Dark Origins of Mahatma Gandhi

SAN FRANCISCO — In “Gandhi Under Cross-Examination,” authors Col. G. B. Singh and Dr. Tim Watson provide a critical analysis of Mohandas Gandhi’s 21 years living in South Africa.

In 1893, Gandhi claims to have suffered a series of racial humiliations while traveling by train through colonial South Africa. The most infamous of these incidents was when Gandhi was reportedly thrown from a train in Pietermaritzburg after refusing to move from a first to a third-class seat to accommodate a white man’s demands. Most historians credit this event, which featured prominently in the “Gandhi” film, with galvanizing Gandhi to fight against white imperialism and the burgeoning apartheid system.

Singh and Watson evaluate the evidence for these pivotal incidents, rigorously exploring the origins of the “Mahatma” in their pursuit of historical truth. They call Gandhi himself to the witness stand, weaving courtroom drama into the text to expose his deceptive accounts of the train journey. Along the way, they examine Gandhi’s voluntary service as a British Sergeant Major during a war to suppress the Zulus, which he claims inspired his vow of celibacy and poverty. The authors also investigate Gandhi’s relationship with the black natives of South Africa and how he has influenced India and the modern world.

In the foreword, Prof. Lewis Baldwin writes: “Singh and Watson challenge us to take a new and more serious and critical look at Gandhi’s personality and values, and to come to conclusions based on the evidence in Gandhi’s own accounts of his struggle with racism. Only then can we, as Singh and Watson suggest, intelligently distinguish between Gandhi the historical figure and Gandhi the iconic symbol. This is a challenge that no human being should ignore in this age of cynicism, violence, and terror.”

There are thousands of books about Gandhi, but this is one of the few willing to place his claims under the lens of historical scrutiny. “Gandhi Under Cross-Examination” is available for purchase through the publisher, Amazon, and other online retailers.

Col. G. B. Singh (Ret.) served in the U.S. Army. He is a professional student of Indian politics, world religions, and the life and teachings of Gandhi. He lives in Tennessee, USA.

Dr. Tim Watson teaches philosophy and communications and hosts a weekly radio show. He lives in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Lewis Baldwin is a Martin Luther King, Jr. scholar who teaches at Vanderbilt University. He lives in Tennessee, USA.


“Gandhi Under Cross-Examination”
By G. B. Singh and Tim Watson
Sovereign Star, June 2009
ISBN: 978-0-9814992-2-2
http://www.SovStar.com

Summer Reading List for Kids - Time to "Go Green!"

By Asst. Prof. Jennifer Turner
College of Education
University of Maryland


I have known about "going green" for some time, but I didn't really understand its importance until my 6-year old son, Elijah, came home from school one day and started saying, "Be green." He would remind us to turn off the lights, saying with a sweet smile, "Mommy we need to be green." He'd unplug appliances that were not in use, turn off the water when he brushed his teeth, and constantly ask me to get a recycling bin for our plastics and glass.

Curious to know where he had learned this phrase, I emailed his kindergarten teacher to ask what books she had read. She told me that she had read several books within a popular curriculum series on recycling and going green for Earth Day. She had also read How Do Plants Get Food?, by Meish Goldish (1989), a wonderful book that has interesting science facts presented in a kid-friendly manner. Reading books and talking about the Earth was a very enjoyable activity for Elijah, and this started his quest to greener living.

Going green has also become popular through children's television channels like Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon is doing a great job of helping kids "be green" through their programming and through their website. On their website, they have an entire page filled with ideas about living, learning, and playing in environmentally-responsible ways. Their initiative empowers kids to make a difference by making environmentally-friendly changes in their everyday lives.

So this year, I have decided to share books and web resources that help kids and parents to "be green." Enjoy the summer reading books and checking out websites that help keep our Earth clean AND maximize our fun!!

Prof. Turner is interested in issues of culture and cultural diversity as they relate to classroom reading instruction, and is particularly concerned with the improvement of reading achievement for African American students in public elementary schools.

