Reflections of Liberty

The stories of Barbara Post-Askin’s struggles and triumphs during many of the darkest years of this country’s history illuminate the forgotten potential of the American people. These tales of experience take us back to a time when freedom, hard work, perseverance, and family connections were the undeniable rights of our young nation’s population. From the steam ships that carried hopeful immigrants to this new land of opportunity, to the tragedies surrounding the brutality of World War II, Reflections of Liberty takes readers on a journey of national, spiritual, and personal revival. Braided with humor and romance, but also fear and uncertainty, these stories remind readers of the power of interpersonal trust and connection, while also shedding light on the dangerous parallels that are becoming ever more visible between today’s political climate and that of an early 20th century America. Although the spirit of Post-Askin’s stories remains true to the author’s intent, the events depicted are based primarily in memory, and some of the unrecorded chapters of her family’s lives have been revived via educated creativity.

Barbara Post-Askin becomes the voice of a dying generation in her memoir, Reflections of Liberty. From the mass European migration in the early 1900s, to the end of World War II, Post-Askin's stories relay the triumphs, losses, and often forgotten values of a young America. Today's generations are flooded with information from an overwhelming number of sources, from biased news channels and skewed school lessons to any number of social media websites, violent video games, and meaningless television programs. In a world powered by constant bombardment, many children are not even given the chance to prioritize their information, much less learn about the impact of important events that are happening around the world. Throughout the stories Post-Askin tells, she highlights the differences between her generation and those of today. The steady decline of family values, the ambivalence towards political issues, the increase in everyday fear and violence, as well as the lack of face-to-face communication are all hazardous changes to the ideals of upcoming Americans. She also discusses the quickly waning sense of patriotism, as well as the lack of freedom amongst our nation's people, and reminds us that these are the founding tenets of this country. To lose them is to lose our identity! By allowing us to experience the life of a woman raised in a time and in conditions so different from today, Reflections of Liberty encourages readers to question our own values and decisions. These stories will inspire readers to reconsider what is truly important, while also calling the young adults of today to action. The new generations are the only ones who will be able to turn the United States back into the ‘Land of the Free.’ If we cannot reclaim our liberty, Post-Askin fears that the darkest days of our nation are doomed to repeat themselves.

Barbara Post-Askin was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She married the love of her life, David Askin, and their lasting love brought them three beautiful children to carry on their legacy. After the birth of their children, Marc, Shelley and Lawrence, Barbara became an accomplished estate planner in the state of New York. She currently resides in Tampa, Florida.