Benjamin Hall

“Benji” has written a homily. Although he only mentions God once (by my count), he is constantly advocating being kind to others. There is no condemnation of those who killed his friends and so grievously injured him. This would be an excellent book for all who seek to seek God to read. He speaks with authority. He admits his pains but passes over them as being of little more significance than breathing in and out.

The book is about all one might seek to find in the work of a journalist describing an extended event. He is detailed and it seems factual. One might think that from the title this book concentrates exclusively on his injury in Ukraine, his long road of recovery, and his return to his family. That would be an undershoot. He unpacks what it means to be a journalist in all environments, especially those that are dangerous. In relating his earlier work as a journalist, he tells us how he grew up from one who sought thrills in very dangerous situations. It is interesting that he now counts his wife and daughters as most important in his life – not that they weren’t before – but how he realized his responsibility to them.

If it was possible, I would rate this book as a 10 but I’m limited by the form. I recommend this book without reservation.… (altro)

With God in Russia. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. 1964. Father Ciszek, was an American Jesuit priest of Polish decent who spent over 20 years in various Russian prison camps. A young tough on the way to a life of juvenile mischief, Ciszek decided he wanted to be a priest to become a priest. In 1929 while he was still in seminary, the Pope called for volunteers to go to Russia, and Father Walter volunteered. He had some training in Rome and then went to Poland in 1940. He was given a fake id and volunteered to work in Russia at a lumber company. In early June of 1941, he was arrested by the Russians. He was accused of being an American spy and/or a Vatican spy. Eventually he was transferred to Siberia where he workee in mines, lumbering, construction, etc. All along he conducted mass, heard confessions, married people, baptized them, and buried them when he could. His matter of fact descriptions of the hardships, torture, freezing weather, starvation and other horrors make these atrocities all the more hideous. For years his family and the Jesuits thought he was dead. A riveting account.… (altro)

I ordered this book as soon as it became available. I looked forward to reading it but ... There are many parts that are exciting. His revelation as to why he scrambled out of the little red car is a tale of beauty. Spiriting him out of Ukraine was the stuff of high adventure. His list of injuries is like something one might find in a list of contents of injuries in an E.R. text. As he begins to knit, a certain impatience enters into his narrative. Alas, the long awaited reunion with wife and family falls flat.

It is unclear if he intentionally is holding back or if he doesn’t realize that he has held back in his narrative. Describing Benji would require a list of adjectives but one would still know something is lacking. He seems determined to tell his story as if he, and he alone, conquered his issues. He is most careful to mention, by name, each of the people who were involved in his rescue, repair, and rehab. It is clear that the loss of his work companion weighs heavily on him.

All things considered, reading this book was worthwhile but I’m not sure I’d like to meet him, which is a disappointment to me.… (altro)

This reveals quite a bit more about how Obama failed to stop the brutal rise of an Islamist army. Obama ran tail and got out Iraq and Afghanistan as quickly as possible. Iraq descended into chaos and the Islamic state took advantage of the absence of American fire power.

The volume is written from a journalist’s perspective and gives more of a gritty, detailed, and painfully clear picture of the rise of Islam. Most of the first-hand sources are obviously not identified so that they are not killed although the author does supply a list of sources and bibliography.

President Trump has gone directly after the Islamic state which cleans up the mess left by Obama.… (altro)