The Free Press is bringing back a Reviews section after some absence. We hope to review plenty of events around town. Check back frequently and if what\'s going on is any good.
Arts & Culture
Freedom is Not Enough: The Moynihan Report and America’s Struggle over Black Family Life from LBJ to Obama
By James T. Patterson
Basic Books 2010
216 Pages
Preface, Annotated Endnotes and Index
On May 22, 1964, the late President Lyndon Johnson challenged the graduating class at the University of Michigan to make not just a more rich and powerful society, but a Great Society “. . .where men are more concerned with the quality of their goals than the quantity of their goods.” In practice the Great Society came to be known as a set of domestic programs and legislative initiatives designed, in part, to lift Americans out of poverty and create a more just society. It was a giddy time in America. Finally the country appeared to be moving toward resolving its centuries old racial problems; indeed, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, sent to Congress in June 1963 by the late president John F. Kennedy, was signed just two months after LBJ’s speech later. The Economic Opportunity Act, the cornerstone of Johnson’s War on Poverty, was also signed that summer, and the morass that was Vietnam was not on the radar for most of the American public.
By James T. Patterson
Basic Books 2010
216 Pages
Preface, Annotated Endnotes and Index
On May 22, 1964, the late President Lyndon Johnson challenged the graduating class at the University of Michigan to make not just a more rich and powerful society, but a Great Society “. . .where men are more concerned with the quality of their goals than the quantity of their goods.” In practice the Great Society came to be known as a set of domestic programs and legislative initiatives designed, in part, to lift Americans out of poverty and create a more just society. It was a giddy time in America. Finally the country appeared to be moving toward resolving its centuries old racial problems; indeed, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, sent to Congress in June 1963 by the late president John F. Kennedy, was signed just two months after LBJ’s speech later. The Economic Opportunity Act, the cornerstone of Johnson’s War on Poverty, was also signed that summer, and the morass that was Vietnam was not on the radar for most of the American public.
The many stages of imperialism are often brought into debate about whether the current U.S. foreign policy, or any U.S. foreign policy, is an imperial project. Eric Walberg's clear and concise presentation of the "great games" centred on the ancient Silk Road from China through to Eastern Europe presents a definition of imperialism that spans all of humanities' empires. The "Foundations…of imperial hegemony are financial and military-political, to ensure control of world labour power and raw materials." This reflects my own interpretation of empire as being founded on the gathering in of wealth and power to the heartland from the hinterland, from a cultural geography perspective. Walberg uses the terms heartland and rimland, the same idea, focussing intentions on the heart of Eurasia and the surrounding countries' resources, wealth, and manpower.
Republicans and Democrats....two hands to one head
There is no republic and democracy's dead
Conspirarchy. Duopoly. Together in bed.
Your fake choice is no voice when choice is spoonfed
But that's polartics.
Republicans and Democrats....two hands in one till
There is no more cold war...just icy chill
Fewer but newer. Shock and awe. Kill.
And borrow from China to pay on the bill.
Yeah that's polartics.
Republicans and Democrats..two hands on one clicker
Control the remote, you control the stock ticker
Keep them confounded with fast food and liquor
The head becomes sicker, the hands even quicker
In polartics.
Polartics as usual. As ESPN.
Polartics in rabidbites from angry old men
Polartics to split us kids on two sides of the gym
And kill em all in Murder Ball till its just you and him
Republicans and Democrats...two puppets one trigger
Troops, dupes and front groups for something that's much bigger
Too divided, diverted, deluded to figger
This tagteam warmachine electoral rigger
That's polartics.
There is no republic and democracy's dead
Conspirarchy. Duopoly. Together in bed.
Your fake choice is no voice when choice is spoonfed
But that's polartics.
Republicans and Democrats....two hands in one till
There is no more cold war...just icy chill
Fewer but newer. Shock and awe. Kill.
And borrow from China to pay on the bill.
Yeah that's polartics.
Republicans and Democrats..two hands on one clicker
Control the remote, you control the stock ticker
Keep them confounded with fast food and liquor
The head becomes sicker, the hands even quicker
In polartics.
Polartics as usual. As ESPN.
