No comments about Nationalism, Social Theory and Durkheim.

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2 comments about Fighting for Social Justice: The Life Story of David Burgess.

1. "A generation's history would be incomplete without this story told by Dave Burgess. He and his wife Alice continue to draw from deep aquifers of faith 'to do justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God.' No pilgrim has left surer footprints of faith and service." Bill Moyers, from the Foreword.

   "A fascinating story of a rank and file U.S. worker and strong family man, who projected U.S. democracy onto the grassroots of distant lands and foreign cultures. Its vibrant text and captivating personal photos will inspire all who open its pages." Victor Reuther, former Assistant to the late Walter Reuther, AFL-CIO Vice President.

   "From his decades of unswerving dedication to justice and peace, David Burgess has distilled the highlights of service to the poor, and to his God. An extremely rich and rewarding autobiography of a remarkable man." James MacGregor Burns, historian and Professor Emeritus, Williams College.

   "Burgess has given us a superbly worded, clearly organized, authentic personal account of his ethical and vigorous life of public service as first a sensitive student, then a political activist and labor organizer, a Christian, minister and USFS official, and as a versatile striver for a better life for all people." Alexander Heard, Chancellor Emeritus, Vanderbilt University.

   "David Burgess represents the very best of Christian social activism in our time. In these days when some of us have so much and so many so little, David's honest and well told commitment to progressive social change is a source of inspiration and instruction. It deserves to be read by all those who desire an inside view of the history of vigorous social activism over seven decades, as well as by those committed to building a more just and caring society in the immediate years ahead." Paul Sherry, former President of the United Church of Christ.

   "This book provides us with a new way to understand the history of social activism from the 1930s through the 1990s. Specifically, Burgess's story sheds light on American social gospel-inspired liberalism as it manifests itself in pacifism, labor union organizing, international humanitarianism, and inner city church work and development. The life story approach provides a personal perspective and insight into the ideas, motivations, and satisfactions associated with this work. More importantly for our historical understanding, by telling his own story, Burgess helps us to see the connections between what might seem on the surface to be very different movements. Fighting For Social Justice will help students, historians and the general reader to get a sense of the cohesiveness of American left-liberal reform in the mid-twentieth century." History Professor Tracy E. K'Meyer, University of Louisville.




2. Dave Burgess' commitment to social justice began in the American missionary culture of his childhood in China and continued through his student years at Oberlin College and Union Theological Seminary in the late thirties. He and his wife Alice lived and worked side by side with farm and factory workers in several states in the 1940's, combining community organizing with Dave's ministry as an ordained United Church of Christ clergyman. In the fifties Dave worked closely with the labor unions. In the sixties he was invited into high level agency leadership positions in India, Burma and Indonesia. His book has fascinating material on the Peace Corps, UNICEF, and the insatiable curiosity of the FBI. As a sixties India Peace Corps volunteer myself I read these chapters closely.

   So now here is Dave, living in Benicia and still dedicated to justice, peace, and serving the poor. He is active in the local UCC congregation. He founded the Affordable Housing Affiliation, which has broken ground for a small low income housing complex, the first to be built in Benicia for two decades.

   Dave celebrated his 83rd birthday recently. I have had the honor of meeting him; we live in the same small California city. You will find his memoirs inspirational. I pray that we can all take to heart the words of Jesus that Dave Burgess lives by: "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required..." Deacon Susan M. Reeve, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Benicia, CA.

5 comments about Ivy League Stripper.

1. I find the incredibly negative reviews of Ivy League Stripper interesting. I almost wonder if I read a different book than some of these people. Perhaps they were written by some of her rivals. Who knows?

   Heidi does not "advocate" stripping anywhere in the book that I can tell, nor did she when I saw her on Real Personal with Bob Berkowitz. In fact, she made a point of saying she did not recommend it as a way of earning money. On TV and in the book she made it quite clear that it is not an easy or safe way to make money, however addictive that money might be. My sense of the book was that she came across as just about the only undamaged person in the business. She did discuss topics like drug use, prostitution, money addiction, and self-esteem, but since the book was about her personal journey, she didn't dwell on the problems of others. Perhaps it didn't appeal to people who wanted a more dramatic, negative, and victimized approach. She never said anything to give even the slightest impression that she was attempting a tour de force of sex work in the US. (I recommend Susie Bright or Carol Queen for that sort of thing.) This was a book about her personal journey, not yours. If your experience was different, then write your own book so we can read it, too.

   I'll admit that my experience with "exotic dancers" is somewhat limited. I have only been to the clubs a half dozen or so times, and I don't know any dancers personally. I do hear by second and third hand stories that the scene does have a high rate of drug (including alcohol - it is a drug) use, prostitution, and other unsavory activities. There would probably be far less of such things if sex work were not forced into marginal areas of towns and the people involved treated like garbage by so-called "good citizens." The clubs I visited had full nudity.

   The question of whether showing off one's body for money is degrading is largely a matter of semantics and personality. People who have an exhibitionistic bent are *not* degraded by such exposure, but exhilarated and empowered by it. Realize that there are different types of people in the world! Is it any less degrading for a coal miner to trade the health of his lungs for money, or a stock broker his/her ethics? Women in this society face degrading behavior all the time in every location and setting you care to name. (For that matter so do men.) If one looks beneath the thin veneer of common society here in the US, there is far more unsavory behavior going on than most will admit, and it happens in churches, boardrooms, and on Wall Street. This is a sick, sex-negative, anti-nature, and basically maladjusted society, and we all pay a price for that.

