Kate's Summer Reading List

Since we now officially have more reading lists than we do summer, here's another one, this time brought to you by Kate Gould. It should particularly come in handy for those of you on the Mid-Atlantic coast, since there won't be much to do this weekend but sit around and wait out Hanna.

Summer Reading List 9: Kate Gould, Legislative Assistant for Foriegn Policy

Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army
by Jeremy Scahill
Remember how last fall the Iraqi government charged Blackwater security guards with massacring Iraqi civilians in an incident that US soldiers affirmed was a "criminal event" and concluded there was "no enemy activity involved"? Last month Blackwater's billion dollar contract was renewed by the State Department, and these modern day mercenaries continue to protect US officials from Pelosi to Petraeus. This is a devastating exposé of how not only has Blackwater come to define some of the most brutal elements of the US occupation in Iraq--- but how Blackwater and other private armies are altering the future of the American security system; from Baghdad to Bagram to post Katrina New Orleans.

Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq
by Dahr Jamail
Jamail is one of a handful of Western journalists who consistently put his life on the line to report from Iraq independent from the Pentagon's embed program. He broke the story of the US use of napalm-like white phosphorous that burned civilians to death in Fallujah, and the subsequent devastation of the city. I've never felt closer to the daily destruction of Iraq than when I've been immersed in Jamail's reporting.

Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the US
by Dr. Trita Parsi.
"Iran is Israel's best friend"- Former Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin, 1987. If you are astounded that Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the US have had a thirty year tumultuous love triangle of complimentary geo-strategic interests, put aside all of your other priorities and read this book. This is a revealing saga of secret Israeli weapons deals to Iran, a time when the pro-Israeli lobby was advocating the US to negotiate with Iran, the utility of inflammatory rhetoric towards Israel for Iran in gaining popularity on the Arab street, and an eyewitness account of Iran's "Grand Bargain" to the US.

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Trevor's Summer Reading List

This summer reading list is brought to us by faithful blogger and PPDC intern, Trevor.

Summer Reading List 7: Trevor Keck, Legislative Associate for Peaceful Prevention of Deadly Conflict

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
I am highly skeptical of books on the New York Times Best Seller List. Yet, my conservative mother told me this book made her see U.S. foreign policy in a new light. Intrigued, I picked up this highly accessible story of a climber turned schoolbuilder in South Asia. Humbled by the hospitality of a Pakistani village after failing to climb K2, Greg Mortenson takes it upon himself to raise funds to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This quick read provides a good example of the types of projects the U.S. governement could be funding to reduce support for terrorism and build bridges of understanding between the U.S. and the Middle East.

Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: America, The Cold War and The Roots of Terror
By Mahmood Mamdani
This book is an excellent history lesson in U.S. foreign policy during the end of the cold war. Mamdani provides numerous examples of how U.S. policies supported groups committing acts of terror when it suited U.S. goals: rolling back the Soviet Union's influence and power. Now that terrorist groups have turned their sights on the U.S., Mamdani says rather than military confrontation with terrorist groups, U.S. foreign policy should devote resources and attention to strategies that erode support for terrorism and recognize legitimate political grievances many have with U.S foreign policy.

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lazy summer days

In case you hadn't noticed by all of the summer reading lists, DC gets pretty empty around August. When I moved here last year, one of the things that surprised me the most was how quiet everything became in the summer. I always knew that Congress took August off, but I had no idea how much that would affect the rest of the city. Offices take shorter hours and study/volunteer groups all go on hiatus. My usually vibrant church seemed particularly empty yesterday with the gospel choir on break and about half of the parishioners gone. I don't remember summers being so quiet for non-students anywhere else that I've lived. For the rest of my life, 'adult summer vacations' will be magical, strange things that I'll associate with Washington, DC.

Because I'm the field intern instead of a lobbying intern, I'm probably not feeling the summer lag quite as much as some of my FCNL colleagues, but the days are still a little quiet. I've been enjoying having more time to work on long term projects, clean off my desk (!) and of course, post on the intern blog. I have to admit, though, that having extra time on our hands can sometimes lead to some mischief for the FCNL interns. This morning, Jr. Intern, Kamala and I had a little too much fun playing with a globe beach ball that we found in the storage room.