Polartics in rabidbites from angry old men
Polartics to split us kids on two sides of the gym
And kill em all in Murder Ball till its just you and him
Republicans and Democrats...two puppets one trigger
Troops, dupes and front groups for something that's much bigger
Too divided, diverted, deluded to figger
This tagteam warmachine electoral rigger
That's polartics.
The use of peyote has been at the core of Native quest for spiritual guidance and community for thousands of years in MesoAmerica. In North America, some 300,000 members belong to the Native American church, which also holds peyote at its core.
But the epic struggle to win legal acceptance in a nation that prides itself on "freedom of religion" has been noble, complex, largely successful, and extremely instructive to those who would finally end the "war on drugs."
In fact, practitioners of the practice insist peyote is NOT a drug at all. As of 1994, the sacramental use of peyote for members of federally recognized tribes is totally legal. But the route to that reality comprises one of the most fascinating chapters in all US history.
But the epic struggle to win legal acceptance in a nation that prides itself on "freedom of religion" has been noble, complex, largely successful, and extremely instructive to those who would finally end the "war on drugs."
In fact, practitioners of the practice insist peyote is NOT a drug at all. As of 1994, the sacramental use of peyote for members of federally recognized tribes is totally legal. But the route to that reality comprises one of the most fascinating chapters in all US history.
I just learned that one of my favorite musicians, Gil Scot Heron has died.
Gil. and his band performed on the 7th episode of Saturday Night Live ( the one with Richard Pryor), and their music so moved me that I ran out the next day and bought their album, "From South Africa to South Carolina" -- the first LP I ever owned. A student of African master drummer Babatunje Olatunde and a prodigy of the New Harlem Renaissance movement in music, Gil brought traditional African Rythms and instruments of a new contemporary style of soulful, folksy jazz, infused with both African and American history in a way that politically pulled no punches. Gil took a bold stand against Nuclear Power with his ("alternative") hit, "Shut 'em Down."
Gil. and his band performed on the 7th episode of Saturday Night Live ( the one with Richard Pryor), and their music so moved me that I ran out the next day and bought their album, "From South Africa to South Carolina" -- the first LP I ever owned. A student of African master drummer Babatunje Olatunde and a prodigy of the New Harlem Renaissance movement in music, Gil brought traditional African Rythms and instruments of a new contemporary style of soulful, folksy jazz, infused with both African and American history in a way that politically pulled no punches. Gil took a bold stand against Nuclear Power with his ("alternative") hit, "Shut 'em Down."
When a concert starts off 8 miles high, only the truly great can keep it there. That's what David Crosby & Graham Nash did the other night in Newark, Ohio. The wind beneath their wings was an outstanding foursome of virtuoso musicians.
The result was a three-hour love fest that should not be missed.
Crosby/Nash are transcendently talented buddies who come with a set list nicely balanced between the old, the mellow, the rockin', the oddball and the new.
They combine a pleasant stream of bullshit-free banter with a virtuoso professionalism that speaks of comfort and grace.
The evening standards were in abundance, ranging from "Marrakesh" and "Déjà vu" to "Guinevere," "Our House" and "Wooden Ships." All came with power and a fresh angle.
What got the show to a new level was the truly terrifying team including James Raymond on keyboards, Dean Parks on guitar, Kevin McCormick on bass and Steve DiStanislao on drums. Each brought a monster game to a seamless ride through a whole generation's comfort zone.
The result was a three-hour love fest that should not be missed.
Crosby/Nash are transcendently talented buddies who come with a set list nicely balanced between the old, the mellow, the rockin', the oddball and the new.
They combine a pleasant stream of bullshit-free banter with a virtuoso professionalism that speaks of comfort and grace.
The evening standards were in abundance, ranging from "Marrakesh" and "Déjà vu" to "Guinevere," "Our House" and "Wooden Ships." All came with power and a fresh angle.
What got the show to a new level was the truly terrifying team including James Raymond on keyboards, Dean Parks on guitar, Kevin McCormick on bass and Steve DiStanislao on drums. Each brought a monster game to a seamless ride through a whole generation's comfort zone.
It’s fitting that Keith Kilty, Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University’s Department of Social Work, borrows from Sojourner Truth in titling his film “Ain’t I A Person?” At its core, the documentary does on video what Michael Harrington did in print with his epic book on poverty, The Other America.
