Be the people: A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith & Promise

January 7, 2021

Last year was a long and arduous year, full of rioting and political disagreement on so many levels.  We find solace in books that help direct us toward the best future for our nation.  America needs citizens invested in learning how to improve the country, bridge the gaps, and teach others the true beauty of its principles.  This January, we have selected Dr. Carol Swain’s book, Be The People:  A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith & Promise, as our book of the month.  Dr. Swain is the host of the podcast, “Be The People, and the author or editor of nine books.  Her books have won three national awards, and one was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.  She is also the host of “Two Minutes to Think About It,” heard on Bott Radio and other Christian radio stations.  She is a former university professor of political science and law at Princeton and Vanderbilt Universities.  Dr. Swain is a nationally known political commentator who has appeared on all key national news outlets, as well as many international networks.  She was a Nashville mayoral candidate in 2018 and 2019.  Her opinion pieces have been published in the The New York Times, USA Today, CNN Online, The Epoch Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.      

About the book…

Dr. Carol Swain’s book, Be The People, is especially relevant as we begin a new year.  Last year, we saw liberals making historically inaccurate claims about the establishment of the United States of America.  This book examines the Judeo-Christian values that are at the heart of the founding of our country.  She unpacks the modern ideas that do not accurately reflect the American story.  Dr. Swain then outlines a path forward with action steps for the reader.  If you are wondering how to impact America for the greater good, then this book is for you.  She says, “My hope is that this book will expose the lies and empower this generation of Americans to become skilled at gathering, filtering, and evaluating the information that comes to us shaped by the media, the cultural elite, educational institutions, and other gatekeepers who have set themselves up as change agents.”

In this book, you will find:

  1. Key facts about the reshaping of American values
  2. How America is founded on Judeo-Christian principles
  3. The importance of policies that are disparaged by the Left
  4. Key founding documents

We encourage everyone to join us this January as we read and learn from Dr. Carol Swain.  We are inspired to move forward and support the beauty of America.  Educate yourself on history and issues that matter so that you can better understand and defend the values we all hold dear.  On the American seal, there is a Latin phrase, “e pluribus unum.”  Perhaps we would be better served if that were in English, as it states, “out of many, one.”  The beauty of America is that you can be from varied ethnic backgrounds – rich, poor, old, young, etc. – and still BE American.  We unite around these common principles and history.  Dr. Swain’s book outlines key facts that can help you preserve these principles that are under attack from the Left.  

Discussion Questions:

  1. Would you add any more ‘banished virtues’ to her list?
  2. Did you learn any history tidbits that surprised you?
  3. Did you know most early universities in America were Christian?
  4. Did you read the Appendix too? (we highly recommend it!)