Selections For Book Project
Viewing comments for Chapter 6 "Vote for Harold Stassen"possible selections for inclusion in book project
14 total reviews
Comment from judiverse
This shows great depth. I've been listening to lectures about the great presidents, and the professor is always bemoaning about the rights of blacks and women being ignored. Washington and Jefferson owned slaves. Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson didn't do much for those groups, either. Now times have changed, and I can't get on the guilt train. Our founding fathers may have been imperfect, but they gave us something to aspire to. You remind readers of the days of Jim Crow and the Ku Klux Klan, and seem to indicate that some people want to go back there. The oak appears to represent that some people are clinging to that same old tree. The vote for Harold Stassen harkens readers back to those days of the past with segregated south and white guys in charge. That's definitely not the case now. Excellent satiric approach to your topic. judi
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This shows great depth. I've been listening to lectures about the great presidents, and the professor is always bemoaning about the rights of blacks and women being ignored. Washington and Jefferson owned slaves. Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson didn't do much for those groups, either. Now times have changed, and I can't get on the guilt train. Our founding fathers may have been imperfect, but they gave us something to aspire to. You remind readers of the days of Jim Crow and the Ku Klux Klan, and seem to indicate that some people want to go back there. The oak appears to represent that some people are clinging to that same old tree. The vote for Harold Stassen harkens readers back to those days of the past with segregated south and white guys in charge. That's definitely not the case now. Excellent satiric approach to your topic. judi
Comment Written 11-Sep-2018
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Your free verse flows easily from solar panels and scarecrows,
and a joke of reporters (is that like a murder of crows lol) love that, and we hop on board and travel the silver ribbons, through times when kids still swung on old oak trees to justice and indeed injustice.
Quite a journey you take us on, mike, ending with the dreaded politics. Stopping now, great read mike.
cheers.
valda
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Your free verse flows easily from solar panels and scarecrows,
and a joke of reporters (is that like a murder of crows lol) love that, and we hop on board and travel the silver ribbons, through times when kids still swung on old oak trees to justice and indeed injustice.
Quite a journey you take us on, mike, ending with the dreaded politics. Stopping now, great read mike.
cheers.
valda
Comment Written 07-Sep-2018
Comment from Mustang Patty
Hi, Michael,
Thank you for sharing this tidbit of political history. I would love to see some of the candidates from the past put up for election again. It would be hysterical.
As always, your poetry is brilliant, well presented, and a fun read to boot.
Good luck in the contest,
~Mustangpatty~
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Hi, Michael,
Thank you for sharing this tidbit of political history. I would love to see some of the candidates from the past put up for election again. It would be hysterical.
As always, your poetry is brilliant, well presented, and a fun read to boot.
Good luck in the contest,
~Mustangpatty~
Comment Written 06-Sep-2018
Comment from Gloria ....
Very much enjoyed the switch about of solar flare to solar flair. It is those details that really give a poem that extra oomph.
Whoa what a raucious romp through history but anything that has to do with loquacious locomotives has to be a good thing, yes? Sans the derails please. But all the important reference points to illustrate the absurdity and built in injustice of the system is present in droves.
Fantastic free verse, Mav. No one writes them up better than you.
I wish you much luck in the contest,
Ange
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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Very much enjoyed the switch about of solar flare to solar flair. It is those details that really give a poem that extra oomph.
Whoa what a raucious romp through history but anything that has to do with loquacious locomotives has to be a good thing, yes? Sans the derails please. But all the important reference points to illustrate the absurdity and built in injustice of the system is present in droves.
Fantastic free verse, Mav. No one writes them up better than you.
I wish you much luck in the contest,
Ange
Comment Written 06-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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Thanks so much, Ange. Not many understood the gist of this. I'm pleased you get the general thrust. I may even write another one. LOL Mav
Comment from Alexander Vasa
Hello Michael, you put so much into your writing. The poem is beautifully written and so professionally published and presented. And the author notes help people like me who haven't heard of this. It is obviously very political but I like learning about that. I noticed no errors and this is well deserving of a six-star rating from my perspective.
(I had you boxed and diced for a Pommy, and you're an American, I forgive you, though, you can't help that, LOL)
Jokes aside, this is an educated and very interesting poem that was my pleasure to read and review, cheers, Ana. :)
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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Hello Michael, you put so much into your writing. The poem is beautifully written and so professionally published and presented. And the author notes help people like me who haven't heard of this. It is obviously very political but I like learning about that. I noticed no errors and this is well deserving of a six-star rating from my perspective.
