Empire As A Lifestyle

Our quote of the week comes from former Newsweek editor Michael Hirsch in the October issue of Foreign Affairs. US Allies must accept that some US unilateralism is inevitable, even desirable. This mainly involves accepting the reality of Americas supreme might--and truthfully, appreciating how historically lucky they are to be protected by such a relatively benign power. This raises some issues of etiquette from those under our benign protection. I think its appropriate to show gratitude to Americans, but excessive bowing is not required. And when a foreign official calls our President a moron, as did Canada's Francoise Ducros, firing them from their post is overdoing it. I should think a little caning would be sufficient. (Alexander Cockburn, 11/21/02)

The System Works

The creation of a Homeland Security Department and recent court rulings easing restrictions on surveillance has Civil Liberties groups all flustered. What they forget is the government has safeguards to see that domestic spying doesn't get out of hand. Yes, there is an official spy court that reviews all applications. For example, last year the Surveillance Court of Review received 935 applications for wiretaps and approved, let me see... 934, which leaves one they rejected. That's a record much better than the old KGB in Russia. (AP, 11/20/02)

Bomb Sites

A National Geographic survey found that only 13 % of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 could identify Iraq on a map. Countries surrounding Iraq have anxiously requested that future US bomber pilots be able to locate Iraq. They say it is a very large country in the Mideast. The good news, after a year-long war in Afghanistan a whopping 17% of young people could identify that country. And even better, a much larger number were able to identify the Marquesa Islands, of all places.

Apparently they'd been featured on the TV show the Survivors, which points to the obvious solution to our nation's educational problems. (Chicago Tribune, 11/21/02)

Logo Nation

A company called Government Acquisitions LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been selling advertising space on police cars. So far 20 towns have signed up for the service. Lots of people are making fun of the idea, imagining Victoria Secret or Viagra ads on police cars. Personally I like the idea. Cant you just picture police in the future stopping you and announcing, Hi, your speeding ticket is brought to you by Nike, the leader in sportswear. Why not? (AP, 11/20/02)

Yuppie Anxiety Dept.

Affluent, upwardly mobile parents are struggling to get their children into the right preschools, seen as feeders to the elite kindergartens. Competition is so fierce for the few openings in New York city's trendy preschools that they now admit only one out of every 15 applicants. Fortunately there is a very fair selection process. Said spokesperson Alix Friedman of the prestigious 92nd Street Y Preschool, Every single child goes through the same careful, thoughtful admissions process. That thoughtfulness is encouraged by an additional $20,000 donation, now considered de rigueur. To help relieve the anxieties of status-conscious parents we have formed the Tonya Harding Educational Consulting Group, which guarantees admittance or your money back. (WP, 11/16/02)

United Cornflakes

How far has advertising penetrated our political thought? Recently The European Union has been looking at possible new names for itself, including "the United States of Europe." Valry Giscard d'Estaing, the former president of France, announced that "we need a name which gets across our brand." Its a relief to know European politicians are beginning to grasp the nuances of American political thought. (Harpers, 10/06/02)

--Wayne Grytting has recently published a new book, American Newspeak: The Mangling of Meaning for Power and Profit. He also inflicts radio listeners with commentary on KEPX-FM in Seattle (90.3, Sundays, 7:55AM). More drivel can be found at http://www.americannewspeak.org. To subscribe try wgrytt@scn.org

CHEW SWALLOW DIGEST

Beyond several other books that have appeared in this space in recent months, here are a few more I think make an ideal holiday gift--especially in combination with that ETS! gift subscription you've been intending to give to several dozen of your friends.

Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights by Thom Hartmann, Rodale Press. Hartmann is a Vermont writer who I'd never heard of before this book came out and he appeared one Saturday morning on KEXP's Mind Over Matters as Maria and I arrived at the station. But his book is a tour de force, tracing everything from a detailed account of the rise of corporations (and their legally dubious elevation to legal personhood by the US Supreme Court in the 1880s) to a comprehensive overview of their political, cultural, economic, and social impact today.

Most importantly, he gives readers tons of examples, ideas, and resources for taking on corporate power in our own communities. It's one thing to document how the corporate state threatens each of us and the world as a whole; it's quite another level of achievement to lay out the ways to fight back. Exhaustively researched, well written, and inspiring.--Geov Parrish

The Global Activist's Manual: Local Ways to Change the World, edited by Mike Prokosch and Laura Raymond of United for a Fair Economy, Thunder's Mouth Press. This book, by and for the global justice movement, is a series of essays and chapters, many by well-known global justice activists and writers, that run the progressive gamut. There's campaigns against sweatshops, racism, globalization, and materialism, tips for everything from meeting facilitation to direct action, and, again, lots of resources (including a well-stocked Appendix entitled "A Movement Yellow Pages" with web sites, periodicals, groups, and contact info). United for a Fair Economy is, along with Global Exchange, one of the country's best outfits at combining meticulous research with wild street theater, direct action, and a sense of fun. For people already agitated and wondering what to do, a great starter kit.--GP

American Newspeak: The Mangling of Meaning for Power and Profit by Wayne Grytting; New Society Publishers. Speaking of fun--particularly for people (like me) who care about words and their use and abuse, this collection of lingual outrages and pithy remarks upon them is pure bliss, of a most hilarious sort. Wayne was one of the very earliest regular contributors to ETS! when he was cranking out a weekly column version of Newspeak, and now he's moved on to the national publishing stage.

The results are well worth it. His weekly observations on the insults to our collective intelligence served up by corporations, politicians, and their media apologists have become a book that is the culmination of several years of harvesting these gems, and it's the sort of book that will keep disappearing from the bathroom because people don't want to put it down and other people need to use the facility. You'll love it.--G.P.