http://www.swans.com/
August 29, 2005 -- In this issue:
Note from the Editor: The concept of freedom of speech is in vogue
in Washington. Not as a practice, mind you, but as a bait-and-switch
manner of saying, "no comment." Pat Robertson and Cindy Sheehan
can say whatever they want -- it's a free country and we're proud of
that -- next question? The Democrats have no comment either, hoping
that if they just keep quiet and don't mess up, the Republicans will dig
their own graves and hand over their power on a silver platter.
Meantime, what's a "progressive" to do -- is there a recipe for
change? Robert Wrubel has some suggestions on where to focus in
light of the crises facing us -- global warming and peak oil. Speaking
of which, Gilles d'Aymery fills in for Mr. Bush's "no comment" and
provides Mrs. Sheehan the answer to her "noble cause" question, and
it's not "democracy." Jan Baughman has some thoughts on Sheehan as
a symbol for the intentionally growing economic divide that is
weakening and silencing the people, and George Beres reports on the
impact of intimidation at the local level, where politicians are growing
mute in the face of "warnings from above."
Both silence and intimidation are common practices as the Abu
Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay torture horrors keep coming to light --
unthinkable acts that are nothing compared to those committed in
Vietnam, according to Milo Clark. Systematic torture as
administrative policy lives on, now in the name of homeland security,
but with no demonstrable increase in safety. More on "terrorism,"
"security," and our new kind of warfare from Michael Doliner and
Philip Greenspan.
So many of us feel completely helpless in the face of all this
destruction and violence in the name of greed, and wonder if Bush &
Co. will ever be held accountable for their crimes. Charles Marowitz
as playwright provides much-needed comic relief, in which W. is
summoned by G. for all the scandals being committing in Her name.
Poetry by Gerard Donnelly Smith, our editor's blips, with some
thoughts on freedom of speech, reactionary ideology, torture, etc.,
and your letters finish out this edition.
As always, please form your OWN opinion, and let your friends (and
foes) know about Swans.
*****
Here are the links to all the pieces:
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/wrubel01.html
Recipe For Change
- Robert Wrubel
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/ga197.html
The Noble Cause: Oil
- Gilles d'Aymery
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/jeb148.html
Darwinism and Intelligent Economic Design
- Jan Baughman
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/gberes02.html
Local Face Of Intimidation By Government Mind Control
- George Beres
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/mgc164.html
Torture
- Milo Clark
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/mdolin09.html
"Terrorism" And "Security"
- Michael Doliner
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/pgreen71.html
A New Kind of Warfare
- Philip Greenspan
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/cmarow26.html
A Summons From God
- Charles Marowitz
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/gsmith53.html
Suffering
- Poem by Gerard Donnelly Smith
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/desk024.html
Blips #24
- From the Editor's desk
http://www.swans.com/library/art11/letter72.html
- Letters to the Editor
#####
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