COME ON, GOOD PEOPLE, COME ON! We know, this is the time of the year when you receive letters galore from the ACLU, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and countless other organizations and charities that want to reach into your wallet. They do have a big marketing budget, don't they? -- and they all tell you they want to change the world, or at least alleviate its suffering. We have no marketing budget and we are not promising to change the world -- not that we aren't trying...but one has to be realistic. What we bring you is different voices, some darn serious, others quite humorous or poetic. We bring you book reviews. We bring you analysis. We bring you an extraordinarily diverse pool of authors from many countries. We bring you famous and not so famous authors. We bring you alternatives. We bring you originality and quality twice a month, rain or shine. Again, where else can you find what we bring, and all commercial free? So open your checkbook and write that darn check. It won't save the auto industry but it will save Swans, and it will make a huge difference both emotionally and practically for our work ahead. Thank you and our very best wishes for the coming year. Donate Now!
First, on behalf of the civilized world and the millions of innocent victims of his illegal war, thank you, Sir, whoever you are, for greeting Mr. Bush, in his final victory lap to Iraq, as the liberator that he truly is. One could not have asked for a more fitting year-end gift than the sight of your shoes hurling past the soon-to-be-former president's head! That he will reflect on the significance of this gesture may be expecting too much, but with impeachment never on the table and indictment unlikely (pleeeease, Patrick Fitzgerald! ) it may be as close as we get.
Now, on to our annual tradition in which we reflect on the events of the year -- more or less. If you're not yet familiar with all of our contributors' quirks and fancies, start by reading about Peter Byrne's bad dream in which Swans' cast of characters reveal themselves in a visit to his otherwise peaceful café. Then turn to pun-loving photographer Art Shay, who looks back on the decaying US auto industry through his camera lens and inside anecdotes of the Big Three. Jan Baughman introduces one small creature that touched many lives during the stressful times of 2008, while Martin Murie enlists two extraterrestrial lizards to send a warning to all earthly activists. Femi Akomolafe lends a delightful perspective from Ghana on his pure joy and the historical significance of Barack Obama's election.
When Charles Marowitz looks back on the year 2008, he sees 1929 all over again for both our political and financial crises. Yet America's not the only country that's struggling -- Gilles d'Aymery presents a series of vignettes that paint a stark portrait of the year behind and the challenges ahead, from Europe to the Middle East; to Africa and its resource-rich environment that's being pillaged. Political perspectives come from Louis Proyect, who likens Obama's brand of change to that of Tony Blair, and Michael Doliner, who describes the collapse of capitalism and the elites' need to recognize the trap of class war. Michael Barker scrutinizes Noam Chomsky's open letters from 2008 and the alternative political agendas they endorse; and R. Scott Porter hopes that we've learned from the past year (or eight) and won't be doomed to repeat its mistakes. Finally, Guido Monte looks at the future world through rose-colored glasses and multilingual verse, with collage by Giuseppe Zimmardi. We close with your letters, our best wishes for the holidays, and a warning that the next edition will feature our always irreverent and sometimes prescient Infamous Predictions™ for the year ahead.
As always, please form your OWN opinion, and let your friends (and foes) know about Swans. It's your voice that makes ours grow.
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Peter Byrne: Bad Dream Of The Year
Peter Byrne reviews the year 2008 on Swans through a satirical dream in which he banters with its writers. More...
Art Shay: Auto Eroticism
Photojournalist Art Shay shares his pictures and humor, recalling the ups and downs of Ford and GM from the 1950s to its sad state today. More...
Jan Baughman: 2008: Emerging From The Smoke
Jan Baughman tells the story of one small creature that touched many lives during the stressful times of 2008. More...
Martin Murie: Two Lizards
A 2008 view of the earth by two lizards from the planet Cygnus. More...
Femi Akomolafe: Ghana: A Review Of 2008
The author offers an African perspective on the Obama's historical election. More...
Charles Marowitz: Looking Backward To Ahead
Looking back on the year 2008, Charles Marowitz sees 1929 all over again. More...
Gilles d'Aymery: 2008 In A Nutshell
Gilles d'Aymery describes in several vignettes the perfect storm that was 2008, from Europe to the Middle East, Africa and beyond. More...
Louis Proyect: Why Third Way Politics Refuses To Die
Just as Tony Blair did not represent real 'change' and was no friend of working people, the same pattern is unfolding with Barack Obama's 2008 election as the rise of centrism in two of the most powerful imperialist nations in history is stoked by their decline as economic powers. More...
Michael Doliner: What Next?
2008 marked the collapse of capitalism, and the only hope for the future is that the rich recognize the trap of the class war and end it. More...
Michael Barker: Noam Chomsky And The Power Of Letters
A critical examination of the open letters that Noam Chomsky signed in 2008. More...
Guido Monte: Future World
La vie mystérieuse as seen through the eyes and words of Guido Monte with Orff, Euripides, Handke, and Dostoevskij. More...
R. Scott Porter: 2008, Privilege vs. Competence
R. Scott Porter looks back on 2008 and the incompetence in American governance. More...
Readers speak out, with praise and skepticism, on Gilles d'Aymery's silence on Obama; Swans' conspicuous distance from the WSWS and a fan's conspicuous distance from donating; lessons from Michael Barker on progressive social change, and more. More...
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