Many thanks to Michael Montgomery, Ashley Berry, and Aleksandar Jokic for their generous contributions.
We realize these are hard economic times, but we are struggling to raise a meager $4,000 to cover the costs of operating Swans. As of to date we remain short $1,800. Last year, you were kind and generous enough to contribute $3,978.42. Can you consider donating again? We hope you can.
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Swans Commentary
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Thank you for your consideration.
Cordially,
Jan Baughman and Gilles d'Aymery
We've not had much to say in the pre-election season, but it turns out that our contributors have much to say in the post-election period. From Glenn Reed, who crossed the country from blue state to red and back again, creatively reporting his impressions; to Joel Hirschhorn, who questions the very state of democracy in the U.S.; and David Jordan, who was disappointed with President Obama's first-term performance, but is delighted that he defeated Mitt Romney and that Karl Rove failed. Other opinionators include Peter Byrne, Manuel García, Jr., Jan Baughman, Gilles d'Aymery, and Fabio de Propris, and their sentiments range from sheer relief that Mitt Romney lost to exuberance that it's finally over, with some true successes and minor victories to celebrate in between.
Michael Barker steered clear of the election, instead providing a critical review of Paul Hawken's misrepresentation of "green capitalism" in his most recent book Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw it Coming. Isidor Saslav was better entertained by the Bard Collage Summerscape Music Festival, which this year featured Camille Saint-Saëns, whose beautiful music never changed throughout his life. Peter Byrne relates the corporal tortures of Edward Lear; Raju Peddada questions the rationality of burials, which if continued threaten to turn our cities into necropolises; and Guido Monte's poem tells the story of a homeless woman and her dog. We close with your letters on our New Age edition, and a plea for the Super PACs to send some leftover money our way to close out our annual fundraiser -- it's money well spent.
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Glenn Reed: Blue, Red & Blue Again
Traveling cross-country at election time offers a different perspective on what divides and unites the country. More...
Joel S. Hirschhorn: Real Democracy Requires Political Competition
Following the 2012 presidential election, Joel Hirschhorn demonstrates why the United States in not a first-rate democracy. More...
David Jordan: Some Thoughts On The US Election
The author was disappointed with President Obama's first-term performance, but is delighted that he defeated Romney and that Karl Rove failed. More...
Peter Byrne: Post Election Thought
On the re-election of President Obama, and racism from the days of Lincoln to FDR and today -- we've come a long way, but have much further to go. More...
Manuel García, Jr.: Election 2012: Equality Outvotes Privilege
Equality outvotes privilege in US presidential election 2012. More...
Jan Baughman: 2012 US Election: A Pretty Good Morning After
The 2012 election results gave this author the first sense of hope in many 4-year cycles. More...
Gilles d'Aymery: Good Lord The US Election Is Over
On the highs and lows of the 2012 US presidential election, the best part being that it's over. More...
Fabio De Propris: Post Election: Obama, Work And Pay
While the Italian author is glad Barack Obama was reelected, his victory was a double-edge sword when it comes to the auto industry. More...
Michael Barker: No Idea(ology), And Paul Hawken's Blessed Unrest
A critical review of Paul Hawken's most recent book Blessed Unrest (2007). More...
Isidor Saslav: Saint-Saëns At Bard
A review from the Bard Collage 2012 Summerscape Music Festival and Saint-Saëns, whose beautiful music never changed. More...
Peter Byrne: Edward Lear Of The Disappearing Nose
As Edward Lear turned 200 in 2012, we take a look at the iron-gray history of his body. More...
Raju Peddada: Ashes To Ashes, Dust To Dust
A clarion call to defend the rights and dignity of the living and dead, and preserve our land for generations to come. More...
Guido Monte: ornella and tato
Guido Monte's story about an evicted Italian old Lady, Ornella, sleeping on the street with her little dog Tato. More...
On the New Age edition: Michael Barker on the UFO myth, but what of the military sightings?, agreement with Gilles d'Aymery's feeling that New Age is as old as antiquity, and a defense of the good work of Jim Burch and the Beyond War organization. More...
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