Carol Gould is not just one of my favourite authors, but one of my favourite people. It is safe to say that warmth, wit and wisdom are qualities particularly well-represented among Americans and Jews, but even by these high standards she’s a star. As I discovered a few months ago, she is also a formidable debater. Don’t be fooled by that sweet smile, opponents.
Carol is also the only person I’ve ever whacked in the head with a vegetable, but more of that later…
I’m writing this post because she has written a fantastic book called Don’t Tread On Me: Anti-Americanism Abroad. It is a 21st century J’Accuse against the growth in anti-Americanism and its vile, incestuous sibling – antisemitism. The book is so much more than that, though. It is also a personal celebration of all that is great about America and Americans, a charge-sheet against the hypocrisy and envy that underpins the prejudice against them and a personal journal of a brave, plucky woman in strange times.
As I wrote in Not In My Name, the growth in anti-Americanism is undeniable and disturbing, but even I am surprised by the level of bigotry Carol has faced in these shores. She’s had an amazing life and I must say that much as I love my country, when someone like Carol feels so uncomfortable living here than we really have lost our way. The more people read books like hers, the more chance we have of getting back on track.
I think what I enjoyed most about Don’t Tread On me is that Carol is not content to merely disprove the lies about American people. She goes to the next stage and proudly celebrates their pluckiness, their work ethic and all the other qualities that make them such a great people. I’ve read countless American non-fiction and fiction books but this is the one that in my opinion best captures the admirable spirit of the people. Informative, entertaining and above all damn right, it is a brilliant read and I urge you to buy it now.
So, about that vegetable… It was at a Passover seder in 2007 where we sat together. Carol could not have been more welcoming of me, the nervous goy. It is a Sephardi tradition to strike ones neighbour on the head with a spring onion during the Seder, and I couldn’t think of a better person to follow that tradition with than Carol.Nor has anyone busted anti-Americanism as well as her. Everything that is great about Carol and the American people in general is distilled into her book. I cannot recommend it enough.
You might also like to read her novel Spitfire Girls. I haven’t read it yet but it is very highly thought of.
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This “hitting on head with spring onion during ‘Daiyanu’” thing – we do it. We’ve done it for years – picked it up from a family friend.
We had heard it was an Afghani custom, but frankly… we’ve never been able to track it down.
Right, a quick google around locates this as a Persian/Afghan Jewish custom.
they do it at my synagogue’s communal seder. It’s rather fun!
G-d bless America, Chaz.
PS: I also think Carol is an amazing person: a formidable debater who wiped the floor with the antisemites she faced on a recent Press TV show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kXGljeGOsI
She’s very interesting to chat with, too. She’s told me so many great stories. Buy her book already, people!
Thank you. Bless you, Chas. Bless all of you for the kind comments. I am going through a living hell right now so this keeps me away from the gaspipe, as they say in Philadelphia.
How wonderful! BTW – about the flag of the same name that the title is based on – Don’t Tread on Me Flag
The American edition from Encounter Books came out in the USA last month and has the colonial ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag on the cover:
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Tread-Me-Anti-Americanism-Abroad/dp/1594032394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249404050&sr=1-1
Well this sounds like an interesting book. Good post Chas, keep it up.
Yes, Carol is brilliant!
BTW Chas, what’s happened with your Facebook? I miss you!
London NW8 and everyone — thank you for your kind words..
Carol,
Do you have quite a bit of detail about the New Left and the anti-Vietnam War activists in Europe or is it all much more current than that? If you do cover the Vietnam War period do you also deal with American organisations such as the SDS or is the book strictly about Anti-Americanism abroad?
What ever happened to critique – I like Americans a whole lot and not just the Jews – some of the other ones are really rather splendid as well – but what are you Carols’ nephew? I would have to say two dimensional observation, discernibly over sensitive reaction to dubiously construed intent – all these years in the UK – seem to have done little for Carols American stereotype. She is a novelty in a UK context but would have little to offer at home. Really rather poor – really rather read something else.
Have you read the book?
hit someone on the head with a spring onion?!!! I wish I’d known of this before – it would have made our Seders in the past MUCH more lively! LOL