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TIDBITS REVERIE Of Paddies & Jihadis Dream a Little Dream of Chinatown 8 Timothy Lavin 38 Jill Dudones
An Open Letter to the President of the 10 Islamic Republic of Iran FICTION Michael Serazio Mutawwa (Part One) 40 Pamela K. Taylor The Israeli-Palestinian Struggle: Can 13 South Korea Relate? Marianna Staroselsky PSYCHOLOGY Do Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural 46 Backgrounds Impact Hostage ONTOC THE FENCE Negotiations? My Dinner with Irving: Jack J. Cambria 18 A Profile of Holocaust Denial Avi Dov Klein LOCAL FLAVOR: A Sunny Day in Dachau SxSW 25 David Winstanley Top of the Heap 50 Jack De Voss THE F-WORD The Religion of Fashion LOCAL FLAVOR: 30 John Iton & Joey Lynn Acosta 6*4*6 Austin 54 Theo Mazumdar REVERIE Dream a Little Dream of Chinatown 36 Jill Dudones The CCM INTERVIEW 58 Laura Linney: Hollywood’s Go-To Girl issueDennis Brabham#8 issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:58 PM Page 4
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MAGAZINES The View from Below: Esquire Covers CONTRIBUTORS 64 the World Trade Center Rebuilding Jonathon Scott Feit LIEUTENANT JACK CAMBRIA is a 24 year police veteran who is currently assigned as the Commanding POLITICS Officer of the New York Police Department's Hostage 72 Propaganda: Posters, Cartoons, and Negotiation Team. He spent 16 years with the Politics Emergency Services Unit, to which he was reassigned Dennis Brabham following the World Trade Center attacks to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts. He will be completing a PORTFOLIO Masters degree in criminal justice from the John Jay Where there Once was a Curtain... College of Criminal Justice in the Fall of 2006. 76 Inside Post-Soviet Moldova Igor Finkel AVI KLEIN is a writing fellow at Moment Magazine in Washington, DC. His work has appeared in the RELIGION Washington Monthly, the Washington City Paper, the Skeptical Upanayanam: Inquirer and the American Spectator. 82 Spinning the Sacred Thread Ramesh Avadhani IGOR FINKEL is Vice President for Circulation and Deputy Publisher of Citizen Culture. After escaping LINES AND LISTS Soviet Moldova by car and living for nearly a year with Double Bill his parents and brother as refugees in Austria and Italy, 90 Garin Pirnia Igor and his family immigrated to the Philadelphia as a Much More than Luck refugee from Soviet Union in 1989. In March 2005, he 93 Jeff Sneider was invited back to his birthplace, the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, and became the first Western Counterculture, Anyone? journalist in 15 years to be granted permission to 96 Amy O’Loughlin research government archives located in Tiraspol. There he conducted exclusive interviews with President Igor Smirnov and other political leaders. issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:58 PM Page 5
An advance release of one of this issue’s “On the Fence” features—”My Dinner with Irving” by Avi Dov Klein—drew some heavy criticism and frank excoriation from some powerful figures of the American religious community. As always, we welcome your feedback as well. Send an email to [email protected].
Irving loves to inflate numbers of giant ego [that's a redundancy] who hates dollars spent to defeat him, the size of the Jews and minorities, who longs for a WASP judgment against him, and of Germans UK, who lies about history with ease [until killed in Allied bombing raids. He loves to he is caught]. I find what he does diminish the numbers of Jewish dead.... reprehensible. I think he is pathetic [the See following examples of blufferei last chapter of my book is called The Court from the article: Jester]. He was left looking silly by the end There was no 8 million dollar of the trial. judgment against him. Cost was about 3 Deborah E. Lipstadt, Ph.D. million and he never paid much. I never Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish pursued him for my costs. Decided that and Holocaust Studies that would be about money and the trial Emory University, Atlanta, GA was about a principle. via email We spent 3 million not 10 [sometimes Irving says 6 million dollars... My reaction? He is a loathsome human you get the analogy] being spouting evil nonsense who does not Irving did not address "a" Judge as deserve a profile of his activities. What he mein Fuhrer. He addressed the judge in deserves is oblivion, and on the way there, my trial as mein fuhrer. obloquy. My personal feelings towards the David Wolpe man? Nada. Don't waste my time having Rabbi any. [IN all due seriousness]. He seems to Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, CA me to be a man filled with hubris, with a via email issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:58 PM Page 6
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earn the right to tell your big stories.” But a question pierces the heart of that happy theory: when have you earned that right? When is it more than hubris? It took a compelling body of work before Steven Spielberg earned the right to produce Schindler’s List; likewise Yaacov Agam, the Israeli kinetic sculptor who created the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial. We had published only seven issues of Citizen Culture before the Holocaust landed in my lap, and I was faced with the dire responsibility of representing one of recorded history’s most heinous crimes. The mantle was a weighty but essential one, because we are the country’s first magazine for Young Professionals, and we Young Professionals Editors, writers, and entrepreneurs have have something to shout at the rooftops: our “rabbis” to inspire us, as American Book We shall NEVER forget. Award-winner and former Time critic Michael Not Congo. Walsh, one of my mentors (the luckiest among Not Darfur. us have several), calls our personal and Not Germany, nor Poland, nor professional predecessors. Still, we’re far from Romania, nor Austria, nor Hungary. omniscient and often unsure, as this eighth Not Israel, or Palestine. issue—themed Faith & Ethnicity—proved. Our Not Kashmir. Echoice of cover stories (with its accompanying Not Kent State. graphics and pull quotes) petrified me. Not Kosovo. I was surprised, then flattered, to find Not Kurdistan. my own confidence bolstered from the highest Not New York City. echelons of the magazine industry. During our Not Rwanda. interview (which begins on page 64), David Not Somalia. Granger, Editor-in-Chief of Esquire, the world’s Not the Soviet Union (see page 74) most steadfast men’s literary-and-lifestyle Not Tienanmen Square. magazine, said that “usefulness and humor… Not Vietnam.
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* * * subject so emotional and significant as the Recently, a reporter asked me what I Holocaust, we would be hypocritical to deny think of the accusation that my generation that there are those who protest its significance, believes itself “entitled,” in need of dues- or indeed, that it happened at all. Which is paying. I took offense to the comment, which not to say I agree. Still, it is the right of the shows an absolute lack of understanding that reader alone to conclude the truth, and Citizen my colleagues and I may be young, but we Culture is—as we’ve said often before—merely have inherited our parents’ scars and, indeed, your mouthpiece. Our sole hope can be to surpassed their drive. We have learned, and maintain the integrity of our journalistic we have regretted. backbone, and thus to earn the right to carry We have applauded a Pope who the burden of memorials like the one that apologized, and demanded integrity from our begins on page 25. leaders. Our comics—the Jon Stewarts and Bill Mahers*—aren’t masters of schtick, but rather, Admiringly yours, purveyours of stark political commentary whose mockery expresses Young Professionals’ exasperation with a decrepit status quo. We rocked the vote, and will rise again, and again, Jonathon Scott Feit with intellectually informed perspectives. Chief Editor & Publisher, Young Professionals are neither stupid On behalf of Citizen Culture Magazine nor passive—we want both sides now, and are ever seeking Truth. (It is no coincidence that * For Bill Maher’s perspectives, see the extended anti-smoking ad campaign called “Muckraking for Dummies” in issue #5 of “Truth” has been one of the most successful in Citizen Culture Magazine at www.citizenculture.com. recent years.) Democrats and Republicans and Citizen Culture Magazine (ISSN 1553-2747) is dedicated to Libertarians and Greens: the power of the publishing the highest quality works by new and talented Contributors, fostering the free flow of ideas, no matter how ‘blog is the power to speak and be heard. We controversial. believe in the sanctity of the First Amendment: The opinions herein expressed are exclusively those of the atuhors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Feit “no law respecting an establishment of religion, or Family Ventures Corporation, Citizen Culture Magazine, its editors, publishers, advertisers, affiliates, agents, suppliers, or prohibiting the free exercise therefore…or abridging the other contributors. Neither the Feit Family Ventures Corproation nor Citizen freedom of speech, or of the press…or the right of the Culture Magazine assumes any responsibility for unsolicited material of any type. All submitted materials will be treated as people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the assigned and available for publication. Submission implies the availability of appropriate copyrights. Material will be subject government for a redress of grievances.” to our unrestricted right to edit for content, length, clarity, etc. We knew that if we were to present a Design & content © 2005-2006 by the Feit Family Ventures Corporation, except as otherwise credited. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without expressed permission from the Publisher. issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:58 PM Page 8
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share nearly nothing in common. That is, of course, a very big aside. But the differences between the two groups illustrate both the promise and the peril of politically Of Paddies engaged terror. and Jihadis Before entering politics, the IRA entered a protracted peace Why Hamas is not the IRA—and what process. The precondition of this it means for us. process was a long-term ceasefire with a planned outcome—agreed upon by all sides—of total decommissioning of illegal arms. WASHINGTON—As the Feast of Throughout its history, the IRA St. Patrick nears, it's high time for was dedicated to unifying one American politicians to toast old nation (a 32-county Ireland) and Erin with pints of black beer and freeing themselves of another (the pabulum about their “dedication United Kingdom). However, the to peace” across the Atlantic. Such majority of people in Northern merriment, especially the liquid Ireland were not so dedicated, version, tends to induce outsized including nearly all those in power. optimism among Washington Thus the bombings. But types, particularly those named throughout its campaign, the Kennedy. As Northern Ireland IRA's violence, however moves ever closer to true peace reprehensible, was intertwined and legitimate democracy, the with a legitimate movement for temptation will no doubt exist to Catholic civil rights and a political equate the now-disarmed and party, Sinn Féin, which adhered to democratically-engaged IRA with a consistent and achievable the very-much-not-disarmed and platform. Theirs was the violence recently empowered Hamas. of political agitation. Once they Aside from their violent verifiably denounced that violence, histories, Hamas and the IRA they gained seats in a devolved
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local parliament—a place where occupation. Is there an equivalent they could peacefully address their man of reason in Hamas? many legitimate grievances—still Someone open to dialogue and under the auspices of the British negotiation? If there is, he has yet Crown. They were not, to show himself. (Or herself, you significantly, given the keys to that ask? Don't kid yourself.) particular kingdom. Even so, a Hamas engaged in Hamas, on the other hand, for democratic politics is preferable to all its laudable social programs, is a Hamas answerable only to itself. still a suicidal, radically anti- And the United States has rightly Semitic band of reprobates that demanded that it renounce earlier this year met with the terrorism and recognize the Israeli approval of a Palestinian state. Further penalties should constituency sick and desperate await Hamas's reaction to those after years of official corruption modest demands; rather than and radical inefficiency—and alienating the group at the height found itself at the helm. This, after of its power, Condoleezza Rice the group has utterly squandered would be wise, for the moment, to every opportunity for peace so far keep her friends close and her presented. Such is life in a enemies closer. democracy. It's pleasant to think that Perhaps a grimmer difference Hamas, saddled with bureaucratic between the two is leadership. Bill concerns about pensions and Clinton's most salient insight about education and commerce and all the Northern Ireland conflict was the rest, would find itself too that Gerry Adams, the leader of accountable to its constituents to Sinn Féin, was a man of reason, a risk much-needed foreign man he could deal with. He gave assistance ($1 billion a year) and Adams a visa and made the Israeli tax revenue ($55 million a United States a welcome ground month) by resorting again to to all parties, far away from the violence. Followers of the IRA's guns and the balaclavas and the political ascent may be reminded civic symbols of British of Martin McGuinness—Sinn
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An Open Letter to the President of Féin's number two and the quintessential IRA “hard man”— the Islamic Republic hunkered over his desk as education minister, working of Iran earnestly on reforming the Northern Irish middle school Any time’s a great time for the End Times. system. But will Hamas be moderated Dear Mr. Ahmadinejad: by the demands of running a state, or intoxicated by its power? I happened to notice in the Will it use its newfound legitimacy newspaper recently that you called to build a great society for its for a ban on Western music. An people, or to destroy that of its excellent idea! Nothing announces neighbors? Don't trust this to work to the world, and your people, out well, for all the reasons the confidence in the marketplace of IRA's political conversion did. ideas quite like a swift (and Hamas—a wing of the Muslim thorough!) act of censorship. I Brotherhood—has never fought myself have called for a ban from for a Palestinian state. It has time to time (unregulated “soft fought to destroy the Jewish one. money” campaign contributions, Theirs is not a struggle to loose pickles on hamburgers, the the chains of a colonial occupier; continued existence of Maroon 5 it's a jihad to create a worldwide on God's green earth), but I lack caliphate. And in that struggle, the political or religious standing lest we forget, infidel civilians will to make it stick. always make prime targets. Theirs However, you may not fully is not the violence of political understand the depth of depravity agitation; it's the violence of and decadence that has taken root nihilism. in Western pop culture. Might I
By Michael Serazio 10 Citizen Culture issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:20 PM Page 11
