http://www.swans.com/ June 21, 2004 -- In this Issue:
Note from the Editor: Let's begin with something special, shall we? Curious about "Yiddishkayt?" Interested in the connection between Jewish popular culture and the American Left? Fascinated by the urban Jewish milieu of New York City's lower east side as it "wends its way from Vaudeville to contemporary television?" Want to learn more? Then you must read Louis Proyect's superb review of the latest book written by his friend Paul Buhle, "From the Lower East Side to Hollywood." Louis, who's both Jewish and Marxist, weaving his web around Buhle, himself not Jewish but fluent in Yiddish, makes for a fascinating read! Not to be missed; it's one of Proyect's very best reviews.
Elsewhere, in the skunk-stinking trenches of US politics, the Bush cabal now finds itself defending its war on Iraq with an "it depends on what the definition of 'collaborator' is" strategy for damage control, thus ironically emulating the Clintonesque approach to debating the meaning of "is." With Bush's poll ratings heading steadily south, the ABBers are waiting, no, hoping, no, praying for Kerry to exhibit something, anything, they can wrap their arms around should he get elected. First-time Swans contributor Bill Eger provides an insightful analysis of our one-sided "democracy" in which voters have no power over candidates once they are elected, and the political parties hold no accountability to the candidates or the people. The speculation of a Kerry-McCain ticket has been firmly squashed -- but what of a McCain VERSUS Kerry strategy for the Republicans? Could Kerry defeat McCain? asks Manuel García. John Blunt has some suggestions for Mr. Kerry should he want to be a "true" leader; and wise Milo Clark, examining the nature of progress and "progressives," takes a simpler, down-to-earth approach: clear out Washington so we can get on with it. (In the next few issues, we'll keep providing a series of opinions on the coming US presidential election.)
Now, imagine all our "great leaders," deep down in hell's inferno, defending themselves to the devil... Phil Rockstroh does just that with a "heated" exchange between Ronnie and Satan -- and it's no surprise whose logic prevails. Richard Macintosh, incensed by the utter immorality of the US war machine, muses over the fragility of the whole edifice and utilizes logic to debunk the imperial agenda, represented in Philip Greenspan's construct of Uncle Sam as "Bullshit Virtuoso."
Even worse, we had to suffer the unbearable loss of "The Genius," Ray Charles. He was only 73 and we had all long been lulled into believing, hoping, he was as timeless and immortal as his music (it's the wrong dude who died at 93 the other day...). So here is another special: Thanks to the generosity of Bruce Anderson and the "Anderson Valley Advertiser," we are publishing three of their odes to Ray; along with one of our own, which explores a few memories regarding Mr. Charles and American music, as well as Americana and a week of encomia for a cold and fake president.
Letters to a Young Poet and more Letters to the Editor round out this issue. As always, please form your OWN opinion, and let your friends (and foes) know about Swans.
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Here are the links to all the pieces:
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/lproy16.html Paul Buhle's "From the Lower East Side to Hollywood" - Book Review by Louis Proyect
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/beger01.html Reviving Political Parties: The Last Chance For Democracy - by Bill Eger
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgarci16.html McCain Versus Kerry? - by Manuel Garcia, Jr.
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/jblunt04.html Letter To John Kerry - by John Blunt
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgc131.html The Bankruptcy Of Progress: The Challenge Of Today - by Milo Clark
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/procks29.html Ronald Reagan Receives Sympathy From The Devil - by Phil Rockstroh
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/rmac23.html Fragile - by Richard Macintosh
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/pgreen44.html Uncle Sam, The Bullshit Virtuoso - by Philip Greenspan
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/ava001.html Remembering Ray - by Chili Bill
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/ava002.html Not Joe Isuzu; Not Mr. Whipple: The Greatest Republican - by Garry Goodrow
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/ava003.html Goodbye, Ray - by Tom Reier
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/ga180.html Ron And Ray - by Gilles d'Aymery
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgc130.html Final EIS For SBCT Transformation In Hawai'i - by Milo Clark
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/xxx108.html Letters to a Young Poet (Letter Eight) - by Rainer Maria Rilke
http://www.swans.com/library/art10/letter44.html Letters to the Editor
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Gilles d'Aymery -- Swans
"Hungry man, rush for the book: It is a weapon." B. Brecht
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