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in Commentary
by
John Podhoretz, May 2008
Billed as a "celebration of free speech," Podhoretz feels The Newseum, recently opened in Washington, is actually the news industry's tribute to itself, bearing little resemblance to the original, a much more modest facility. At a cost of $475 million, the Newseum, designed by James Polshek, features the world's largest LCD display. Promoted as "The World's Most Interactive Museum" (a Space Mountain of news media, Podhoretz writes), the Newseum's focus is the newspaper's vital role in American life, but Podhoretz convincingly warns that the newspaper is on the road to an apocalypse.
Posted 3:46, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Lonnette Harrell
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
Kevin Shapiro, May 2008
Nobel laureate James Watson may have infuriated the world with apparently racist comments late last year, but Shapiro wonders what took the world so long. In reviewing Watson's latest memoir, Shapiro summarizes bits of Watson's life story, from his early love of bird-watching to his only-slightly-later interminable search for "a suitable blonde." But while Watson seems an unsympathetic character -- for example, he uses his first memoir to insult Francis Crick, with whom he unraveled DNA -- his behavior rarely seems outrageous. Shapiro argues, reasonably enough, that Watson wanted the last word on DNA (now that all his colleagues have died), but few of his other arguments rise above insinuation.
Posted 2:52, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Danny Kind
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
Algis Valiunas, May 2008
Upton Sinclair, renowned socialist and author of the monumental 1906 novel The Jungle, will be admired in perpetuity for both his passionate railings against economic inequality and the Soviet Union's unspeakable atrocities, Valiunas argues. He offers a compelling, multifaceted review of the author's sordid life, from his impoverished background to his political idealism and scandalous love life. A professional muckraker, commune founder, and supporter of the Vietnam war, Sinclair's life is filled with contradictions. Valiunas describes these nuances from an admirer's perspective.
Posted 11:54, 10 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
Efraim Karsh, May 2008
From a Zionist viewpoint, Karsh attempts to refute decades-old conspiracy theories by anti-Zionists. He takes aim at the theory that, during Israel's 1948 beginnings, Zionist leaders plotted to displace the Arab population. Karsh, however, offers quotes from the most ardent Zionists of the day, who believe in preserving equal rights for Arab citizens. Karsh blames conspiracy theories and extremist anti-Jewish views on Palestinian leaders as well as on neighboring Arab countries like Egypt. While Karsh posits many valid opinions, his claim that most Palestinians of the time held views contrary to their leaders needs more support.
Posted 4:21, 9 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Elliot Feldman
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
Terry Teachout, May 2008
The paucity of Russian culture in the 21st century speaks volumes about the nation's democratic crisis, art critic Teachout argues in this philosophical essay. Ruminating about the insights of Solomon Volkov's new book, The Magical Chorus, Teachout writes that Russian art is inseparable from politics -- especially considering the Soviet Union was the dominant patron for artists. He asserts that Americans tend to identify with apolitical Russian artists such as Anton Chekhov, whose "aesthetically persuasive portrait[s]" of Russia paint over its barbarity, offering convenient fictions about a Russia that never existed.
Posted 2:40, 9 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
Richard Pipes, May 2008
"Russian democracy" seems to be a misnomer, and the deficit of democracy-loyal citizens accentuates the class conflict. Pipes notes that only 10 percent of Russians say they would resist another Communist takeover -- and many are wistful for a long-past Soviet Union that provided the military prestige, economic security, and social order of a modern superpower. He attempts, with limited success, to accessibly explain the belligerent Russian mentality, surveying a variety of topics from President Medvedev's undemocratic election to the nuclear-backed national sentiments of a paranoid regime angered by NATO encroachment.
Posted 12:34, 9 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Bethany Stotts
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
R.R. Reno, April 2008
Reno writes of his personal adventures in (and around) the oil industry. He left college for rock climbing; when he ran out of money near Rawlins, Wyoming, he took a job on an oil rig. Stationed on the backside of the rig, flanked by giant engines, was like standing on the curve of a Formula One racetrack. To avoid getting cut in half, he crouched -- and thereby picked up the nickname the "Worm" or "Damn Worm." He enjoyed the camaraderie, not to mention the $1,500 every two weeks (in 1980 dollars). This excellent personal essay concludes with the author's return to college after a threat by a murderous barroom bully.
Posted 6:19, 7 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Joy Schwabach
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
Peter D. Feaver, April 2008
Feaver, a former member of the National Security Council staff, discusses the advent, realization, and results of the troop surge in Iraq. Feaver describes the strategy as a reaction to diplomatic failure, and views the plan as having produced a "sustainable strategy with a reasonable chance of success." This month's report by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Feaver asserts, will present undeniable proof that the surge in Iraq is working and, therefore, will position the next American president to effectively continue a military presence in Iraq. Although Feaver's commentary is well-informed, it is also partisan, lamenting the probability of withdrawal given a Democratic victory in November.
Posted 3:00, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Will Russell
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
David Berlinski, April 2008
Berlinski's examination of the similarities and differences between the human race and our evolutionary cousins the Great Apes aims for profundity and doesn't quite make it, but his summaries of experiments being done by Dorothy Cheney and Robert Seyfarth are extremely detailed and make for fascinating reading. Despite the fact that primates are not as intellectually advanced as their human counterparts, the research shows strong evidence for rigid social structures and the ability to understand concepts far beyond the simplistic sign language that has already been demonstrated -- indicating that more research into the workings of the simian mind could open up a whole new world of behavioral science.
Posted 2:51, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Nick Slawicz
and edited by Brijit.
in Commentary
by
Peter Wehner, April 2008
Wehner reviews Barack Obama's record on Iraq since 2002 and determines that the presidential candidate's positions have evolved depending on political aspirations and perceptions of public opinion. He first opposed the invasion, then was committed to doing what was necessary to stabilize the region. Next, as public opinion shifted, so did he, initially supporting troop reductions, then demanding an immediate withdrawal. Wehner collects six years worth of Obama quotes, ultimately attributing Obama's changing positions to political calculation and his interest in diplomacy to ignorance. This biting critique makes some too-broad conclusions, but is still worth reading for Obama supporters and detractors alike.
Posted 12:10, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Pinoli
and edited by Brijit.