Books for Kids Aged 3-8

* Why Should I Save Energy? (Why Should I?) (Jen Green, 2005, Barron's Education Series)

Author Jen Green has written an amazing, four-part series of books which demonstrate the importance of protecting nature. The other titles include WHY SHOULD I Protect Nature?, WHY SHOULD I Recycle?, WHY SHOULD I Save Energy?, and WHY SHOULD I Save Water? This series answers these questions through stories and illustrations in a fun, light-hearted way. What is especially great about this series are the notes in the back of the books, which provide suggestions for ways to use this book for parents and teachers.

* The Giving Tree, ( Shel Silverstein, 2005, HarperCollins)

This poignant book centers on a tree "who loved a boy," and follows the relationship that the tree develops with the boy throughout his life. Through this story, we learn about the different kinds of relationships that humans can have with nature. Some relationships between humans and nature are very harmonious, however there are other times when humans may take advantage of nature by using it solely for personal benefit. Because there are many eco-friendly messages in this book (e.g. don't take away from trees without giving something back, be thankful for trees, trees are important to us and we should not take them for granted), this book is great for reading aloud and talking with children about the importance of giving.

* Recycle: A Handbook for kids (Gail Gibbons, 1992, Little Brown Young Publishers)

Gail Gibbons is a phenomenal writer whose informational books help kids learn new and interesting facts. And she doesn't disappoint with her book on recycling. This book is very readable and well-organized, and helps children really get a sense of what landfills are and why we need fewer of them. Gibbons does thorough research in order to write her books, so when she describes how to recycle, why it's necessary, and its benefits, you know the information is accurate. The book ends with some interesting information about the ozone layer and the limited potential for recycling polystyrene, followed by 14 facts about garbage.

*Earth Day Hooray!!! (Stuart Murphy, 2004, HarperCollins Publishers)

In this book, children can learn about going green AND doing math! The story focuses on Ryan, Luke, and Carly, who are good friends with a plan for celebrating Earth Day. They want to buy some flowers for Gilroy Park, but they don't have enough money. So, they decide to collect and recycle 5,000 aluminum cans to earn the money. As the three friends collect cans, they discover that keeping track of the daily totals is somewhat of a challenge, until they begin to sort using bags of 10, 100, and so on. With this book, kids will have fun learning about place value, as well as celebrating the joy of working together to accomplish a green goal.

Books for Kids Aged 9-12
* Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment (Linda Schwartz, 1990, Learning Works Publishers)

This cool activity book shows children how to care for the Earth. The book is divided into four sections: (1) Energy, resources, and recycling; (2) Air, Land, & Water; (3) Plant & Animal Habitat; and (4) More Ways to Make Every Day Earth Day. The simple format makes the book really easy to read, and the information is presented in a very kid-friendly way which makes the main terms and ideas easy to understand.

The hands-on activities are really fun, and could be used for at-home science projects or to take away the rainy day blues. For example, the book describes acid rain, then gives instructions for a project to measure the amount of acid in your own rainfall. At the end of the book, there is a section called Where to Write & Glossary which provides a page on how to request information and also provides many different resources/organizations that children and parents can use.

* Brainiac's Go Green Activity Book (Mara Conlon, 2008, Peter Pauper Press)

Brainiac's Go Green! Activity Book is a cool activity book with an eco-friendly theme. The book presents fascinating scientific information about the Earth as well as important concepts and ideas for being environmentally-conscious. Kids will love doing the word finds, crosswords, connect the dots, mazes, and countless other activities within the book. And parents will love the green tips that are in the book, all designed to help families live their lives a little greener.