However, our office mischief is nothing compared to what our colleagues and friends at the UUA Washington Office Of Advocacy pulled last night. To welcome their new Acting Director (and former intern) Adam to his new position, the interns stayed up all night filling his office with balloons. 580 balloons, to be precise. While certain FCNL interns and former interns have been known pranksters (Sharon, Dan and Nick come to mind) I'm afraid this beats anything I've seen at my time at FCNL. So, FCNL interns, former interns and staff, what's been the best prank that you've seen pulled in the office? Non-FCNL staffers: what's the summer work culture like wherever you are? I hope it's as fun as it is here!

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Joelle's Summer Reading List

Today we have another summer reading list from a former FCNL intern. Many of you may remember Joelle from her occasional posts here on the intern blog. We at FCNL are lucky that while she has left the office, she's stayed in the DC area to work on urban hunger issues, so we still occasionally get to run into her on the metro.

Summer Reading List 6:
Joelle Maruniak, (former) Legislative Assistant for Environmental Issues

The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan
Where does our food come from, and how does it reach us? In this book, Michael Pollan gets up close and personal with food as he examines the U.S. food chain.

Deep Economy, by Bill McKibben
“Growth” is not a healthy path for our economy, McKibben posits in his latest book. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of living locally: producing our own food, generating our won energy, and entertaining ourselves.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver
In this investigative memoir, Kingsolver and her family chronicle how they spent a year living off of only home-grown and local food. This is a book to be enjoyed not only for its insight into our food economy, but also for its beautiful prose.

I have to admit that while all of the interns have amazing summer reading lists, I'm particularly partial to Joelle's list. When she sent me her reading list, she joked about how all of her posts were about food. I love the way that she was able to combine her love of environmentalism with her love of hunger awareness by making a list of books about food politics (which also, coincidentally, happens to be one of my favorite issues!). I am also a bit partial to this list because it includes one of my all-time favorite authors (both for fiction and non-fiction), Barbara Kingsolver.

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Sharon's Summer Reading List

This week's summer reading list is brought to you by Sharon. Though she left us a few months ago to get reacquainted with the west coast, her love of practical jokes and good books continues to inspire.

Summer Reading List 5:
Sharon Franklet, (former) Legislative Assistant for Native American Advocacy

Mabel McKay: Weaving the Dream
by Greg Sarris
A looping, lyrical telling of Pomo basket weaver and healer Mabel McKay’s life. This story quietly slips like fog into one’s perception and lingers there.

Stone Heart: A Novel of Sacajawea
by Diane Glancy
This short novel juxtaposes Sacajawea’s observations and interpretations – as envisioned by Glancy – with entries from the diaries of Lewis and Clark. The interweave brings the voice and perspective of Sacajawea into strong relief.

or, something from your piece of ground...
This summer, choose a book that speaks for the long history of the peoples and land on which you stand – whether your home territory or somewhere that you vacation. The internet has many sources, including The Internet Public Library’s Native American authors page: http://www.ipl.org/div/natam/. Enjoy!

We miss you, Sharon! And from one Californian to another, I envy your ability to spend your summer in a more temperate climate, away from daily thunder storms (why do they always start up right as I'm getting ready to leave the office?!).

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On the painful healing of forgiveness

Last weekend, I went to Ohio to represent FCNL at Wilmington Yearly Meeting. It was my first time at a yearly meeting and I found the whole experience wonderful. The people were incredibly welcoming and I learned a lot about Quaker theology, politics and history.

The theme of the yearly meeting was taken from John 5:6, "Do you want to be made well?" which was worked into nearly every aspect of the weekend. I came home reflecting on that quote and how it relates to the healing that comes from reconciliation.

As most of you probably know by now, on Sunday there was a shooting at a Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, TN. I'm not UU, but I spent a lot of time at UU churches, conferences and camps as a teenager, which is how I met my partner of five years, Alex. Alex is incredibly active in the denomination and works in the UUA's Washington Office of Advocacy. His parents attend a different UU church in Tennessee, and in the past few days we've both been struck by the many little personal connections we have to Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church that we were previously unaware of.

Lately, I've been reading a lot of prayers by Walter Brueggemann. I have always found his style of prayer-poems particularly moving. I love how he's willing to honestly look at anger and frustration with God without making excuses for it. In mourning for TVUUC, and with the theme of Wilmington Yearly Meeting still running around in my head, I decided to make my own small attempt at prayer-poem writing.

“Do you want to be made well?”