EXECUTIVE TEAM Jonathon Scott Feit Chief Editor & Publisher Robert Favuzza Chief Marketing Officer proffer a few specifications and/or Igor Finkel Vice President for Circulation and additions? Deputy Publisher John Iton Vice President for Events and Prince of Persia: The Two Senior Editor for Fashion & Photo Thrones for the Xbox. Mere mention of “prince” and “thrones” seems a touch CONTENT DEVELOPMENT TEAM antithetical and, shall we say, Michael Pullmann Managing Editor outmoded for a progressive, wholly Kelly Brumleve Executive Editor Sara Jones Executive Director of Art & Layout democratic nation, which Iran Tim Lavin Senior Editor for Politics most certainly is. B. Theo Mazumdar Senior Editor for Reviews Kristen Consilio Senior Editor for Features Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Seth Reiss Associate Editor for Humor Club Band. Harmless on the Sanford Kunkel Associate Editor & Director, 6*4*6 surface, Mahmoud. But if played Joey Lynn Acosta Associate Beauty Director backwards, it spells out the exact Oliver Utshudi Associate Fashion Editor GPS coordinates of your Damien Power Editor-at-Large underground nuclear weapons cache. Granted, you have to be doing a lot of LSD and listening ONLINE INITIINITIATIVES / MARKETING TEAM to exiles in the National Council of Stacy Chamberlain Director, Online Content Development Resistance of Iran at the same Rowena Yow Web Editor time. Stephon Johnson Director, Strategic Marketing Helen Matatov Director, Publisher Relations Dallas: The Complete First Will Green Manager, Cross-Media Talent and Second Seasons. Perhaps Timothy Patrick Manager, Special Projects the most egregious example of a Maria Lekae Manager, Marketing Information Kevin Spector House Advertising Designer Jewish clan lusty for oil and power. Cover Design Jonathon Scott Feit Admittedly, a few tweaks to the Models Ila Nicholson, Dominiqu Vance, script here and there over the Angela Burno, Diana Chang, Laura Brown years slightly obfuscated the
Submissions [email protected] Advertising Sales [email protected] Letters to the Editor [email protected] Subscribe onlineine @@ wwwwww.cit.citizizencultture.com issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:58 PM Page 12
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Ewing's family Hebraic roots. In The question, of course, is the pilot, for example, Larry whether this alleged pro-Western Hagman's character was originally strain among many of your people called Schmoikel Rabinowitz. is all hype and if, by opting for In all seriousness, you have extremism, we'll see a been on fire this year, my man. counterrevolution sparked by those The zingers do not stop. There moderates. That's the scenario that was that whole Holocaust makes us gun-shy Great Satanists hullabaloo, which required us to all warm and fuzzy at night: a parse your vexing logic: If 6 regime change without American million Jews weren't killed by the hands getting obliquely dirty. And Nazis, as you said, why would the given your anemic economy and establishment of Israel be a listless employment levels, it's a “continuation of genocide” by the scenario that could play out. After Europeans, as you also said? You all, blaming the West and can't have it both ways. Or can blacklisting the Black Eyed Peas is you, you crafty bastard! a familiar strategy for the Then you shared sentiments embattled demagogue whose with Pat Robertson on the ailing domestic distress is not so easily Ariel Sharon—always good addressed. In football terms, it's a company to be in when it comes reverse misdirection—from a to level-headedness. However, political playbook that Chavez given that you're also pals with himself knows well. But at the end Hugo Chavez—who supports your of the day, censoring culture nuclear aims but was recently in doesn't create jobs. It only further Robertson's rhetorical crosshairs - inflames the unemployed who can that could get a little awkward if no longer get Springer at 10 A.M. you all hang out together. (Why do What trips us out, though, like I also see George Steinbrenner at I said, is this apocalyptic hot streak that party?) of yours. If we understand
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correctly your fervor for the The Israeli-Palestinian apparently imminent Mahdi-the Struggle: Can South 12th Imam who will rule at the end times-then, well, you'd Korea Relate? probably fit in just fine with millions of Left Behind readers JERUSALEM DOES NOT LACK for who are in similar rapture in the diversity. The streets are filled with United States. Semites of every imaginable color, Except for the fact that those culture and creed, and the city is folks haven't denied the Holocaust, host to a constant flow of tourists don't usually call for the state of and new immigrants. Yet Israel to be “wiped off the map,” somehow, the evening of Monday, and didn't recently break the seals August 8th brought an unlikely on uranium enrichment facilities, sight to Hillel Street, as the putting themselves perilously close pedestrians found themselves to concocting nuclear weaponry. drawn to the vibrant extravaganza Since Israel's already got theirs, of the Korean festival. that puts us back in a world gone In traditional Korean MAD, well after the Cold War costumes, a mock wedding parade warmed up. Well, Mahmoud, if marched down the street, joyously only banning music was that banging on ceremonial drums. harmless. The exotic colors and attire alone were enough to cause passersby to stop and stare in awe. The face paint was a touching tribute to the festival's message. With a Korean flag painted on one cheek and an Israeli flag painted on the other, the Korean performers' smiling
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A Korean dance festival
faces preached peace to the money, gave us tea, danced for us. Jerusalem public. It's a heartfelt gesture. You can tell “I would like more people like that they're doing this from their them to exist in the world, who soul, that they're here because they wish peace for Israel,” said Oleg want to be.” Boyarsky, a young Russian Israeli One especially touching proudly displaying a Korean flag gesture came from the brightly- on his left cheek. Oleg was so clad of Sung-Sook Kim, a twenty- pleased with the event that he six year-old student of Second returned the next day. “They Temple Literature at Hebrew came to this country on their own University, and the talented
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presenter of the Festival. Kim gave Not only do these Korean a moving speech in Hebrew to the Christians wish to find a Israeli audience expressing her connection to Israel, but they seek wishes for a peaceful, happy recognition from Israelis as well. Jerusalem. The Israeli public was “And it's also up to you, Israel, to clearly touched, especially when recognize us. We're allowing you to Kim ended her speech by singing know us, through this kind of Shalom Aleinu, the famous event. We think we are in a Hebrew prayer song meaning, comparable situation. There are “Peace will come upon us.” always conflicts. We [North and Kim was born in Seoul, South South Korea] are in essence one Korea, as were most of the 2,700 nation, but the Palestinians and Korean performers and Israelis are separate.” The participants. She came to Israel in difference, Kim declares, is that 1999, and her family followed 3 the Korean problem is political, years later. “I had wanted to do whereas the Israeli one is religious. something completely different And yet, for the Koreans, both than what my friends were doing. Palestine and Israel hold Christian After high school most people go significance. to university, they study, they look On August 10th, the Koreans for work, etc. Israel is connected to marched to Palestinian Bethlehem my faith. I was raised in a carrying a banner that read, “We believing Christian family.” Yet love Palestine.” The Protestant despite being the birthplace of Koreans, assuming ethnic Christianity, the Holy Land is as immunity to the racial issues distant from the minds of many involved in performing for both Koreans as from their bodies. Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs, “Many Koreans are Christian, were able to pay homage to two of together with Catholics about the most significant cities in forty-five percent. In recent history Christendom. there are many believers, but we And was the message of peace don't know about Israel as it is successful? Did the Koreans spoken about in the Bible.” achieve their goal? “They were
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smiling … I don't know how much stamp its name on the earth, but they received and how much they only to pay homage to its sacred understood,” says Kim. She soil, is an eye-opener. Could describes the Palestinian audience Christians act as a calming force as cheerful but less connected to here? Doubtful, but the attempt is the performers. None of the touching and even the dimmest performers, including Kim, spoke hope counts for something. Arabic; instead the commencement speech was Author's Postscript: In light of delivered in English. “The event at recent developments in the Israeli and Hillel Street was more connected Palestinian world, the inspired hope to people personally.” Kim which permeates my writing seems very describes the Bethlehem festival as much out of place. This article was lacking the friendly, chatter-filled written in late August of 2005, and the atmosphere of the Hillel Street Korean Festival even at the time appeared event, which included children's unbelievably optimistic. But though the games, Korean language and Tae current Israeli sentiment carries little Kwon Do lessons, and tea stands optimism, I believe that it is even more full of free samplers. important now to keep events such as this But Kim remains determined one in mind. Israel and Palestine should to continue the events. “It remember that there is a common ground strengthens their faith,” she between them—even when it's perceived exlplains. Even if the Israeli- through the lens of something as unlikely Palestinian conflict has no visible as Christianity—-and that it is worth end in sight, the Koreans will still preserving. proclaim their message to all who would hear it. The fact that the lands of milk and honey hold so much value for a third party, and one that proclaims no wish to
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A Profile of Holocaust Denial
THE BASEMENT BANQUET ROOM AT THE Rhodeside Grill in Courthouse, Virginia is usually reserved for youth soccer award ceremonies and the overflow from Super Bowl Sunday. Widescreen televisions and NCAA tournament brackets loom from walls sticky withfrom beer and promotional stickers. A well-stocked bar curves away from the dance floor to make room for a bay of dinner tables in front of the stage. It is the last place one would expect to find David Irving, the world’s most infamous Holocaust denier, and eighty- four of his most devoted followers. It is not easy to attend an Irving event. Promotion for his Real History book tour is mostly handled through local radical right-wing groups like the Council of Conservative Citizens and the American Immigration Control Council. Journalists are not usually
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allowed, and Jews are at a further books, posters, and Great Composers of the disadvantage. “I am a believer in the First Third Reich DVDs. Since the $8 million Amendment,” he wrote, “but many Jews are judgment against him in his ill-advised libel not.” He was south of the Mason-Dixon line suit against Deborah Lipstadt, author of when he opened my email. When I emailed Denying the Holocaust, the book signings are him to ask for an invitation, he replied, “You
As a child I was attracted to Hitler because I worshipped generals and armies of all nations equally.
are pushing your luck, “ he replied, “but if you his primary source of income. His, he says, is can give us guarantees we will be happy to see “a gypsy-like existence.” you at the dinner.” “I am a believer in the First Irving’s eighty-four guests milled about Amendment,” he wrote, “but many Jews are slowly. Many carried copies of the tightly not.” circulated David Irving’s Action Report, a Irving’s table was set in a cramped space periodic newsletter that recounts his day-to-day near the bathroom, his back to the stage and activities and racial grievances, which are often his left profile to the approaching guests. A one and the samechronicles his fight for what massive figure with the an affected martial air he calls “Real History.” (“January 12, 2004: befitting a claimed descendant of Scottish hero Rotten night: the room faces into a major Robert the Bruce, he more resembled a highway, is next to a noisy rattling lift; and struggling conventioneer as he habitually drunken happy-go-lucky Blacks talk outside rearranged and straightened his display of until late.”) Aside from one particularly voluble
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young man sitting at the American to Irving’s allergies. The rest sat at covered Immigration Control Council table who spoke tables making small talk while a. The multi- with the air of a Congressional staffer, few ethnic staff cleared the plates, seemingly were younger than fifty, and even fewer were oblivious to the meeting’s purpose. women. Most were grandfatherly war buffs, the Irving took the stage to enthusiastic sort found in most families. More more Nazi- applause. His gait is plodding, like an philic than anti-Semitic, ; one imagines them inquisitive rhinoceros’s. When he speaks, he crying during the opening scene of Saving plants his feet a foot and half back from the Private Ryan, but for the wrong reasons. microphone, his defined chin jutting forward, Others conducted a seemingly illicit side his hands knotted at his waist to control any trade. At the bar a young man with an impulse to flail or claw the air. unimpressive goatee showed off a cheap “They spent ten million dollars trying to folding pocketknife decorated with a swastika gag me, and failed,” opened Irving to loud and framed with the words “Blot” and “Ehre” applause. With the lawsuit over — the one he — blood and honor — in classic Nazi gothic had started, remember —-”I can finally speak script. This was his Hitler Youth model, he my mind.” Wearily, he began to recite his said, but others, including the “Death’s Head” greatest hits. Some of his most infamous model, were available on his website, statements have taken on a life of their own, www.ssregalia.com. When aAsked his business particularly in cyberspace. For many of the by a former Pat Buchanan senior staffer whose guests who had seen him quoted repeatedly in short build and mustache recalled Bob Barr to chat rooms and hate websites saying, “More no small degree, the unnamed salesman women died at Chappaquiddick than in the described himself as “an SS importer.” gas chambers at Auschwitz that they show the “Don’t worry,” replied the former staffer, tourists,” the event was an opportunity akin to without missing a beat. “You’re among friends seeing Lynrd Skynrd play Freebird live. here.” [Editor’s note: Mr. Irving, in If the audience twittered when Irving correspondence with CCM, has denied repeated his Ted Kennedy reference, and knowledge of this, and stated that his letters of fluttered when he ad-libbed a Monica invitation forbid “such relics and insignia.” Lewinsky related jibe, they positively swooned Dinner was served late, and quickly. Pork when he began to recite a lullaby rhyme he was the overwhelming favoriteentree of choice. once wrote for his four year-old daughter Smokers congregated in the back in deference Jessica. Irving built up slowly to the climax.
