This book is a response to a talk by Robert Shetterly. His presentation was Americans Who Tell The Truth. Mr. Shetterly published a book in which he painted portraits of 50 Americans who have made a significant impact on our history. Some are famous, some ordinary. Early in his presentation Mr. Shetterly alluded to the events of September 11, 2001. He said those events were a pivotal point in our history. What is most significant about the events of that date is not that they happened but that we seemed to learn so little ...
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This book is a response to a talk by Robert Shetterly. His presentation was Americans Who Tell The Truth. Mr. Shetterly published a book in which he painted portraits of 50 Americans who have made a significant impact on our history. Some are famous, some ordinary. Early in his presentation Mr. Shetterly alluded to the events of September 11, 2001. He said those events were a pivotal point in our history. What is most significant about the events of that date is not that they happened but that we seemed to learn so little from them and have not made appropriate responses to those events. As a response to Robert Shetterlys talk I decided to do a book on people (and movements) I have met, at least come into contact with, who have told the truth. All have made an impact. Some have not been successful in what they intended to do. But even those who were not successful in their desired effect still made an impact and were helpful in bringing about some change. Some are still trying. We do not know yet whether they will be successful or not. Again I emphasize ALL have made some impact. ALL are just ordinary people. As my response developed certain truths evolved.1. I have met persons in my own life who exemplify the truths Mr. Shetterly seeks to highlight.2. I have had the honor of knowing some from my earliest youth until the present day. 3. Others I have met later in life.4. Some of them have been famous people. Most are just ordinary people struggling with life.5. Many of them fought with some personal struggle as well as the larger social struggle.6. They are important not simply for what they did but for who they were.7. Every one of us probably could come up with a similar list.8. It is important that we do so, important for ourselves and for others.In my earliest years I was inspired by my father (William Crumley), by some of my teachers (personified by my account of Sister Stanila). In my youth I was also inspired by the actions of some famous people (Pope John XXIII, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and others). Often they were not successful in what they hoped to do. Still their legacy inspired others. In the three famous persons mentioned their legacy was not really apparent until after their death. Pope John XXIII attempted to rejuvenate the Catholic Church. He was successful in part. However, some people within the institution he sought to rejuvenate did not want to be rejuvenated and many of his reforms have been abandoned. It was not until many years after his death that I realized that President John Kennedy attempted to place our money system on a more stable basis and not on debt the U.S. Government owed to the Federal Reserve Bank. That has never been realized even today. The reforms called for by Martin Luther King were not realized until after his death. Even then the reforms were not fully realized. We were only able to pass laws which helped the process to begin. The process has to evolve and to continue.This process is not going to be realized by the actions of politicians or famous people. This process will be brought about by the struggles of ordinary people. This process requires the ongoing effort of you and me and great numbers of ordinary citizens. It will require the creation of many different citizen organizations which will assist the process. That is what this book is about - not famous people but ordinary people. A few are better known than others. Some were more successful than others. All are ordinary. All continued to struggle despite many obstacles. Hopefully it will inspire you to come up with you own list maybe even your own book describing how you fit into the human struggle to make this a better world. The list is divided among people who inspired me in my early formative years and people who have inspired me in later years of ministry and service. It also includes persons who are struggling to make an impact today.
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