(I had you boxed and diced for a Pommy, and you're an American, I forgive you, though, you can't help that, LOL)
Jokes aside, this is an educated and very interesting poem that was my pleasure to read and review, cheers, Ana. :)
Comment Written 06-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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Wow. Many didn't understand a word of this, so I am so delighted you totally understood what I was getting at. I wish I could nominate you more than once. I've suggested that to Tom before. Seems fair, yes? At this stage in American history, being a Pommy sounds like a good idea. LOL Thanks a million. mike
Comment from Pamusart
Hi Michael. I had not heard of this guy. This looks like a good entry for the contest. Well written and educational. I just want to say that this part made me think he was a white supremacist. But probably just me. But maybe not. I reread and read about him online so I don't think he was. Most politicians in his day (40's and 50's). Good luck in the contest. Thank you for sharing
"old white men
are chosen
we have guns,
sons
and money,
honey
it's the natural order
of things"
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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Hi Michael. I had not heard of this guy. This looks like a good entry for the contest. Well written and educational. I just want to say that this part made me think he was a white supremacist. But probably just me. But maybe not. I reread and read about him online so I don't think he was. Most politicians in his day (40's and 50's). Good luck in the contest. Thank you for sharing
"old white men
are chosen
we have guns,
sons
and money,
honey
it's the natural order
of things"
Comment Written 06-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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No, he's not. Just a regular politician kind of meant to represent the unchanging face of things as history lumbers along. He was actually a pretty decent guy. After a while though it because laughable as he ran time after time with zero chance of winning. Many of the references are just historical musings and not related to him at all. I can be confusing, I know. LOL mike
Comment from Liz O'Neill
We began digging to China but gave up after 3 feet down. That was a lot of digging for 3 ten-year-olds. Coincidentally, we were right by our brook. I wonder if that was in the prescription to make it to China. Just ride the river in. Great imagery of the locomotive, on ribbons. cool. There is such a juxtaposition between the innocent children and the atrocities. It gave me chills to see the children swinging freely on a hanging rope. I like your phrase: "upon the backs of someone." This poem is fraught & wrought with meaning, I could go on and on. I hope the reader pauses for a moment to reflect on some of your cautionary tales. Very well written.
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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We began digging to China but gave up after 3 feet down. That was a lot of digging for 3 ten-year-olds. Coincidentally, we were right by our brook. I wonder if that was in the prescription to make it to China. Just ride the river in. Great imagery of the locomotive, on ribbons. cool. There is such a juxtaposition between the innocent children and the atrocities. It gave me chills to see the children swinging freely on a hanging rope. I like your phrase: "upon the backs of someone." This poem is fraught & wrought with meaning, I could go on and on. I hope the reader pauses for a moment to reflect on some of your cautionary tales. Very well written.
Comment Written 05-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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You delight me with this insightful and fun review as you always do. I'm so pleased you understand this completely, many didn't get it at all. YES! Glad you got the image of the children on the ropes too. Exactly what I meant. :)) Thanks a million for this awesome review! mike
Comment from phil nelson
I enjoyed this a lot, but in a perverse way I suppose, since there was much I didn't understand --not sure how it related to Harold Stassen--but you peaked my interest, and I will re-read it so-thank you and good luck!
All the Best!
phil
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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I enjoyed this a lot, but in a perverse way I suppose, since there was much I didn't understand --not sure how it related to Harold Stassen--but you peaked my interest, and I will re-read it so-thank you and good luck!
All the Best!
phil
Comment Written 05-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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I know Stassen distracted a bit because it isn't really about him. He's just a life long politician representing a lack of progress or change I suppose. So if you re-read, don't give him a lot of prominence. Thanks for taking so much time with this. Much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed. It's risky being abstract. LOL mike
Comment from barbara.wilkey
One can never trust a politician. Once again your poetry tantalized my reading pleasure. I'm really tired and worn out so that is hard to do. As I'm trying to review tonight, my thoughts are, come on can't somebody write something interesting. Thank you, you did it.
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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One can never trust a politician. Once again your poetry tantalized my reading pleasure. I'm really tired and worn out so that is hard to do. As I'm trying to review tonight, my thoughts are, come on can't somebody write something interesting. Thank you, you did it.
Comment Written 05-Sep-2018
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2018
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Hi, Barbara
You're too kind and that's just what I need at the moment!! Thank you so much. I'm so pleased you found this interesting. It's risky being on the abstract side as often no one gets a word of it. LOL So delighted you enjoyed. mike
Comment from LeftHandedScribe
Although I am no expert on politics, I always enjoy smart satire, and this you have created with great wit and flair. There's a fun romping quality to your tale. Really sassy and sharp!
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Although I am no expert on politics, I always enjoy smart satire, and this you have created with great wit and flair. There's a fun romping quality to your tale. Really sassy and sharp!
Comment Written 05-Sep-2018