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Nervous giggles and glances shot about the room as it became clear he was going to revisit one of the most crucial events in his lawsuit against Lipstadt. According to diaries read out in court, whenever Irving would roll his daughter past “mixed breed” children, he sang a special song, which he then now recited in a singsong voice for the audience as well: I am a Baby Aryan Not Jewish or Sectarian Here he paused for effect and stared the audience in the eye. I have no plans to marry An Ape or Rastafarian Unfortunately he swallowed the punch line, either from exhaustion or giddiness, and it went unheard by everyone who hadn’t anticipated it. For the benefit of those who hadn’t caught it, he repeated it. And the room burst into uproarious laughter. When I was about seven, years old my parents bought me a book of paintings of important historical figures. My favorite showed a mustachioed man in a camel camel- colored jacket, his black hair slicing deliberately across his forehead. Facing the reader, he salutes saluted hundreds of uniformed men, who reciprocated a thousand- fold. It was so inspiring that I immediately resolved to dress up as this great hero and
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parade around the neighborhood. I certainly they would actually wear a Nazi uniform in didn’t anticipate the neighbor’s’ abject horror public. (It would be ad hominem and unfair to when I proudly explained my new hairdo as a compare them in any way to the British royal Hitler costume, and that yes, it was my poor family.) But revisionist movements invariably suffering mother who had provided the foster a group identity in which the sheer pomade. notoriety of the cause becomes its dominant Something about being a Nazi, or, rather, raison d’etre. As the line between earnest playing at being a Nazi, excites Holocaust inquiry and personal development becomes deniers. As a child I was attracted to Hitler confused, readers sometimes over-identify with because I worshipped generals and armies of the subject matter and lose themselves, all nations equally. It wasn’t bad taste; I simply physically and intellectually, in the text. didn’t know any better. But David Irving and Projection, such as when the overeager “UFO- his readers are old enough to know better and ologist” begins to see flying saucers himself, is a too old to be playing dress dress-up. Like all of common enough symptom. us, they wish the Holocaust never happened, Irving once addressed a judge as “mein but they also agree with Ernst Zundel, another Füuhrer” and didn’t even notice the mistake. infamous Holocaust denier and Irving ally, that But what should we make of the man I met at the Holocaust “bar[s] so many thinkers from the bar who tried to sell me a replica Hitler re-looking at the options that National Youth pocketknife and laughingly, but Socialism German style offers,” which to their nervously, described himself as “an SS minds would not abide immigration, estate importer?” Is he a tasteless boob or pathetic taxes or the Warren Court. When they deny Scaramouche? What about the former senior the Holocaust, they also manufacture the staffer for Pat Buchanan who told the knife confined intellectual condition in which they salesman, “Don’t worry, you’re among friends can study or enjoy Nazi Germany with the here”? And what would a one do with a Hitler same respectably wistful curiosity as an Youth replica knife, anyways? Too flimsy for Anglophile might Victorian England. personal defense, too offensive for public Though the politics of National Socialism display, one would have to unsheathe it are a major attraction, Irving’s meetings also privately, like a forbidden pornographic reinforce a feeling of belonging and identity. treasuretreasured pornographic film. A similar This is not to say his readers are so low-class ritual obtainspertains, I imagine, for to the
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Something about
being a Nazi, or caption, “Invited stranger Avi Dov Klein seizes the opportunity to interrogate the rather, playing at guests,” bordered on the hysterical. In the meantime Irving refused to answer questions being a Nazi, about his finances or political beliefs: “I am not paranoid — but I do not believe in excites Holocaust assisting those whose intention is to smear me!” deniers. Despite all the Sturm und Drang, Irving is no longer much of a threat. In truth, he isn’t much of anything anymore. Only one percent of Americans believe it is possible that the Holocaust didn’t happen, which very poster of Hitler Irving offereds free with each roughly means that there are seventy-six purchase. Irving’s exaggerated cloak-and- thousand Holocaust deniers in the Washington dagger with me before the event only served to Metro area, according to a 1994 Roper poll. emphasize how important conspiracy, or the (This 1994 Roper poll corrected an earlier, illusion of it, was to these otherwise ordinary heavily publicized but tragically flawed, poll men. that found a twenty-two percent denial rate.) A week after the Irving event I received an And the event I attended was one of his larger, unusual email from a man in Sydney: “So far and considering his notoriety and the Virginia despite millions (billions rather) of dollars location, it was not an impressive turnout. Zionist were unable to prove BEYOND ANY Most encouraging of all are the demographics. DOUBT that “Holocaust” took place.” How, I Considering the advanced age of most of wondered, had this man found my email Irving’s readers, Holocaust denial in the address? Was there such a thing in this cruel United States might very well die out soon, world as Holocaust denial spam? Thankfully, literally. no. In fact, Irving had posted on his website Judaism has a hell, doesn’t it? my email address and photograph. The
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on the fence A SUNNY DAY
A WARM SUN SMILES DOWN ON DACHAU. Puffy, gentle clouds hang in the air as if painted. IN Birds chirp and sing to each other from poplar trees. Green and lush, tall and strong, these trees frame the enclosing wire fences. DACHAU Gravel crunches and pops beneath my boots. I walk, finding myself with head down, bag heavy on shoulder, literally (realizing the cliché) lost in thought. The foundations of the long-destroyed dormitory buildings line the path like
Text and Photographs 25 By David Winstanley CCm issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:58 PM Page 26
tombstones in a pebbled cemetery. The sun's whines, and her friend takes a picture. She gentle song upon the earth rises an octave or zooms in on the green brown stains on her two, the temperature soaring as sunlight eases friend's shirt and hands. Laughing, she looks at through the scattered, motionless sky. The her digital camera's readout screen and they chatter of birds is lost in the oncoming giggle. The pooped-on girl continues, murmur of voices. This sub-audible rumble “Eeeeeww! Gross! It smells so bad!” and I walk grows, peaking to a high-pitched tussle then away. spreading out into the flat verbal clatter of the I come to the gas chamber and the school groups. Platoons of teenagers wander crematorium. I enter the building aware that freely, wearing garish colored backpacks and this was a place of disposal and murder. But brightly hued shirts. I cannot help but intercept the gas chamber here was not the murder their communications. factory that Auschwitz was. It never had the A pretty girl shrieks and holds out the front capacity or ability to handle demand on that of her white sweatshirt. She pulls it far away scale. from her body. “A bird pooped on me,” she I stand in the Shower Room and look through the door opposite. I see a lone girl, maybe seventeen years old, tall with long, fine legs in tight blue jeans. Her long blonde hair is wavy. She is quite lovely HOW COULD THEY and probably popular. She sucks on the straw of a jumbo-sized LIVE KNOWING THE box of juice. It could be her boyfriend's nipple by the look in CAPABILITIES her eye. Her thoughts appear to be elsewhere. I move on. OF SUCH A Children pause in the Incinerator Room. Two boys talk CIVILIZATION? together, giggling and smiling at a private joke. They could be standing in their school cafeteria. I wander away, until my feet feel
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on the fence
the crunch of the gravel. I look at the fences, I walk to the waiting area by the cinema the ditch, the canal, and the guard tower. entrance door. Girls are trying to hoist Behind me are the churches and themselves up onto the wall. They laugh as memorials built in the 1960s. Catholic, they flash their bellies; shirts and jeans separate Protestant, Jewish, Russian Orthodox. I look as they stretch their torsos. A girl flicks her eyes quickly at their Modernist shapes and then to see if a boy has noticed. walk again down the center aisle of the I see two German girls on a step. They are barracks' foundations. An aisle in the church of sharing a green iPod, an earpiece each, passing dead things. I walk towards the main camp time as if on a playground at lunchtime. building, with its cinema and exhibitions, and I walk past an American man in his late gift shop. An altar at the end of the aisle. forties. He is short, with a white moustache,
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and he says, “We scored the touchdown in the last forty seconds of the game, so we won.” A lady asks him, “Who was it that you played?” and he replies, San Diego, Santa Fe, Sacramento, Seattle. I tune out his response. I cannot hear it and I don't want to know. Chubby boys in shorts amble past, shuffling in the gravel. A bell tolls in the distance. Scattered pockets of applause strike up, thanking a tour guide. Left and right, it echoes sporadically. Another group walks past, a man and two women. All three are healthy, well-fed, safe and free. One woman is saying, “…until you do you have no way of knowing how strong you are.” Whatever she is talking about, I am happy she's realized it, but strength is relative. Strength to come here? This is not needed. Strength to see it is not needed. Out of one of the few remaining dormitory buildings come a group of European teenagers. Some are quiet, some chat as normal. A boy looks me in the eye, and I fashion his expression into one that has a faint sheen, a tint of guilt perhaps. But maybe it is a sense of realization, an understanding of history. Complicity is not to be sought or apportioned. It can only be imagined. The summer of 2005 was the sixtieth anniversary of the Liberation of Dachau by
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on the fence
Allied troops. They were young, not-so- significance of a single place has eroded, but innocent farm boys and city kids in tanks and Dachau existed, and it still epitomizes the trucks. Some were barely out of high school. misery of a violent age. They found Dachau and the people in it. My thoughts are interrupted when a The journalist Martha Gellhorn was here teenage girl suddenly asks of me, “Why did too. She spoke with soldiers, prisoners and they burn all the buildings here?” and I hear victims of vile experimentation. She wrote of myself reply, “Wouldn't you have done the her experiences so the world could learn about same?” the function and practices of Dachau. It was Later, I stand outside the documentary the first time the modern world had seen such cinema as people emerge. The light dims as specific barbarity. The Allied troops tried to the sun slides demurely behind the clouds. It's understand it, and deal with it. Unprepared, June, but it keeps turning cold. I pick up my they saw Dachau with their own eyes and the bag and camera and walk towards the main force of that reality was a smack in the face on gate. behalf of the naive remainder of humanity. As I pass through from the inside to the The liberators who saw Dachau, those outside I read the solid ironwork motto that who released the dying and the starving from speaks the cruel irony of the camps. It reads the squalid camp and dispelled the threat of Arbeit macht frei. People flow through the gate, death, knew little of what to expect here. They some stopping to take a photo of the words. could not help but smell the decay and They will take the sarcastic duplicity of the degradation. Did Gellhorn anticipate such phrase away with them. sights and horrors? Did the soldiers feel inured The visitors exit the camp. They trudge to such atrocities? Were these facts too awful to back along beige gravel paths to their cars and comprehend? How could they live knowing the coaches, to their lives far away from the past. capabilities of such a civilization? The camp at Dachau remains behind them, Eventually, the facts and stories of the grey and lifeless under the wide blue dome of concentration camps and the Holocaust, the the sky. The clouds drift overhead once more, political persecutions and racial subjugation and the birds still sing in the trees. would be taught in school history classes. Over time, the true scale has been diluted and the
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Photos and Styling by John Iton Makeup by Joey Lynn Acosta issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 31
the word issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 32 issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 33 issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 34 issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 35
In order from 2nd overleaf:
Dresses available at Madonna and Bambino: Stigmata: www.eDressMe.com Silk Scarf Print Dress Silk Evening Dress by by Nicole Miller. BCBG Max Azria
Buddhist temple: Muslim prayers: Shiva: Beaded Evening Gown Flamenco Halter Gown Beaded Evening Gown by Faviana by Celo by Sue Wong 35 CCm issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 36
R E V E R I E
CHINATOWN IS MY HOME. ON SUNDAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHTS, THE SMELL OF FORTUNE COOKIES BAKING FILLS THE AIR, LINGERING ON MY BALCONY AND PERMEATING THE SCREENS OF MY WINDOWS. ON OFF DAYS, HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE FLOATS SOUTH DOWN WENTWORTH FROM THE MALAYSIAN RESTAURANT. NEITHER OF THESE SCENTS PROVES CHINESE IN ORIGIN, AND NOR IS THAT OF THE FRESH BASIL AND OREGANO I’M CHOPPING TO MAKE CALABRESE POTATO SALAD.
But I am less likely to pass as the typical the many other Eastern European Chinatown inhabitant than the Malaysian chef neighborhoods on the north side of Chicago. or the South Asian fortune cookie factory But I am already home, although many worker. Chinese neighbors eye me in confused or Each morning on my way to work, I sometimes resentful stares as I get out of my pass the neighborhood elders doing Tai Chi car and walk up to my building. My and then a navy van with two Polish men Volkswagen parked among a sea of Toyotas: selling black market cabbage, onions, garlic, “She doesn’t belong here.” celery and a fruit of the day. They unload the But I do. Four blocks away from where I produce directly onto the sidewalk, celery live is the building in which my grandfather leaves touching the sidewalk cement, which and his family lived when they left Sicily without a doubt has been violated by decades ago. Two great grandparents, their ten neighborhood dogs, cigarette butts and rats. children, and eventually their children’s They have no regard for the Chinese who buy children in that old brick building. A little to their produce. Prices are noted gruffly with the the north was where my grandmother and her universal hand-number system. Just before 10 parents migrated to, but is now 90/94 highway. a.m., the Polish men return to their Polish Within Chinatown was, and in some places still neighborhood at Archer and Pulaski or any of is, a thriving Sicilian and Calabrese (a southern By Jill Dudones 36 Citizen Culture issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 37
dream a little dream of chinatown
province in Italy) community, but most neighborhoods and therefore don’t belong in Chicagoans have no idea it exists. one, along with the rest regular “white” And why should they? Chicago is one of Chicagoans. But I’ve never felt like a regular the nation’s most segregated cities and Chicagoan—my family is a mishmash of everyone knows that Italians live on Taylor customs, values and traditions. Street, North Harlem and Cicero, not I remain a yuppie on the cusp of Chinatown. Ethnic groups have no reason or gentrifying Chinatown. Perhaps the glares and desire to mix with each other, at least that is stares are warranted. My building, at the very the stereotype. And so Little Calabria remains center of Chinatown, is flooded with Patels, a secret. Smiths, Lapinskis, Giovanottis, Santos’, Chins, People who visit Chicago rave about the Fosters—a melting pot of urban professionals, cuisine and its ethnic diversity. Ethiopian, who represent a world outside of what should Cuban, Dutch, Filipino, Italian, Jewish, be inside Chinatown. We live here because it is Moroccan, Persian, Polish, Columbian, close to the lake, downtown and two major Mexican, Japanese—the takeout menu list can universities, not because we need to live close extend as long at the Great Wall. But try to others who speak our language, share our having three of these different cuisines in one customs, traditions, religions and imported day and besides indigestion, you’ll also have to foods. We don’t belong here, and should our fuel up the gas tank again. That’s because all friends find out what a great place this is to of these different cuisines, with the exception live, we’ll together wipe out the culture of of the trendy hotspots, are in intricately Chinatown altogether. segregated neighborhoods that may border It could happen, and has to Little Italy each other, but never cohesively intercept each on Taylor Street, the African-American other. community on Maxwell Street, a Mexican However, ours is an example of an community in Logan Square and Pilsen—the intercepted, intersected neighborhood. My list goes on. Urbanization is wiping Chicago Italian mother married my Lithuanian father. I clear of its strong ethnic roots. In fact, a study am a violation of these segregated by the Migration Policy Institute has shown
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that in Chicago, a new trend among In a recent project with my husband to immigrants is already occurring, create a family tree, I studied the areas in Italy suburbanization. New immigrants are making from where my family had lived, and I asked the suburbs their homes now more than ever, questions regarding my Lithuanian family. It finding more support from the community and turns out that the area in Calabria from where civil programs than in the city. The rising costs my grandmother migrated was once heavily for city housing due to more than a decade- populated by Turks to the east and Greeks to long trend of urbanization may also be a key the west. In fact, one hundred miles from her factor. The city is on the verge of becoming as village is a town, the only town in the world, bland and soulless as a mini-mall with a where Ancient Greek is still spoken. On my
What would happen if the segregated ethnic neighborhoods did more than grudgingly purchase celery from each other and united to battle the common enemy, the young urban professional?
