Year: 2010

Morning Meanderings…My Letter From The State and a Fine (Life is never dull…)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments


Good morning.  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  Mine was crazy busy but I have lived through it and am ready to start this week with a bit of energy that I think I have stored up over night.  It’s not a lot – but I think it will be enough to spark me forward.  😛

Last month you may remember that my friend Wendy and I went on a 75 mile bike ride that started and stopped in Itaska State Park.  We drove there that morning, got lost, and finally made it there about an hour and a half later than we had hoped to start.  The man who was working for the bike ride committee told us that the main parking area was full and asked us to park  in this other lot that he pointed to.

We completed the ride in hot weather but came back triumphant from completing our goal.  We loaded up the bikes, stopped for our Dairy Queen award and went home.

Then came the letter.

The letter states that a vehicle may not enter a state park, state recreation area, or a state wayside over 50 acres in area without a state vehicle permit.  Currently my fine and court fees are $125.00

WHA???

So needless to say, I was on the phone yesterday calling the Itaska State Park Operations Supervisor who had signed this letter with the phone number.  The message said the office closes at 2 pm each day.  I left a message expressing my concern over this letter (and *gulp* fine).  Then I thought I had better call the people who set up the bike ride as well as they are the ones who would have my name registered as a rider and I am a bit upset they would have me park in an area that I shouldn’t.  I mean, if we are going to participate in this ride, no where during sign up did it say that my vehicle would need to have a Park permit.

So… I am looking for the phone number on their website… scrolling down scrolling down…. and then I stop.  What was that?  I scroll back up and almost bust a gut laughing….. the picture on their website is Wendy and I.  Not a scrolling through pics of the event… nope.  Wendy and I.  I had no idea.

So yes, I did find the phone number for the coordinator and left them a message as well.  I am hopeful today I will get some calls back and we can get this cleared up.  The picture is random – they have no idea who the pic is other than riders for the event.  I think it is HILARIOUS that I am the one who will be speaking to them about this fine and I have real proof that I was on the ride – because there I am.  (Pre – letter happy)  😛

So that is my latest in event worthy news.  Today I have work, an exiting afternoon meeting I hope to share more about with you soon, and kick ball (I know, I know) tonight.

Picture clicks to website

I hope your day is filled with sunshine and that your parking is ticket free.

😛

When Life Throws You Lemons… Make Cranberry Juice! by Shari Bookstaff

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments


When my kids were learning to walk, I remember walking behind them, ready to catch them if they stumbled backward. I never dreamed that thirteen years later my kids would be walking behind me, ready to catch me if I stumbled backward.

I was 42 years old when I was diagnosed with a benign, operable, brain tumor. Doctors predicted a short hospital stay followed by a speedy recovery. Complications arose, giving me unexpected life-long obstacles.

A divorced mother of two beautiful, talented, wonderful children, I had high hopes for a bright and happy future. I had a secure job that I loved, and I was beginning to date again when my brain tumor was diagnosed.

My life since that fateful day has been focused on regaining basic human functions: breathing, swallowing, walking, etc. I am working again, and trying to be a good mother to my two beautiful, talented, wonderful children.

Putting a positive spin on life’s disasters doesn’t always work, but looking for, and accepting, positive things in spite of life’s disasters works. Instead of making lemonade out of lemons, I add life’s sweet sugar and cranberries to my lemons. This makes life much more palatable.

Shari Bookstaff

Ok… yes I admit it… I was partially drawn to this book because book is in the author’s name. It’s true.. I am that girl.  😛  BUT, before you go rolling your eyes (if it’s not too late) I did find more in this book than a really cool authors name… I found a fighter, a survivor… and a down right funny woman!

What Shari goes through in this book would put some of us down for the count.  In a time that would be easier to go lay back in bed with the covers up to your eye brows, Shari writes of a determined spirit.

