When Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered his speech, "A Prayer for America," to the Southern California chapter of Americans for Democratic Action, it electrified the whole country. In his speech, Kucinich—a 2004 presidential candidate—warned against an America that had discarded the constitutional liberties integral to its identity: "Let us pray that our nation will remember that the unfolding of the promise of democracy in our nation paralleled the striving for civil rights. That is why we must challenge the rationale of the Patriot Act. We must ask why should America put aside guarantees of constitutional justice?" A Prayer for America collects Kucinich's essays and speeches. It represents his holistic worldview and carries with it a passionate commitment to public service, peace, human rights, workers' rights, and the environment. His advocacy of a Department of Peace seeks not only to make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society, but to make war a thingof the past. A Prayer for America includes an introductory essay from Kucinich that reflects on his political journey from his election as the youngest mayor of a major American city to his role as a dynamic, visionary leader of the Progressive Caucus of the Congressional Democrats.
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From Publishers Weekly
In 1977, aged 31, Kucinich was elected "Boy Mayor" of Cleveland. Now a U.S. representative from Ohio, he is one of the most interesting and unusual members of the Democratic presidential field for 2004. His strong, even radical positions on workers' rights, the environment, health care, foreign policy and defense give him a good claim to represent "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" and to challenge the business-oriented centrism promoted by the Democratic Leadership Council. A thoughtful explanation and defense of Kucinich's views would be an important contribution to the national debate. Unfortunately, this hastily assembled collection of speeches doesn't fit the bill. Short on logic, analysis and detail, these addresses, delivered to such friendly audiences as labor unions and peace groups, are filled with applause lines that may work as oratory but make tedious reading. Intriguing notions like the proposal for a Department of Peace end up sounding half-baked; would it really make sense for such a department to address social ills as diverse as spousal abuse and police-community relations along with international diplomacy? At times, policy issues vanish altogether in a blur of New Age rhetoric ("Spirit merges with matter to sanctify the universe. Matter transcends, to return to spirit"). The result is a book that will disappoint all but hard-core fans and supporters of Kucinich.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
He may forever be known as the "boy mayor." Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich first gained national attention in 1977 when he was elected mayor of Cleveland at age 31, the youngest person ever to lead a major American city. Controversy dogged and defined him from the outset and has informed his political career from mayor to state senator to Ohio's representative in Congress. It was, perhaps, inevitable that he would join the field of fellow Democrats wishing to challenge the present administration by announcing his candidacy for the presidency. To groups such as Service Employees International and Southern California Americans for Democratic Action, and on issues as diverse as national health care and international nuclear disarmament, Kucinich has shared his personal and political beliefs, which are now collected in a series of impassioned speeches and eloquent essays that serves as a poetic polemic challenging current conventional wisdom. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, Kucinich's views raise pertinent political questions and offer one candidate's solutions for change. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Paperback
In the 1960's, many male leaders of the new left only defined revolution in terms of whatever affected men only. Women's issues such as reproduction were quickly labeled trival matters (...). The idea that women are entitled to our own bodies was a long way in reaching some of these men,
Apparently it only reached Dennis Kucinich when he decided to run for president. Since the Democratic Presidential nominee had to court pro-choice groups, he attempted a quick switch, Fortunately we saw through the act and have exposed him for the chauvinist he will always be.
Because Representative Kucinich had openly enjoyed restricting women's own rights to their own bodies until there was an inkling he could be the Democratic presidential nominee, I can never take him seriously as the 'progressive' candidate.
Believing that we progressive Democrats were naive enough to forget the party has many Roman Catholic officials who support reproductive rights specifically as social justice (Ted and Patrick Kennedy, John Kerry), he attempted to portray this as only a matter of concience.
Funny how he did not care about women's right to life after they obtain a back alley abortion in desperation---circumstances which he undoubtedly was previously briefed on by various community groups, but did not seem to care then,
He also did not care about the First Amendment which clarifies this nation is strong because of it's separation of church and state. Even if a policy violated his religion, it was important to remember legalized abortion did not violate the practices of other faith perspectives.
His concience actually allowed thousands of young, international, and low-income women to get slaughtered by quacks when a physician would have been able to provide the ethical treatment he is newly interested in.
