The Point of it All - A Lifetime of Great Loves and Endeavors
Charles Krauthammer
Contributed by Jerrold Mcmenamin
Chapter 2
Summary

Chapter 2: Customs and Culture

In this chapter, the author begins by stating his admiration for Australia. He describes the Australian way of life with more emphasis on the political views and strategies that put the country in a unique political position. The author goes further to talk about his experience in a wheelchair. He thinks that not every place should be made accessible to the disabled. In addition, he hates the idea of having lifts instead of ramps. To him, the lifts violate one’s dignity, and they are unnecessary. For this reason, he believes that the Concert Hall found at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC is an amazing place since those with wheelchairs can access the place freely without seeking help from other people (Krauthammer 31).

Besides, Krauthammer also covers various rights bestowed to Americans and the irrelevance of some of the rights depending on the place of application. He goes further to talk about insanity, brilliance, and fiction. Apart from that, the author describes The World War II Memorial saying that it is a parenthesis, quite literally. Essentially, Krauthammer thinks that the message conveyed by the memorial and its construction is absurd and misguided. Additionally, he talks about the Cold War memorials giving significance and credit to certain wars such as the Vietnamese war but discrediting the celebrations on the Victory in Japan (V-J).

Analysis

The author begins by sharing his admiration of Australia to show the audience his thought on the ideal way of life and the most effective political system. He then talks about the issue of making buildings accessible to the disabled, as it is a real crisis facing the world today. He is acting as the voice of all the people on wheelchairs when he voices his concern and dissatisfaction with lifts in place of ramps. The talk on the Bill of Rights is a way of evoking critical reasoning upon the reader, and letting him or she ponder on the relevance of all the rights meant to guide them. The author cannot elude history and this is clearly evident when he talks about the various memorials. Actually, he fails to see the essence of The Second World War Memorial since it does not depict the real history. His discomfort with the V-J celebration is based upon the pain and horror endured by the Japanese people after the atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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