Here is a part of the book:

At night when I couldn’t sleep, I asked myself some very difficult questions.  I had questions about the value of my life, questions about my future, questions about why this happened to me, and questions about my dogs capacity for humor.  My questions had no right answers just like my problems had no solution.

These were some of the questions I asked myself:

What should I do if my life is over but I am still alive?

When I get to Heaven, will I be able to walk normally?

It is said that as long as you have your health, you have everything.  Well what if I don’t have my health, then what have I got?

Is my glass half full or half empty?  Who cares if I don’t like the beverage?

How can I accept my physical limitations and believe that I can continue to improve physically as well?

Where’s Nemo?

Page 116

I enjoyed reading Shari’s story very much.  This is a book that as Shari would say, helps you exercise your right to choose how you are going to go forward from the lemons that life tends to toss our way.

AMAZON RATING

I received this book for review as part of a Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour


It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)94 Comments



It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment.  You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner (using Random.Org) was:

Kathy Martin   Inside Of A Dog


Congratulations!  Please choose an item out of the PRIZE BOX and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com


I feel awesome!  I had a great reading week and really think I lived out Banned Books Week to the fullest.  I had a chance to read and review books that were ones I have wanted to read for a long time – but also new titles to me that I enjoyed as well.  Let’s recap shall we?



Are You There God?  It’s Me Margaret. by Judy Blume (For Banned Book Week and well… its Judy Blume… so it might have been for me too :D)


When Reality Hits You Right In The Face (Seriously – did you see this?  You have to see this!)


Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix by J K Rowling (Oh yeah a BANNED BOOK review)


SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson (the BANNED BOOK that has recently caused quite a stir!)


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel pie Society – book review (remember the pinky swear?)


I am going to be a part of a book panel and need your help


Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – Banned Book Review


Reminder that the Wordshakers On line Book Club will be discussing The Wife’s Tale by Lori Lansen this week – not to late to join in!


Last week to jump on the group meet up of Minnesota and surrounding area Book Bloggers,  check this post for details 😀


I did have a good week!  *pause while I review the list again with an odd pride and a little rebellion*


This week I think will be exciting as well as this week will end with the Read-A-Thon on October 9th and if you have not signed up I have to tell you that you are going to miss out on some FUN!  Scoot on over there and get your name on the list.  I will wait here.  😛

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Ok, awesome – you are back!  Anyway, as I was saying, I think the weekend will provide some good reading time and I hope to add to what I am posting here – but the plan this week is:


Hoo Hoo!  I have been wanting to read a cozy mystery for a while now and this one has double – or triple excitement for me!  One is that of course the book looks fantastic!  Two is that the author is a Minnesota author and seriously lest give it up for the home team!  Three is that Laura Childs is so super awesome that she will be author chatting with me about this book and what’s new and whats what…. and well…. I am a little exited!



This is another one that as I read the back of this book I get a little chill as to what could be inside – I have high hopes for this one!  Oh and guess what?  I have two.  TWO!  What to do… what to do….. OH!  I think we will have a giveaway!  Watch for that this week.  😀



This one looks like it will just be a fun lite read.  I am hopeful that it is funny and that when I am done with it I can pass it on to College Son .


So that’s my plan as well as the reviews I need to post from last weeks non Banned Books read.  I have to confess… once I got into the banned books theme it was and is hard to back my way out.  I need more time!  I still have several on my kitchen table that I am hoping to read before they have to go back to the library.  I love being able to read these tiles and then being able to discuss them.  😀


I am so looking forward to stopping by and seeing what you are reading!  This is actually one of my favorite things to do each week.  Add your What Are You Reading post to the linky where it says CLICK HERE and we all can visit the posts!  :razz:

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Don’t Forget!!!! Wordshakers On Line Book Club Read

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Dont forget!  For those of you who are joining in on the current Wordshaker reading of The Wife’s Tale, we are going live with our posts and conversation on October 6th!  It’s not too late to join in.  There will be an authors chat and a BIG GIVEAWAY with signed additions to Lori Lanssen’s books.  Those who are doing the read-a-long with me and linking their reviews on the 6th will receive an extra entry in the giveaway.

