Strapped Into An American Dream

The author and his wife travel America in their RV, reporting on earthquakes and tornados, 23 national parks, and many big cities.

The author and his wife travel America in their RV, reporting on earthquakes and tornados, 23 national parks, and many big cities.

Conflicts in Western societies have been on the rise, and not just since the financial crisis of 2008. This is generally explained in economic terms - with growing disparities in wealth and income. The left should benefit from this with its redistribution philosophy. However, the right is on the upswing, even though its neoliberalism is fueling social conflicts. How is that? Behind the economic tensions lies a deep crisis of meaning. The right is exploiting this by offering simplistic set pieces of meaning. With success, because people strive for nothing so much as meaning in their own lives. The example of the USA shows how neoliberalism destroys people and societies. Possible solutions also come from there.

There are stories of biological evolution, and then there are stories of soul evolution. Set in the Southwest, this is a story of soul evolution—the story of a soldier who came back from Vietnam and knew he had to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The story chronicles his transformation from soldier to a man of God, but for him the process of change was not always kind. Making his journey more difficult is the fact that he comes from a mixture of two cultures, Native American (Navajo) and white. He encounters people who are further along the path in their soul evolution than he is, along with incredible obstacles to his education and business endeavors. But most importantly, he must learn to reconcile his warrior nature with God's plan for him. In the end, will he succeed in this?

From life in the streets and love in the alleys to fame in the spotlight and an untimely death—raw, biting, and brilliant selections from the personal journals of one of the most uniquely creative artists of the late twentieth century When his life ended at age thirty-seven—a casualty of the AIDS epidemic that took so many before their time—David Wojnarowicz had long since established himself as one of America’s most vital artists and activists. In the Shadow of the American Dream is a stunning collection of riveting and revealing chapters from Wojnarowicz’s extensive personal diaries—thirty volumes’ worth of memories and lucid observations, some bitter, some sweet—that the author began writing when he was seventeen and continued until his death two decades later. Here is a brilliant chronicle of an artist’s emergence—a young man’s still achingly fresh memories of his unhappy adolescence and his glorious discovery of self. Wojnarowicz recalls his life on Manhattan’s Lower East Side with no shame or regret, and shares his hitchhiking journeys across the country. He talks of art and love and sex—embracing who he is fully and accepting his heartbreaking fate without pathos—while providing fascinating glimpses into the vibrant and colorful New York art scene and poignant views of life and death among the AIDS community. At once frightening and courageous, joyous and disturbing, enlightening and honest, In the Shadow of the American Dream is a treasured addition to the enduring literary legacy of David Wojnarowicz and a true testament to his unique brilliance.

For most, 'to live the dream' is often just a laughable expression we use to describe our temporary good fortune. Not with Matt Modleski. When you read his book, you will see just how real this man lived not only his dream, but lived every day to make himself, his organization and his country better than it was the day before. Matt and I were USAF fighter pilots together, training and flying demanding missions in Europe and Southwest Asia. The excitement of flying fighters, the courage required to do it effectively, and Matt's pursuit to be the best, are all here in The American Dream. Matt also passionately reflects his insightful look at our country today. He offers a most valuable and much needed review and an eye-opening process that defines a needed course of action for our Nation. Matt shows how putting emphasis on accountability will not only "right the ship," but get our country back on course and the path our Founders intended. Reading this personal and extremely thought-provoking memoir will leave you motivated and energized. It is a great story of a modern-day American Patriot - one who is not just waving the flag, but is carrying it Bill Rial Colonel, USAF (Ret) In 1980 when Matt "Mods" Modleski joined the Air Force, less than 100 Americans had served as Thunderbird demonstration pilots. In The American Dream you'll learn about Matt's journey to join them. See how a small town boy from a working middle class family, had the audacity to dream big, and rose from the enlisted ranks to fly as a Thunderbird pilot You'll follow Matt though the mischievous adventures of his youth, and see firsthand an unwavering persistence to overcome obstacles. But Matt's journey doesn't stop there. And in the second half of this book, you'll learn about his dream for the America he wants to leave to our children and grand children. It's a big dream, built on the core American values of Family, Faith, Competitive Spirit, Perseverance and Accountability. Whether you're joining Matt in the cockpit of his F-16, or navigating through his vision of the way forward for America, you'll be happy you decided to ride along

From stories about Irving Berlin to Oprah Winfrey, this collection contains 366 inspirational five-minute readings - one for each day of the year. Included are motivational stories of successful people such as Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Thomas Edison, and Wilma Rudolph.

Unlocking the American Dream At a time when deep divisions headline the national discourse on equality, Reclaiming the American Dream: Proven Solutions for Creating Economic Opportunity for All uses real-world examples to illustrate how America can evolve to include everyone in its promise of opportunity. Living Cities President and CEO Ben Hecht has spent decades exploring how leaders take proactive measures to combat growing racial disparity, without relying on slow-moving policies or the whims of Washington, D.C., to make changes in their own backyards. The strategies highlighted in Reclaiming the American Dream offer a blueprint for how communities can rekindle the promise of the American Dream through improving educational opportunities, strengthening civic engagement, and providing a ladder to economic security. Each of us—whether as an elected leader, engaged neighbor, corporate CEO, philanthropist, or investor—can act right now to secure the economic future of our country and help level the playing field for struggling Americans everywhere.