It Takes a Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton - Book Report/Review Example

It Takes a Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton No man is an island. This seems to be the concept underlying the book It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us written by Hillary Rodham Clinton. The title came from the African proverb which states that “It takes a village to raise a child.” According to Kerby Anderson (1996) the proverb represents a new paradigm of feminist and socialist thinking. Clinton wrote the book to emphasize the importance of educating the children through the cooperation of the village (Stark 2006). During one of her 1999 public speech, Clinton said “community support is the key to valuing families” (Gail Sheehy in “Hillary,” 2007). One of the book’s main ideas is the collective responsibility of the village, signifying the nation’s role to the development of a dependent child. The idea here is that it takes more than a family to raise a child. Through her anecdotal illustrations, when she was breastfeeding Chelsea then, the child started foaming at the nose. The nurse noticed Clinton’s mistake and informed her that her head should be lifted up, and through that simple correction, it was clear to her that people in the community inevitably help to raise a child (“Hilary,” 2007). Another idea is that of the contradicting interests of the corporate industries over the interests of the children for protection. One of the respectable passages from the very book to support the idea is that “mass consumerism and “adver-teasing” have parents competing with multinational corporations not only for their children’s values and beliefs but for their health. Clinton suggested in the book that community’s participation is needed in order to help discipline and educate a child, and serve as parent’s support wherever there could be shortcomings in raising one’s own child. She clearly based her thoughts on her and the former U.S President’s experience in raising Chelsea. The idea of the book in engaging the whole community to be sensitive for a child’s welfare is supported with psychological conformity in its approach. Realistically, it is not only the parents that children will be encountering eventually. They will have to go to pre-school learning programs and meet people outside their homes, and in the process will be influenced by their ways (“Now is the time,” 2007). Mrs. Clinton wanted to recreate a new framework of effective child rearing, but this time it was to awaken the sense of responsibility of every citizen, or in this case, the neighborhood in the village. This is to defy many social liberties or preferences of individual citizens. Conservatism and communism really sets in the way. Explaining herself in a speech at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Clinton justified her talking about “It Takes a Village.” She said she is obviously not talking just about or even primarily about geographical villages any longer, but “about the network of relationships and values that do connect us and binds us together.” This is generally what the book is all about (“Hillary,” 2007). Some critics look at the book as agreeably written and intermittently charming enough to represents the view of the American children (Finn 1996). The book is obviously objective - what with the children’s welfare in all of the author’s rhetorics. She is emphasizing the importance in prioritizing children’s interests with full protection against the interests of commercial corporations where the country’s economic reliance is. She stated in the book that business must work with government and families to find ways of balancing the interests of industry with the interests of children. The effectiveness of Clinton’s approach, however, depends upon the type of the vital factors included in such proposal. She and her husband’s mode of raising their child as the effective one is subjective. Social structures from states to countries differ. They affect even child-rearing practices where economics and family law protection differ (Anderson 1996). In the political context, critics investigated through the book and found an insinuation for social revolution of conservative purposes. A book critic stated of the book that “she (Clinton) is talking about France,” (BrothersJudd.Com 2002). Critics said that in order to follow her ideal village, it will mean upholding a nontraditional family structure, ushering aside the conventional American family structure. Many criticized the book with its idea that it takes more than parents to raise a child. They find it paradoxical, serving an underlying motive for political reform as to insert communism set up (BrothersJudd.Com 2002). The truth is that from the preachers of every church to the Boy Scout leaders, everyone has an inevitable contribution in the development of a child (Anderson 1996). In this idealistic phase, it will surely call for unity that could go against the liberty of many individualists that democracy cries upon. Studying the book content with a political mind, it is obviously a promotion for possible future campaigns. It enlists many of Hillary’s husband’s presidential achievements and decrees. According to Anderson (1996), the book was released then to help the Clinton re-election campaign that period. Through “soft-pedal” and literary approach, Clinton promoted the programs in the government’s agenda that were implemented during her husband’s presidential tenure. Another thing this book is subjective about is personal political inclination. Quoting Probe Ministries, it is said that “Many of her other favorites indicate a clear endorsement of socialist programs” (Anderson 1996). In their assessment of her preaching, Clinton believes that some significant factors could be patterned after other’s culture working structures like the French settings of learning method and facility (Anderson 1996). The book overlooked the realistic effect if this idea were to be implemented upon every nation or village. For example, the struggle for adjustment, and the suppression of the many American individualists’ rights and their views could be neglected. Clinton’s fairy tale-like book cover made the same approach as her preaching achievable. It is no wonder that the book reaped numerous criticisms from major economists and other existing parties as it would cross beyond their interests. The agreeable idea about this book is that of the protection for children and the care for their moral orientation and views. Protection of their interests over the interests of commercial industries, though not new, has been given much emphasis. However, it will call for serious revamp or arrangement of government and corporate decisions, which are universally known to be two worlds apart. There is no particular group intended for this book. However, Mrs. Clinton made clear her stand as a child’s welfare advocate. It then implies that books are meant to be read by every American parent for more effective ways of raising the child. The book is also meant to be read by every people in the community as they are addressed in the very title as the contributors for child development. There is no harm in recommending this book for public reading, as this actually generates and challenges new and better ideas for effective family policing. The idea in any way is promoted and favorable in developmental psychologist’s views if it is to consider the total social structure reformation in order to rear effectively a child. Some moral sectors even agree to this village idea as they see that “life is easier when you are part of a network of friends and family, a neighborhood” (“It takes,” JustPeace.Org 2007). Works Cited “Hillary Clinton on Families & Children.” On the Issues. 2007. 6 Oct 2007. “It takes a village to raise a child.” Just Peace.Org. 2007. 6 Oct 2007. “Now is the time to educate the child.” Community Partnership for Child Development. 2007. 7 Oct 2007. Anderson, Kenneth. The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace. 19 Jul 1996. Washington College of Law. Stanford University. 7 Oct 2007. Anderson, Kerby. It takes a village. Probe Ministries. 1996. 7 Oct 2007. < http://www.probe.org/faith-and-politics/government--public-policy/it-takes-a-village.html> Brothers Judd.Com. Review of Hillary Clinton’s It Takes a Village and Other Lessons children Teach us. 2002. 5 Oct 2007. Finn, Chester E. It Takes a Village and Other Lessons Children Teach Us A Review. 2007. 6 Oct 2007. Stark, John. Top 10 PLM Pitfalls to Avoid. May 2006. Soft Tech. Tewksbury, Massachusets. 6 Oct 2007. Read More