Stay tuned!

Morning Meanderings… Never Say Good Bye

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments


Morning!  Ok let’s try that again.

Good morning!  😛

Sunday morning here and Banned Books Week is officially over.  Wow.  I kind of miss it.  I had a week of reading books that I have wanted to read for quite some time as well as experiencing a couple new to me titles.  Over all, I did not read one book that I could say I found offensive and agreed that this book should perhaps have limited access to certain ages.  In fact, most of them really surprised me that they were banned and some I had to look up to see exactly what people found so offensive.

Of course, as I mentioned yesterday morning, I still have banned books checked out from the library and if I can squeeze a couple more in as I return to my regular reading habits I sure will.

I do not have a lot of time this morning as I am getting ready for church and as usual am pushing the time envelope but I want to leave you with what I would like to refer to as a great theme song for Banned Books:


And… well honestly…. if you are an 80’s fan…. just a great song – period.  😀

Have an awesome Sunday everyone!  Tonight we are going out to dinner with Navy son.  It’s hard to believe he leaves tomorrow, but he is going to be in Florida for a while and with a little luck – back for Christmas.  😀

Morning Meanderings… A Girl Walks Into A Library…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Good morning!  😀  Where was I?  Coffee Cup… check…. making Snickerdoodles for this afternoon… check…..


Oh Yeah.  A Girl Walks into a library…. oh wait, that’s me.  And it’s true!  I walked into the library yesterday afternoon to return the banned books I had on loan for Banned Books Week.  At the beginning of banned books week I had mentioned how disappointed I was that I had been in our library, local bookstore, and a few other books stores in the area in the past week no one had even a peep up around banned books week.

So… I am in the library (every time I say what I want to add with the candle stick or the rope…) AND as I am returning my books I see behind a glass case police tape saying “CRIME SCENE” and a banned book display.  In the center of the display was a large book with a padlock punched through it making it impossible to open.

Pause for dramatic effect.

I was thrilled and as I went up to the window to look at their selections I seen books I would love to read.  When I asked the librarian she I could borrow whatever books I wanted to in the case and they would replace them with the books I had just returned.  (LOVE my library!) So I left with three books out of the display as well as the books I had on reserve when I walked in.

Here is what I have:



Why is Beloved Banned?  They cite violence and sex.  I read also that is very graphic as it is about a woman who kills her daughter to keep her from becoming a slave.




Why is The Lorax banned?  The Laytonville, California School District challenged this book on grounds that it “criminalizes the forestry industry.”  The book says that cutting down trees is bad.


Why was Black Boy banned?  ‘Black Boy’ is a memoir about growing up in the Jim Crow-era South, a story of survival in a sick society that treated 1/3rd of its population as sub-human chattel.  Black Boy was not banned because of Wright’s Communism (excusable considering that-until the 1950s-the US Communists were the only political party committed to racial equality) but rather because it offended many Southerners, and also due to the book’s frank descriptions of sex, violence, and racially-charged language.

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is about a young resident of an Indian reservation who decides to attend a white high school.There is sexual language and foul jokes, along with themes encompassing racism, alcoholism and violence. There are also descriptions of how the protagonist, Junior, tries to realize his dreams while surviving both life on the reservation and at a new school.


This last one just looked interesting and I looked through it a bit last night.  It lays out 100 different banned books with author, publisher, date of publishing, what the book si a about and why it was banned.  I wish I would have found this book at the beginning of the week.


And yes, today is the last day of banned books week and here I am with another pile of books as well as a couple from my original trip to the library.  Maybe they do not all get read this time around…. maybe I will find that some are not for me.  I really have enjoyed learning more about the books and why they were banned and what I have read so far this week has been an adventure in reading and one I would gladly hop on board for again.


