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pturnbull's review
5.0
On August 5, 2012, a white supremacist began shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Six worshipers were killed, including Satwant Singh Kaleka, the father of Pardeep Singh Kaleka. one of the authors of this book. The other author, Arno Michaelis, is a reformed white supremacist. The two have joined their voices in this fascinating book.
I have never read the life story of a white supremacist before. Arno tells of his life, his boredom in school, the intensity of his urge to bully and hurt those different from him--the weak. He also describes attending a camp that trained him to be a soldier in the so-called coming race war. Pardeep, too, has a life story different from any I have heard before. His parents were Sikh immigrants, dedicated to hard work and the values embedded in their religion. He became a police officer in Milwaukee, then a teacher. The two together seem an unusual pair, but the work they created together helps me see a way forward from hate to acceptance.
The book reads quickly. Although Pardeep discusses his faith and how its tenets have guided his understanding of a way beyond the tragedy, there is no religious solution imposed upon its content. Interestingly, during his years as a street fighter, Arno found the KKK unattractive because it considered itself a Christian organization.
The biographies of these two men are interesting in themselves. I also found their discussion of the possibility of change one of the rare bits of good news on this topic I've heard since Charlottesville. I highly recommend this book.
I have never read the life story of a white supremacist before. Arno tells of his life, his boredom in school, the intensity of his urge to bully and hurt those different from him--the weak. He also describes attending a camp that trained him to be a soldier in the so-called coming race war. Pardeep, too, has a life story different from any I have heard before. His parents were Sikh immigrants, dedicated to hard work and the values embedded in their religion. He became a police officer in Milwaukee, then a teacher. The two together seem an unusual pair, but the work they created together helps me see a way forward from hate to acceptance.
The book reads quickly. Although Pardeep discusses his faith and how its tenets have guided his understanding of a way beyond the tragedy, there is no religious solution imposed upon its content. Interestingly, during his years as a street fighter, Arno found the KKK unattractive because it considered itself a Christian organization.
The biographies of these two men are interesting in themselves. I also found their discussion of the possibility of change one of the rare bits of good news on this topic I've heard since Charlottesville. I highly recommend this book.
afhill's review
4.0
This is one of those books I keep thinking about. I wish there were a better way to get into Arno's head and understand why he went down the initial path of hate that he did, but maybe that's not possible.
BUT! This book is about coming out the other side; forgiveness, acceptance, and focusing on making the world better. I can definitely get behind that.
BUT! This book is about coming out the other side; forgiveness, acceptance, and focusing on making the world better. I can definitely get behind that.