Breathe in as Pain, Breathe out as Love
Review of Unthinkable by Jamie Raskin
A review by Marcielle Brandler
In Jamie Raskin's heartfelt and educational memoir of politics and family, Unthinkable, we read about the unthinkable depth of love he feels for his brilliant son, Tommy; the unthinkable good fortune that a free America still exists; and the unthinkable harsh fact of the January 6th riot and Project 2025 that could tear asunder our freedoms.
Dad, Jamie begins by introducing Tommy and he reveals how he comes to admire, even venerate,
his own child who dies of suicide. Jamie's good friend, and Tommy's eulogist, "Michael observed
Tommy had breathed in all the pain of the world and breathed it out, magically as love."
his own child who dies of suicide. Jamie's good friend, and Tommy's eulogist, "Michael observed
Tommy had breathed in all the pain of the world and breathed it out, magically as love."
This book is also a love letter to America. While America chokes on all
the MAGA madness, she is desperately struggling to breathe out good
laws and good actions through good people who love our country.
the MAGA madness, she is desperately struggling to breathe out good
laws and good actions through good people who love our country.
She reinstates voting rights, women's rights, and children's rights
by reversing the fear-mongered laws enacted by haters.
by reversing the fear-mongered laws enacted by haters.
Raskin gives us a front-row seat at the January 6th debacle when
he and his colleagues on both sides were protected by the capitol
police from the would-be assassins.
police from the would-be assassins.
Jamie's father regaled him with stories of the Kennedy White House
and how "... there was always a state of high chaotic energy there...
but the closer to you got to the Oval Office, and the president, where
the most important decisions were being made, the quieter and calmer
and how "... there was always a state of high chaotic energy there...
but the closer to you got to the Oval Office, and the president, where
the most important decisions were being made, the quieter and calmer
it got," While "... the president was communing with history itself.” And
"... steering a very big ship."
"... steering a very big ship."
There are many pages of color photos of Raskin and family, of
Trump rioters, of New York Times and Getty Images of officials in
rooms just feet away from the rioters and with photos of, what he
calls, "Democracy at Work," as regular citizens work to right our very
big ship on these very choppy waters.
Trump rioters, of New York Times and Getty Images of officials in
rooms just feet away from the rioters and with photos of, what he
calls, "Democracy at Work," as regular citizens work to right our very
big ship on these very choppy waters.
Raskin ties in all that has happened and the behind-the-scenes moments
to our greater story with George Washington, Richard Nixon, the FBI,
the Impeachment of Trump, John Quincy Adams, and a capitol police
officer being stabbed by and insurrectionist with and American flagpole.
to our greater story with George Washington, Richard Nixon, the FBI,
the Impeachment of Trump, John Quincy Adams, and a capitol police
officer being stabbed by and insurrectionist with and American flagpole.
I have no desire to turn this review into an Orwellian nightmare. The
situation speaks for itself. Raskin comes to a close by saying of Tommy
that he is "No longer drowning in agony." Raskin gives us hope with his
situation speaks for itself. Raskin comes to a close by saying of Tommy
that he is "No longer drowning in agony." Raskin gives us hope with his
report of the January 6th investigation. and later says of our governing
system, "We can't count on that safety valve next time." He is warning
us that we citizens need to act and not take our country for granted.
As we have seen with the new joy and hope with Kamala Harris and
Tim Walz running for the highest offices of our great country and
Republicans of conscience denouncing the far-right agenda, we can
system, "We can't count on that safety valve next time." He is warning
us that we citizens need to act and not take our country for granted.
As we have seen with the new joy and hope with Kamala Harris and
Tim Walz running for the highest offices of our great country and
Republicans of conscience denouncing the far-right agenda, we can
strengthen our safety valves by voting, calling congress people,
demanding controls on the Supreme Court, and more. As congressman
demanding controls on the Supreme Court, and more. As congressman
Jamie Raskin has hope, so do many of us and I say, "Don't whine, Do the work."