Today I am helping at a funeral for most of the early afternoon.  I plan to be home in time to finish the lawn (seems like I am always mowing these days!) and pick out a new audio at audible.com for my mowing enjoyment.  Any audio suggestions?  Any fun plans this weekend?

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Banned Book Week)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

The background story:   Fahrenheit 451 takes place in an unspecified future time (some dialogue places it after 1990) in a hedonisticanti-intellectual America that has completely abandoned self-control. This America is filled with lawlessness in the streets ranging from teenagers crashing cars into people to firemen at a station who set their ‘mechanical hound’ to hunt various animals by their scent for the simple and grotesque pleasure of watching them die. Anyone caught reading or possessing illegal books is, at the minimum, confined to a mental hospital while the books are burned by the firemen. Illegal books mainly include famous works of literature, such as Walt WhitmanWilliam Faulkner, as well as the Bible and all historical texts.

My synopsis:  The book opens with Fireman Guy Montag coming home after a long day at work.  As he gets close to home he meets his new neighbor Clarisse who is young and free spirited.  As they walk and talk Guy finds her talk strange… speaking of taking time to look at the grass and enjoy a summer.  yes, even after their brief encounter he can not get what she spoke of out of his head.

Once home he finds his wife laying on the bed having taken an entire bottle of sleeping pills.  When Montag calls for help a team comes and cleans her out as thought they were carpet cleaners.  Their cold regard to a human life starts Montag really thinking about the state of society and about why he does what he does.

Fireman in this futuristic read do not put out fires… they start them.  In fact in this world the fireman we all know, never existed.  Firemen always started fire.  And why?  Well to burn books of course.  Reading is BANNED and if you are caught with books they are all burned, many times your home too, and occasionally the home owner.  During one such raid, Montag catches site of a line in one the books as it is being burned, “Time has fallen asleep in the afternoon sunshine.”  This prompts Montag to steal a book…..

… and it’s not the first time….


This book should be the king of the banned books week.  Why?  Because it is actually a book about banning books.  It’s brilliant – and so is Bradbury who I have never read before.

Honestly, before I listened to this book (yup – audio…. while I mowed the lawn and when I would get ready for work in the morning…) I had no idea what it was about.  Well.. sure I thought it had to do with fire… but if I would have known this was a book about burning books.  I probably would have made this one  a priority long before now.

Books, according to the story do nothing but put ideas into people’s heads.  And really who needs free thinkers all willy nilly coming up with their own ideas?

I really was impressed by this reading and was surprised really how much I enjoyed the story line.  I have never been one for sci-fi or futuristic reads but have to make an exception in this case.  For as old as this book is (originally published as The Fireman in 1951), it is almost spooky how it speaks of censorship.

I really enjoyed this audio – if you remember I had one audio of this I gave up on due to the narrator.  Unfortunately that narrator was Ray Bradbury himself.  I hate to say it, but I could not understand him.  I sent that copy back tot he library and purchased a different narrator at audible.com, read by Christopher Hurt, this one was amazing.

It’s frightening to think that as book stores close, libraries fight to stay open and e books become more popular… that I picture my library becoming paper contraband… hiding my books in the basement under lock and key and the pretense of a storage room…


Why was Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury banned?

The banning of “Fahrenheit 451” Ray Bradbury’s 1953 book about the evils of book banning and censorship is one of those circular jokes that we see every once in a while. The initial complaint was that the words “hell” and “damn” appeared in it making it a corrupting force on society. Opponents then noted that one of the books burned was a Christian Bible and took the position that the author advocated burning Bibles (rather than the opposite that he was trying to show how bad things had become)

A more obvious reason seems to exist. One of the main themes of the story is that a government which tries to suppress freedom of expression should be opposed. In the early 50’s, when this book was written, this advocacy of opposition was seen as a bad thing by real world authoritarian groups (e.g. McCarthyism) that claimed to have all the answers.

