PEDLIN, eminent domain is a questionable area of the law, as you know; both sides have equitable rights, it seems to me. Government, whether city, state, federal, must use that law at times for the good of all - highways, in particular, and yet the land was paid for and is being used by landowners. It happened to us shortly after we bought a house on two acres; the state needed a slice of it for an exit from a new road. Although one can understand the government's point of view, it's real difficult for the owner.
Yes, I do want to hear why Joe Rantz came to mind while listening to Obama's speech. I usually listen to all state of the union speeches, but missed that one. Read about it next day.
I agree, BELLE, our author has done a fantastic job describing scenes, how else could he keep our interest throughout the book, Joe's story was the outline and our author filled in the details. His own words, his own descriptions, his own "imagination" sometimes do you think?
Meanwhile, in Germany, one of most wretched, horrible, hated Nazi rallies, Rally For Freedom, was going on. We meet up with Leni Riefenstahl again, although later she attempted to forget she was ever at the Rally.
If you had sat through such a speech, given that you were a patriotic citizen of Germany, could you have "Heiled Hiter" afterwards? Why didn't the German people react to such laws?