From the day Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet entered the Mississippi River in 1673; fur traders; and then settlers; were drawn to Prairie du Chien. Red Bird and Black Hawk opposed American expansionism; while Zachary Taylor enforced the change. John Muir admired the majesty of the Mississippi River; and John Lawler accepted the challenge to bridge the waters. As people came to Prairie du Chien; generations worked to form a small; cohesive community. Some; like George and Dorothy Jeffers; Ralph and Albina Kozelka; Henry Howe; and Frank Stark; began businesses that descendants continue to operate. John Peacock and Mike Valley found a livelihood from the river. Art Frydenlund; Jim Bittner; and Fred LaPointe promoted and encouraged all to come. B.A. Kennedy and Jack Mulrooney created an outstanding educational and sports program. Peter Scanlan and Cal Peters recorded the rich history. Roy and Geraldine George established the George Family Foundation; and Morris MacFarlane led a movement to create scholarships. Lori Knapp helped disabled people without realizing her impact. Politician Patrick Lucey and cowgirl Elaine Kramer gained national recognition. All these people and others; like Dr. T.F. Farrell and Robert Garrity; were neighbors. Their stories fill these pages.
#360453 in eBooks 2015-05-01 2015-03-08File Name: B00VDHH0O8
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy SittiExcellent; clearly written and well researched.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A very good book that some readers will hate. Also a case study in the creation of a new national narrative.By lyndonbrechtI will guess that the fate of this book is to be mostly ignored. Its translated from the Hebrew; and published by a respected American academic press; so its credentials are good. Kadmans book explores an explosive issue set; related to the several hundred thousand Palestinians who fled several hundred villages in the course of the 1948 fighting that established Israel. Kadman investigates what is left of those villages; and how they were incorporated into Israel. Property was seized and distributed; centuries of Palestinian history ignored; inhabitants forbidden to return and a good deal more; including some discussion on why they abandoned their homes--I wont go into all that; because its disputed and likely to make pro-Israeli readers very angry. Read it and come to your own conclusions.The writing is clear and seems objective; but likely wont be seen as objective by some readers. I most liked chapter 2; "National Identity; National Conflict; Space and Memory." There are appendices listing the villages; where they are on a couple of locational maps; and detail on the population; size of village lands and why they were abandoned; and whether any structures survive.An important theme is Judaization of the land and its history; related to the creation of a nation and creation of its historical narrative--such narratives intentionally exclude aspects that conflict with the overall sense of nation (as for example; the Hispanic history of Texas is usually tacitly ignored in celebration of Texas-ness). This is an aspect of a common and larger story only mentioned in passing; such as some Serbian actions in the 1990s wars; obliterating Muslim monuments; changing names to Serbian ones. For American readers there may be some uncomfortable thoughts about dispossessing the "Five Civilized Tribes" and the Trail of Tears; or obliterating the history of communities evicted during the creation of national parks such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.So; name changing; names on maps; explanations in community histories; all reflect this; as does the use of words. She notes how Israeli materials tend to see the Palestinians as primitive and their lands as degraded; with the implication that it took Jewish possession to restore the lands to their potential; used as a justification for the expulsion. Former Palestinian communities were "abandoned" and sites "inherited" from former occupants. Kadman uses all these sources; as well as memoirs; interview transcripts and visits to sites (some are in national parks or forests).Her conclusion is hopeful; that a more honest Israeli consideration of the size and circumstances of the depopulation (theres another word often used to avoid the fact that war created refugees; as if people left willingly) will allow a better understanding between Israelis and Palestinians (she doesnt mention Israeli Arabs much). The only way progress can be made is through an honest engagement with the past. Good luck with that...
