P L E A S E, S U P P O R T S W A N S
It was an interesting fortnight that closed out the first half of the year, and as the days get shorter and hotter, the tides are turning in one direction for some; in another direction for others. The US Supreme Court gave a nod to gay marriage, refused to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, protected human genes from patent, put affirmative action in question, and threw the power of the vote even further under the corpocracy-driven bus. Meanwhile, Edward Snowden remains in limbo while the US president struggles to save diplomatic face with his spied-upon allies, for whom the axiom "if you've got nothing to hide, don't worry" falls flat. Manuel García, Jr. turned to Tony Judt's 20th century history books to understand the political and economic exclusion that prompted the latest leaker. Had Snowden gotten through college and not been one of the "excluded," García surmises, he might have had far fewer morals and principles, and most likely wouldn't have exposed the "inner party." He may be right, if you consider Harvey Whitney, Jr.'s inside perspective on the state of the college system in which academics succumb to epistemic myopia -- in the form of dogmatism of doctrine or dogmatism of specialty -- for the rest of their academic lives. In this anemic job market, whether for indebted grad students or high school graduates, companies must hire intelligently, and Bo Keeley has his own unique cure for corporate atherosclerosis.
Thinking further about the recent gains and losses for the "excluded," one can find inspiration in Michael Demson's book Masks of Anarchy, with illustrations by Summer McClinton and foreword by Paul Buhle, which according to Gilles d'Aymery weaves an extraordinary humane story that brings together a romantic radical poem by Percy Shelley with the remarkable labor activist and socialist Pauline Newman. This coming Independence Day offers a moment for Americans to ponder their gains and losses, and this year's marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Raju Peddada considers this event a stark reminder and a perpetual warning for us in our fatal assumptions that freedom is for granted and cheap. In the meantime, Venice is celebrating its 55th biennial of art, which, with an emphasis on art that pretends to have access to truthfulness and by presenting itself as an alternative to reason, leaves Karen Moller feeling rather uncomfortable.
Switching venues from Venice to Chicago, Peter Byrne transports us in time and place with a short story about a museum, a fishing expedition, and a clash of cultures in the city's South Side. In the poetry corner, David Francis pays tribute to the inspirational German author and pacifist Heinrich Boll, and Guido Monte and Adele Ward collaborate on an otherworldly poem. We close with your letters, on Gilles d'Aymery's Privacy And Digitalism and the new neoliberal world order and Michael Barker's missed opportunity for balance in Beyond The Macrobiotic Faithful.
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Manuel García, Jr.: Tony Judt, Edward Snowden, And "The Excluded"
Tony Judt's 20th century history books explain the political and economic exclusion that prompted Edward Snowden. More...
Harvey E. Whitney, Jr.: The Extinct Life Of The Mind
An academic laments the watered-down product that higher education has become. More...
Bo Keeley: How To Avoid Company Atherosclerosis
A hiring philosophy to prevent company atherosclerosis. More...
Gilles d'Aymery: Pauline And Percy
Michael Demson weaves an extraordinary humane story that brings together a romantic radical poem by Percy Shelley with the extraordinary labor activist and socialist Pauline Newman. More...
Raju Peddada: The Meteors!
Reflections on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. More...
Karen Moller: The 55th Venice Biennale Of Art
News from the 2013 Venice Biennale of Art. More...
Peter Byrne: Fishing
A short story about a museum, a fishing expedition, and a clash of cultures in Chicago's South Side. More...
David Francis: Heinrich Boll
A poetic tribute to German author and pacifist Heinrich Boll. More...
Guido Monte & Adele Ward: Om Ah Hum
An otherworldly poem by Guido Monte and Adele Ward. More...
On Gilles d'Aymery's Privacy And Digitalism and the new neoliberal world order; and Michael Barker's missed opportunity for balance in Beyond The Macrobiotic Faithful. More...
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