What Remains: On the European Union What Remains: On the European Union
How the twentieth century’s confidence in social solidarity, human dignity and a better future died a slow, quiet death.
Sep 5, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Mark Mazower
Syria Syria
…and when, then, the imagination is transmogrified in circles of hatred, circles of vengeance and killing, of stealing and deceit? Behind the global imperia is the interrogation cell. It’s not a good story. Neither the Red Crescent nor journalists are permitted entry, the women tell how men and boys are separated, taken in buses and never seen again, tanks in the streets with machine guns with no shells in the barrels because the army fears that those who will use them might defect. Who knows what has happened, what is happening, what will happen? God knows. God knows everything. The boy? He is much more than Mafia; he, and his, own the country. His militias will fight to the death if for no other reason than if he’s overthrown they will be killed, too. “Iraq, you remember Iraq, don’t you?” she shouts, a refugee. Her English is good. Reached via Skype, she speaks anonymously, afraid of repercussions. “You won’t believe what I have seen”—her voice lowered almost to a whisper—“a decapitated body with a dog’s head sewn on it, for example.” Yes, I know, it’s much more complicated than that. “It’s the arena right now where the major players are,” the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs concludes his exclusive CNN interview. Dagestan—its province in the North Caucasus—is what the Russians compare it to, warring clans, sects; Lebanese-like civil war will break out and spread across the region. Online, a report—Beirut, the Associated Press— this morning, “28 minutes ago. 4 Said to Be Dead at Syrian University,” one Samer Qawass, thrown, it is said, by pro-regime students out of the fifth-floor window of his dormitory room, dying instantly from the fall…
Sep 5, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Lawrence Joseph
Shelf Life Shelf Life
The Collected Writings of Joe Brainard.
Sep 5, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky
NFL Season Opens Under the Darkest of Shadows NFL Season Opens Under the Darkest of Shadows
Tragically, player safety has become a political football.
Sep 5, 2012 / Dave Zirin
Calling In the Humanizer Man Calling In the Humanizer Man
Analysts say that Romney campaign strategists face the challenge of humanizing their candidate. —News reports They’d like it if this man the folks are seeing Resembled more an actual human being. For that he’d need some warmth and shmaltz and soul; Then he’d appear less plastic and more whole. So in their dreams of triumph they aspire To show that their guy bleeds and may perspire, This can be done at once, without delay: The Humanizer Man is on his way. Yes, any candidate with boardlike stiffness Can be adjusted with surprising swiftness. The Humanizer Man’s done this before. Though he fell short of loosening Al Gore, He’s had a host of triumphs in his day. So if Mitt’s men believe, to their dismay, Their man’s as human as a Charolais. No need to cry “¡Caramba!” or “Oy vey!” For everything is going to be OK. To give him hope you only have to say, “The Humanizer Man is on his way.”
Sep 5, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin
The Washington Post’s Feckless ‘Fact-Check’ The Washington Post’s Feckless ‘Fact-Check’
Afflicted by the elite journalistic disease of “on-the-one-handism,” the MSM’s supposed arbiters of truth—like the Post’s Glenn Kessler—can't ma...
Sep 5, 2012 / Column / Eric Alterman
Behind the GOP’s Diversity Display Behind the GOP’s Diversity Display
“Diversity” today marks a shift from equal opportunities to photo opportunities; institutions look different but they operate in exactly the same way.
Sep 5, 2012 / Column / Gary Younge
Moms Discriminated Against at the DNC? Moms Discriminated Against at the DNC?
While Democrats are effusing over the Mom-in-Chief, it’s worth noting that a branch of NOW is currently petitioning Party Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to stop discrimi...
Sep 5, 2012 / Laura Flanders
Romney, Obama and ‘Capitalism’ in Israel Romney, Obama and ‘Capitalism’ in Israel
Talk about a tempest in a chicken-soup pot!
Sep 5, 2012 / Bob Dreyfuss
Undocubus: A Journey From Arizona to the DNC [Video] Undocubus: A Journey From Arizona to the DNC [Video]
The Nation’s Aura Bogado traveled with Undocubus and brings you her reporter’s notebook.
Sep 5, 2012 / Voting Rights Watch and Aura Bogado