March 8, 2010
March 8, 2010
Trade liberty for safety or money and you'll end up with neither. Liberty, like a grain of salt, easily dissolves.
The power of questioning -- not simply believing -- has no friends. Yet liberty depends on it. ***
Note from the Editors:
After another two-week mainstream non-news cycle, it is with much anticipation that we present Part Two of Michael Doliner's "Short History of Stupidity" in which he considers the Jacobian revolution, the transfer of power from aristocracy to the bourgeoisie, the latter's resulting monomaniacal quest for moneymaking, and the perpetual lies and enormous bad conscience at the heart of bourgeois life. Doliner's comprehensive analysis provides a fitting backdrop to Michael Barker's latest philanthropic exposé examining the African National Congress, the Free Africa Foundation, and how foreign aid is an integral tool by which global capital and American neoconservatives conquer foreign markets. Power, lies, and monomania in the form of quasi-lobotomized congregations of Paulistas, Palinistas, Tea Baggers, and the flailing left permeate Gilles d'Aymery's Martian Blips, along with FDIC chairwoman Sheila Bair's bullish lies, damned lies, and faulty statistics, some thoughts on real change, and more. Returning to Africa from an insider perspective, perhaps Femi Akomolafe's recent accounts of AWOL Nigerian president Yar'Adua led to his recent resurfacing -- Femi constructs a humorous debate on who is the better leader, Yar'Adua or South Africa's "virile" Jacob Zuma.
Turning our attention to culture, we learn that even the art world is not impervious to elite exploitation. Peter Byrne reports on advertising magnate Charles Saatchi's move from manipulation of the public to manipulation of artists and their work. Meanwhile, in the throes of the annual Oscar orgy, Charles Marowitz dons his critic cap to review the blockbuster movie Avatar, a production with an incredulous narrative that is brutally and rollickingly violent and damnably clever -- but so what? On a musical and societal note, Harvey Whitney, Jr. sings the jukebox blues from the deep South, exposing the industry's meddling with consumer choice at the dawn of the digital revolution, while concertmaster Isidor Saslav waxes lyrical in Part One of a potpourri of operatic observations.
Closing with the incredible power of the written word, Christine Spadaccini weaves
a poignant short story on suicide by lily, the ravages of Alzheimer's disease, and the plight of political refugees in France and those who are punished trying to help them. Guido Monte and his students blend verses about war and peace with the words of John Lennon and Bertolt Brecht, and Martin Murie offers a brief review of Barbara Ehrenriech's Dancing In The Streets, with a reminder for us all to get some sociality into our restricted lives. We close with your letters, on Dave Patterson's new anti-capitalist book Greenways as an antidote to Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged; our tax dollars at work in alleged trespassing deer hunter Bo Keely's mistaken identity ordeal in the California justice system; and the collection of Kenneth Rexroth's columns republished by the Bureau of Public Secrets. A question Gilles d'Aymery keeps asking: Is another world possible, and if so, when are we going to start building it? Answers most welcome...
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Patterns Which Connect
A Short History Of Stupidity - Part 2
The nation-state system Metternich founded in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna was a device to preserve aristocratic rule through avowing Jacobin "metaphysical principles" while at the same time opposing any changes to ancient traditions and customs these principles might inspire. In this way they hoped to bubble off the passions that led to Jacobin uprisings and preserve their own power. The nation-state allowed Jacobin passions to simmer in the low heat of exhausting parliamentary debates or tedious judicial proceedings. When necessary it could mix profession of Jacobin ideals of universal freedom and equality with the passion of patriotism to fire up a war-making boiler. More... Michael Doliner has taught at Valparaiso University and Ithaca College. He lives with his family in Ithaca, N.Y.
Buying Freedom For Africa
Foreign aid is an integral tool by which global capital conquers foreign markets, a sordid history of which the US-based nongovernmental organization Food First has thoroughly documented since their formation in the late 1970s. It is unfortunate then that in a recent article titled "Food Aid in Africa: A Profitable Business," Food First cited with approval the above quote from the president of the Free Africa Foundation, George Ayittey. More... Michael Barker is an independent researcher who currently resides in the UK.
Tidbits Flying Across the Martian Desk
Blips #97
"Don't be seduced into thinking that that which does not make a profit is without value."
Gilles d'Aymery is Swans' publisher and co-editor.
Africa
President "SEX MACHINE" Zuma's Virile Libido
• When are you Nigerians going to sort yourself out? You've turned your country into the world's laughing stock. • Leave me alone, please. We have got our share of worldly problems, just like any other normal nations. • Ha, you called yourself a normal nation! Where on earth would a president go AWOL for three months except in that country of yours where jesters are in power? • I thought you would learn to mind your own business; is yours not a case of a pot calling the kettle black? More... Femi Akomolafe is a computer consultant, a writer and social commentator, and a passionate Pan-Africanist who lives in Kasoa, Ghana.