Panera, Best Buy, Anne Taylor Loft and Sicilian side, men and women share a common Starbucks—the kind you can find in any disease that is only found among sub-Saharan American city, the kind that makes you forget Africans. I was told that my grandfather was where you are because you could be anywhere. not Lithuanian, but in fact Russian, and that But what would happen if the his father had simply escaped Russia to segregated ethnic neighborhoods did more Lithuania, thusly showing origin of country as than grudgingly purchase celery from each Lithuania at Ellis Island. This begins to blur other and united to battle the common enemy, the definitive line of the origins of my genes. the young urban professional? What would I’m quite sure the line blurs even more, happen if they decided to live with each other and yet at the same time becomes clearer. The instead of next to each other? If my great Genographic Project sponsored by National grandmother could make a cannoli shell out of Geographic and IBM, is a study being conducted a wanton wrapper, perhaps anything is to find the origin of DNA and how it possible. populated the planet, including migratory
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patterns. Anyone can contribute samples of DNA and in return, find out the origins of the DNA. Some participants have been surprised to find that their DNA origin extended much further than just two generations back. For instance, an Irish-American man could find that his DNA is derivative of a small tribe in Africa or India. I’ve decided to take the test and am still waiting for my results. In the meantime, I’m beginning to realize that it doesn’t matter. Maybe I’ll find that my DNA can be traced back to China, that I do belong here in Chinatown officially, and that I am not a yuppie invading the culture of a tightly knit ethnic group. Maybe some of my Chinese neighbors have DNA linked to Italy or Russia. It doesn’t really matter and perhaps a wonton wrapper is the same thing as a cannoli shell… issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 40 FICTION Mutawwa* (Part One)
6TH OF SHAWAL, 1444 (MARCH 29, 2023) Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. You've certainly come up in the world.” Amjad Al-Azizi broke into a smile as he walked Amjad grinned, smoothing his white into his office. Sitting in front of his desk was cotton thobe and adjusting his red-and-white- his old high school chum, Waleed As-Sabry. checked kaffiya scarf. “What about you? World- Waleed stood and they embraced, clapping famous scientist!” each other on the back, trading kisses on the “I don't know about world-famous…” cheek. “Nobel prize for your work in Amjad might not have recognized his neurology. If that's not world-famous, friend except for the thin scar that cleft I don't know what is.” Waleed's eyebrow and a portion of his Waleed shrugged. “And how many Nobel forehead. It must have been twenty-five years winners can you name?” since they had last seen each other. He had Amjad's paused a minute. “Ibadi!” he said gained at least fifty pounds and was wearing at last. “That Irani woman. ” western clothes—tan slacks, white shirt, brown “See what I mean?” Waleed said. moccasins. His hair and beard were shot “Tea?” Amjad asked, ringing his assistant through with speckles of grey. to bring refreshments. In a few minutes, the “Look at you, Amjad,” Waleed said, *In Arabic, "one who causes obedience." Also the popular “Chief Officer of the Riyadh Mutawwa. name of Saudi Arabia's Committee to Prevent Vice and District Head for the Committee for the Promote Virtue.
By Pamela K. Taylor 40 Citizen Culture issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 41
boy arrived with a tray of cups and saucers, a year and took a bus to the King Faisal Mosque teapot, milk, sugar and pastries. He set the tray in downtown Riyadh to hear him give the on Amjad's desk, and left without a word. Friday sermon. The mosque was beautiful, with “He doesn't look old enough to be its high dome, arched windows and elegant working,” Waleed said. calligraphy carved into the walls, but the boys “Who, Shafeeq?” Amjad grinned again. barely noticed their surroundings. “He's fresh off the boat. Bangladeshi. Nice boy, Maktari wore a heavy robe and turban, really. Very quiet. Never gives me any both white as the walls of the mosque. He problems.” paced back and forth in front of the pulpit, “Amazing how the older you get, the radiating power and purpose. younger they look. I wonder if we looked that “The trouble,” he bellowed, eyes ranging young to our bosses, our teachers.” over the assemblage, “is not that you don't care. “We probably did.” Amjad shook his head, You want to please Allah! You are committed gazing fondly at his friend, and sighed heavily. to pleasing Allah. You are scared—scared of “Brings back old memories.” Allah's Wrath, scared of His Hellfire. What you Waleed chuckled and shook his head too. lack is discipline.” “Remember Khaled Maktari?” He pointed at a man in the front row. “How could I forget Maktari?” Amjad “Every morning you wake up and vow, ‘I will asked. “He changed the course of my life in one afternoon.” “Mine too,” Waleed said. * * * They had been teenagers when Maktari burst onto the scene. A revivalist, intense, with burning black eyes, thick black hair that fell to his shoulders, and a long, wispy, black beard, Maktari had become wildly popular almost overnight. Amjad and Waleed skipped their classes one spring day near the end of their senior
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fiction
not miss my prayers today.’” He turned to the No more missed prayers, man's neighbor. “Every evening, you promise, ‘Tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow, I won't no more self-recrimination, forget.’” He moved down the line, pointing to man after man. “And what happens? You no fear of Allah's wrath; forget. You delay. Things get in the way—your boss, your children, your wife, your parents. Waleed's device was the You hear the call to prayer and you think, ‘I'll get to it soon.’ And then it slips your mind. You answer to all his prayers, want to do what's right, you just need discipline.” to the prayers of every Maktari stopped in front of Amjad and Waleed, and his voice dropped. Where it had devout Muslim. been thunderous, it was now intimate, though still loud enough to carry to the far corners of the mosque. His finger stabbed towards the Waleed set his cup on the desk, jarring Amjad boys; his eyes burrowed into their souls. out of his reverie. He leaned forward, eyes “Allah knows your heart. He knows you locked onto Amjad's, his voice barely a want to follow His Way. And He loves you for whisper. “I've solved the discipline problem.” that desire. Ask Him, and He will help you “What?” fulfill His Commandment. Throw yourself on Waleed held out his fist, and opened it His Mercy, and He will pour righteousness into slowly to reveal a tiny computer chip. your soul. Beg Him for discipline, so that your “What's that?” Amjad asked. body will carry out what your heart desires, “It's the answer to the discipline problem.” and He will fill your brain with His Order.” He paused and then asked, “Do you know Amjad felt tears streaming down his face. what my field of study is?” He was good. He did want to serve God. And “Neurosciences. Brain stuff.” God knew. God cared. He would provide. For “Neural implants and brain prosthetics, to a long time, Amjad sat, feeling at once exposed be precise. One the one hand, thought- and cocooned, while he absorbed the certainty controlled prostheses—replacement arms or that God would provide, if only he asked. legs that the patient moves the same way he * * * moves natural limbs, only the electric signals from his brain are collected and communicated
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to the prosthesis by tiny electrode-transmitters are at all times, so you're always on the right rather than nerves. On the other, brain schedule.” implants that use automated micro-electrode- “But what if you're driving a car? Or transmitter relays to bypass damaged portions asleep?” of brain—the vagus, the occipital nerve, the “One of the electrodes stimulates the hippocampus—in order to maintain normal auditory nerves. Fifteen minutes before prayer function.” begins, you'll hear a chime—one that no Waleed nodded towards the device in his amount of noise can ever drown out. It gives palm. you time to pull over, get out of bed, get off “This,” he said with dramatic flair, “is a the bus, get out of the shower, wind up fusion of the two, the culmination of thirty whatever you are doing, and find a good place years of work.” to pray. There's a second chime at five minutes, “But what is it?” and a third one at fifteen seconds, just to help “A computer chip. It sits on your skull, just you keep track.” behind your ear, transmitting signals to micro- “You've thought of everything, haven't electrodes placed strategically on the cortex, you?” and voila, you never miss prayer ever again.” Waleed smiled. “You don't win a Nobel “What!” Amjad said again, feeling prize for doing slipshod work. If nothing else, foolishly at a loss for words. “Why? How?” I've learned to be meticulous.” “Really, it's not very complicated. At the Amjad stared at the chip in Waleed's hand. proper times, the chip sends a command to the It was so small. appropriate electrodes, which emit electric “Just think, Amjad, you'd never miss impulses to stimulate certain nerves. First the prayers again. Ever.” ones that raise your hands, then the ones that “That's incredible,” Amjad said. He was cross them over your chest, make you bow, genuinely astounded. He wasn't sure he would prostrate, and so on, until the prayers are like giving up control of his body, even for a complete.” few minutes a day…but to never miss prayers “But how does the chip know the right again? Even he, head of the Riyadh Mutawwa, times?” missed prayers from time to time—slept “It's been programmed with the algorithms through them, or put them off until he to generate global prayer schedules, like the suddenly realized it was too late. Even though ones you can get off the Internet, and it has a he was completely convinced Allah would miniaturized GPS system; it knows where you punish him for every prayer he missed, even
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fiction
though he believed absolutely in the worldly signals, the effects wouldn't last long, and you benefits of salaat, still he missed one now and could go to a doctor to have it repaired.” again. Waleed's device certainly was attractive. Amjad pursed his lips. “You couldn't just But putting something into your brain… turn it off ?” “I know,” Waleed interrupted his thoughts. “That would defeat the whole purpose. If “You're thinking, 'Would I really risk brain you could turn it off, you would whenever surgery for this?'” prayer wasn't exactly convenient.” “That's just what I was thinking.” Amjad slapped the side of his head. “Of “That's the best part, it's relatively non- course.” invasive. Yes, the electrodes are seeded “The thing is, because the chip sits just throughout the cortex, but we don't have to under the skin, it is easy enough to remove that open the skull or anything like that, we can go almost anyone with general medical training through the existing orifices. Kind of like a can take it out. Change your mind, arthritis in laparoscopy. We use tiny cameras and your knees makes it impossible to do the miniaturized implements. It's an outpatient motions of salaat, we just remove the chip. The procedure. Even better, the chip sits on the electrodes can remain in without harming surface of the skull. After a couple months you anything.” can't even see the scar where it was implanted. Amjad's brow furrowed. And, if something malfunctions, or if we come “What about Eid? How can you program up with a better model, it's a simple matter to in Eid when we don't even know what the date replace the chip.” will be until the moon is sighted?” “And what happens if there is a Waleed laughed. “You can still pray on malfunction?” your own. Whenever you want. It's not like the “Well, first of all, it would be exceedingly chip blocks prayers at other times.” rare; our prostheses have a failure rate of Amjad joined in with Waleed's laughter. under .03%. But if there were a malfunction, it “Yeah, of course.” would just stop working. I've got safety “And, naturally, it doesn't say the prayers programming that stops it from, say, sending to for you, or make your heart feel God's all the electrodes at the same time, creating a presence. You still recite the surahs yourself, and seizure, and it's got limiters that prevent it from choose which one you're going to recite. That's firing for more than fifteen minutes at a the best part—as long as you are reciting, the stretch, so even if it started sending erroneous chip receives audio input and doesn't move to the next step in the program.
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You can choose a long surah or a short one.” sheikhs, and wields a surprising amount of Amjad leaned back in his chair. influence. I'll ask Shafeeq to make an “This is brilliant, but why are you bringing appointment for us.” it to me?” “Thank you, Amjad, thank you. May God Waleed blinked. bless you.” “I thought the Mutawwa would be “And you too,” Amjad answered. interested in…in supporting this. An odd look crossed Waleed's face. NeuroDynamics doesn't particularly care if “Amjad, do you have a prayer room here?” people fulfill their duty to perform salaat or not. “Of course! You're in the headquarters of Surely you see the potential?” the Mutawwa.” Then something dawned on Amjad nodded slowly. See the potential? him, and Amjad glanced at the clock. It would You'd have to be blind not to! No more missed be time for afternoon prayers in fifteen prayers, no more self-recrimination, no fear of minutes. Allah's wrath; Waleed's device was the answer “Oh my God,” he said. “You've got one to all his prayers, to the prayers of every them, don't you.” devout Muslim. Waleed smiled. “Yes,” Amjad said, excitement growing in “There had to be at least one human his chest. “I think the Mutawwa would be trial.” interested. In fact, I can imagine a whole lot of “How long have you had it?” people would be interested. I mean, it's the sort “Three years.” Waleed's smile widened, of thing you dream about!” and a beatific look crossed his face. “I haven't Waleed swallowed, evidently holding back missed a prayer in three years.” strong emotions. “What I need is someone to back me. To promote my cause with the proper officials. To Religion: help me get funding for a lab, and a production facility.” Often stranger than fiction. Amjad let out a gust of pent-up breath. “The first person to talk to is the national head “Mutawwa (Part Two)” of the Mutawwa. If we can sell him on it… well, he's a member of the royal family. Not coming in Issue #9 of particularly close to the King, but he's got good Citizen Culture relations with some of the more conservative
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psychology
Do Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural Backgrounds Impact Hostage Negotiations?