Like the opposition to “1984”, the opposition to “Fahrenheit 451” seems to grow as the depicted society grows too similar to our own. One of these uncomfortable parallels is today’s increased use of entertainment in place of learning and culture. Ray Bradbury has stated that this dumbing down was one of the concerns he was trying to raise.

I purchased this copy  from audible.com


Morning Meanderings… How does a reader decide what to read next despite the growing stack of options on their night table?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments


Morning bookish people!  Last night was so fantastic!  Brad (Navy son) and two of his buddies, Adam and Andy hung out at the house for dinner and a lot of laughter.  I love Boot Camp stories… I never get tired of them!  Brad is such a card and I can just picture the stories he shares!

Of course Navy Son trumps almost everything else going on in my life now so my banned book a day review fell off the “banned wagon” yesterday…. but only for the day!  Instead I had to pop in a very late in the evening but made the deadline review of The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society ( the pinky swear was to read it in September!)

But look at me ramble on about all things not about the post title…. SO… whats up with that?

I am so glad you asked!

SSQQQUUUEEEEEE!!!

I was invited to be on my first ever panel for The Twin Cities Book Festival.  I am super pumped and a little nervous…. so I am going to share with you now what they sent me and I would love to hear your thoughts on this discussion.


The Changing World Of Publishing: Getting Books To Readers

Our problem is not too few good books, but too many. How does a reader decide what to read next despite the growing stack of options on their night table? How does a new author break into a dedicated reader’s “To Be Read” queue when traditional media outlets are disappearing fast? What role will new technologies like social media play now that authors are largely responsible for promoting their books themselves?” Our panel will tackle these big questions, and invite your tips and tricks for finding great books as well! (10:30 am, Hennepin Room)


Moderated by Kevin Smokler, co-founder and CEO of BookTour.com and editor of the anthology Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times.


Tim Brown has worked behind the scenes at the Printer’s Row Book Festival in Chicago and at the Independent Press Center in New York City. He has also published three novels and his poetry and nonfiction have appeared in hundred of publications.


Sheila DeChantal is a bibliophile who lives in northern Minnesota. Her blog, “Book Journey,” contains reviews, interviews, and all things bookish.


Andrew Ervin is the author of Extraordinary Renditions, just out from Coffee House Press. He is also a noted reviewer of books for The Believer, New York Times Book Review, Rain Taxi Review of Books, and other fabulous periodicals.


Jeff Kamin moderates the “Books & Bars” reading series in Minneapolis, which won a City Pages Best of in 2009. He’s also a freelance writer, publicist, and event coordinator at the blog “Mustache Robots,” but only after being El Jefe to his two young boys.


Steph Opitz is the membership director of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses in New York, and the former publicist at Red Hen Press in Los Angeles.


I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on the questions that will be discussed.

The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)52 Comments


Slipping in right under the dead line – I pinky swore with Alita from Alita.Reads that we would both read this book in September.  She totally smoked me…. but I am done with the book and here is my review.  Thanks Alita – what a blast!  😀


The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton (nom de plume Izzy Bickerstaff) writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet’s name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book’s epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation.   Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life.

An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. Recently, electronic “documents” such as recordings and radio, blogs, and e-mails have also come into use. The word epistolary comes from the Latin word epistola, meaning a letter.


Click to see Alita's review

I know I know… I could have written my own synopsis… but honestly… I am tired and my brain is fuzzy and words to describe this delightful book are totally escaping me so if I would have written the synopsis it would have been one word:

Delightful.

Uniquely written, this book is made up entirely of letters.  Yes!  Letters!  Correspondence back and forth, fun and witty and informative – letter by letter we piece this story together… the remarkable start of The Potato Peel Pie Society and the books they enjoyed!  I love books – about books!

