What makes ordinary citizens volunteer and fight in a war for independence like our forefathers did? And after they do that and see the horror and carnage, how do they cope with their lives and beliefs? Well, read "For Richard Stands" and learn how common ordinary citizens took up arms and laughed about it.
And why not? Dad always said, take time off from your job any time you can because corporate america, if not our own government, will screw you in the end regardless of how patriotic you were.
For Richard Stands was written from a satirical political perspective looking at America through comic eyes. It is a story told humorously with a lot of entertaining adventure as American history almost repeats itself giving the reader an opportunity to chuckle out loud at the all important political philosophy that makes the United states of America worth dying for.
The world today is politically complicated as the multicultural characters of the book use funny anecdotes and sing funny tunes actually used by historical veterans to describe the action of the book. The battles take place on historical hallowed ground and the true philosophy of American rights and liberties are tested again and again. Yet the message of the book of a need for war and bloodshed is vividly described the way one would have imagined as a child and finally as a real soldier. The story then becomes a living testimonial and tribute to the bravery of our nation's military personnel in whatever conflict they were prepared to fight in.
In other ways the book is a tribute to first responders and firefighters, especially now, a decade after 9/11. The story ends with the realization that the ideas of America's founding fathers is still alive today and that that the US Constitution is a living breathing document keeping the heartbeat of America strong and steady. It allows the reader to realize, if not the entire world, that Americans are still for liberty and justice and a way of life worth preserving and defending. The philosophy of the book becomes self-evident as our new age technology brings people and cultures closer together than ever before, much like the same old American melting pot. In the end, the reader understands that it is not so important whether we call ourselves German Americans or Native Americans or Italian, Mexican or Afro Americans but rather we call ourselves simply plain old Americans.
Finally the book is extremely entertaining, pokong fun at certain American colloquial expressions and other local down home cultures. The action of the book is sprinkled with the flavor of the American Southwest and for a short while cowboys are fighting Indians, yankees are fighting rebels and the intigue of foreign involvement adds a suspenseful cloak and dagger twist. For Richard Stands teaches us what it means to be an American.