   The discussion of nudity and appreciation of the human body and sexuality is a far too long and complex one to settle here. Read some history - When God Was A Woman, Ishtar Rising, or other material on how and why our current religious-based views of sex were created. Shame over nudity and sexual behavior is not universal, natural, "moral," or healthy by a long shot. Read Betty Dodson, Carol Queen, Susie Bright, Annie Sprinkle, Laura Kipnis, or some other of the intelligent, sex-positive writers.

   My experience in strip clubs was transformative. I felt liberated and freed from centuries of lies. I experienced more spiritual release in those few short hours than in decades of Christian beliefs. I literally felt transported back to a time when women were proud of being sexual beings who owned, celebrated, and were masters of, their own sexual energy. I felt a deep sense of gratitude, wonder, awe, respect, devotion, and something so deeply spiritual that it sent me researching the goddess religions for understanding. Few women comprehend the tremendous power their body holds for men. (And there are forces in this society who don't want you to learn that, either.)

   The complaints that she didn't seek "honest" work are humorous - maybe something honest like politics or working at Enron or pushing denatured foodlike toxins at a fast-food restaurant? I consider the no-strings, cash-for-a-look-at-my-body transaction in the strip clubs to be one of the most honest transactions in this society!

   Of course, I realize that Heidi's real error was in writing what she really experienced and how she really felt, not what was expected or "politically correct." I find it interesting when women who respond to being sexually assualted/harassed by ramping up their self-esteem, owning and wielding their sexual power instead of becoming whimpering little victims who need someone to protect them, are attacked for it. Interesting how little is said in the reviews of the behavior of the people at Brown.

   But then again, maybe some of the reviews are from folks at Brown............

   I feel it is really a three star, but I gave it four in an attempt to create some balance. Her writing is okay, but not as insightful or powerful as Susie Bright, Carol Queen, Betty Dodson, or Laura Kipnis. Read them if you are looking for deep discussions of sexual issues. Read this book if you want to read one person's story.




2. Not that one of its students had to strip her way through school, but because it graduated such a terrible, sloppy writer! I bought the book as a joke for one of my friends, a Brown alum, and I couldn't resist reading it before I gave it to him. I marveled at how poor the writing was. Maybe she overscheduled herself at the strip club and had to pull an all nighter to meet her publishing deadline, because that's what the book read like. Brown should be a little more selective in its admission policy. At least if you admit a skank admit a smart, articulate one!



3. I can't vouch for the accuracy or lack thereof,
   but Heidi seems to be very forthright about everything
   she says or does, so for me, the book rings true. Admittely,
   I don't have that much experience with exotic dancers, but
   her story seems humorous, entertaining ---and Heidi sounds like the kind of person I would love to meet. What a cheerful personality she seems to have! Most refreshing. To the bashers,
   try giving the book another read--perhaps with a more open mind
   and fewer biases.



4. My review is on the content of the book, not my judgment of the author, or what work she performed for a living.
   
   My first problem with the book is the writing. This is a college graduate, from Brown? Most high school students can write better sentences. The book is filled with run-on sentences, sentence fragments, etc. Was there not an editor for the book? The poor writing affected the readibility of the book. This was a major problem in the book, and the reason I could only give a two-star rating.
   
   The subject matter of the book was intriguing. Heidi provided an insight into a world few of us will either know or experience. However, the book does suffer from a lack of credibility. At several points in the book I found myself not fully believing the story being told. I don't think the author lied about her experiences, but I also do not believe she told the "whole" truth. I never fully believed her version of the soap dish incident. If she told the truth, she must have had the worst lawyer in the country to lose that case.
   
   The author stated many times that her stripping was just to earn money to pay for college and it would not change her, but it did. Not only did she become addicted to the glamour and money (how many times did she count her money?), but she continued to strip long after her college was paid for and she had graduated.
   
   My next problem with the book was the disjointed thoughts. In mid-paragraph, she would switch from one thought to another for no apparent reason. One would have no relation to the other. There was no coherant theme or thought pattern to any chapter. It was like a child rambling and babbling one random thought after another.
   
   My final complaint about the book is that it seemed to be the author's therapy for her feelings of guilt about being a stripper. Throughout the book she rationalized what she was doing. She was afraid of what her family, especially her mom, would think of her for being a stripper, but then she would say that she was forced to do it to pay for her college.
   
   The book is worth a read, as it is interesting, but keep a shaker of salt nearby.



5. Heidi, the author, is a very determined lady. Halfway through her education at Brown University, she was injured through the fault of the university. Thanks to Brown University's denial of the claim and other very underhanded treatment, the author became a stripper to pay for her tuition.
   
   I found her unemotional treatment of the wrongs done to her to be fascinating and well written. Her saga emphasizes what determination and force of will can accomplish, despite opposition.
   
   If I were advising Brown University, I'd suggest that they offer her big dollars to remove the book from circulation and then try to buy up all the existing copies. The author very coolly and unemotionally shows Brown University to be a mean spirited, uncaring place that treats its paying customers badly. They made a bad mistake in treating her so badly. However, the book is her revenge. Good job, Heidi!
   
   I wonder how many of the negative reviews of this book were placed by people working for Brown University. I say that because the book is well written and thoughtful. I cannot fathom how anyone could give it a negative review unless they were being paid to do so to protect their employer's very exposed posterior.

No comments about The Iron Cage: An Historical Interpretation of Max Weber.

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1 comments about Hoyt Street: An Autobiography.

1. I dont think we've ever met but my dad said I should tell you I am part of your family.My name is Rachel Marie Ponce daughter of Steven Tomas Ponce.I would like to meet you some day. bye, Rachie