HOSTAGE OR CRISIS NEGOTIATORS are law in the most unreasonable and chaotic of enforcement officers who attempt to resolve situations. Hostage teams mandate that their high-crisis situations with their words, while negotiators are mature, stable individuals who simultaneously attempting to avoid a police can adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. tactical intervention. They must remain calm They do this knowing that the stakes are high, under emotionally demanding circumstances understanding that if their negotiation attempt and maintain self-control. The negotiator is fails, lives could very well be lost. expected to set his or her emotions aside, Burdened with this awesome task, police uphold a non-judgmental approach, and do so, agencies place special emphasis in the selection in most instances, in an amicable fashion. They and training of the hostage/crisis negotiator. must bring a lifetime of experience to the table Proper or improper candidate selection can in order to manage potentially volatile impact either positively or negatively on future situations and be the calming voice of reason assignments. The negotiator must possess
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emotional maturity, good listening, began, which can be like entering into the interviewing and communication skills, middle of a movie. The negotiator must ask, credibility, coping abilities, and commitment to “How did we get to this point of the crisis,” and the negotiating strategy. “Why are we here right now?” Although the Although the negotiator is not usually reasons for a crisis are as numerous as the visible to the hostage-taker, whenever possible, crises themselves, there is usually a common selection of negotiators should reflect the bond between them. Crisis situations are all ethnic origin of the local population. Resources emotionally driven, and when arousal is should include languages spoken in the intense, survival is threatened. The subject is surrounding communities and access to both not particularly focused on the ethnic, male and female negotiators. These resources religious, gender or cultural background of the may prove helpful in resolving conflict, but the negotiator. What they are concerned with is matching of personality-types is the most their own personal safety and a venue in which crucial criterion when dealing with someone in their needs can be addressed and where crisis. The strategy of trying to pair the right options can be explored to work out a solution set of negotiator-hostage-taker through ethnic to their problems. or religious background, gender, social culture In one particular case, the negotiator and or sub-culture dynamics may have its place in hostage-taker both came from adjoining towns theoretical concepts, but in practice, the main in Guyana; one from Georgetown and the concerns are the two individuals involved other from Rosignol. Regardless of their 30- (negotiator and hostage-taker) and the rapport year age difference, the two quickly developed developed between them, regardless of a rapport and began discussing politics, individual background. customs and families they both knew in Frequently, the person in crisis has had Guyana. But the negotiator was ineffective in some traumatic event occur recently in their resolving the hostage-taker's personal crisis. life, possibly within the last 24 to 48 hours, and There were profound emotional issues and unable to cope, acts out to a degree that despair deep within the hostage-taker that were requires police intervention. During this early beyond the negotiator's scope. In fact, this was stage of the crisis, emotions are high, the third time in a six-year period that the rationality is low, and the incident quickly hostage-taker had taken his wife hostage, this becomes unpredictable and out of control. By time using a gun. This final incident lasted 28 the time the hostage team arrives, the incident hours, utilizing 12 negotiators of different is already well underway. The negotiator must ethnic, religious and gender backgrounds now enter the incident without knowing how it throughout the negotiation process. The end issue8mutawa 3/13/06 2:59 PM Page 48
psychology
result was that the hostage was rescued by the hostage-taker now has someone to talk with, hostage team, and sadly, the hostage-taker took who can perhaps understand their pain. his own life. Hostage or Crisis Negotiation Teams are To further develop rapport between an integral component of law-enforcement negotiator and hostage-taker, the New York agencies' planned response to critical incidents. City Police Department's (NYPD) Hostage They are most effective when used in Negotiation Team (HNT) insists that the association with a strong tactical presence. negotiator applicant be at the minimum rank Mandatory and regular training proves vital to
Crisis situations are all emotionally driven, and when arousal is intense, survival is threatened.
of detective, assigned to a Detective Bureau sustaining a negotiating team's proficiency. command, and have at least twelve years of Modern law enforcement agencies rely on policing experience before being considered. properly trained, equipped, and staffed hostage Applicants meeting these criteria usually negotiation teams in resolving life-threatening possess extensive experience in various field incidents. Although ethnicity, religion and assignments from which to draw, and, by gender are factors in cultivating rapport, default, finds him or herself in the desired age ultimately it is the personal interaction and group (at a minimum of thirty-four years old). connection that is formed between the This age group usually ensures that an negotiator and hostage-taker that has proven applicant has experienced the emotions of love most effective. and being disappointed or hurt in love, has known success, and perhaps most importantly, has known failure. All are vital attributes that can be utilized when dealing with someone in crisis, enabling the negotiator to say to the subject, “I know about that and I can talk to you about it.” As a result, the process of de- escalating the crisis can begin, because the
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local flavor: SxSW
TopTop ofof thethe HeapHeap
SXSW Music Festival and Conference Has Become the Undisputed Event of the Musical Year. Here's All You Need to Know About SXSW 2006.
A MOMENTOUS EVENT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR technology conferences, festivals and trade around Saint Patrick's Day—and no, I'm not shows—but let's be real: Charlize Theron's talking about the incident where one of your presence at this year's film festival co-workers downs eight green beers and then notwithstanding, it's the five-day music hits on you all night at the after-work party. I'm extravaganza that has people buzzing, speaking about the South By Southwest Music worldwide. SXSW is held every year, mid- Festival, or SXSW as it's more commonly March, in the scenic town of Austin, Texas, known (if you're über hip, you just say “South home to not only the reigning college football By”). The music festival is part of a three- national champs University of Texas, but a pronged operation—preceding the music bridge with over 30,000 bats living under it showcase are the film and interactive and an unofficial town motto of “Keep Austin
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Weird.” I myself am a veteran of four SXSW 300,000 bats are still pretty dormant from the festivals and have actually been arrested for winter. messing with Texas while there, so watch With SXSW steadily growing each year, yourself down in the Lone Star State. hotels in Austin usually sell out by Christmas, Since 1987, the SXSW Music Festival has so if you're thinking of going this year, you turned the state capitol of Texas into the may want to bring a tent. Music badges are the premier place to see the best that the world of all-access Holy Grail and run over five music has to offer. Rock, jazz, country, blues, hundred dollars. Wristbands, which will get indie-rock, techno, reggae, hip hop, you into all the venues to see the bands—but electronica, and just about every other style of place you second in pecking order to badge- music can be heard each night at over fifty holders—also run steep price-wise (between venues, most located on the venerable party $150 and $200, depending when you strip 6th street, and within steps of each other. purchase); but when you factor in the amount SXSW 2006 will feature fourteen hundred of bands you will get to see over five days, the bands from well over thirty countries— cost hurts less. Besides, there are no hotel unrivaled throughout the world. rooms, so that's one less expense to worry After the late nineties decline of stadium about. tours and festivals like Lollapalooza, SXSW, The festival is still largely for music which was once just a place for industry industry types to network and broker, so there insiders to check out new music, is becoming will be lots of people flashing credentials to more and more of an event for John Q. skip in line ahead of you, and plenty of celebs Concert-Lover to circle on his calendar. Why? wandering about. Plus, you will be sure to see Well, word has spread that if you want to catch The King of 6th Street, a Bootsy Collins-esque “the next big thing,” you are almost assured that they'll be playing at SXSW. And it's all almost too good to be true. The bands are TThehe wworordd isis out:out: ifif everywhere, the weather in central Texas in yyouou wantwant toto catchcatch mid-March is divine, the town is accommodating (police close off 6th Street to “the“the nextnext bigbig thingthing,”,” traffic so festival-goers can take over a mile- yyouou araree almostalmost long stretch without fear), the locals are assurassureded thatthat thethey'ry'ree friendly, and the venues are superb. And those plaplayingying atat SXSWSXSW..
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local flavor: SxSW
bass player in a glitter suit that is just about the best thing ever, and “Beatle Bob,” a guy who looks like Paul McCartney and seems to be at every single show. Get your name on the list for one of the many magazine, record label or media parties, and you may find yourself still in Austin come next March. Some other SXSW 2006 highlights include:
Neil Young, who is the keynote speaker at Echo & The Bunnymen: this year's music conference. Young will be young enough at heart to play hide and seek speaking, along with Academy Award winner Jonathan Demme, about the film Neil Young/Heart Of Gold, directed by Demme. The film will be shown on March 16. There will also be a screening of a new film about the Beastie Boys, Awesome: I Fuckin' Shot That!, which captures a 2004 concert, as filmed by 50 fans, in New York's Madison Square Garden. The Beasties will make a question-and-answer appearance at the Austin Convention Hall on March 15. New Kids in the Park: SXSW could be Arctic Monkeys' American break-out. Morrissey, the one and only Pope of Mope. The former Smiths front man and celebrated celibate will not only be performing on March Stone will conduct the interview and the BBC 16, but he will also give a rare interview. Rolling will present the concert later the same day.
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Gogol Bordello, a band from the Big Apple one in stores early next week. Pollard plays that mixes hardcore punk rock with, well, Antone's on March 18. Gypsy music. The band incorporates accordion, fiddle, electric guitar, and dub with Echo & The Bunnymen, who contrary to cabaret and punk rock energy. Their sound is popular opinion, never broke up. Formed in raucous, sweaty, recklessly vibrant, and their Liverpool in 1978, Echo & The Bunnymen are live show will knock you on the floor twice. some of the trailblazers of the New Wave Lead singer Eugene Hutz also recently movement, and produced some of the best appeared in the Elijah Wood movie Everything music ever to come out of the Eighties—not Is Illuminated. Gogol Bordello performs on just the opening song in the movie Donnie March 16 at Emo's Main Room. Darko and a cover of “People Are Strange” in The Lost Boys. Rumor has always been that Arctic Monkeys, which are actually a band Echo is the name of the drum machine the and not some strange new Austin City Zoo band uses, but this may be only partly true; by attraction. Arctic Monkeys have already scored the second record, the band had replaced the two #1 singles in the U.K. and hold the drum machine with an actual person-but kept achievement of fastest selling debut album in their name. Echo & The Bunnymen play Town UK chart history. SXSW 2006 will be their Lake Stage at Auditorium Shores on March coming out party here in the U.S. Catch the 16. Monkeys on March 17 at La Zona Rosa. That's just a small taste of what's in store at this year's festival. There are about 1,394 Robert Pollard, who is considered by many more bands to mention, and I truly would love to be one of the most prolific songwriters in to, I really would, but you see I have to go shop music history. As a matter of fact, while you for a tent. I forgot to book a hotel room. were reading that sentence, Pollard wrote two whole albums worth of material. Better known Interactive: March 10-14 for his days as the lead singer of indie-rock Film: March 10-18 legends Guided By Voices, Pollard has just Music: March 15-19 released his first solo record; check for his next
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local flavor: cheat sheet 66 44 66 6*** 4Austin*** 6 AUSTIN, OUR 3RD LOCAL FLAVOR CITY, If there's one knock against Austin it's that it's HAS SEEN THE SPOTLIGHT A LOT IN 2006. growing a little too fast; too many people have caught on. Population is nearing three quarters of In January the city's own University of Texas a million. But even that growth has its advantages- Longhorns won its first College Football National Austin is at the top of any list of best cities for Championship since 1970, and in March, Austin singles. plays host to the annual SXSW film, technology and music bash—which has become the biggest Whether it's to sample some of the best BBQ and baddest musical event of them all (see our around, to hike/bike/swim yourself silly, to sit coverage, page 50). But those who have spent time outside in March and sip on a giant margherita, or down in the beautiful Texas Hill Country know to party until the morn and follow it up with some there's a hell of a lot more to Austin than the delicious Tex-Mex, head on down to Austin. Let University or SXSW and the city's fabled slogan the 6*4*6 be your cheat sheet; it's tried and true. “Live Music Capital of the World.” And don't forget: Relax, baby. It's Austin.
Austin is a partier's party city—with notorious 6th Street serving as the cornerstone. With three hundred sunny days each year it's a haven for outdoors enthusiasts. A progressive vibe separates Austin from the red swath of greater Texas. And it's also one of the friendliest, most laid-back spots on Earth (go away, San Diego).
By Theo Mazumdar
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Shelter (Splurge) Shelter (Conserve) 1 * The Driskill 604 Brazos 1 * Austin Folk House 506 W. 22nd 2 * The Mansion at Judge’s Hill 2 * Carrington’s Bluff Bed & Breakfast 1900 Rio Grande 1900 David St. 3 * Omni Austin Hotel Downtown 3 * Brook House Bed & Breakfast 700 San Jacinto Blvd. 609 W. 33rd 4 * Lake Austin Spa Resort 4 * The Heart of Texas Motel 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road 1200 S. Congress Ave. 5 * Four Seasons Hotel Austin 5 * Austin Motel 1220 S. Congress Ave. 98 San Jacinto Blvd. 6 * Best Western 7928 Gessner Dr. 6 * Hotel San Jose 1306 S. Congress Ave. Bars 1 * Emo’s 603 Red River 2 * Club de Ville 900 Red River 3 * The Ginger Man 304 W. 4th St. 4 * The Ritz 320 E. 6th St. 5 * Sholz Garden 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. 6 * Light Bar 408 Congress Ave.
BBQ 1 * The Salt Lick 18001 FM 1826, Driffwood, TX 2 * Sam’s Bar-B-Cue 2000 E. 12th St 3 * Kreuz Market 619 N. Colorado St., Lockhart, TX 4 * Ruby’ss 512 W. 29th St. 5 * Stubb’s Bar-B-Q 801 Red River St 6 * Iron Works BBQ 100 Red River St
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local flavor: cheat sheet Cheap Eats 1 * Hut’s Hamburgers 807 W. 6th St. 2 * Mike’s Pub 108 E. 7th St. 3 * Crown & Anchor Pub 2911 San Jacinto Blvd. 4 * Hoover’s Cooking 2002 Manor Rd. 5 * Hyde’s Park Bar & Grill 4206 Duval St. 6 * Central Market 4001 N. Lamar Blvd. All-Nighter 1 * Kerbey Lane Cafe 3704Kerbey Lane 2606 Guadalupe 2700 S. Lamar 12602 Research Blvd. 2 * Magnolia Cafe 2304 Lake Austin Blvd. 1920 S. Congress Ave. 3 * Star Seeds Cafe 3101 N. Interstate 35 4 * Mojo’s Daily Grind 2714 Guadalupe 5 * Katz’s Deli & Bar 618 W. 6th St. 6 * Ken’s Donuts & Pastries 2820 Guadalupe Lives 1 * Antone’s 213 W. 5th St. 2 * Cedar Street Courtyard 208 W. 4th St 3 * La Zona Rosa 612 W. 4th St. 4 * Saxon Pub 1320 S. Lamar Blvd. 5 * Cactus Cafe 24th St. & Guadalupe Texas Union Building, University of Texas 6 * Broken Spoke 3201 S. Lamar Blvd.
