Wards of the State

what does it take to be a survivor in the world today? Or in the future? Are world issues becoming so large and common that no one hears them anymore? How can we, as a nation, evolve from ‘victim’ mentality to ‘survivor’? Paula Laureen Henderson, author/novelist and political activist, captivates readers with her unique ability to use her personal cancer experience as an analogy for achieving a healthy, proactive nation; for encouraging a mentality movement from victim to survivor. Her works focus on bringing reality into the minds of her readers. Beginning with Chapter 1 and her comparison of three generations: baby boomers, generation X, and the millennial; she leads the reader through strong philosophies that peaks awareness of global and national dispute. Henderson questions the agenda of both national and global political leaders and examines the mindset of the future generation she identifies as the millennial, the daycare generation that holds tightly onto the ‘wait and see what happens’ mentality. She holds the reader’s hand as page by page , case study by case study, she gives references to where she has relied on God for strength to renew her hope in finding peace in her life and poses a question to the readers about global peace. She identifies the process of healing. “As I was going through treatments for cancer, I was asked, ‘What if you die?’ to which she replied, “I will not die a victim but rather a survivor.” Can we even play with the notion of a nation evolving from victim to survivor mentality? Not afraid of confrontation, Henderson’s themes are vivid displays of the world today deeply supported with researched factual and scriptural inserts: She identified North Americans as ‘clinging to a dream’ like in the 1980s, but asks, “Isn't it time we wake up? We don’t have to hide. We can rely on our principles and face the future with courage. ” Broaden your horizons and scope of how our nation can progress into the future with courage and become a survivor. Move out of the world of complacency and into a world of progressive change.