Welcome to Swans Commentary http://www.swans.com/ March 14, 2011
Note from the Editors: The events of the last fortnight -- from the
increasing violence in Libya, the end of the Space Shuttle Discovery's
era, to the swelling of protests in Wisconsin against the continued
assault on labor unions -- pale in comparison to the human, societal,
structural, and environmental disaster that has devastated Japan. We
witness in collective horror the results of Mother Nature's enormous
power, and hold our breath that a nuclear catastrophe will not add
insult to such grave injuries. So with all due respect to our readers in
Japan we introduce this edition, whose ideas, research, and creation
took shape long before the shifting tectonic plates released their
destructive energy on your beautiful country. Our hearts and hopes are
with you...
We begin with Louis Proyect's exceptional review of the three critical
books on Barack Obama that have emerged from the left -- the mainstream
"The Mendacity of Hope" and from a Marxist standpoint, "The Obama
Syndrome" and "The Empire's New Clothes," neither of which have been
addressed in the mainstream media nor published by mainstream press.
Gilles d'Aymery balances the US budget in a few easy and painless steps,
and shares some must-read tidbits about the rising cost of fuel, the
growing waste of food, the bloated list of billionaires, and more.
"People power" is a theme that runs through Michael Barker's work on
Stephen Zunes and the Philippines, Femi Akomolafe's reflections on the
Tunisia and North African uprisings, and Charles Marowitz's similar
hopes for America.
Next, Peter Byrne transports us to Barcelona through the perspectives of
George Orwell, Antonio Gaudi, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan
Miró. Fabio De Propris examines the symbolism and economics of the
hands-off world of soccer, while Maxwell Clark considers the narrative,
psychoanalytic, and political- economic dimensions of the poetry of
Charles Bernstein. If by now you're inspired to contribute your ideas,
thoughts, or opinions to Swans but don't know how to begin, start with
Bo Keeley's short primer on writing and self-editing, then check our
guidelines. We close with Giovanni Raboni's poetic fragments on the
insults and injuries of the Berlusconi era, along with your letters on
our beloved Martian Blips.
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Cordially,
Gilles d'Aymery -- Swans
"Hungry man, reach for the book: It is a weapon." B. Brecht
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