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Joe 1 * Little City 916 Congress Ave.; 2604 Guadalupe 2 * Mozart’s 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. 3 * Spider House 2908 Fruth 4 * Progress Coffee 500 San Marcos 5 * Halcyon 218 W. 4th St. 6 * Azul 1808 E. Cesar Chavez
Adventure 1 * Barton Springs 2201 Barton Springs Rd. 2 * Town Lake Hike & Bike Trail 920 W. Riverside Dr. 3 * Zilker Park 2100 Barton Springs Rd. 4 * Mount Bonnell 3800 Mount Bonnell Dr. 5 * Enchanted Rock 16710 RR 965, Fredericksburg, TX 6 * Hamilton Pool 24300 Hamilton Pool Rd. Dripping Springs, TX
Kicks 1 * Joy of Austin 3105 S. Internstate 35 2 * Dreamers DVD 11218 N. Lamar at Braker 3 * Sugar’s Uptown Cabaret 404 Highland Mall Blvd. 4 * The Yellow Rose 6528 North Lamar 5 * The Landing Strip 745 S. Bastrop Hwy. 6 * Expose Gentlemen’s Adult Entertainment 3615 S. Congress Ave.
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HolHolllywywoodood’’ss Go-Go-TTooGirGirll issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:00 PM Page 59
The CCM Interview: Laura Linney
To describe Laura Linney as “ubiquitous” is something of an understatement, when even before her recent Golden Globe nomination for The Squid and the Whale, she stole scenes in films as varied as The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Love Actually, not to mention a turn toward the exhibitionist in Kinsey, for which she received an Oscar nomination. Linney sat with Dennis Brabham to reflect on a thoughtful career that shows no signs of slowing.
Someone in the media once called you a stealth celebrity. audio books, radio plays, theater because it’s all You seem to be able to keep your private life, private. just so interesting and there are different skills that you need. The sitcom is something I knew I know. Isn’t that fun? I love that. I don’t have absolutely nothing about and I have no idea an agenda; I just do what I do. I’m extremely where my life is going to go and what my happy with the work I’ve been able to do and needs will be as the years roll by and I thought how I’ve been able to live my life in I need to learn about this and why not do it conjunction with that. with the best people in the business? I’d be a fool not to take the opportunity to do it. And I However, when you got the Emmy and Oscar went and did one and loved it and then they nominations within six months of each other that asked to come back and finish out the season must’ve changed things a little. with them, which I was really honored to do and it was a kick and a half… so interesting. There are little shifts when those things happen. There have been two years in a row Do you consider yourself a bit of a workaholic? when I’ve been nominated for all three (Emmy, Oscar, Tony), and won the Emmys, so that I have worked an awful lot in the last few years. does do something. It doesn’t change my life. I made four movies this past year. And I’m Does it shift things a bit? Yeah it does. trying to slow down. I have just had seven weeks off. You get tired of traveling, and Most of your roles have been juicy character pieces, but missing people’s birthdays, weddings and you let loose and did a good comedy turn on several funerals, and you can get isolated and that’s episodes of the sitcom Frasier. not fun. As wonderful as the work is, there’s no time to absorb; you go from project to project Thank you. That was fun. It was a great to project and you don’t even have time to let opportunity. I’m trying to do much as I that experience sit with you and to learn from possibly can to learn about different stuff. I’ve it and digest it. When you’re going from one tried to narrate documentaries, voiceover stuff very intense thing to the next and you’re shut By Dennis Brabham 59 CCm issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:00 PM Page 60
the CCM interview
in rooms on soundstages, time is very Liam Neeson et al.? odd…and you’re not sleeping in your own bed and you’re not turning out the light that To realize they’re movie stars for a reason and belongs to you. It does weird things and you they work really hard. I think there’s a can fight it as much as you can, but time goes. misconception that—and there are actors who It’s gotten better that the parts are do this—they’re charming handsome and getting better and the work has gotten better. I charismatic so they just walk through the part, think the last two or three years I’ve had one but that’s not the case. They work hard. fantastic job after the next and I am very aware of that. And I’ve loved the people, I’ve You just completed several starring roles, yet there are a loved the work, and then on another hand it lot of actresses who complain about not being able to has gotten more complicated. You get tired. find good meaty parts for women. Do you think it’s Poor me (laughs). There’s nothing worse because they don’t look in the right place or do you think than a complaining successful actress. I mean the pendulum is shifting and there are more roles out for God’s sake, it sounds pathetic. Life is very, there? very good. Some of the people aren’t looking in the right Was there one film in your career that really made you places. I think if you want a good part that’s feel as if things were coming together? going to pay you an enormous amount of money and bring you fame, no, there are not a No, and it’s really funny because people will lot of those parts. If you want to work, there point to certain things…like You Can Count on are a lot of places to go. I’ve been very lucky Me, Tales of the City, Primal Fear, The Truman and I know that. I think there are parts out Show…people will point to Sight Unseen which is there, but it depends really on what you want. a play I did in New York. People point to very A lot of the independent films that I’m different things. I think for me it’s just been in, take a very long time to get made. Jindabyne about a layering of work. There are certainly (a film slated for 2006 release) was a movie I parts where I’ve felt walls come down and I committed to for two years before it went. The feel like I’ve taken a giant leap forward. I’ve Squid and The Whale was over four years. Kinsey certainly had that and that’s a good feeling. was three to four years, so a lot of the independent movies will come to you because What would be something that would surprise people you believe in the filmmaker and you believe in about your high profile male co-stars like Richard Gere, the script, you think it’s worthy, and you think
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L.A.’s a one thing town. Regardless of who you are, you’re going to feel bad about yourself. So you’ve got to go in and get out and reevaluate your perspective.
it would be a great experience so you attach right cast. I’ve been connected to so many yourself to the project. And then it takes a very independent projects where a lead had to drop long time to get the financing together. So then out and everyone is distraught. Then someone when they come along with the financing, we who’s even better and more right for it will can go, you have to be ready to go. There are a come along. You have to have faith. I’m not a few that I hope will get made eventually and religious person, but I do have faith in certain maybe if my current films do well, they will. things. There are movies that come to you, you read them and you want to do them and you You said in reference to the movie Exorcism of Emily know you’re going to have to wait for a while Rose that making a film of that nature was concern and you hope they get made. They always because we’re living in dangerous times. Why is that? work out the way they’re supposed to. With the
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the CCM interview
Religion is powerful stuff and while the worthy, fun and a challenge, then, sure. primary focus of religion is to unite people, it can also really divide people and it can be So you could see yourself in virtually any genre? abused and it can be disrespectful. And I had concerns about that. That it would be a movie Sure. Take The Exorcist, one of the best movies that would be respectful to both sides and that ever. Ellen Burstyn is brilliant in that movie. wouldn’t give any answers whatsoever. That for Horror movies can be stupid. Or they can be every claim made on one side, there’d be a terrific. They’re tricky; they’re not easy to pull counter on the other, so that the movie gave off. absolutely no answers. An easy question: seen any good movies lately? I spoke with one director who said the only difference between independent film and mainstream is the budget If you have not seen Inherit The Wind lately, is bigger. Do you think that’s the case? watch Inherit The Wind. Oh God, it’s wonderful! Wonderful character-driven courtroom drama No. There are many more differences. The and Spencer Tracy is a genius. And they let scripts…most scripts, particularly in the him act. That’s the most refreshing thing about commercial world are written to be greenlit. films like that and To Kill a Mockingbird—they They’re not written to be acted. Most let the actors act. They keep the camera on. independent films are written to be acted, as opposed to convincing someone to give you the Any of your recent films have that quality? money to make the money. You’re starting from a completely different place. I probably won’t know that for another five years. I’ll watch a movie once just so I can talk Conversely if there was some part in a big budget movie about it, but I don’t like to watch myself. It like the next Spider Man, and they were going to pay makes me uncomfortable. I’m really eager to you a ton of money for two weeks work, would you do see everyone else’s work and excited to see the it? cinematographer’s work and the more I learn about film the more I’m seeing different stuff, Of course I would, if it was a good part, with but I can’t divorce myself from it, so I can’t see some great villain, where I could have things it for what it truly is. I’ll put it away for a few growing out of my body. If there’s something years, and then I’ll take a look at it—I have to to actually act I don’t care what it’s in—if it’s forget a lot of stuff before I can see what it is
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really is. It’s not fun, and it sorts of shifts focus a bit What’s your take on Los Angeles compared to the East from what its really about and you have to Coast? choose what its about for you. You can be very easily distracted by all of that stuff and you I started things here on the East Coast, but I have to just check in with yourself constantly like LA. I have a lot of friends who are there. I and know why you’re there and what you want couldn’t live there full time, but I enjoy it when to take from it and what you won’t participate I go. You have to be very strict with yourself in and try to enjoy it as much as you can. It’s when you go there; it’s a one thing town and overwhelming and it’s a barrage, a tidal wave the thing I find most difficult is that regardless of stuff to deal with. A lot of weird pressures. of who you are, you’re going to feel bad about yourself, it’s going to make you feel bad about Do you find directors who were actors tend to let the yourself and that’s hard. So you’ve got to go in actors tell the story more? [do your work] and get out and reevaluate your perspective, remember who you really are Yeah, and sometimes writers too. Like Ken and then you go back in. I don’t want to live Lonergan (writer/director of You Can Count on [in L.A.] full time. Me) who had never made a movie in his life, who’d never been on a movie set, had an Does being nominated for an Oscar give you a high? instinctive understanding of how to translate his material from one medium to the next. It’s really nice. It’s a really nice thing. Oscar nominations can be extremely important and You were talking before about how some directors let the then they can mean nothing at all. I’m really camera linger and let the actors act. Are there any proud of my nominations and I can’t even directors who you think get it? believe that I can say that, that I’ve been nominated. You just have these moments Clint Eastwood. Clint gets it. Peter Weir does. of…wow! And particularly because they’re for Bill Condon does. Of the recent films I’ve shot two films (Kinsey and You Can Count on Me) that I can’t comment on because I haven’t seen I’m extremely proud of. what they’ll be brave enough to leave in and what they’ll cut out. The European directors Then does it bother you when you go to the Oscars tend to get it. ceremony and all they talk about is the dress you wear?
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magazines The Battle for “Larry Silverstein Place” Inside Esquire Magazine’s Exclusive In-Depth Coverage of the World Trade Center Rebuilding
The Insiders Look (L to R): Esquire’s editor-in-chief, David Granger; staff writer Scott Raab; Executive Editor Mark Warren
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Mark, what possessed you—as Executive Editor—to there are always people shooting at them. And take on such a massive serialization? (Scott and David everyone, given the symbolic nature of that make clear that this project was your idea.) You’re ground—what was there, what happened essentially putting a book into a magazine, without there, and what has resulted since September excerpting—I’m sure a book will come out of it. 11th in the world—just means that that space, and what happens there, there’s a great tension Warren: Basically, and there certainly can be to it. more [than is printed in the magazine] in a And that’s not even regarding the fact book, because for every piece, Scott does three that just building something great, in and of or four times as much reporting. We just itself, without the political significance, is just decided that whatever happens Downtown is inherently interesting. How it happens; the an epic American story, and somebody ought mechanics of it. Physically how one prepares to do it, and it ought to be us. and manipulates the earth to build a mammoth structure is just interesting. It’s a But why Esquire? great, great story.
