The CIA's publication of the "family jewels" (that is documents written before 1973, which they kept secret for no good reason for decades after confessing to the Church and Pike commissions) make me think of great literature. In particular of Orwell's admiration for "Ulysses". Orwell had been attempting to write a long poem about a day in London, when he read the very long novel about a day in Dublin. He wrote in his diary that he was "sick with envy." This was not an unusual entry for Orwell. It was unique.
Now I wonder if he might, again, recognise that he has been surpassed. I am thinking of 1984 of course. A very good book (and he finished it unlike the poem) with brilliant writing. However, the prose of "Politics and the English Language" might be even better. Both however are surpassed by the brilliant Al Haney (organizer of the coup in Guatamala) who wrote
"Eliminate all the absolute monarchies, dictatorships and juntas from the free world and count those that are left and it should be readily apparent that the U.S. would be well on its way to isolation.”
I have great respect for Orwell, but I don't think he dared imagine a character who would claim that "the free world" consists *mostly* of "absolute monarchies, dictatorships and juntas." Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Blogger is still crashing my computer; grumble.
ReplyDeleteAbout Mark Kleinman, I realize why I quickly formed and hold to my opinion. The reason is a penchant to be foolishly pretentious about any and every subject. Most recently, the wonderful benefits of American drug prices, the higher the better, on research and development. Never ever bother reading, Mark.
anne
Heck, Jay Leno did a lot better job talking with Michael Moore last night than Kleinman does on health care.
ReplyDeleteLeno pointed to a recent stroke by his mother while she was in England, and subsequent emergency care and hospitalization and successful recovery, and Leno offering to pay any bill for the finest of care and finally receiving with apologies a bill for $1,500 for the "extras."
Thank you Jay Leno and thank you Michael Moore, and phooey to the fools on public radio who review Sicko by explaining that Michael Moore is a clever "propanangist."
anne
Oh dear, "propagandist."
ReplyDeleteNot to worry though Mark Kleinman can pay any old amount for drugs, though of course he never considers the idea.
anne
Also, as Jay Leno and Michael Moore pointed out, Hillary Clinton who once really did have ideas on health care, is now the top Congressional recipient of health care company money.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jay Leno though gets Sicko and public radio can't and won't, we have quite a battle left to battle.
And, before complaining about Cuba, should I explain why America college graduates go to Cuba for medical school with the consent of Congress? Say what?
anne