The Life and Times of Uncle Sam

Hey, Madison, I really liked this one, also. Here's some of my thoughts about it, chapter by chapter.

The Life and Times of Uncle Sam

Loved the part of the Union Soldier's letter home. Sometimes I wonder what Uncle Sam, and some of the other icons and symbols of our country and our society would actually say about some of the things that have happened over the years.

Part 1 - The Witch and the Symbol

Chapter 1 - Loved the stories of 'Old Abe' and  'Brother Jonathan'. Both were new to me from reading this book, but so was the History of 'Uncle Sam', or at least until I had taken History classes in High School, and probably College. Up until then, I had known 'Uncle Sam', of course, and I probably had known that he had originally been 'invented' as a means of poking fun at the United States government, at least at the time. LOL. But I wasn't as intimately familiar with him as I was when I took those classes in High School, and College.

Chapter 2 - I had read about the Salem Witch Trials in School, of course. They're a favorite subject in History classes. Still, I could see someone like Coral being tried and convicted for Witchcraft, especially back then.

Chapter 3 - I loved how you interwove Civil War history in this chapter.

Chapter 4 - As well as the end of the War into this chapter. Then you added the Devil into the mix? Ooookaaaaayyyyy. (Perhaps a little incredulity in there, but willingness to see where you take it next. LOL.)

Chapter 5 - Okay. The Devils hiding with Coral in a game of 'Hide and Seek' with his own twisted interpretation. Where in all of this planet is he hiding with her? Sam will find him.

Again, love how you used History to help weave the story of how Sam searched high, low, and middle for Coral and the Devil, and how FDR helped Sam to think just a bit out of the box, to help him find the Devil and Coral in Berlin, Germany.

Chapter 6 - I remember seeing pictures of some of the survivors of Aushwitz, and your pictures (with words) do those pictures a certain kind of justice. That's a picture that's a little hard to get rid of, and even picture it in the first place.

Loved how you pictured Sam's and the Devil's chess game in terms of things that happened during World War II.

Laughed when the two GI's joked about Sam having a girlfriend. He's allowed, boys.

Part 2 - Encounters in the Sand

Chapter 1 - The part with the kids was too accurate to be funny, especially that one kid, Billy.

Chapter 2 - It was sad that Abe was killed in Viet Nam.

Chapter 3 - My Father used to say that was the hardest part about the War in Viet Nam, coming home to the protests, and being the symbol for the hatred of the people against the Government, when they (the soldiers) were the only available symbol of the government.

And now comes the First Gulf War.

Chapter 4 - Can you imagine either one of the Bush's ever having this conversation with Sam? The problem is I think I can, very easily.

Love the back story of the First Gulf War, and the conversations that Sam has with the various military leaders of the time.

Chapter 5 - Love how you drew Deficit, and the conversation Sam had with Saddam Hussein, and others.

Chapter 6 - Love how Coral threatened that Iraqi Officer, after he killed one of his soldiers.

Chapter 7 - Trying to get a picture in word form of a war can be difficult and challenging, but you did remarkably well for all of the various players in this little story.

Chapter 8 - Loved the part with the U.S. Flag still flying over the U.S. Embassy, and the quote from The Star Spangled Banner.

Part 3 - The Bureaucratic Mind

Chapter 1 - That one is too true to be funny. It's too bad that it's not as simple as the second part of that chapter makes it out to be.

Chapter 2 - I can't make a comment on it, mostly because it hit a little too close to home, (no pun intented). Although my father, and my stepfather never actually beat any of us, the words were bad enough, and that's all I can say on the subject.

Sometimes I wish women could get off, or at least found not guilty, for killing their abusers by admitting that the abuse had been going on, but, unfortunately, our society likes to say 'well, why didn't you leave if it was that bad', but leaving is the terrifying part. It's a little like walking a tight rope, blindfolded.....

And here I wasn't going to comment. LOL.

Loved how Coral did her thing at the Library. LOL. That reminds me a little of the scene in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with all the dancing dishes, and buckets and mops, etc.

Also liked how Deficit overheard the two Senators and got that idea.

Chapter 3 - Loved how Deficit and Coral solved Sam's problems, with the house, and how Sam continued to be a thorn in the sides of the Detective, and the DA.

Chapter 4 - Loved this chapter. Actually laughed out loud in parts. Loved how Det Lawton asked about Coral, and accepted that she could have been either a witch, or a sorceress. And how Coral asked if it was 'safe' to talk in front of the Det.

Chapter 5 - Overall, loved this chapter, especially Sam. He is a crackup. LOL. Also loved how Coral transported them to the house, and how Det Lawton started to ask, then thought better of it. LOL. The part with the Manor House reminded me a little of that show, 'Extreme Makeover:Home Edition', where all these housing people, contractors, builders, electricians, plumbers, etc. would come to a house and donate their time and the equipment and supplies to rebuild the house for the family, who most of the time, had a sick or disable family member, and couldn't afford to either get a new house, or even make repairs to the old one.

Also, loved it when they raised the flag on the pole in front of the Manor House.

Part 4 - The Forest Upheaval

I remember hearing the story that there was a real 'Smokey' the bear that had been caught in a forest fire, and the ranger who had rescued him, and had taken care of him.

Unfortunately what happened to Ranger has happened too many times. Those kids could have stopped that fire before it could get really started, but it wasn't their 'job'.

Chapter 1 - Loved what Sam and Abraham did to those boys at the campsite.

Unfortunately, this is where things get started for Smokey.

Chapter 2 - Laughed at the 'fur-covered express train' part, and at the 'presents on 7-4' bit. (Too bad that's not real. LOL)

Chapter 3 - Ah, yes, the Mighty Special Interest Groups. Where would our government be without them? Loved Smokey's part in this, and Sam's. Also loved how Det Lawton appeared. "When Dr Wilson wants a cop, she doesn't fool around with 9-1-1." LOL.

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All in all, I really liked it. Funny, and thought provoking, all at the same time.

Oracle