Warren: Because we know something about [Before our questions begin, Mark takes a call from long-form narrative nonfiction. The sixteen Scott, speaking on developments in the political acres Downtown [in what used to be the World wrangling over the World Trade Center site. The one- Trade Center] is some of the most contested side of the conversation we could hear:] real estate on earth. What happened down there—everything about it—what happened to “This just today?…Jesus…Well, it only it on September 11th [2001], the fact that it’s heightens, it only increases the power of the in New York City, the fact that real estate in story, I think. It’s damn interesting. What New York City is precious, the fact that funny, it’s almost laughable: what’s $500 anytime anyone aspires to do something great million to a guy who pays $12 million a month By Jonathon Scott Feit 65 CCm issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:00 PM Page 66
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in rent, anyway? …It’s so weird. It’s just a you expect but that it would lead to all kinds of public relations battle, right?” politics and delay and, you know, a shrug of the shoulders. That kind of negativity, but I You say that “anytime you have a good idea in New haven’t heard that either. York, people get shot at.” Who’s been shooting at you—what’s been the negative response to your Warren: Our focus from the very beginning coverage? Who has said, “Why Esquire”—why a was that we were interested in and mindful of men’s magazine, even though you are a classic brand? the politics of all this. That just what Scott and I were just talking about (on the phone): Warren: What I was talking about is not so the politics are reaching a fever pitch right much the obstacles that we have faced, but the now. Knife fights over the ownership of what’s obstacles when one presumes to do something going on down there. Not so much Freedom really big and ambitious in New York, Tower, but everything else that’s happening at especially on that sixteen acres. the site. So we’re going to be mindful of that, Raab: The only thing directly that I but that wasn’t going to be our primary focus. can tie to that is that some of the people Our primary focus was everything to do with involved in the effort of rebuilding, you know, the building of this massive structure, this one the Times should really be doing something like signature structure. What’s going on under the this. I haven’t run into anyone who’s said ground, what’s going on to prepare the ground, “How dare you” or “Why Esquire?” And so far and just how you build one of these bastards, I haven’t heard anything along the lines of especially when there are all these other “This is a very sensitive subject, that therefore pressures brought to bear on you. you need to approach it in a different way.” It’s funny, ‘cause in live in North Jersey Has something happened that’s particularly close enough to the city, my concern would be newsworthy, that we can announce before your next that people here are not paying attention segment comes out? anymore and perhaps would not think that [the World Trade Center rebuilding] would Raab: This week [the 1st week of merit this kind of project. What else would February], any pretense of amity or amity or
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“I love Larry Silverstein as a character; I admire certain qualities about him and all that. But to me, you can't look at anyone involved in all this and say, ‘There's the knight coming to the rescue of the World Trade Center rebuilding.’ At this point, everyone is trying to make everyone else look as venal as possible.” ~ Scott Raab
cooperation, any pretense—the last shred of Raab: It’s never reached that level, but any public appearance of cooperation or partly because, on the one hand with City productive negotiation has dropped away Hall, they’ve just stonewalled. The Port completely now. Mayor Bloomberg has Authority [of New York and New Jersey] too. essentially called out Larry Silverstein as a They at best have played along with requests profiteer who’s doomed to failure if he doesn’t for interviews by saying “We’ll get back to give us his rights as a leaseholder. But doomed you.” As far as City Hall and the Port to failure only in the sense that he’ll default on Authority go, there really is no “there” in building out the entire site and walk away with terms of cooperation. They just absolutely half a billion dollars. Up until this point, refuse to sit down and talk. They’re not there’s at least been the sense that people are interested—and this is true, to a large degree, staking out positions with some eye to working for the newspapers as well…but you have a things through, where now it seems like the couple reporters, one for the New York Times, showdown at high noon politically. this great reporter named David Dunlap, who I believe gets sporadic access to the Port Speaking to the logistics behind this, can you give me Authority. The Port Authority doesn’t even some idea of what it takes internally, in terms of phone want anyone visiting the site. The Port calls, in terms of politicking on your own part to sit Authority doesn’t even address requests for down and open up to you in any kind of frank way, interviews, even when it’s conveyed through the without having their spin doctors in the room. Or did Silverstein people—their tenant and business they have spin doctors in the room, and attorneys, saying partner. what you can and can’t write? At City Hall, I’ve requested—I’ve sent weeks’ [worth]—from a woman named
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Jennifer Falk, a contact person at City Hall, speaking to us, because after all, there are no trying to arrange a sit-down not with the heroes in this. I love Larry Silverstein as a Mayor himself, but with his deputy Dan character; I admire certain qualities about him Doctoroff, his economic development guy. and all that. But to me, you can’t look at Nothing, nada. This was post-Olympics; it was anyone involved in all this and say, “There’s pre-and post election. I’ve always been the knight coming to the rescue of the World accommodating, not confrontational about it, Trade Center rebuilding.” At this point, but it’s consistently been a case of there everyone is trying to make everyone else look [being] no upside for the Port Authority or for as venal as possible. City Hall to sit down with me or really to give anyone ongoing access. So most of what I’ve Warren: It must also be said that, not so been able to glean is either deeply sourced— much the Port Authority but the City doesn’t not people who are speaking freely, and who actually have any power greater than public aren’t necessarily privy to what’s going on relations and public relations assaults in the last today—or people on the Silverstein side who couple of days because Larry Silverstein owns don’t use me as a conduit. the lease on the place. Until it’s wrested from The best reporter—I’m not sure what his cold, dead hands, it’s his to rebuild. And I his contacts are at Silverstein but he’s guess that actually might happen! consistently calling it straight, but also making it clear that he’s pro-Silverstein in this Larry Silverstein is in his seventies, right? Is there any particular affair. He’s a guy at the New York concern about legacy, or wanting to get this done while Post, Steve Cuozzo—another guy with whom he’s still alive to see it? You would think that it’s so I’ve never spoken but who does a great job of much of a nightmare anyway that everyone would want parsing all this very directly. to work together. I mean, it’s called “The Freedom Tower.” It’s not called “Larry Silverstein Place,” or They don’t see a benefit to speaking with Esquire? Or the “New York City…anything.” I’d imagine that for there’s no upside to stonewalling you? a magazine of your size, it’s probably an odd thing to not get access. Raab: I think they figure either we’ll go away or there’s nothing for them to gain by Warren: We’ve been telling the story instead
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through the people who have actually been importantly level is: on these sixteen acres, at doing something, which is Silverstein and this point in American history, how the hell are David Childs, his designer, and there have been you going to build a super-tall skyscraper? dynamic tensions—in the second installment of Literally, how are you going to build it, over a the series—between them, even. That’s been working railroad, seventy feet below grade with our interest: who are the prime movers down there. The Port Authority: sort of the phantom agency. And the City, which really has no direct authority and is therefore kind of feckless. So we’ve been actually focusing on, who the hell is actually going to do this? They’re the right focus for our series.
Raab: In broad terms, there are two levels—in terms of getting it shaped up for a magazine feature, and in looking at it in a more global sense. This includes the idea of legacy or access. On one level, and the most important one for us but sometimes the hardest, is to be consistent, partly because you get sucked up into the nature of the political process and its impact on the building process. But on the basic, most issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:01 PM Page 70
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the Hudson River a couple hundred feet away. politics. What do you feel about your responsibility and That stuff—not just in terms of the design and editorial role? the architecture, but in terms of the building and testing the bedrock—I’ve come to see is Raab: I think it’s a lot more inherently fascinating, and the people who do organic…There’s a shared passion and vision it are great characters. and in this case, it’s a tough balance—and I’m not talking about between writer and editor, What are your feelings when you walk down to this Mark and me. place? It sounded more like poetry than prose insofar as I mean between the kind of cynicism— you cover such a broad swath of emotions that it’s up to I can’t think of a better word—that comes the reader to come away with a mournful feeling or a along with looking at a story and realizing, hopeful feeling, or shock and dismay or empathy at the number one, the decisions that are going to be issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:01 PM Page 71
made, the negotiations that are taking place as a magazine—are in a very privileged about every subject from what material will position because we do get time down there, surround that huge concrete base to whose and time with some of the players and a lot of going to build out Buildings 3 and 4. These time with a few of the players. Can we are battles being played behind closed doors balance both? and the people that are going to make these In other words, can we talk about it in decisions that are going to impact all of our terms of the—again, venal—the horrible lives, and our children and grandchildren. politics of it, the small-mindedness of it, the We’re basically powerless to understand all the scheming end of it? Can that coexist in the nuances of—much less effect—the outcome. world and on the page with, “Wow, this is a That can take away from the poignancy or the hallowed spot; this is really a great thing that beauty or the hope that out of what happened working people—people who know things on September 11th, something meaningful in a about engineering, who know about drilling positive sense, something that really does core samples from bedrock, who know things represent the best of the American spirit, that about putting steel together— that will emerge. I’m not comfortable with the hero- I think for Mark, but certainly for me, villain thing, but you’re reducing everyone to a it’s kind of like, “Wow, these politics, this is character anyway that you’re using, but can fascinating!” The battles that are being you still maintain some semblance of passion waged—we may not be privy to all the details, and hope. And I’m not saying it’s easy, but of we may not be able to affect the outcome, or course: it’s a wonderful story. raise a cry or any of that. But it’s still I don’t think of myself as naïve, but I’m interesting as hell being a part of the narrative not cynical about it in large, and I’m really structure of any one feature about this, and blessed to work with an editor who isn’t cynical can you do that and balance internally and on either and who keeps talking about the the page—because I don’t think you can have privilege of doing the story and the importance one without the other. of keeping the focus on the immediacy of Can I come to terms emotionally; can I what’s happening on the ground, not just maintain some of that sense of “Boy, this is a what’s happening in the offices on the higher very privileged spot on earth and I—and we, floors of certain buildings.
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PROPAGANDA: PPoosstteerrss,, CCaarrttoooonnss andand PPoolliittiiccss
LIKE MILLIONS, I AM SHOCKED BY THE ONGOING VIOLENCE PROTESTING THE DANISH CARTOONS DEPICTING THE PROPHET MOHAMMED.
As of this writing, dozens of people 2006 in Miami at the Wolfsonian. Featured are have been killed in Africa, Asia and the Middle political posters and sculptures from multiple East, including at least twenty-four in Nigeria, Eastern and Western countries from the First eleven in Libya, and ten in Afghanistan. World War through the Cold War and up to the Embassies have been attacked and mosques fall of the Berlin Wall. The exhibition tracks burned. eleven journalists in five countries will the development of a common visual lexicon likely be prosecuted for reprinting the for casting the masses as global political cartoons. Warnings have been issued for agents. Danish travelers to avoid Indonesia. Millions Over 100 works from the poster have taken to the streets—violently or collections of the Hoover Institution at peacefully—from London to Islamabad to Stanford and The Wolfsonian, including rare display their anger. Most incredible is the fact Iranian posters from the 1970s and posters in that millions of people across national borders divergent styles by John Heartfield and and language barriers have all had the same Norman Rockwell, comprise the exhibition. reaction; they are unified in their outrage. Organized into three main groupings How have mere drawings inflamed millions of (“Figures,” “Numbers,” and “Symbols”), the people in disparate places and caused them to exhibition tracks more than a politics-based band together? visual language. The “Figures” portion An exhibition on propaganda art focuses on the graphic elements of the artwork, currently at Florida International University’s whereas the “Numbers” segment looks at how Wolfsonian museum in Miami is an quantity is integral to political power during appropriate backdrop for answering this the 20th century. “Symbols” brings together question. The exhibition, Revolutionary Tides: the first two sections and elaborates further; it The Art of the Political Poster, 1914 – 1989, investigates the dialogues between images of began at The Cantor Art Center at Stanford the masses and related icons that represent the University last autumn, and runs until July 30, group or political party.
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The tradition of political posters and this; instead, national and local leaders have street protests, developed over hundreds of appropriated the images and used them to years and honed during the 20th century, helps catalyze national and local groups far outside explain why Muslims have reacted so strongly the borders of Denmark. to the Danish cartoons: the cartoons have been The cartoons play on widely held biases interpreted like propaganda posters. The and fears. They speak to an existing niche of images are clear, words are kept to only the prejudice hidden within what has turned out to most essential, and political issues are stripped be the far-reaching multitudes in Africa, Asia, of their complexities. They use bold, attention and Europe. Truth and justice are of secondary attracting colors and clear lines so that with concern, because the images’ shock factor even a slight glance the viewer notices and precludes further thought for many of the understands the message. outraged. As Michael Kimmelman of the New In the case of the Danish cartoons, the artists York Times pointed out, the Abu Ghraib have manipulated the symbol of the prophet photographs did not provoke such widespread Mohammed, so dear to Muslims worldwide. street protests, and they documented In the most-discussed cartoon, Mohammed horrifically real torture. Those photographs sports a bomb-shaped turban complete with show mistreatment of living people with faces, burning fuse. As with many of the posters in bodies, and families, not a physically the Wolfsonian exhibition, the message is clear intangible prophet. Perhaps since the Abu with or without text. Ghraib photographs themselves increased For instance, one American poster from tensions amongst Muslims to the point where 1942 depicts an anonymous “everyman” bent the Danish cartoons sparked an explosive over with back exposed. Above him, a large release. Or perhaps the totemic power of such hand holds a red branding iron shaped like a a holy figure as Muhammed prevailed. swastika, surrounded by yellow flames. Two Totems, the central devotional symbols words are printed in black block letters: of a culture, play an integral role in “Prevent This.” The simple image easily propaganda. During war and social turmoil, conveys the message and the clear wording their role in mobilizing the public, suppressing drives it home. The Danish cartoons are just dissonance, and furnishing comfort increases as simple in their imagery, and even more substantially. In such difficult times, people simply produced. They are, philologically, are more susceptible to being affected— propaganda. It is doubtful that the Danish positively or negatively—by familiar images. cartoonists and newspaper editors intended Perhaps that is why the American military is
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CARTOONS PLAY ON WIDELY HELD BIASES AND FEARS. THEY SPEAK TO AN EXISTING NICHE OF PREJUDICE.
against photographing the flag-draped coffins proven that to be far from the truth. Images of deceased soldiers. The government can be disseminated at rapid rates via the recognizes the power of such images, the Internet and cell phones; such technologies likelihood that they would greatly affect have fueled street protests against the cartoons. numerous people and unite them in anger. The (now former) Italian ambassador to Syria In the Revolutionary Tides exhibition made T-shirts featuring the cartoons. He even catalogue, curator Jeffrey T. Schnapp questions wore one on television, spreading the offensive whether “the age of the political poster [has] images to an even larger audience. And people passed with the rise of media that no longer died because of it. In today’s world, with so require mass assemblies in city streets and many surfaces on which to place images, the public squares.” The cartoon episode has political poster is far from outdated. issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:01 PM Page 76
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Where there Once was a Curtain. . .Inside Post-Soviet Moldova
Text and Photographs By Igor Finkel
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Left: Old Soviet symbols are seen almost everywhere in the republic. This giant hammer and sickle is located at the entrance of one of Transdniestria's largest manufacturing plants, Electromash, in Tiraspol, the capitol of Pridnjestrovskaya Moldavskaya Respublika, also known as PMR or Transdniestria.
Above: The Transdniestrian government building in Tiraspol. Unlike in many former Soviet Republics the statue of Lenin is still standing tall and proud in PMR.
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Top left: War Memorial and Eternal Flame in Bendery, the only Transdniestran town on the right, western bank of the river Nistru (Dniestr), which separates Moldova and PMR.
Bottom left: An employee of Electromash is doing his best to pose for a photograph at work.
Above: Not many people in Transdniestria can afford a car. Some commute the old fashion way.
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Top right: A view of the Noul Neamt Monastery in Chitcani from its bell tower. After the collapse of the Soviet Union the gates of religious freedom were flung open and the people of PMR restored old monasteries and churches, which were previously shut down by the Communists.y.
Bottom right: The artist with Igor N. Smirnov, President of PMR, passionately discussing the tensions between Moldova and Transdniestria during a meeting with Yakov Tsysin, one of the original Transdniestrian separatists. President Smirnov assumed the office of President of the Republic on 1 December 1991, a month before the official collapse of the Soviet Union. Transdniestria has held three presidential elections since 1991, the results of which have not been recognized by any country, other than itself.
Above: Transdniestrian “babushkas” waiting for a bus near one of the street markets in Tiraspol. Sharing recipes and rumors, perfect end to a cold March dayway.
