Monday, September 26, 2016

FInding Myself


Last Tuesday I completed a 217 km Bike ride that brought me from London, Ontario, through Stratford, Listowell and Fergus, to Guelph. I have been spending time with my father, mother and sister and helping my dad fix bicycles.

Although one purpose of the trip was to promote my recent book, "THE ALTERNATIVE," it was a journey of self discovery. It seems strange to spend almost a week on a bike in order to fine myself, but I have been making interesting discoveries. Visiting old friends along the way has helped as I find some things I craved where not necessary and more reasonable substitutes could be just as satisfying.

I left Stratford before 7 am on a Sunday Morning and took sparsely traveled roads to Listowell. I enjoyed the quiet and solitude very much after two days of spending time with noisy friends. It had been a great joy to see old friends, but parting was necessary and the quiet welcoming.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Pedaling a book at 64.

I am now traveling by bicycle to promote my book. You cane follow me on my travel blog at http://thealternativetowar.blogspot.ca/
or go to www.9li.ca

Monday, May 2, 2016

Great review in the London Yodeller

The Alternative, a revisionist account of the American Civil War.McNeish’s novel tells the story of Bobby Johnson who, being an only child on a Louisiana plantation, makes friends with his father’s slaves, particularly a bright-minded lad named Samson. Bobby will eventually fall in love with Ruthie Lancer, whose father is a brutal tyrant in the mould of Simon Legree. The novel has a little bit of Romeo and Juliet and a lot of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
From the London Yodeller, article by Jason Rip

Saturday, April 30, 2016

THE ALTERNATIVE, available at public libraries.

If you are in Canada, did you know you can borrow my book from any public library. It is available for inter library loan and they will get it for you.

If you are outside Canada, why not ask at your local library. Many times they will purchase books recommended by their patrons.

For those in London, I will be attending the Celebration of the Ridván Festival tomorrow, Sunday May 1, 2016.
at
Thames Valley District School Board
1250 Dundas Street, London, Ontario
Doors open at 2:30 p.m.

Program starts at 3:00 p.m.
 
If you stop by, I'll see you there.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Why read the alternative?


Why read the alternative?

Early sales of “THE ALTERNATIVE” has brought back positive reviews. This fictional history reads like a good novel. It starts out by analysing actual history and then puts a twist on it. It takes a look at slavery as it probably was. Although there is no proof the actual incidents happened, a look at the laws of the day show that they could have happened. Terrible crimes happen yet today. There is no reason to not think that similar and worse things would happen if there was no law to even punish the wrongdoer.

Everyone seems to be in agreement that all human beings should have some rights. It is also taken for granted that property has no rights. If someone buys an expensive vase, that vase has no rights. If the owner wishes to smash it, the vase has no right of appeal. However, if someone else smashes it, the owner may be able to claim compensation from the one that broke it. If someone should steal that precious vase, the owner will, no doubt, track down the thief and press charges if he is found.

The southern USA held slaves as property in the 18th and 19th centuries. Slaves, being property, had no rights. Abolitionist wanted the law changed as they felt it was wrong to deny rights to any human being. The south agreed about the rights, but did not see their slaves as human beings. They were property in the form of very valuable livestock. They were work animals purchased to do a job. Just as a neighbour would return a horse that had bolted from its owners barn, slave owners expected their chattels would be returned to them if they should run from their plantations. Someone who would let a horse out of a neighbours field on purpose would be regarded as a thief. Therefore, abolitionists were viewed by slave owners as the worst kind of thief. They were stealing their owners’ most valuable possessions. Murder was not considered a worse crime that that which the abolitionist engaged in.

Thus there was a division. One side saw slaves as an abused and oppressed people. The other side saw them as property. There was no reconciliation of these differences of opinion and it would take a war to change the minds of the south.

It was not enough for the south to maintain their property rights only in the south. They wanted to maintain their rights to own slaves and take them with them wherever they wished without interference. Also, if one should run away, the slave owners wanted them back. If they were lured away, they wanted the guilty party charged and punished. Since they believed their slaves were content, they only reason they would run is because some abolitionist filled their animal minds with feelings of discontent. Imagine, telling these creatures they were human. The ones that spread such nonsense needed to be punished.

With the growing tension between north and south, civil war was inevitable. “THE ALTERNATIVE” takes a look at another possibility. Must we always go to war to work out our differences? Bobby and Samson, with the help of their wives, Ruthie and Krissy, start a plan to educate the south in a way that will change attitudes before war could result. It was a big job and they spent half a century working at it. Yet they feared, greatly feared that what they were doing was too little and too late. They were racing against time to prevent a terrible disaster.

We only have to look at actual history to learn about the devastating war that our heroes were trying to prevent. The Civil war was the most devastating war the US ever fought in. It took 200 years of accumulated losses in other wars before they exceeded the losses in the four years of the civil war.