Format:Paperback
In the 1960's, many male leaders of the new left only defined revolution in terms of whatever affected men only. Women's issues such as reproduction were quickly labeled trival matters and it was supposedly best that status quo restrictions remain on women's sexuality such as the then-criminalization of abortion (originally done when all surgery was potentially fatal). The idea that women are entitled to our own bodies was a long way in reaching some of these men,
Apparently it only reached Dennis Kucinich when he decided to run for president. Since the Democratic Presidential nominee had to court pro-choice groups, he attempted a quick switch, Fortunately we saw through the act and have exposed him for the chauvinist he will always be.
Because Representative Kucinich had openly enjoyed restricting women's own rights to their own bodies until there was an inkling he could be the Democratic presidential nominee, I can never take him seriously as the 'progressive' candidate.
Believing that we progressive Democrats were naive enough to forget the party has many Roman Catholic officials who support reproductive rights specifically as social justice (Ted and Patrick Kennedy, John Kerry), he attempted to portray this as only a matter of concience.
Funny how he did not care about women's right to life after they obtain a back alley abortion in desperation---circumstances which he undoubtedly was previously briefed on by various community groups, but did not seem to care then,
He also did not care about the First Amendment which clarifies this nation is strong because of it's separation of church and state. Even if a policy violated his religion, it was important to remember legalized abortion did not violate the practices of other faith perspectives.
His concience actually allowed thousands of young, international, and low-income women to get slaughtered by quacks when a physician would have been able to provide the ethical treatment he is newly interested in,
By John Kitchel
Format:Paperback
THANK YOU, Dennis J. Kucinich, for running for President! While reading your book, I became more and more confident that you are the BEST presidential candidate this country has EVER seen! Every word, every sentence resounded in my heart. YOU ARE RIGHT ON EVERY ISSUE! And your magnanimous nature is a welcome relief after all these years of jaded, corrupted government. I have a prayer for America, too: PLEASE VOTE FOR DENNIS J. KUCINICH IF YOU WANT INTEGRITY, COMPASSION AND WISDOM LEADING YOUR COUNTRY!
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Short, but Sweet
No other candidate for President has inspired me as much as Dennis Kucinich in his "Prayer for America". Read more
Published on Mar 4 2004 by Herr Tarquin Biskuitfaß
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book
I enjoyed reading A Prayer for America. It's great to know that there is a candidate such as Dennis Kucinich ([... Read more
Published on Jan 4 2004 by ChipBurcham2
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you believe in America, read this book
If you believe in the founding principles of this country.
If you believe in the Constitution.
If you believe in something higher than personal self-interest. Read more
If you believe in the Constitution.
If you believe in something higher than personal self-interest. Read more
Published on Dec 26 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Lone Seer Of Unique Public Trust For Great Public Service!
The best way to review this book is to convey a particular memory I have the author. It will both capture the book, author and man as well as show the vision he outlines as a... Read more
Published on Dec 15 2003 by Joseph J. Janos III
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT BOOK! Dennis Kucinich is Democrat with Backbone!
I haven't been one to get involved much in politics until recently. The dire condition of our democracy has been weighing on me and until a recent experience, I had somewhat a... Read more
Published on Nov 17 2003 by E. Einem
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiration for our Nation
Dennis Kucinich is a brilliant, creative thinker who has a vision of hope for our nation. It's a vision of health care for all, education for all, a clean environment, and a more... Read more
Published on Nov 17 2003 by Kathleen L. Ferguson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kucinich is the One.
This man is 100% integrity.
To the people who keep talking about Cleveland default here is what really happened: "When I was elected mayor on November 8, 1977, it was... Read more
Published on Nov 15 2003 by R
5.0 out of 5 stars
We can take back America
Dennis Kucinich blows my mind. Here is a career politician who is an active member of a labor union. Here is a Catholic who understands broad spiritual values. Read more
Published on Nov 15 2003 by Jim
5.0 out of 5 stars
An original voice
In this time of deepest cynicism, a time in which most have despaired of ever again hearing an honest, forthright and unwavering voice in American politics, Dennis Kucinich stands... Read more
Published on Nov 5 2003 by Dr. John Foxe
5.0 out of 5 stars
He speaks to the mind and the heart...
Not since Robert Kennedy wrote "To Seek a Newer World" when he ran for President while Senator from NY, during an unpopular war and an economy that split a nation into... Read more
Published on Nov 4 2003
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