If you’ve been paying any attention to America’s budget battles, you know that Congressional Republicans are currently engaged in a dangerous game of chicken with President Obama over raising the debt ceiling. Today’s post on the subject features a parallel with Macbeth and a glance at famous literary sneers.
Tag Archives: politics
Refugees Dropped in a Fantastic Terrain
As I watch the brutal repression currently underway in Syria, I am reminded of Syrian-American poet Mohja Kahf’s poem about her family fleeing to America from Assad’s father in 1971.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Roc", Arab Spring, Immigration, Mohja Kahf, refugees, Syria Comments closed
Jerusalem in a Green and Pleasant Land
William Blake’s “Jerusalem” has been used for both religious and patriotic purposes. One must negotiate the relationship between religion and politics very closely since God can get bent to serve narrow agendas, and this poem is frequently misinterpreted.
U.K. Tabloid Voicemail Scandal as Film Noir
According to Jack Shafer of “Slate,” the U.K. tabloid phone hacking scandal has all the elements of a classic noir, especially “The Big Sleep” and “The Maltese Falcon.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Big Sleep, eavesdropping, Journalism, Maltese Falcon, phone hacking scandal Comments closed
Rightwing Rewrites Reality
Today’s Republican right are practitioners of the Humpty Dumpty approach to communication: “I said it very loud and clear. I went and shouted in his ear.” Like Lewis Carroll’s Humpty, they also believe that they can make reality, as Humpty makes words, mean whatever they want it to mean.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Alice through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll, Rasselas, Republican Party, Samuel Johnson, Tea Party Comments closed
Sam Spade Takes on Sarah Palin
Something about Monday’s debate amongst Republicans vying for their party’s presidential nomination reminded me of Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon.” They are all chasing after a legendary black bird that seems to be priceless but all too often turns out to be a lead simulacrum.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Dashiell Hammett, Election, Maltese Falcon, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty Comments closed
Palin, Bachmann, and All about Eve
The rivalry between Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann about who will be Tea Party queen reminds me of the 1950 Betty Davis film All about Eve. The parallels are so delicious that I have to share them with you.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged All about Eve, Film, Michel Bachmann, Presidential race, Sarah Palin Comments closed