Kilty, in the tradition of Harrington, is taking the all-too-often invisible poor and humanizing their plight. This is the ultimate success of this well done documentary. Produced primarily in Ohio with much of it set in urban Cincinnati, a city at one point with the highest rate of urban poverty in the U.S., the film succeeds not only as a record of human suffering but also functions as a primer on poverty.
Kilty centers the film around a variety of questions that are essential for any intelligent discussion of public policy aimed at reducing poverty. His years as a professor aid him in explaining what poverty is, how it is defined, and what are its root causes.
Kilty, in the tradition of Harrington, is taking the all-too-often invisible poor and humanizing their plight. This is the ultimate success of this well done documentary. Produced primarily in Ohio with much of it set in urban Cincinnati, a city at one point with the highest rate of urban poverty in the U.S., the film succeeds not only as a record of human suffering but also functions as a primer on poverty.
Kilty centers the film around a variety of questions that are essential for any intelligent discussion of public policy aimed at reducing poverty. His years as a professor aid him in explaining what poverty is, how it is defined, and what are its root causes.
Modern history and current events are aligned in this excellent text from Dilip Hiro. Beginning with a short, concise back ground history on the arraignment of empires before and after World War II, “After Empire” then focuses more closely on the New World Order following on two main events. The first was the self-inflicted collapse of the Soviet Union following on Gorbachev’s perestroika and glasnost, followed by Yeltsin’s inebriated attempts to throw the country wide open to the capitalist free market west and the Washington consensus of the IMF and World Bank. The second event, a decade later, was the attack on the World Trade Center and the subsequent series of attacks and manipulations around the world combined with the stealthy annexation of the powers of the constitution towards executive supremacy in the U.S. government.
OK, all you leprechauns.
Here's a Riverdance quiz for you:
What's to love about two hours of joyous dancing, singing and hypnotically upbeat music of the highest quality?
Answer: Everything!!
The absolutely lovely production of Riverdance at the Palace tonight (Saturday) and tomorrow afternoon is worth every bit of the financial and geographical inconvenience it might cost you.
I admit to an intense passion for all things Irish. I've been there twice and recommend How the Irish Saved Civilization to all who'll will listen.
But there's a reason: the Emerald Isle has intense magic, especially when it comes to music and dance.
Riverdance has been around for a while. I did see the famous Michael Flately perform Lord of the Dance at the Ohio a few years ago. That was an awesome show, but this one is actually more enjoyable.
There is no more gorgeous theater on Earth than the Ohio. But the Palace offers a bit more intimacy.
Here's a Riverdance quiz for you:
What's to love about two hours of joyous dancing, singing and hypnotically upbeat music of the highest quality?
Answer: Everything!!
The absolutely lovely production of Riverdance at the Palace tonight (Saturday) and tomorrow afternoon is worth every bit of the financial and geographical inconvenience it might cost you.
I admit to an intense passion for all things Irish. I've been there twice and recommend How the Irish Saved Civilization to all who'll will listen.
But there's a reason: the Emerald Isle has intense magic, especially when it comes to music and dance.
Riverdance has been around for a while. I did see the famous Michael Flately perform Lord of the Dance at the Ohio a few years ago. That was an awesome show, but this one is actually more enjoyable.
There is no more gorgeous theater on Earth than the Ohio. But the Palace offers a bit more intimacy.
When a copy of William A. Cook's latest book, The Plight of the Palestinians arrived in my mailbox, I initially felt a little worried. The volume, featuring the work of over 30 accomplished writers, is the most articulate treatise on the collective victimization of Palestinians to date. From Cook's own introduction, 'The Untold Story of the Zionist Intent to Turn Palestine into a Jewish State' to Francis Boyle's summation of 'Israel's Crimes against the Palestinians', it takes the reader through an exhaustive journey, charting the course of Palestinian history prior to and since al-Nakba, the Catastrophe of 1947-48.
Still, I feared that something might be missing in this noble and monumental undertaking: Palestinian people's own responses to the cruelties they've suffered. Would Palestinians be presented yet again as merely poster-child victims, eager for handouts?
Still, I feared that something might be missing in this noble and monumental undertaking: Palestinian people's own responses to the cruelties they've suffered. Would Palestinians be presented yet again as merely poster-child victims, eager for handouts?