Ralph Nader's New Book
If you will all excuse a time out from our usual discussions here at Secondhand Smoke for a personal note: My friend Ralph Nader has a new book out and it looks to be a very special contribution from the man who has dedicated his life to civic engagement. It is called The Seventeen Traditions, and it seems a far more personal and reflective book than we are used to seeing from Ralph. I am thrilled for him and for his readers.
I just received it today, so I haven't read it yet, but it is clear that he is not writing about policy. Rather, he evokes the forces that shaped him during his formative years--"the traditions"--as he calls them, e.g., The Tradition of Listening, The Tradition of Sibling Equality, the Tradition of Discipline, The Tradition of Simple Enjoyments, The Tradition of Independent Thinking, etc. Ralph's family and upbringing have always been his secret weapon. And he tells us about it here.
This is the Ralph Nader I know behind the scenes and out of the public spotlight. He is a man of deep convictions, who thrives on policy debates, sure. But there is so much more to RN, a bedrock strength and idealism that permeates all that he does. And it looks like he reveals its source here.
When I was a teenager, long before I met him, I idolized Ralph and found tremendous inspiration in his passion for justice. After I began writing with him, he inspired me to (actually, I had no choice, he insisted), find levels of excellence in myself that I might not otherwise ever have achieved. In much the same way, I believe that through The Seventeen Traditions, Ralph is reaching out to inspire all of us be the best we can be--both civically and personally. And isn't that just like him?
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 10:24 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
I just saw him interviewed on CNN and I was so pleaseed to hear of his back to basics book.
Some may believe after hearing his interview some may voice the opinion that this book pertains more to upper middle class families.
I believe the 17 Traditions can be applied to everyone's lives, including MANY adults, who I believe are living their lives as if they still ARE spoiled children.
Bravo Mr. Nader!
Such a shame this book was not available to help The Bush family raise their unruly G.W. Now there's a prime example of parenting gone awry.
The hit on Bush is very debatable, but I don't want us to get into that debate here.
Ralph wasn't raised upper middle class. His parents were both immigrants. The family got there through diligence and hard work, quite literally, the American dream. But his father owned a small restaurant in Winsted, Connecticut. RN worked there as a child. His older brother Shafeek also had tremendous influence on RN. He used to give Ralph a book list to read on summer vacation.
Linked.
Nader has been a force for good. I don't agree with everything he says or does, but in a democracy we need people who can politely state the case for all sides of an issue, and Nader has been a powerful example of this.
Jurgen: I've seen the place where it was. Seating 200 is a nice sized place! Was it that big back in the 30s and 40s when RN was growing up?
By the way, RN's hero growing up was Lou Gehrig. Because he excelled and kept quiet about it.
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