*Garbage and Recycling (Rosie Harlow, 2002, Kingfish Publishers)

This book is filled with interesting facts and information about recycling. The easy-to-use table of contents helps readers find ideas and information quickly, and helps organize the "big ideas" in the book in an accessible way (e.g., chapters include Waste not, want not; Garbage that won't rot; cans count; recycle your rags). One of the best features in this book are the "How Can I Help?" Boxes, which give helpful suggestions for children who want to recycle at home.

Books for Kids Aged 13-17
* The Green Teen: The Eco-Friendly Teen's Guide to Saving the Planet
(Jenn Savedge, 2009, New Society Publishers)

We all know that teenagers are a tough crowd to please. So how will they ever get interested in going green if the books are too boring, too babyish, or too dense? The Green Teen is a handy, go-to guide that will help teens learn to make environmentally responsible choices without being too preachy. Each section follows the same simple format: (1) How to Green something, (2) Top 5 Ways to start, (3) Why Bother doing it, (4) G2G Green Tips, (5) Planning stage with ideas and tips on how to go about it, (6) How to Get your Parents Involved and (7) Surfing Sites! What is awesome about this book is that it includes interviews with real teens who have made an impact with their projects, which will inspire other teens to make green choices in their daily lives.

* Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life (by Linda Sivertsen, 2008, Simon Pulse Publishers)

Generation Green is a very interesting book that helps us to understand that using technology more than just something that is "cool"--- it's actually "green!!" The book describes how texting friends, chatting online, and downloading emails and music are all examples of green activities that teens naturally enjoy and do on a daily basis. In fact, the concept of green living is the theme of the book, and many chapters provide tips on how to shop, dress, eat, and travel the green way. Now some teens (or even adults!) may not truly believe that they can live life in a greener way, but this book shows that anyone can do it. There are a number of interviews with teens who are involved with eco-friendly projects, and they talk about what living green means to them and how easy and natural it can be. The most powerful message in this book is that any green changes we make, even those that may seem small, have a huge impact on our Earth, our family and friends, our community, and our future.

Economy’s Effect on Older Workers

American jobs are vanishing at a rapid rate in today’s dismal economy. Job bias claims have been hitting record highs while jobless markets continue to flood the nation, forcing millions into unemployment and underemployment. John K. Hulett seeks to draw attention to age discrimination in the workplace and how the current shortage of jobs is affecting older job-seekers in his comprehensive new book, “Age Discrimination: An Epidemic in America Affecting People of All Ages” (published by AuthorHouse). “Experience and wisdom are two qualities that come with age and they cannot be purchased or degreed, gifted, nor substituted for youth, greed and ignorance,” Hulett writes.

Hulett, a 55-year-old businessman and graduate student of theology, weaves personal experience with extensive research and political discussion. “Age Discrimination: An Epidemic in America” chronicles five failed investigations prompted by Hulett’s lawsuit claiming age discrimination. Hulett details how the government participated in these investigations and how large corporations are protected from employee claims because of their close relationships with many government agencies. He also thoroughly examines the correlation between today’s deep recession and age discrimination.

Hulett is hopeful that “Age Discrimination: An Epidemic in America” will call attention to this important issue and spark an essential debate among politicians. He writes:

President Barack Obama spent most of his career fighting to build stronger civil rights as a civil rights attorney in the U.S. Senate for the State of Illinois. My hope is that he expands his civil rights agenda to include all areas of discrimination (race, color, origin, age, gender, religion, and disability). Perhaps one day President Obama will find a moment in his busy schedule to address one of my many emails, faxes, and letters sent over the past six months? After all, discrimination has a lot do to with this economy including affordable healthcare, livable wages, affordable housing, fair credit, and putting all Americans back to work. No man or woman should have to study case law or maintain high levels of wealth in order to defend his or her rights in the workplace.
About the Author:

John K. Hulett has more than 35 years of experience in the fields of sales, marketing, new product development, territorial expansion for manufacturing, wholesale distribution and retail promotion. He has managed company branch locations and corporate divisions at the regional and national level. Hulett has also spent time as a small business entrepreneur, developing numerous business and marketing plans, securing multiple patents, trademarks and trade names. He has a bachelor’s degree in business management and certificates in marketing, small business and human resource management. “Age Discrimination: An Epidemic in America Affecting People of All Ages” is his first book.

