Re-Imagining America: Finding Hope in Difficult Times

Re-Imagining America starts by revealing in painful detail the systematic betrayal of the core founding principles of a once-great nation, revealing in all its gory detail the ways in which the American government has been comprehensively ‘captured’ by wealth, ruthless corporate power and the military-industrial complex –an aging and declining empire whose days are numbered, like all empires, and whose Machiavellian manoeuvrings have brought shame to the nation, and led to opprobrium and derision across the globe. A United States of America whose ruling elite is obsessed with power and global geopolitical domination at almost any price is part of an old, moribund paradigm that is regressive, reactionary and which betrays the core founding values of our nation.

About the Author :
Christopher Schaefer Ph.D. taught international politics and economics at Tufts University and M.I.T. before becoming an organizational development consultant. He co-founded the Waldorf School in Lexington, Mass. and the Centre for Social Development at Emerson College in England as well as Social Ecology Associates, an international consultancy group.He wrote Partnerships of Hope : Building Waldorf School Communities. A grandfather and activist, he calls for a free, equal and mutual society in a new Covenant between the American people and its government that engages both conservatives and progressives

Review :
Educator and consultant Christopher Schaefer deals skilfully with the problematic question of America today and its role in the world. He is clear-sighted about the issues for example of the enormous disparity in wealth, in attitudes towards immigrants, climate change, interference in foreign countries, the treatment of prisoners, lying and factual distortion, all of which have worsened during the Trump administration. He wonders what has happened to the American ideals of former times as he charts the downhill passage and highlights the blatant world domination policies of recent administrations and the huge unresolved questions around 9/11. But the reader can feel some lifting of the despair as he also describes many positive initiatives by individuals and independent groups. He makes economic and political suggestions of his own based on threefolding and gives very helpful advice for inner work which will help one to deal with what confronts so many Americans today (and indeed others in the world). He takes up the 'Manichaean' suggestions of Christine Gruwez that we can become witnesses to our time by quietly holding troubling world events within us with empathy which can lead to an awareness of the healing powers available to us. Likewise he suggests anthroposophical and mindfulness exercises and the all-important one of Lex Bos which is to look into oneself for a corresponding attitude or behaviour. It is a refreshingly personal account of a singularly aware individual today. Written originally as separate essays over a period of some years, there is inevitably some repetition but it isn't a bad thing to be reminded of such important issues. Hopefully the book can reach out further beyond an immediately like-minded readership and awaken more people to what is happening and how to cope.