On days like these, your question seems to mock us.

We, who have been seeking your Wholeness all these years
In our homes
In our churches
In our selves

How could you even ask?

After all,
Fidelity to your vision
Seems to be what got us into this trouble in the first place
Seems to always be getting us into trouble

We would like a day off
A day of bereavement
From seeing the worth and dignity of every person

Yet, even now, when our children’s clothes are still stained with blood
Your words of comfort are mixed with the harsh commandment
Of reconciliation

And so we pray a reluctant litany
for them
And for us
And for them
And for us

Until there is no “them” but only an ever increasing number of “us”

“Forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us”

And we curse
And we praise
The day you made us of one blood

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Caroline's summer reading list

Well, it's time for yet another summer reading list. This one is brought to you by our fabulous Caroline, who always posts so faithfully on the blog.

Summer Reading List 4

Caroline Anderson, Communications Program Assistant

Guests of the Sheik, by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea
What do we really know about Iraq, this country with which the United States is intimately involved? Written in 1965, this “Ethnography of an Iraqi Village” is a memoir, telling the story of Fernea, a young bride who accompanied her sociologist husband to live in an Iraqi village for two years. It is a picture of Iraq unaffected by Saddam Hussein or the United States army.

Salvador, by Joan Didion
In this short novel (only about 100 pages), Joan Didion focuses her shrewd commentary on 1982 El Salvador. She recounts a few weeks spent in the country on assignment for The New York Review of Books. Though the politics of El Salvador are largely ignored today, reading this book offers a good depiction of living with unrelenting terror on a daily basis.

The Plague (La Peste), by Albert Camus
A classic novel about what happens when a disease quarantines the city of Oran, Algeria. How does it relate to FCNL’s work? By raising questions about the role of civil society and what happens when it breaks down.

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Nick's Summer Reading List

As Caroline has already written, Friday was Nick's last day in the office. Nick and I use to sit in the same office pod, and he'd be proud to know that everyone's already commenting on how "quiet," "boring," and "normal" the Field Pod is without his mischief. So, in honor of my dearly departed (to Alaska!) former officemate, here is his summer reading list:

Summer Reading List 3:
Nick Bauer, Campaigns Program Assistant

The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint Exupery
The story of a downed fighter pilot who meets a little "alien" boy, this book is a beautiful and simple reminder of life's little truths that we tend to forget.

The Far Pavilions, by M.M. Kaye
Written in 1978, this book is an epic novel detailing the youth and coming of age of a British-Indian boy in colonized India. The protagonist's fascinating struggle to reconcile two vastly different cultures with his personal convictions underscores a unique examination of colonialism and its consequences.

Bon voyage, Nick! Have fun campaigning in sub-zero temperatures!

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Danny's Summer Reading List

I had every intention of posting another summer reading list on Thursday before I left the office to go represent FCNL at the Convention for the Common Good in Philadelphia, but it was not meant to be. Apologies, everyone! Here's one to make up for it.

This summer reading list was provided by Danny, who went on leave Friday and will be out of the office until November. We all miss him already, and hope he has a fantastic next few months.

Summer Reading List 2:
Danny Hosein, Legislative Program Assistant on Nuclear Nonproliferation

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, by Tracy Kidder
Kidder details the life of Dr. Paul Farmer. Farmer treats tuberculosis and other illnesses in Haiti, only to discover the deeper social roots of infectious diseases. Farmer's principled placement of patients over profits and his revolutionary delivery of services to the underserved has become a global model of healthcare.

Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War, by Anthony Shadid

Shadid chronicles his experiences reporting on the run-up to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the lives of Iraqis during the war, and the aftermath. Exceptionally well-written and engaging.

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda, by Philip Gourevitch
Gourevitch recounts the harrowing details of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He tells the story of Paul Rusesabagina, who heroically protects people from the slaughter.

Christine's Summer Reading List

Summer has arrived and has brought with it iced tea, fireworks and an increased number of sandals around the office. Summer also means that Congress is winding down and the interns have a little extra time to curl up with a good book.

So, for the next few weeks we'll be posting some samples of what we've been reading lately. Feel free to comment and add to our summer reading lists!

