Sharon’s Comments (group member since Jul 18, 2015)

Sharon’s comments from the The Diverse Shelf group.

Today, July 26, 2018, is the 28th anniversary of the date President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans With Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination and guarantees civil rights of people with disabilities. The ADA paves the way for equal opportunity and access and full integration of differently abled people into society and communities.

Why does this matter? According to the 2010 census, there are over 57 million people in the US with a disability. That’s one in five Americans. 19% of our population. With the aging of the population, typically more than 2.2 million Americans join the differently abled ranks every five years.

Many of us either have a disability or have family members, loved ones, and friends who are disabled. Disabilities are non-discriminatory---they occur to people from all backgrounds, religions, races, ethnicities, genders, etc.

Reading memoirs from differently abled people helps us experience life from another’s perspective. Some of my favorite books in this genre include:

I Can See Clearly Now by Steve Hanamura. As a blind person, Steve describes walking into the Department of Motor Vehicles and cracking a joke about having a difficult time parking his car. Humor often helps put others at ease.

https://www.amazon.com/Can-Clearly-Di...

In An Instant by Lee and Bob Woodruff: Bob suffered a major brain injury from an explosive device in Iraq and describes his experience and road to recovery.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Standing Up After Saigon by Thuhang Tran and Sharon Orlopp: Thuhang faced significant challenges due to polio, war, poverty, family separation, and immigration. She crawled on the ground for 17 years before having surgery that enabled her to stand upright with the aid of braces and crutches.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

As we approach the celebration of U.S. Independence, it is a great opportunity to thank those who have served and our currently serving in the military. It is also a time to recognize immigrant entrepreneurs who have made a difference in America.

Martin Greenfield’s memoir, Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz to President’s Tailor, is an amazing story of survival in the Holocaust, immigration to the States, and then success as a tailor. At age fifteen, Martin and his family were sent to Auschwitz. At the concentration camp, Martin’s father told him, “We must separate. If you survive, you must honor us by living.”

The book starts with a description of the boots and clothing worn by Dr. Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician nicknamed the Angel of Death. It foreshadows the role clothing played in Martin’s life. The sign over the Auschwitz concentration camp said, “Work Makes You Free.” Martin concentrated on remaining as healthy as he could so that he could perform work and survive.

Martin’s descriptions of events at Auschwitz are horrific. He interjects humor and faith. He often asked, “Where is God?” while at the camp. Sometimes he would tell himself that God was really busy. When the war ended, Martin said that instead of manna, God dropped munitions.

Elie Wiesel was a teenager in the same camp as Martin. When the Holocaust ended, General Dwight D. Eisenhower had his troops personally tour the concentration camps, meet prisoners, and take pictures. After Martin immigrated to the US, he worked in a suit factory. A suit was being created for President Eisenhower during the same time as the Suez Canal Crisis. Martin wrote a note to the President expressing his opinion on what Eisenhower should do regarding the Suez Canal Crisis and tucked it into a pocket before the suit was delivered. Martin wanted to make sure that his “little guy’s” voice was heard.

Martin is extremely grateful that America is a nation of infinite possibilities. He rose from sweeping the floors of a suit company to founding a premier suit company. He and his sons have dressed Presidents Eisenhower, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. They have also dressed celebrities and athletes.

Martin’s memoir is a reminder that anything is possible if you apply yourself, dream big, and work hard.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

With current events about children being separated from their parents at the border, wanted to share some books on this topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BRW0...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

What books do you recommend?

Excellent, timely article in Forbes about the polio vaccination being developed by an immigrant and the son of an immigrant. Immigrant innovation helps all of us.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartan...

Thuhang Tran's personal journey in Standing Up After Saigon demonstrates her challenges with polio, war, poverty, family separation, and immigration.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Steve Pemberton is an AMAZING person. He endured horrific abuse as a child in the foster care system. Due to the outreach of a neighbor, he discovered books. By reading books, he was able to develop hope and the possibility of a different future.

Steve has made it his mission to value and include all people. I met him when he was the Chief Diversity Officer at Walgreens. He is now the Chief Diversity Officer for Globoforce. He is also a change agent for the foster care system.

Steve's memoir, A Chance In The World, was also made into a movie recently. I highly recommend both the book and the movie.

The short video clip below highlights how Steve structured his memoir with a narrative arc that captures readers attention and keeps the action riveting---readers keep turning the pages!

What memoir(s) grabbed you and wouldn't let go?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dHUv...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Happy Father's Day! This message is for fathers, especially fathers of daughters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeRZS...

Highlights three memoirs with strong father and daughter bonds; also has diversity elements of race, ethnicity, disability, religion, and immigration.

Standing Up After Saigon
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Generally Speaking
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Muslim Girl
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I hope you have a terrific Father's Day!
Sharon

Very excited to be a part of this group.

My co-author, Thuhang Tran, and I recently published a memoir called Standing Up After Saigon. It's an incredible odyssey of Thuhang's challenges with polio, war, poverty, famine level food rationing, oppressive government programs, and separation from her father for 15 years.

Powerful messages of hope, determination, family love, and personal reinvention.