Welcome to Swans Commentary http://www.swans.com/ March 28, 2011
$$$ Many thanks to Roger Baker for his second generous financial
contribution this year. Please, friendly readers, companions, comrades,
brothers and sisters, do not wait until the fall to help us. $$$
Note from the Editors: Is nuclear energy the answer? Should we kill
people to save lives? Is it moral to spend more on cruise missiles and
less on teachers and social services? Have we become the United States
of Austerity? Gilles d'Aymery asks those questions and researches the
answers with his typical Martian clarity, though the answer to the
nuclear conundrum -- is it safe and is it cost-effective - - is not so
clear. Paddy Apling lends his scientific analysis to the discussion and
suggests we should stop exaggerating the dangers, and Joel Hirschhorn
concludes that when it comes to nuclear power, one should plan for no
less than the worst-case scenario. The nuclear option waged on Wisconsin
unions has exceeded its news-cycle half-life, but those still interested
in the plight of labor are advised to read Michael Barker's shocking
article on the role the AFL-CIO has played in promoting labor movement
imperialism, including in Egypt where its Solidarity Center acts as a
well-established arm of the US government seeking to undermine the
vitality of labor movements worldwide. And back to an earlier question
of trading teachers for Tomahawks, Michael DeLang's political allegory
demonstrates the "socialism" fear tactics used to block government
funding for the benefit of the people.
Turning from tough societal questions to life's simple pleasures, our
cultural corner is energized by a Peter Byrne short story on boyhood
experience with racism; Raju Peddada's celebration of Stendhal; Maxwell
Clark's strange accounting of how certain philosophers have acted in
formulating the ideas that have ordered revolutions; Bo Keeley's account
of an introspective year spent in Garage Nirvana mastering the art and
science of self-control, proving just as recent studies have shown that
people with full bladders make better decisions; and Charles Marowitz's
adulation for the beautiful and iconic Elizabeth Taylor. In the French
Corner, we enjoy "les bons mots" of Marie Rennard, who considers the IQ
tests that assess where between chimpanzee and genius we stand;
Christian Cottard's short story of hope; Francesca Saieva's thoughts on
Italian writer Italo Calvino; and the ethereal poetry of Simone
Alié-Daram. Last but certainly not least, we close with the poetry of
Guido Monte and a treasure trove of letters in which author and former
Harper's editor Roger Hodge and author Paul Street respond to Louis
Proyect's review of their books on Barack Obama, and more.
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Gilles d'Aymery -- Swans
"Hungry man, reach for the book: It is a weapon." B. Brecht
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