Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1404725
46 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2021 The Book Club selection for Sept. 14 is Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. Here is a brief description from Amazon.com: "In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings. Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people's lives and behavior and the nation's fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people — including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball's Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others — she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their outcast of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity." Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in RCN room #3, and someone volunteers to lead the discussion about the book we have chosen for the month. For more information about the Four Seasons Book Club or to get on our mailing list, please contact me at michelesrosen@gmail.com. ~ Micki Rosen Book Club Four Seasons Veterans Park The sign for our Veterans Park is now installed. There is still work to be done inside, but the flag walk is attracting visitors. The flags for September are WWII movies and flags decorating barns. There are five significant dates in September for veterans: the signing of the formal surrender by Japan aboard the battleship Missouri following V-J Day is commemorated on Sept. 2; Patriot Day is an annual observance on Sept. 11 to remember those who were injured or died during the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001; the third Friday (17th this year) is National POW/ MIA Recognition Day; the 18th is the birthday (1947) of the U. S. Air Force; and the last Sunday of September (26th this year) is Gold Star Mother's Day. On Monday, Sept. 14 at 9 am we will be tying yellow ribbons on the trees in the park. Volunteers are welcome. There will be a procession from our HOA to the Redlands Hillside Ceremony on the 17th, departing at 9 am to honor WWII MIA/POW members for that community. All veterans and their supporters are invited to participate. ~ Len Tavernetti, ltavernetti@hotmail.com