The Power of Patriotism

Beth Chapman. 168 pages (hardback). Order from www.bethchapman.com or “The Power of Patriotism,” 725 Haycort Lane, Birmingham, AL 75244.

Here is a superb book, the author of which is Alabama’s state auditor with 11 staff members auditing assets exceeding $1.6 billion, with an annual budget of $753,000. This book, however, is not about auditing.

It is a volume about a four-minute speech about patriotism given by the author in February 2003 at a “Stand Up for America” rally in Pelham, with 1,200 people present. Commonly called “the speech” — the text of which is given in chapter 4 — this appeal calls on all Americans to be patriotic, and to support the U.S. military, the war in Iraq and our nation as a whole. Chapman is also quite critical of movie stars and musicians who oppose President Bush and this military conflict.

Subtitled “The Speech Heard Around the World,” this book also contains letters of gratitude to the author from across our nation. This response was appropriate inasmuch as the speech immediately gained worldwide acclaim. The author is a member of Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham.