) and Election Day, 2004, compare what Reverend Sharpton says in this book to the platforms of other candidates. Tell me if Sharpton doesn't understand what Americans need.

In AL ON AMERICA's latter chapters, Reverend Sharpton tells his side of the story regarding some of the more controversial incidents of his career. I find myself comparing Sharpton to the late Martin Luther King, Jr. The media reported half-truths and lies about Dr. King while he was alive but his accomplishments outlived those falsehoods; today we remember King for what he represented. Reverend Sharpton has suffered similar media mistreatment; in time, we will appreciate Sharpton for his triumphs.

Unfortunately, AL ON AMERICA, despite the help of writer Karen Hunter, at times is not well written. Sometimes it struck me as a "draft" in need for further rewrites. Had Reverend Sharpton and Ms. Hunter taken more time rewriting, the book would flow better. I even caught one factual error, not that it matters much - Sharpton refers to musician James Brown getting his start in "the late nineteen-sixties" when in fact the singer had been making records since the nineteen-fifties.

Mistakes and stilted style aside, tell me if these words from AL ON AMERICA do not move you:

"On our currency and in the courthouses are the words 'In God We Trust.' It's easy to trust God . . . If you get sick, you can call on Him. If you're down, He'll lift you up. It's hard not to trust God. The question is, can God trust you? Can He depend on you the way you depend on Him? . . . During the days following the terror attacks on this nation, the number-one song was 'God Bless America.' The question is, when is America going to bless God? When are we going to take care of the children, take care of the elderly, feed the hungry? God has already blessed America from sea to shining sea. When do we bless God?"

In 2004, if someone were to survey Americans on the major issues, I would bet they agree more with Reverend Al Sharpton than anyone else running for president. Read AL ON AMERICA. Then vote for Al Sharpton.

Rating:
Summary: Judging Other's Sins & Seeing None Elsewhere Needs Reform!
Review: The author, preacher, social activist, founder of the National Action Network, and now presidential candidate has written a provocative book on his experiences of the last century and vision for America for our new century.

He takes on all power bases in America including the Political Parties. He calls the Democrats the 'Democratic Leisure Class' because he believes they serves the elitists liberal leisure wealthy class of the powerful with media ownership and access to influence the people and maintain control over the processes of democracy.

The book is simplistic in its approach to foreign relations dragging it all down to the sins of slavery more than any policies for the future. I did find his insights on having lunches with Arafat and Castro enlightening, However, if he thinks he has influence with them then start having these icons of brutality start to mend their ways in their 70's. I will not hold my breath waiting for it.

I found his political beliefs quite striking with roots in the conservative and liberal camps making him far more moderate than even he knows today. He backs Judaism beliefs by being against the death penalty and advocates far more understanding and assistance for those who committed crimes. He sees no difference between repentance and forgiveness and thus seeks prison improvement. He feels this will progress society by helping those branded with mistakes of youth and poor judgments to reform with kindness and skills and expects victims to forgive as taught by religious leaders.

Moreover, Al Sharpton as a preacher knows the scriptures teach gay sexual practices as a sin but he sees no reason to interfere with an individual's right to practice what he or she wants in life without discrimination letting fate, heaven or hell decide the paths for everyone.

Finally, the Presidential candidate thinks a woman's right to choose should be accepted but does not approved of abortion personally.

He is more silent and confused on health care because like many of us it is a choice that will take huge resources from education in the future since America cannot pay for everything.

As an advocate of justice, he reveals mix results but retains his strong emotions. The author addresses only his own views on Tawana Brawley, Amadou Diallo, and Abner Louima cases plus the racists' events of Howard Beach and Bensonhurst. They are in direct conflict with the court records. Therefore, he loses creditability since the records are far more fair and precise in their findings than in his adaptations of those events.

I believe Al Sharpton has entered into a new phase in his life by writing this book. He knows he must be taken more seriously by the powers in the Democratic Party and public domain for the approval to be elected. No matter how he wants to cut the truth his way, he has to be elected in order to have a place at the table of real power. Power is one thing that cannot be faked, you either have it, or do not, and this book reveals he wants it.

I think he will eventually be elected and his transformation from being branded himself as a bias bully to today's fair-minded opportunists will then have to be compromised if he wants to accomplish some of the goals he lays out in this book.

It is a good book if you seek to learn more about a man who is learning more every day about him and us so he can build, contribute, and be productive in building a better America.

Rating:
Summary: Will make you laugh and think
Review: The Rev. Al is quite a character. His views on hip-hop music, Bill Clinton, class struggle, and other issues are quite a hoot, but even when you don't agree with him, he makes you think. As the Rev. Al holds forth on the various issues of the day, this book will date rather quickly due to much of the subject matter as is the case of most books on current political events. But take a trip through the mind of Rev. Al. You'll laugh and you'll get mad at points, but you will think afterwards.