THE ALTERNATIVE” is designed to make one think, “is there an alternative to war?” It is the authors hope that we can have a future where we find better ways to solve our differences. We must repress the urge to beat up anyone that does not allow us to have our own way. Let’s talk it out and solve our differences without killing each other.
 

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Insights from Frederick Douglass


Until it shall be safe to leave the lamb in the hold of the lion, the laborer in the power of the capitalist, the poor in the hands of the rich, it will not be safe to leave a newly emancipated people completely in the power of their former masters, especially when such masters have not ceased to be such from enlightened moral convictions but by irresistible force.
From: Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, p.464. ©1892

“What shall I do?” was the question that Frederick Douglass asked himself after the civil war had put an end to slavery. He was 48 years old and had escaped from slavery 27 years previous. The first three of those years he had worked as a labourer, but for the last 24 his profession was an abolitionist who had put all of his effort into ending slavery. Now that slavery had come to a sudden end, his goal was achieved, yet the joy of victory was saddened by uncertainty of his future. However, that uncertainty was short lived. He had earned a wage of $450 dollars a year as an abolitionist. Now he was being offered $50, $100, and even $200 for a single speaking engagement.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

"THE ALTERNATIVE" is available worldwiide on kindle and in print.

For international book sales, "THE ALTERNATIVE" is available on amazon world wide. Details at http://www.alternative.9li.ca/order.html

Order world wide direct from the printer https://www.createspace.com/5844624

order from Amazon in USA, UK, Denmark, France

Or go to your favorite Amazon site and search for George McNeish.




 

Monday, February 15, 2016

The Alternative book reveiws

As people are reading "THE ALTERNATIVE," the reviews are coming in. You can go to My Amazon Book Page to order your copy.

What People are Saying


1
I want to congratulate you on your novel- The Alternative. I could not put it down when I started reading it. Congratulations, I thought it was marvelous, and the story came alive, and made the history of the Civil War more understandable for me, as it made me realize how the majority of Southerners thought as well as others.
I'm recommending it to my friends, and club members. Has the library got copies?
Regards,
Maureen
Note that the London Public Library has one copy. (george)

2
February is Black History Month.
Just finished a book, set in the 1840's about the ugly truth of the horrendous injustice that black slaves endure. The main characters, with a Romeo & Juliette like romance, turn around this ugly history to provide a purely fictional but beautiful heartwarming ending. The book is "The Alternative " by Canadian author George McNeish

3
Dear George,
It was a real pleasure meeting you today at the Kiwanis meeting.
When I got home I glanced in your book just to get a feel for it, and was immediately engrossed in the plot and the characters!
I love the topic and the personalities of the characters.
It's very, very interesting. I can't put it down!!

4
If you are looking for an intriguing, uplifting "read", please consider George McNeish's Alternative! Its ingenious plot is in search of discovering how respect for human nobility can transform slavery into a more productive economy. With its cast of lively, convincible and loveable characters, this book ranks among the most inviting books I've ever read. Through its pages Bobby, his wife Ruthie with her repentant father (Mr. Lancer), Samson with his spirited wife Krissy lead us through a credible account of slavery in the mid-nineteenth century, ever conjuring up unpredictable scenes in which the well-laid scheme of abolishing slavery evolves. Theirs is not a sudden "coup" that overthrows an entrenched status quo with glee and ephemeral congratulations, but a slow, measured transmutation of deeply ingrained beliefs that some human-appearing creations were definitively more like animals than themselves!! It is sobering to vicariously experience the cruelty perpetrated on humans in the name of religion and superiority. At the same time it's an inspiring "ride" through most the dialogue, imbued as it is with principles of humanity's higher nature clearly being implemented into daily life interactions and innumerable negotiations. A reader comes away with a sense of hope and vision that a saner, more harmonious world is not only possible but inevitable!!
In "Walking Together on a Path of Service" (Ruhi 7), the Institute exhorts us to to develop participants' "capacity for artistic expression through, music poetry, painting, drama or any of the various types of crafts ... as an essential element enhancing the spiritual development of participants." The Alternative embodies the term "a well written book" in 'Abdu'l-Baha's words below:
"It is natural for the heart and spirit to take pleasure and enjoyment in all things that show forth symmetry, harmony and perfection. For instance: a beautiful house, a well designed garden, a symmetrical line, a graceful action, a well written book, pleasing garments - in fact, all things that have in themselves grace or beauty are pleasing to the heart and spirit ..."
With gratitude and encouragement to George for a this commendable achievement!! Terry


5
Well i finished the book the day before the birthday party and i did not like the last page i guess it should say that if the Plantation owners had followed this plan it could have averted the war and it says there was no war. I thought the book was well written even after reading the background of where George got his information it was hard to remember this was fiction it was so real. I cannot remember names but have read about the two mixed race women from Bronx who were born i think South Carolina and seen them on tv and what they said about how they grew up in a home with their black mother and the white father lived in his big house with his white house what she described was very similar to what George talked about in this book. Very interesting highly recommend it.