P L E A S E,   S U P P O R T   S W A N S

 

Note from the Editors

It's been two weeks since George Zimmerman was acquitted in the murder of Trayvon Martin; the latter's parents are fighting on in their son's name, though the news coverage and the protests are dying down, and Zimmerman has gone into hiding where he'll likely remain for years to come. Harvey Whitney, Jr. was reluctant to speak out on the verdict, but he kindly answered our call, providing a unique perspective that focuses on the loss of an individual, and not the political, ideological, and economic ramifications of his death. There's been no shortage of news about whistleblower Edward Snowden, still exiled in a Russia airport while Bradley Manning awaits his fate for a similar "crime" and NSA snooping carries on unabated. Gilles d'Aymery has been reluctant to speak on this matter too, for he has a very different perspective than the mainstream and alternative media as he grapples to understand the ramifications of the digital age on privacy and the Constitution. Meanwhile, Manuel García, Jr. ponders the lag of global warming relative to the increase in atmospheric CO2, a phenomenon he finds less mysterious and more complicated than current climate change models suggest, and Michael Barker continues his analysis of the lack of data behind alternative therapies in Part II of his series.

The good news amidst all of the modern challenges is that in some corners the age-old spirit of the common good remains. Glenn Reed reports from one such place, New England, where town commons live on in a spirit of civility and common good. Another devotee of civility and humanity is Raju Peddada, who painfully shares his youthful destruction of the nature he loved. In the culture corner, Peter Byrne reviews Dave Eggers's recent novel, A Hologram for the King, which brings the "ugly American" persona up to date, and poetry flows freely from David Francis, John Marshall, and Guido Monte. No Letters to the Editor this time around, so we simply close with our best wishes until we meet again in a fortnight with much more to say.



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Patterns Which Connect

Harvey E. Whitney, Jr.:  Stop Talking Around Tragedy

A unique perspective on the Trayvon Martin killing that focuses on the loss of an individual, and not the political, ideological, and economic ramifications.   More...

 

Gilles d'Aymery:  Privacy And Actuality In The Digital World

The author ponders the actions of whistleblowers and the ramifications of the digital age on privacy and the Constitution.   More...

 

Manuel García, Jr.:  Why Is Global Warming Stagnating?

Global warming lags CO2 emissions since 1998, perhaps a climatic phase change like water vaporization.   More...

 

Michael Barker:  Alternative Medicine? Lobbying For Nonsense (Part II of III)

Not-so-alternative, alternative medicine -- Part II   More...

 

 
America: Myths & Realities

Glenn Reed:  The Town Commons Still Represents The Spirit Of A Common Good

The town commons survives in New England as a reminder of our shared, common good.   More...

 

 
Arts & Culture

Raju Peddada:  Wasting of Wonder A painful recollection - Part II

In Part II of the author's memoirs, he relives his painful destruction of the nature he loved.   More...

 

 
Hungry Man, Reach For The Book

Peter Byrne:  Dave Eggers's Not-So-Ugly American

Dave Eggers recent novel, A Hologram for the King, brings the "ugly American" persona up to date.   More...

 

 
Poetry

David Francis:  Unfinished

Unfinished in life, and unfinished in this poem, is the old, rebellious woman.   More...

 

John M. Marshall:  Three Lives Converged

Poem inspired by the convergence of three lives at the Grand Canyon.   More...

 

 
Multilingual Poetry

Guido Monte:  By the Strait of Sicily

Sad verses by Guido Monte on immigrants who died in the Strait of Sicily.   More...

 

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THE COMPANION OF THINKING PEOPLE

SWANS - ISSN: 1554-4915
URL: http://www.swans.com/library/past_issues/2013/130729.html
Created: July 29, 2013