This is written through a very specific lens, that of a white male reporter who grew up poor in in the 1930’s US. So with that in mind, this is a hopeful but realistic book. Rather tries to acknowledge all the gaps in his cultural knowledge (on race, sexual orientation, gender, etc) but there are still a few moments that hit weird. Especially in a post-Trump year in the midst of a pandemic and surging white supremacy and anti-science activism.
My takeaway is that we need to increase our civil engagement on all levels and reclaim patriotism not as nationalism but as a spirit of community and work to improve things for everyone within our country. The so-called United States has never lived up to its founding ideals, but his definition of patriotism can get us closer. Asking questions, challenging power, etc.

While I had some hmm moments, I appreciated the reminder that we as citizens (he acknowledges that his definition is different from that of the fed gov’t) can and should play a big role in our communities and the future of our country. Apathy is killing us. ( )

To be honest, i don’t think I am the type of person who could ever sit down and read a standard Dan Rather book cover to cover. It’s not Dan, it’s me. I could listen to him all day long, and I love him on Twitter, but he does not usually write the type of books that keep me interested. That is until his work What Unites us was give the graphic novel treatment. Hats off to the illustrators because they did an amazing job. It was almost like watching Dan on TV telling his tales. This book was approachable, thought out and extremely well done. Every library should have a copy for the civics lessons many kids are not learning in school. ( )

Dan Rather dons his I'm-a-journalist-dammit trench coat and trudges through his lifetime of American history, sharing ever-so-folksy stories of his poor childhood, name dropping famous people he has interviewed, and lecturing on his opinions about what's right and wrong with America. He waffles and sidesteps a bit, but he's generally pushing a progressive and liberal agenda and a call for civic responsibility that I can get behind.

But the problem is that he is Dan Rather.

I didn't pick this up because of his name -- I was more inclined to tune in Tom Brokaw or Peter Jennings back in the olden days when I actually watched evening news broadcasts -- I only grabbed it from the library because it is part of the intriguing World Citizen Comics series, and it is my least favorite of the three published so far. Rather wants to give off this wizened sage vibe, but in thinking of his relevance and plodding through his less-than-fresh political insights and regrets about homophobia -- "Those were the times in which we were living, and we were not sensitive." (emphasis his) -- all I can think are the wise words of another sage: "Yeah, it's like a cow's opinion. It just doesn't matter. It's moo." ( )