Dangerous Aspects : age old practice of story telling

My name is; Colin Winston Aldridge I am the author of the thought provoking novel; "Dangerous Aspects" that perfectly matches the changing mood throughout the vast majority of the English speaking world and beyond.
Dangerous Aspects is a book like no other. To spread the word about a new paradigm of healing the author, Colin Winston Aldridge, has chosen to return to the age old practice of story telling. And what a story Dangerous Aspects is. Truly an exciting read from start to finish that builds in pace with the turn of every page. Yet the content is far from mindless. As the story and progress of the protagonist unfolds so does an enchanting and yet totally practical outline of a new paradigm of healing. Energy medicine is very much a 21st century happening in the western world and with this story we get the opportunity to take the authors clever pathway right into the modality at work in real circumstances. Not only do we get the look and feel of this amazing new healing modality the author also weaves into the story a coaching manual so that what we get is two books in one. This departure from the self help genre whilst at the same time elaborating the need to find healing through a gifted story such as this is a magical use of the novel medium.

The key element of the story itself is the burning question: do we really know the person we live with? Misunderstandings and secrets are everywhere. Sometimes we just need to scratch the surface to find them out. What we may find could make us fall from the face of earth. Still, at the same time it could make us discover a hidden side of ourselves, tougher than we thought. These strong feelings run underneath this double layered novel.

A breathtaking plot in the first layer leads us into a story of drug racketeering, kidnappings and murders. The story starts out with our protagonist, Sondra Ackerman, uncovering some deeply disguised and well hidden secrets about her drug dealing husband Jack. To tell where this story ends up would be to deny you the excitement of the ending, an ending that twists and turns up to the very last paragraph. The layer beneath takes us on a journey to explore a new paradigm of alternative therapy and the powerful effect it can have us and our vibrational harmony and wellbeing.

This story is thought provoking on several levels and rarely does a novel travel the distances Dangerous Aspects does to both thrill and inform the reader. Story telling is rarely this gifted!

Switchback

Unmasking a Killer: New Book Entangles Detectives, the Mafia and a Psychopath in the Wake of a Grisly Crime

A Dallas family is brutally murdered, and the evidence does not point to the killer. The investigators have their hands full as they begin to unravel the events. Author Will Pettijohn invites mystery lovers to experience the thrill of the chase among a collection of intriguing characters in “Switchback: A Story Of A Killer’s Fears” (published by AuthorHouse).

“Switchback” opens as a mountainous Irish hit man named Colt scrubs blood off his face after doing a job. His 5-year-old chirps a cheery hello, oblivious to her father’s work. His inner struggle over the monster he has become returns to the surface. Meanwhile, Detective Rick Wise and his partner, T-bone, arrive on a crime scene so brutal it sends hardened forensics team members running from the house. A killer descended on a young family and no one was spared in the massacre.

These two events frame the frayed worlds of Wise, the diligent detective, and Colt, the hit man with a conscience. A suspenseful game of cat and mouse ensues in a city ravaged by organized crime. Many unsavory citizens of Dallas have met their demise under Colt’s cold gaze. But the family massacre under Wise’s investigation had to have been committed by someone with no heart, and readers realize that Colt follows a code of ethics, however twisted it may be. The plot thickens.

When FBI agents Young and Archer arrive to beef up the investigation, Wise grudgingly accepts their help. One by one, local informants step up to offer scant information. For their trouble, they come up missing. As Wise becomes consumed by the mystery, Colt is consumed by his own sins. Unknown to both men, their worlds are about to collide.

Pettijohn lures readers to an unexpected conclusion with a spine-tingling trail of chilling details designed to entice mystery lovers and readers who seek a fast-paced page-turner.