Summer Reading List 1
Christine Haider, Field Program Assistant

The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear
by Paul Rogat Loeb (Editor)
A collection of articles, short stories, and poems by world-famous peace activists that celebrates the sense of hope that keeps us working toward a better world. When you feel overwhelmed by all the work left to be done, a story from this book and a tall glass of lemonade can be just the thing to raise your spirits.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
by Marjane Satrapi
A simple and beautiful graphic novel about Satrapi’s experience growing up during the Iranian Revolution. This book is impossible to not fall in love with.

Wall Tappings: Women's Prison Writings, 200 A.D. to the Present
by Judith A. Scheffler (Editor)
An incredibly diverse and moving collection that gives testament to both the dehumanizing nature of the prison system and the empowering nature of the written word.

2007-2008 Program Assistants Arrive at FCNL's Green Building

A new class of Program Assistants has arrived at 245 Second St NE. We represent a range of ages and backgrounds, as well as diverse regions of the world. We come from France, Oregon, California, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, Rhode Island and New Jersey, and all of us are new to DC.

A picture of FCNL’s program assistants, including three 2nd year PAs:

Clockwise from the top: Danny Hosein, Dan Allen, Nick Bauer, Claire Valentin, Caroline Anderson, Chris Bracken, Maureen Brookes, Joelle Maruniak, Kate Gould, Trevor Keck, Devin Helfrich and Sharon Franklet.

From reading this blog I assume that you are all familiar with Maureen, Devin and Chris, but here’s a bit about the rest of us (in our own words, full biographies available on FCNL’s website):

Danny Hosein joined FCNL in the summer of 2007 as the organization’s first Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow. He discovered his love of politics and activism in San Antonio, where he helped coordinate a relief drive after the South Asian tsunami and a movement encouraging divestment from Sudan on campus. In his free time, Danny enjoys watching sports, reading, volunteering and meteorology.

Born in Waterloo, IA, Dan Allen spent his entire childhood in the great state of Iowa. His interest in politics was spurred by his participation in high school debate and he subsequently volunteered for local congressional and presidential campaigns. In his free time, Dan enjoys consuming (and playing) many sports, traveling, and working on his Spanish.

Nick Bauer comes to FCNL from Rhode Island, where he graduated from Brown University in May of 2007. A “Convinced Friend,” Nick began attending Meetings for Worship with his family in 1997 and is currently a member of Westport Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts. In his free time, Nick enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, reading anything he can get his hands on, biking, hiking, sporting argyle socks, and culinary experimentation.

Claire Valentin is originally from Lyon, France and she loves to travel. After graduating from Brown University she traveled across Romania by car with her father- a Romanian native. Most recently, she has visited St. Petersburg and Moscow with her parents, her brother and her little sister. Until the next trip, Claire is exploring the charming streets of D.C. and enjoying the enchanting world of Capitol Hill.

Caroline Anderson came to FCNL in July 2007, after graduating from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in History. She is excited to explore DC, and in her free time enjoys reading in the park, watching movies, and hunting for good restaurants. She has also recently discovered a passion for strategic grocery shopping.

Prior to coming to FCNL, Joelle Maruniak served as a full-time AmeriCorps volunteer in rural Colorado where she split her time working in a homeless shelter and a homelessness prevention program. When she is not working, Joelle enjoys playing the flute and piano, reading, running, and practicing her Spanish.

Kate Gould is greatly inspired by Quaker principles, which she learned from her many years as a camper and counselor in the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camping Program. Kate also loves wilderness adventures, practicing her Swahili, and exploring the vast networks of cultural diversity in Washington D.C.

Trevor Keck comes to FCNL from San Diego, California. He has traveled in Europe and Morocco, and is proficient in French. During his free time, he enjoys reading, watching films, playing ultimate frisbee, speaking French, traveling, and lounging in quirky coffee shops.

Sharon Franklet came to FCNL's Native American advocacy program in September 2007 from central California, where she worked as a botanist at Pinnacles National Monument. Now in DC, she likes its friendliness, arts, and greenery --yes, the plants!-- as well as the time zone ease of making evening calls to the West Coast.

We’re still settling into our new jobs and homes, but have already delved into the world of Capitol Hill. On Friday we finished three weeks of training, and are full of fresh ideas about how FCNL approaches its work and how to help the organization achieve its goals. Look to this blog as a chronicle of the next 12 months, as we learn more about FCNL, DC, and how to change policy. Hopefully we will offer a new perspective on Washington insider politics. We can’t wait to share our thoughts with you!