Pride and Prejudice

Wuthering Heights

Past and Present

The Cantebury Tales

The Pickwick Papers

Selected Essays Of Elia

The Collected Poems of Wilfred Owen

Letters of Seneca

Selections from Shakespeare


I have enjoyed a few books centered around war this past year and have to say this is the best one I have read.  As I mentioned earlier, books about books is really a soft sell for me…. I just love to rad about other book lovers.  They fascinate me!  I loved reading about other people in the “Society” and how the book club developed.  I group that started out as a “cover story” that became rea… did I mention that I love that?

I know I am gushing and repeating myself and doing all sorts of things that when I read this review tomorrow I will roll my eyes – but honestly I have to get this out there – read this book!  Warm and welcoming characters that will invite themselves into your heart.

This would make a wonderful book club read!


I wanted to include a recipe for Potato Peel Pie… I did not have the time to make this as I had hoped to… however if I ever get my book club to read this I think I will have to put in the effort:

  • 2 cups raw, grated potato skins (I added some of the white part to keep the texture somewhat tender), use mashed potatoes for filling
  • 1/3 cup grated onion
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 3 Tbs flour
  • beetroot
  • sour cream (optional)
  • chives (optional)
  • butter (optional)
  • garlic (optional)

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a small pie plate. Mix grated potato peels with egg, onion and flour. Press the mixture into the pie plate and up the sides to form a crust. Bake crust for 20-25 minutes. While the crust is baking, cook potatoes, drain and mash. You can add your favorite mashed potato flavorings here i.e. garlic, onion, milk, butter, salt, etc. Fill crust with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with beetroot. Bake in oven at lower temperature of 375 for 10 minutes or until browned.

    • I received this book for review

    Morning Meanderings… “Banned Aid”

    Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

    LOL…. oh come on, I have been saving that post name all week….

    *giggles to myself*

    I had to use it.


    Ok, Coffee Cup and I seem to be running late today so I will move on (although it still makes me smile…).  I have been having a fun week of reading books that I have selected not only because it is banned books week, but also because many of the titles are books that I have always wanted to read.  I have a few that are too big for me to get reviewed during this week, but I still plan to read them.  One of those books would be Pillars of The Earth, another would be A Prayer For Owen Meany.  Both books I currently have checked out from the library.

    Last evening I put up my review of SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I did not plan on posting it that late, but I had an insane day and after work was home all of 15 minutes before I ran out to a much-needed dinner with friends.  Sometimes just hanging out with people and having time to laugh and enjoy what happening in their lives can be like medicine for the soul.  When I got home after 8 pm, I still had a couple of touches to put on the review so I finished it up and it went live last night.  I hope you can take a minute to read it if you have not already.  This is the book that I had just started hearing about a couple of weeks ago and the controversy surrounding a particular part of the book.  When I heard the opposite side of this argument, how many people the book was reaching… I dived in cautiously waiting for the part in the book that was causing the uproar.  Seriously, it was so tastefully handled.  I even called one of my friends and read the part to her over the phone looking for a second opinion.  She too thought it was handled quite appropriately.  Of course I get that the battle is not necessarily about the wording but about the subject matter.  Anyway – enough of that…..

    Today I work.  Then I mow.  (All that rain last week put me on the mower again!)  On the bright side, I hope to finish the audio of Fahrenheit 451 as I mow.  This is so the right book to read/listen to during banned books week as it is about book burning.  AND yes, I am enjoying it and yes I had given up on it recently due to the narrator, however I found it on audible.com with a different narrator and that made all the difference.  More on that in my review.  😉

    Finally – the best part of my day today is that tonight Navy Son (who surprise returned home last week) and I are hanging out tonight.  I am thinking I will make turkey burgers and maybe we will go to a movie or a bike ride.  What a great way to complete my day!  😀


    Why was A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving banned?

    Banned and censored around the United States for its stance on religion and criticism of the US government regarding  the Vietnam War and Iran-Contra.