http://www.swans.com/
June 19, 2006 -- In this issue:
Note from the Editor: If we controlled the world, we would not schedule
the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and World Cup matches with Brazil and then
France, on a publishing weekend...so we'll be brief on editorializing.
That said, if we controlled the world, it would be a more humane place
indeed. Yet with habeas corpus swept into the dustbins of history along
with the Geneva Conventions and the US Constitution, it's no surprise
that free-thinkers from the arts and academia are being scapegoated for
daring to question the party line. Diana Johnstone analyzed the Peter
Handke affair as symbolic of the entire demonization of Slobodan
Milosevic; University of Colorado Professor Tom Mayer deconstructed the
university's report that attempts to discredit his fellow professor, Ward
Churchill; and we add a third name to the list, that of director Bruno
Bayen, who publicly opposed the cancellation of Handke's play, which he
was to direct in Paris. In no case has the corporate media come to the
defense of these individuals, not even in the name of freedom of
expression or academic freedom. Actually, they essentially ignored the
stories. As Gerard Donnelly Smith illustrates, "freedom to" is now
reserved for those in power, and in the "free market" of ideas, we can
thank the Telecommunications Act of 1996 for allowing the consolidation
of media control in the hands of a super-wealthy few. Seth Sandronsky
offers an excellent overview of this Act, reminding us that capitalism is
not democracy. One can only imagine how Clear Channel would have dealt
with the folk music talent and politics of the 1960s... Louis Proyect
reviews this genre in the context of two books: "The Mayor of MacDougal
Street" and "Positively 4th Street."
If anyone can find humor in our disappeared Constitutional rights it's
Charles Marowitz, who conjured up the predicament of an unsuspecting yet
heavily-accented kosher caterer being tapped by the NSA. Charles also has
some fashion and beauty advice for that shock-and-awe blond so-called
writer who is the one person we wish the corporate media would ignore as
much as it did voting fraud. Deck Deckert's Martian friend predicts more
election shenanigans in store; as for those in power who vote us into
war, Philip Greenspan is all for proportional representation like you've
never imagined.
In the Arts & Culture corner, Peter Byrne takes us on a culinary tour of
Bulgaria and Guido Monte offers up poetry for the New World. Our editor's
blips pay homage to the environmental activism of the Murie family (and
wondering what Martin would do about a rattlesnake in a chicken coop) and
disdain for the Christian Right demagogues spewing their bigotry; with
some interesting tidbits from college commencements, a high-school
lawsuit à la Schopenhauer, and more. There are many readers' letters to
peruse, and if you're in the Sacramento area, you should catch Howard
Zinn's play, "Marx in Soho" -- see our front page Announcements for
details.
As always, please form your OWN opinion, and let your friends (and foes)
know about Swans.
*****
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/dianaj03.html
Peter Handke And The Watch Dogs Of War - Diana Johnstone
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/ig094.html
The Report On Ward Churchill - Tom Mayer
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/ga211.html
Three Faces Of Ostracism: Bruno Bayen, Peter Handke, and Ward Churchill
- Gilles d'Aymery
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/gsmith68.html
The Insurgent Word: Freedom - Gerard Donnelly Smith
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/seths02.html
The Telecommunications Act Of 1996 - Seth Sandronsky
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/lproy38.html
A Second Look At The Folk Music Revival
- Book Review by Louis Proyect
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/cmarow48.html
NSA Traps Suspected Terrorist In New Jersey
- Humor by Charles Marowitz
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/cmarow49.html
The Coulter Solution - Charles Marowitz
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/rdeck064.html
Election Shenanigans - Deck Deckert
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/pgreen91.html
Making Those Responsible Pay A Price - Philip Greenspan
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/pbyrne06.html
Flowers For Lunch - Short Story by Peter Byrne
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/gmonte02.html
Vergil's New World - Poem by Guido Monte
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/desk037.html
Blips #37 - From the Martian desk - Gilles d'Aymery
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/letter93.html
Your Letters
http://www.swans.com/library/art12/anews04.html
Announcement: "Marx in Soho" -- Karl Marx on California Stage in
Sacramento, California.
#####
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Swans
"Hungry man, reach for the book: It is a weapon." B. Brecht
