Members of Congress should read this book

“The Cherished Fruit,” by James M. Rankin, Left Brain Right Brain Publications, Galveston, 327 Pages, $18.

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Consider this: We’re oddly “down” on the greatest country the world has ever known.

The fact is that building the U.S. never was easy. The Founding Fathers were far from being of one mind, politically.

Yet, they were men of great intelligence, great imagination and were impeccably educated in the classic political and philosophical thought of the time.

Despite their divergent views, however, they looked at the faulty governments they’d left in Europe and forged those divergent philosophies into a grand new system that grew America.

Keep that in mind as you look at the evening news and view the current level of partisan conflict and deadlock we’ve all been asked to endure lately.

In fact, copies of “The Cherished Fruit” should be mailed to members of Congress in order to jog their memories about the need to govern with the same level of civility utilized by our Founding Fathers.

James M. Rankin’s book, although a novel, is a work destined to be used in classrooms.

He manages to set his characters in a number of academic and work situations where mentoring discussions occur.

His characters live, lose loved ones, die and suffer challenges while learning important life lessons from others.

Notably, many of his primary characters are immigrants from countries where freedom wasn’t an option.

Characters, such as the Russian immigrant Emily, serve as powerful reminders of how we take our democratic system for granted and how utterly magical the U.S. must seem to those who have suffered lifelong oppression.

Most importantly, “The Cherished Fruit” incorporates much of the philosophical thought that influenced the Founding Fathers and future leaders as they shaped democracy.

For example, Rankin provides some summarizing quotes from René Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, and Alexis-Charles Tocqueville, author of “Democracy in America,” along with a host of other important historical thinkers.

Rankin also reminds us of the price paid for liberty by quoting the famous speech by Patrick Henry.

And he certainly points out that the Founding Fathers were not “amoebas” in total agreement by providing observations of George Washington by Thomas Jefferson.

Yet, all of this history is provided in a pleasing, painless format that keeps the reader engaged.

Certainly, Rankin’s personal politics and proclivities are part of this book — he’s no fan of Karl Marx.

Moreover, Rankin, a member of Optimist International and the author of several other books, spends a great deal of time providing positive motivation on subjects like developing imagination and pushing forward through life’s challenges.

Given the daily drubbing we’re all receiving from the 24-hour news cycle, it’s the kind of uplifting book that might give the reader pause for positive thought.

Rankin contends that the democratic system is an evolutionary wonder — designed by men who understood most of the great philosophical minds of their time and applied to practical nation building.

If they could achieve that — then however complex our problems appear — we can go forward and build on their success.

Marsha Wilson Rappaport lives in Galveston.