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Note from the Editors

As the American imperialist powers-that-be escalate their case for a military strike on Syria, Gilles d'Aymery pondered and searched for the motive behind the mission, or the method behind the madness, as it were. Without divulging his conclusion, let's just say that the aim is not exactly humanitarian... Jan Baughman thinks back to when President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." His acceptance speech, in which he took the opportunity to justify the use of military force, explains his "moral authority" to strike Syria, even if unilaterally. Jan has a few thoughts for him as he prepares to drag his war-weary nation down another sinkhole. In fact, he could take a lesson on the value of seeking cooperation between peoples by reading Manuel García, Jr.'s remarkable essay on the fundamental communication between different life forms that occurs when they synchronize the rhythms of their consciousnesses.

Moving to a revolution of the sexual sort, Michael Barker takes on Alfred Kinsey, whose research we're all familiar with, but few of us are probably aware of the source of funding for his efforts and the closeted, personal agenda that drove him. Meanwhile, Raju Peddada presents Part II of a random conversation about the female anatomy as a symbol of regeneration and survival. It's only fair and balanced, then, to represent the feminist perspective -- Paul Buhle reviews the anthology Comics about Women, Men and the Ifs, Ands & Buts of Feminism, a collection that its editors found, along with the reinvention of feminism, very timely. And from Italy, where women rule the roost, Peter Byrne pens a short story on a typical Italian gathering in which it all comes down to mama. Peter also offers a few contrarian words on the late Irish poet Seamus Heaney. We close with David Francis's poem on the awkwardness of man, Guido Monte's multilingual "yes" to life, and a Letter to the Editor that we hope remains just a dream.



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Tidbits Flying Across the Martian Desk

Gilles d'Aymery:  Blips #139

A few selected issues focused on Syria that landed on the Editor's desk, from President Obama's desire to bomb the country, the timing behind the decision, America's use of chemical weapons, to the logic behind the madness, and more.   More...

 

 
Patterns Which Connect

Jan Baughman:  Keep Your Eyes On The Prize, Mr. President

An open letter to President Barack Obama regarding his quest to launch a military strike against Syria.   More...

 

Manuel García, Jr.:  Overtones Of Awareness

Fundamental communication between different life forms occurs when they synchronize the rhythms of their consciousnesses.   More...

 

 
Arts & Culture

Michael Barker:  Kinsey-Sex And The Rockefeller Foundation (Part I of II)

Kinsey-Sex And The Rockefeller Foundation (Part I of II)   More...

 

Raju Peddada:  Why Are Men So Insecure? - Part II

Part II of a random conversation about the female anatomy as a symbol of regeneration and survival.   More...

 

 
Hungry Man, Reach For The Book

Paul Buhle:  The Big Feminist But

A review of the women's comic art anthology The Big Feminist But.   More...

 

 
Short Story

Peter Byrne:  Mama Mine

A typical Italian gathering in which it all boils down to family.   More...

 

 
In Memoriam

Peter Byrne:  Seamus Heaney, Poet, 1939-2013

The author takes slight exception to the pious assessments of poetry Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney.   More...

 

 
Poetry

David Francis:  Awkwardness In Man

Social interactions can be awkward, but this poem on the subject is certainly graceful.   More...

 

 
Multilingual Poetry

Guido Monte:  question-answer

Guido Monte thinks it's necessary to say yes to life.   More...

 

 
Letters to the Editor

Letters

A reader's dreams of terrorist attacks on America, American attacks on Russia, and ensuing World War III are hopefully just that -- dreams.   More...

 

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THE COMPANION OF THINKING PEOPLE

SWANS - ISSN: 1554-4915
URL: http://www.swans.com/library/past_issues/2013/130909.html
Created: September 9, 2013