5.14 Wasserman Schultz (2013)
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie (with Julie M. Fenster) (2013) For the Next Generation:A Wake-Up Call to Solving Our Nation's Problems. New York: St. Martin's Press. 5.14
Quick Look
Author Debbie Wasserman Schultz was the youngest woman ever elected to the Florida state legislature and the first Jewish congresswoman elected from Florida. Wife, mother of three, and breast cancer survivor, she is currently the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Julie M. Fenster is the author of FDR's Shadow, The Case of Abraham Lincoln, and Ether Day, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Parish Priest. |
This Resource’s Key Interpretations and Insights Related to the Purposes of This Website
This progressive Democrat is a working woman with three full-time jobs: she is the mother of three who has held
elective office since she was 26-years old and is currently serving as the the Chair of the Democratic National
Committee. In this book she shows how her political life is primarily devoted to the wellbeing of all American children--that generation which does not have a political voice of their own. It is also a powerful witness to how
her life and politics have been grounded in the secular-Jewish values of her family upbringing.
1. The author provides a passionate plea that everyone (not just politicians) view her/his politics through the lens of our adult responsibility to our children--the only generation that doesn't have a political voice of their own. She takes this unique interpretive stance toward the fairly standard list of progressive policies she recommends, which makes a different, urgent and quite persuasive argument for their value to our nation at this time.
2. She spells out how the extremist Tea-Party-coopted Republican Party is primarily responsible for the unprecedented level of vitriolic rhetorical violence on any and all political moderation or cooperation, a serious threat to the very core of our democracy. In contrast, she is committed to overcome the extreme polarization and gridlock by treating even her most extreme opponents with grace and civility.
3. Her life and political service is a powerful witness to how the secular-Jewish faith of her family shaped the early formation of her primary values: commitment to equality and social justice, especially our responsibility to "repair the world" (tikkun olam).
4. As part of a minority (being Jewish, about 2% of the American population) the author has personally experienced the bigotry and prejudice of antisemitism. Hence, she has enhanced empathy for all other instances of the denial of minority rights, which she fights hard to overcome it for the sake of furthering the promised equality for all in our nation.
Quotes from Text
"We can promote the ideals of equality and demonstrate how the most complex, polarizing debates can be settled with respectful discourse. If we want this future for our children, then we have to take action on all children's behalf." (4)
"I can only empathize with the pain that is felt by African Americans and Hispanics when they hear racial and cultural epithets, and I cannot know the anger and hurt that LGBT Americans feel when they see signs like 'God hates fags,' among others that the infamous Westboro Baptist Church brings to public events. But as a Jewish woman, I can appreciate the awful sensation of being hated for no reason but for belonging to a minority group." (my emphasis) (205)
"Selfishness is, to borrow a term from Twitter, trending. Compare that ethos with tikkun olam. One would have you reward yourself; the other would have you repair the world. Consider, which of those is the more courageous? Which will build more character? Which will build a stronger community?" (243)
"I can only empathize with the pain that is felt by African Americans and Hispanics when they hear racial and cultural epithets, and I cannot know the anger and hurt that LGBT Americans feel when they see signs like 'God hates fags,' among others that the infamous Westboro Baptist Church brings to public events. But as a Jewish woman, I can appreciate the awful sensation of being hated for no reason but for belonging to a minority group." (my emphasis) (205)
"Selfishness is, to borrow a term from Twitter, trending. Compare that ethos with tikkun olam. One would have you reward yourself; the other would have you repair the world. Consider, which of those is the more courageous? Which will build more character? Which will build a stronger community?" (243)
Endorsements
"Having served with Debbie in Congress, I saw her play many roles: mom, talented legislator, party leader. This excellent book is written by Debbie the mom, and recommends strategies for meaningful reform in our schools and to improve the quality of life and well-being of America's children, like having towns and cities across the country create a Community Report Card for children. Both parties should embrace this thoughtful proposal." ~Jane Harman, Former member of Congress (D-CA), Director, President, and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (from the back cover)
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"Despite today's rancorous partisanship, Debbie and I are friends. She brings passion and commitment to everything she does, whether it's being in Congress, fighting cancer, leading her daughter's Girl Scout troop, or being captain of the Congressional Women's Softball Team. We disagree on policy issues, including many of the ones she writes about here. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will have a leading role on the political stage for a long, long time. It's useful to know how the other side thinks. That's why Republicans and Democrats would read this book." ~Ana Navarro, Republican Strategist, CNN Political Commentator (from the back cover)
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