About the Author: Born and raised in the small west Texas town of Snyder, Will Pettijohn began working at age 12 while still in school. He is divorced and lives with his two teenage sons. “My family is the most important thing in my life,” says Pettijohn, who began writing after his marriage ended. Captivated by mystery-suspense stories, he soon penned “Switchback,” his first book. Pettijohn plans to continue the adventures of Detective Wise with two more books.

Ladies League Front Nine

Political Corruption Finds Its Way to the Golf Course


Four friends find themselves embroiled in the politics of a senator and his wife while playing nine holes of golf, in Sandi Spaugh’s new novel “Ladies League Front Nine” (published by AuthorHouse).

Of the four women that join a ladies league with their own personal agendas, Beverly and Jill have known each other since college, rediscovering their friendship after being apart for 30 years on the green. They were introduced to Joanne, the strongest woman they know, when she represented them in a case against the city and state. Diane is suffering from empty nest syndrome when Beverly convinces her to play golf in a league.

While getting closer, the group discovers they have more in common. Over the course of time they come to realize their lives are more intertwined than they ever knew. As the mystery unravels, the women discover people with power and politics are trying to shape their world.

As the friendships of these women grow, they become tangled up in the political goals of another member of the league, who is married to a local politician and believes she deserves special treatment because of her connections. Beverly, Jill, Diane and Joanne try to untangle the lies and save the town, all while playing round after round of golf in “Ladies League Front Nine.”

“Ladies League Front Nine” reminds the reader of the nuances of golf, including the competitiveness and frustration that are inherently born out of playing against others. Laugh and learn with these four women in “Ladies League Front Nine” as they reclaim purpose and strength in their lives, along with a rejuvenated sense of identity.

About the Author: Sandi Spaugh is a Registered Nurse, licensed health facility administrator and the owner of a health care facility in central Indiana. She has two sons, a daughter and is grandmother to four grandsons and two granddaughters.

She was introduced to the game of golf in her early 50s, which was an eye-opening experience that led her into numerous personal relationships, some were good and some not-so-good but all holding a special place in her memory. Sandi has drawn upon those experiences and relationships to weave the story found in the pages of “Ladies League Front Nine.”

Explosion in Paris

Heroine Must Die so She Can Live, in Romantic, Suspenseful Novel



WOODBINE, Md., — Angela Briann Scott is startled at the sight of the most exquisite-looking man she’s ever seen, peering at her from the woods beside her home in California. Over time, Ross Leigh Stafford becomes her saving grace, her mentor, and teaches her to believe in herself again. He offers her the strength and incentive to finally escape from her abusive husband, Mitchell Scott, an influential, high-dollar architect.

If only Ross and she could ride off together into the sunset on his borrowed white stallion right then. That would paint the happy ending to their lovely story, but this is not life’s reality.
In “Explosion in Paris” (published by iUniverse), Linda Pirrung tells the story of Angie and Ross, whose love, first denied, eventually blossoms and survives — along with Angie — Mitch’s explosive rage. It’s also about the faithfulness of Ross, who mourns her apparent death. Will Angie’s messages to Ross, apparently from the grave, get through to him? Will Mitch admit to his murderous ways? This romance/suspense/adventure delights readers with page-turning drama and an overarching message that sometimes we must die so that we truly can live.

About the Author

Writing is one engrossing passion that keeps Linda Pirrung excited about life and kicks the humdrum out of her vocabulary. Linda loves to read, write, and create art. Through the years she has had a portrait studio business, “Focus on Elegance by Linda”; a doll art business, “Galerie des Enfants”; and later she invested in a villa/studio and personal retreat which she decorated in European classic splendor. She researches, shops, and chooses fabrics, rugs, fabulous art, and accessories to pull her clients’ home decor dreams together, and continues her photography and artwork. She has two previous books, “Cracked Hearts” and “I Will Wait for You,” and still resides happily in Maryland with her husband of 38 years.