Arts & Culture
Orientalism In London
Edward Said dirtied the West's face when he threw the accusation of Orientalism at it. The term has now left the universities and got on to the streets where it denotes an interest in the faraway for reasons of commerce, fashion, or pure snobbery. Under the commercial heading, Charles Saatchi, the advertising executive recycled as an art dealer, fits neatly. This glossy magician managed his vocational transition without ever leaving his adman's office. His fortune had come from manipulation of the general public through his advertising agency. He then narrowed his sights to the art world, specializing in the manipulation of artists and their work. More... Peter Byrne is an American-born teacher and writer who lives in Lecce, Italy.
James Cameron's Avatar
Given the fact that we are living in what historians are bound to label The Age of Technology, it goes without saying that every new technological discovery is greeted with a fanfare, a deafening drum roll, and a clash of cymbals. Inventors like Steven Jobs are the new elite and their discoveries draw in hordes of "techie-groupies" to be regaled by the latest playthings of this supremely-inventive age. More... Charles Marowitz is an author of over two dozen books and numerous essays and articles who lives in Southern California.
The Jukebox Blues
Not too far in the distant past, you could go to a neighborhood, town, or college bar and expect to hear a particular type of music. During my first foray into graduate school in Athens, Ohio, in the early to mid 1990s, I could expect to hear alternative and metal at the Union, '80s pop at O'Hooley's, and classic rock at Tony's. When I later moved to Boston, I would hear alternative at the now-defunct Local 186 in Allston, blues at the Green Street Grill in Cambridge, or jazz at Wally's in Boston. Back in those days, bartenders could generally be relied upon to create great mixes to set the mood for the evening. More... Harvey E. Whitney, Jr. is a PhD student in history at Florida State University.
Short Story
The Lily Suicides
- Hey, you help me, please, will you? Cannot find the kiddie today. But it's down there, somewhere, I know. Hurry, I really have to take a leak now, 'been looking for too long... I know he's talking to me and that pretending not to hear won't deter him. But I try. Monsieur Boyer comes out of the bathroom and taps me on the shoulder, wants me to give him satisfaction. How -- and who -- am I to tell him he can't get no? - Bonjour, Monsieur Boyer. How's it going today? - ¡No pasarán! Now, help me get that kiddie out, will you?! More... Christine Spadaccini is a French author and translator who lives in Clermont Ferrand, France.
The World of Music
Ruminations On Rusalka, The Ring, Cyrano, And Shreker - Part I
While the events reported in this article took place as many as six years ago during my pre-Swans period, nevertheless their subject matter remains quite timely today. Inasmuch as Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, Wagner's Ring, and a Shreker opera are enjoying current and future productions in New York City and State, a bit of unabashed recycling might be welcomed as apropos. More... Isidor Saslav is a concertmaster who lives with his wife, concert pianist Ann Heiligman Saslav, in Overton, Texas.
Multilingual Poetry
War (Paix Pace Peace Paz)
Their war kills Guido Monte teaches Italian and Latin literature in Palermo, Italy.
Hungry Man, Reach For The Book
Barbara Ehrenreich's Dancing In The Streets
Barbara Ehrenreich has a clear theme: the see-sawing between ruling classes and oppressed classes. Sometimes in medieval ages it was drink, feast, dance, and enjoy the numerous church holidays. Someone might dress like a king and mock him. More... Martin Murie is a writer and veteran activist who lives in Xenia, Ohio.
Letters to the Editor
Dave Patterson's new anti-capitalist book Greenways as an antidote to Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged; our tax dollars at work in alleged trespassing deer hunter Bo Keely's mistaken identity ordeal in the California justice system; and the collection of Kenneth Rexroth's columns republished by the Bureau of Public Secrets. More... We appreciate your comments. Please, remember to sign your e-mails with your real name and add your city, state, country, address and phone number. If we publish your opinion we will only include your name, city, state, and country. Thank you.
Swans by Subject
- Activism under the Radar Screen Keep in Mind...
– Fourteen million trees are cut down in the U.S. each year to supply paper bags nationwide. – According to researchers at the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Agriculture, an average of more than 7 calories of fossil fuel is burned up for every calorie of energy we get from our food. So, it takes 3,500 calories of fossil fuel to eat your 500-calorie breakfast. – "They" say that nuking Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary to end the Pacific War and save lives. Was Hiroshima necessary? You be the judge. What will "they" say once they have nuked Iran? – According to tolerance.org, every day at least eight blacks, three whites, three gays, three Jews, and one Latino become hate crime victims. – Please support Swans. – You can syndicate Swans with our RSS Feed, courtesy of Sean M. Burke. – Support your local businesses. – Say NO to Amazon.com and the corporate bookchains! Support your local independent bookstores! Check Independent Bookstores in the U.S. and Canada. – You can visit Swans READING ROOM for some books we recommend. – Every time you reload the front page, one of 87 different quotes appears randomly in the left margin. – Thank you for visiting Swans and for reading its contents. Endeavor to become an agent of change. – Let us know if you wish to receive an e-mail regarding each new edition (twice a month) with the Note from the Editors, and please become a financial subscriber. See our Donate page.
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