Fugitive Days: A Memoir
by Bill Ayers
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Book Summary Information
Author: Bill AyersEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-09-10
ISBN: 0807071242
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Beacon Press
Book Reviews of Fugitive Days: A Memoir
Book Review: Good story of the times and the political counter culture
Summary: 5 Stars
Most of the strongly negative reviews of this book on this page are politically motivated, let's be clear about that. It is to be expected with such a controversial subject as the experiences of a leftist organizer, saboteur and street fighter of the 1960's and -70's. Many people hold strong views and ill will for Mr. Ayers' political viewpoint as well as a desire that his views not get wide distribution. Hence one should view the reviews and star ratings with this reality in mind. The critics can't fault the writing. Ayers' narrative flows on the page with a natural and even poetic quality.
They can't fault his honesty. Ayers presents a straightforward, self effacing view of his thoughts and actions. He certainly expresses regrets about the path he took in his political life, though those regrets can never satisfy his critics.
They can't fault the book as uninteresting, as the real story of life evading the FBI is anything but boring. It is understandable that he is far from complete in his account of their illegal activities. Other people's lives would still be affected.
They can't even fault his motivations. Ayers was motivated by a love of justice and driven by the best understanding he could muster to achieve the goal of a just and peaceable America in a world of freedom and equality. He and his associates were certainly not motivated by greed, glory or other nefarious enticements. Rage at injustice and violence particularly by the US government in America and elsewhere in the world steeled them to action.
That leaves his actions. The destruction of property, reckless endangerment, bombings, armed robberies to finance actions, and assault are certainly open to condemnation. However, Ayers makes no excuses. Compare their actions to the deaths inflicted in the Deep South, in "race riots" or in Vietnam in that period for some perspective, however.
I was one of many millions of Americans who experienced the political and cultural turmoil of the sixties and seventies. I supported the Civil Rights struggle and was opposed to the Vietnam war. Remember that the clear majority of people in the United States eventually came to share similar beliefs. The stubborn continuation of the war and the violent opposition to realizing full civil rights for minorities and women frustrated the desires of the this emerging majority. The period was marked by an upheaval against the established order by a sincere and dedicated mass of baby boomers: black, white, brown, upper and lower class young men and women. Some were idealists, some were just fighting for a decent life. But all were united in a sense of excitement, change and the possibilities of a better world in their lifetime. One trend of young militants in that upheaval, the Weathermen of whom Bill Ayers was one, careened off in the direction of illegal, organized and violent direct action.
Any student of the period would do well to read this book to understand not only the thoughts and motivations of these militants, but also to get a glimpse of the time and the political counter-culture that they contributed to and moved in. For example, to illustrate the breadth and passion of the opposition to the Vietnam war in that period, Ayers notes that in the period of early 1969 to Spring of 1970, the Weathermen were responsible for 6 bombings. In that same period there were approximately 5000 actual bombings of government and corporate facilities. "It makes you wonder," he writes (p. 228).
Mr. Ayers expresses well the sense of being swept up in a phenomenon of his choosing. But the sacrifices, up to and including the loss of many of their own lives along with the painful deaths of some innocents by the errors of other groups became onerous. In the end the necessary isolation became self-defeating, as the Weather Underground, instead of growing to a mass guerrilla movement as they hoped, became alienated from the struggle they meant to support.
In today's atmosphere of the war against terrorism, one might be tempted to equate the actions of Mr. Ayers with those of the likes of Al Qaeda. That would be a mistake. It is disingenuous to call the Weather Underground a terrorist organization; their goal was never to instill terror. True terror to them was what the US was doing in Vietnam or Watts or Kent State on a daily, massive scale. I recall the Weather Underground were actually the subject of some amusement among other armed leftist groups for their efforts to preserve human life. Their actions were violent, but more "armed propaganda" and incitement than any serious attempt to destroy government operations. They were saboteurs with aspirations to form a guerrilla resistance movement.
Regardless of one's political outlook, however, all of us would do well to read this book to understand some of the rage of people who make bombs in the sincere, if misguided belief that they are making a better world.
Summary of Fugitive Days: A Memoir
Bill Ayers was born in privilege and is today a highly respected educator and community activist. For ten years, he lived as a fugitive. Ayers's story of how a young pacifist came to help found one of the most radical political organizations in U.S. history is told here with amazing candor and immediacy.
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