It would appear, when reading this edition, that the global recession encompasses much more than an economic downturn -- country after country is experiencing a depravity of leadership. From France to Italy, Ghana to America, the elite's thirst for power leaves the most vulnerable parched, and yet the people continue to vote for their own enslavement, a phenomenon that has Jan Baughman scratching her head and concluding that she has a greater understanding of her dog's thought process. Yet, when one researches Interactive Conflict Resolution, as Michael Barker does, it becomes apparent that the roots of protracted social conflicts grow from capitalism, a system that is completely off limits. Hence the myth of Change We Can Believe In.
In France the depravity has taken on a brave new stature -- a short one that is, with a big reactionary agenda that would inspire even the Tea Partiers to vote for a foreigner with a name like Nicolas Sarkozy. Gilles d'Aymery sheds light on "Sarko the American" and translates a Baudelaire poem that is apropos to his agenda. Fabio De Propris continues his series on Berlusconi's Italy with a look at the lack of artistic masterworks in the cartoon-like Joker's World Syndrome that has gripped the country for two decades, and as Femi Akomolafe reports from Ghana, the president's price and tax increases, despite his campaign promises to the contrary, demonstrate that he doesn't have the interests of the people at heart. And thinking of thought processes, Maxwell Clark takes a look back at Hegel's Phenomenology of Mind -- seemingly silly if not highly offensive, and perhaps a precursor of contemporary cognitive science -- he'd like to hear from our audience on the matter.
Off the airwaves and onto the bookshelf, Charles Marowitz reviews an analysis of the horrific shortcomings of modern-day radio and the deceitful power of the toxic right who employ prevarication, innuendo, and verbal abuse in order to threaten their enemies and consolidate their political base. While they demonize Afghanistan, London's fearless Tricycle Theatre brings that country's little-known culture to its stage with astonishing breadth -- Peter Byrne provides a synopsis of its plays. And having returned from his musical tour, Isidor Saslav shares the sights, sounds, and stagings of the "German Disease" that has infected the global opera scene. We close with the poetry of Claudine Giovannoni & Guido Monte on the unity of things and the illusion of time, and your letters.
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Jan Baughman: Political Disconnect And The Invisible Shackles
What will it take for those suffering in a system that continues to fail them to stand up against its perpetuation? More...
Michael Barker: Of Conflict And Misdirection
The imperial uses of conflict resolution. More...
Gilles d'Aymery: Sarko The American
Gilles d'Aymery considers French president Nicolas Sarkozy, whose reactionary politics are inversely proportional to the depth of his inferiority complex. More...
Fabio De Propris: It's A Berlusconi World: Part II
Part Two of this series on Berlusconi's Italy considers the lack of artistic masterworks in the cartoon-like Joker's World Syndrome that has gripped the country for two decades. More...
Maxwell Clark: The Phrenology Of Mind
A look back at Hegel's Phenomenology of Mind -- seemingly silly if not highly offensive, and perhaps a precursor of contemporary cognitive science. More...
Femi Akomolafe: The Cost Of Living Is Killing Me
Price and tax increases by John Evans Atta Mills, Ghana's president, despite his campaign promises to the contrary, demonstrate that he doesn't have the interests of the people at heart. More...
Charles Marowitz: Bill Press's Toxic Talk
Charles Marowitz reviews an analysis of the horrific shortcomings of modern-day radio and the deceitful power of the right. More...
Peter Byrne: The Great Game Lost
London's fearless Tricycle Theatre brings Afghanistan to its stage with astonishing breadth. More...
Isidor Saslav: Current Offerings At Some European Opera Houses
Druids in spacesuits -- no kidding. More...
Charles Baudelaire: L'examen de minuit (Midnight Enquiry)
Both in French and English, this famous poem will, in the eyes of careful readers, immediately make the connection with the current president of France, the right-wing demagogue Nicolas Sarkozy. Has anyone ever heard about the famous line La Bêtise au front de taureau ("The Stupidity like a bull's brow")? -- English translation by Gilles d'Aymery. More...
Claudine Giovannoni & Guido Monte: ápokatástasis
Giovannoni and Monte talk about the unity of the things, and the eternal illusions on the idea of Time. More...
On Michael Doliner, intelligent design, and the "way we people think"; praise for Louis Proyect and Tony Judt; and the legend of Boris Vian's song "Le Déserteur." More...
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