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Spinning The Sacred Thread
SOON AFTER MY MARRIAGE ENDED, my aged didn't like it at all, the possibility of such a mother suggested that I undergo the deprivation, a brother-in-law taking my place upanayanam, the sacred thread ceremony. I and reciting all the mantras for the ascension was speechless. Even the raggedy knowledge I of my parent's soul to His domain. had of Hinduism is clear on the subject—the Father didn't say anything. Perhaps he upanayanam should be performed between the didn't care, or thought it all meaningless. He ages of nine and thirteen and in no case later was a journalist. Yes, he did perform the than sixteen years. I was thirty-five and obligatory poojas during festivals like Rama divorced. Navami and Gokulashtami, but it was Mother “We'll keep it private,” she said. “Just close who exhibited strong religious habits— relatives.” attending discourses on Bhagavad Gita in A picture popped up in my mind—cousins, temple courtyards, watching godly shows on uncles and aunts, crowding about me during TV and fasting on Fridays for our family's well the ceremony, whispering amongst themselves. being. "Well, he has finally come back to his senses After procrastinating for a month, I said I after all these years out of our community." would undergo the ceremony at home; only my (My ex was a Roman Catholic.) sisters and their husbands and children were to Mother pressed on. “Just remember, unless be invited, no one else. Mother agreed. The you wear the sacred thread, you won't be upanayanam was conducted on a nippy Sunday allowed to perform the final rites in the event morning. An old priest rattled off the verses as of my, or your father's death. One of your if he were late for more important assignments. brothers-in-law would have to light the pyre.” I Father sat through it all stoically; Mother
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dhoti and a kurta, both in cream color. His dark face glowed with the pride of one who has organized a momentous occasion. I commented on it. “Yes, this is a happy day for me,” he said, with a broad smile. “My son was initially reluctant, but I convinced him.” “Nowadays, the young seem to have lost interest in such ceremonies, haven't they?” I said. He shrugged. “Actually, it depends on the elders. I believe in keeping alive A view of the mass upanayanam ceremony. our tradition. So, naturally I would do beamed with pride my sisters and their everything in my power to pass it on to my husbands wore solemn expressions. And, I children. Some people attribute the waning of confess, I felt just as Mother predicted—a our traditional practices to modern lifestyles, wholesome satisfaction; I had finally become a the impact of TV, the lure of Western culture pure Brahmin. I got to light my father's pyre and so on. It's the way of the world, people say. when he died two years back. What can you do about it?” Some questions, though, remained at the “So, you don't agree?” back of my mind. I had gone through the “Perhaps we can't live in isolation and keep upanayanam, but how much did I really our culture pure, especially in these days of understand it? What did the sacred thread electronic communications. But, even if you symbolize? What was the essence of all the indulge in aspects of other cultures, is it rituals in Sanskrit? difficult to set aside some time for our own Then I received an invitation from a friend time-honored practices? Our ancients of my father, Mr Shivashankar Shastry, to formulated them after a lot of thought; how attend a mass upanayanam. His son was one of can you dismiss them as irrelevant? What do the eight boys undertaking the ceremony. you lose in a few minutes of prayer and The venue was the Badaganadu Sangha, a meditation? On the contrary, you benefit a lot. society well known for its social welfare You can view life with a calmer perspective. activities in Bangalore. Shastry stood near the You will make fewer mistakes, less harm to gates, receiving guests. He was clad in a silk yourself.”
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“Don't you think elders are less respected these days, which is why perhaps the young are veering away on paths they think more right, more lucrative?” “My point is, if elders at home follow such practices, there is a good chance that youngsters would be influenced. Don't forget, all sons have a secret desire to imitate the father, to even better him. So, the example has to be there to spark emulation.” “Where is your son? I want to talk to Avinash (center) watches as his parents him,” I said. propitiate the sacred fire. The priest recites “Avinash is getting ready. You can sit with Vedic verses. us and watch the ceremony. If you have After coffee, I met Gopalkrishna, of the questions, he would be happy to answer them.” Badaganadu Society. A sales officer in a We looked at the huge pandal put up in the government establishment, he works for the quadrangle. The cloth tent, open on all four Society on a voluntary basis. “The word sides, had an attractive design in red, yellow upanayanam means 'taking near,'" he told me. and green. Beneath, parents attired in crisp "In ancient times, the father took the boy near silks prepared their pooja items—fruits, silver, the guru for knowledge of the Vedas. Even pictures of Gods, incense, coconuts, mango today the Vedas are the gateway to the leaves, camphor, betel leaves and other things. knowledge of the Absolute, the way to come Two men swept the ground. Another man was near His feet. So, the ceremony signals the setting bricks in small squares, for the sacred commencement of Brahmacharya, or fire. Priests moved about, gesticulating. Their studentship.” heads were half shaven and their foreheads “And only Brahmins can undergo this?” I marked by three horizontal lines in chalk - the asked. announcement of the Brahmin. “No. No. Even Khastriyas and Vaishyas Shastry glanced at his watch. “The can, but not the Sudras. Unless the ceremony will start in half an hour. Have some upanayanam is done, the boy is considered to coffee. The kitchen is at the right.” be a Sudra, the lowest of the four classes. This ceremony brings about the boy's second birth,
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'dvija,' the spiritual birth. He receives his community's sanction to study the sacred texts. But nowadays very few go in that direction. What people generally draw from the ceremony is that the boy is formally given the privileges of his caste. He is treated with respect during auspicious occasions. He has the approval to take over as the head of the family in case his father dies. He is authorized to seek help from relatives in times of crises. Brahmopadesam. He can perform poojas. And he gets to The father secretly recites the powerful and sacred perform the final rites when his parents die.” Gayatri mantra to his son. He went on to explain the preliminary Round his neck hung two gold chains, shining steps of the upanayanam. “A muhurta, or in the morning light. Lean and dark with large auspicious hour, is selected during a particular eyes, his smooth face still showed the down of season. For a Brahmin the upanayanam is raw youth on either cheek. He squatted cross- performed in spring, for a Kshatriya in the legged in front of the square of bricks that was summer, and for a Vaishya in the autumn. now filled with earth. His father was seated to That is the general rule, but it is not rigidly his left, his mother to the right. Cousins and followed.” aunts huddled behind. Alongside were the On the morning of the ceremony, the boy seven other families with their vatus, boys traditionally has a bath and, garbed only in a undergoing the ceremony. A quick glance loincloth, taken to the priest. The priest confirmed that Avinash, at fourteen, was the accepts him as a disciple by offering him youngest vatu. The others were easily between another cloth to cover his upper body. The twenty and thirty. Just as Gopalkrishna priest then ties a girdle around the boy's waist. lamented, they submitted to the ceremony only This is to protect his loincloth, his chastity. a few days before their marriage. I went to meet Avinash to see if he was so I asked Avinash what he thought would be dressed. He was clad in a full-length silk dhoti the main benefit from this ceremony. instead of the loincloth. However, he had a silk “I will be able to concentrate better on my sheet, the angostram, draped over his torso. studies,” he said.
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Did he have any reservations in book without blinking or coughing. He then undergoing this ceremony? delved in his little bag and brought out the “No.” sacred thread. Surely, he had many friends who wore the Tradition dictates that the priest makes the sacred thread? thread during the course of the ceremony. “A few.” Nowadays, however, the thread is made in What else did he think he could benefit advance. As we watched, the priest handed the from the upanayanam? thread to Shastry to place it over Avinash's “It will give me proper guidance. To walk head. Then reciting mantras, the priest on the correct path.” signaled for the thread to be eased down so Would he perform the daily rituals of that it hung across Avinash's chest from his left prayers? shoulder. All of us blessed the boy by throwing “Yes. My father does the turmeric-coated rice on him. sandhyavandanam. So I too will do it—the What exactly is the sacred thread? It worship of the sun, the reciting of the sacred comprises nine strands fashioned into three Gayatri mantra.” long threads, each folded thrice over and Just then the priest arrived, a young lean knotted. Each knot symbolizes respect to an man in a cotton dhoti and a sheet of white honorable ancestor. The length of the thread is cloth over his shoulders. He looked simple and said to be ninety-six times the breadth of four serious, the man of learning. He leafed fingers of a man, which in turn equals his through a tattered volume, stopped at a page height. Each finger represents one of the four and started reciting Vedic verses. He blessed states of consciousness a man experiences: the fireplace with turmeric and vermilion waking, dreaming, dreamless sleep, and the powders and sprinkled holy water on all the transcendental. The thread also represents the articles brought by the parents. He dipped a three foremost qualities permeating the few mango leaves in the holy water and universe: passion, representing Brahma the sprinkled it on all of us as a symbolic Creator; reality, representing Vishnu the purification. Finally, he bade the father join Protector; and darkness, representing Shiva the him in preparing the sacred fire by placing Destroyer. The three folds in each thread also twigs in the square of bricks and lighting the serve as a reminder to the boy of his three wood with lit camphor. As the flames grew, everlasting debts—to the gods, to the gurus, smoke issued forth, and we tried not to cough and to his forefathers. or cry. The priest continued reciting from his Depending on the activity, the ancient
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religion
texts prescribe that the thread be worn should be like the light of the sun, all- differently. During an auspicious occasion like pervading and ever bright. a religious festival or a marriage, the thread is The climax of the ceremony was the worn in the normal manner--across the chest recitation one of the holiest of passages from from the left shoulder. For the funeral rites, the the Hindu scriptures—the Gayatri Mantra. thread is reversed—across the chest from the Literally, Gayatri means "that which protects the right shoulder. During physical activity, the one who chants." When chanted regularly and thread should hang down from the neck like a with intense devotion, the sacred mantra helps garland. When bathing or defecating, the the chanter to realize his true self, the atman, thread is to be looped securely around the left the knowledge of the Supreme Truth, called ear. the Brahman. The priest bid the father and the The ceremony continued. The priest son to cover their heads with a cloth and recited mantras and asked Avinash to repeat repeat the mantra after him. This secretive them after him. While doing so, Avinash cloaking is to prevent unfit people from imitated the priest—touching the region of his overhearing the mantra. This part of the heart to symbolize harmony and sympathy ceremony is actually called Brahmopadesham, or with all life; touching his ears, mouth and eyes, Brahma's counsel. It is only after learning the to promise that hereafter he would listen, speak mantra that the boy is accepted as dvija. and observe carefully and distinguish right At this point, the priest asked Shastry to from wrong; touching the top of his head to put questions to Avinash. The boy had to symbolize he would embrace good thoughts. answer them all unvaryingly, as prescribed by Avinash then stood upon a small slab of stone the sacred texts. to signify that he would imbibe its firmness. He “Are you a brahmachari now?” asked the was then given a spoonful of curds, which he father. ate after paying it obeisance. It signified that “Bhaadam,” replied the son. The word is hereafter he would keep his mind clear and Sanskrit for “Yes.” ingest what he was taught. Avinash was then “Will you perform the sandhyavandanam bid to revere the holy fire by circumambulating and all other ceremonies regularly?” it thrice. Next, he was taken outside the tent to “Bhaadam.” gaze up at the sun through a small aperture “Will you perform your prescribed duties formed by criss-crossing his fingers. This part towards your parents?” demonstrated that his quest for knowledge “Bhaadam.”
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“Will you respect your mother forever?” “Bhaadam.” “Will you even resort to begging to take care of us in our old age?” “Bhaadam.” “Will you see that you don't sleep, at least during the day, in the pursuit of all these activities?” “Bhaadam.” “Will you concentrate on acquiring wisdom and not fall prey to wrong activities?” “Bhaadam.” The ceremony concluded with the pradakshina, the philosophy of begging. Avinash was asked to live on the charity of Shastry watches as his wife shares the society, and later repay this debt by giving alms symbolic “last meal” with Avinash before his to other students when he became a “departure” on a life as a Brahmacharya. householder. Avinash symbolically begged by from the venue, I couldn't help but wonder: spreading out a piece of cloth. His refrain was how strange, even ironic, it was that everything “bhavati bhiksham dehi”—"Whichever honorable seemed to be happening in reverse gear in my person is present, please give alms." We lined own life—upanayanam at age thirty-five, after a up to give him handfuls of rice and blessed divorce, and this interest in traditional beliefs him by applying the red tilak on his forehead. and practices at age forty-five. Surely, there's a The philosophy of begging holds that one message (or two) there somewhere. needs to imbibe humility and quell the ego, to view all humanity, nay all life, as equal in His eyes. Interactivity: I bid farewell to Avinash and his parents. I Get the most out of your would like to think that my participation digital magazine. brought them added joy, the way Shastry held on to my hands even as I told him that I was Click here for a glossary of late for another appointment. As I came away foreign terms: http://www.citizenculture.com/glossarlossary.htm issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:01 PM Page 90
CCM ALBUM PICKS lines
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Show Your Bones Interscope/Polydor Double Bill& March 28 Stars and The Elected join forces in Chicago Karen O, the charismatic lead singer of for a Rockin' Show. New York's Yeah Yeah Yeahs, channels Chrisse Hynde, Debbie Harry, and Joan Jett BEFORE OPENING ACT THE ELECTED or into her bluesy, erratic vocals; while headliner Stars played even one note of their drummer Brian Chase and guitarist Nick sold out show at Chicago's renowned Metro, Zinner lay down heavy punk sounds with enough flair to make Lou Reed smile. The my night was off to a fortuitous start. In a band's 2003 major label debut, Fever To Tell, neighborhood restaurant before the concert, I was one of the best records to come out in found a laminated all-access pass for Stars that recent memory. The word on the street is someone had left behind. Now, if only the true: sophomore album Show Your Bones does show could live up to its billing. Los Angeles indeed deviate from the sound of Fever To based The Elected opened the night with their Tell, but the result is an even stronger and 70s inspired sunny pop music, with lead singer more mature effort. This band is just beginning to flex their muscle. Standouts (and Rilo Kiley guitarist) Blake Sennett belting include "Gold Lion", "Cheated Hearts" and out “Do Me Good” with soulful gusto. The "Warrior." band drew mainly from its new release Sun,
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LL Cool J Todd Smith Def Jam March 21
Don't be fooled playa. LL Cool J may be pushing 40 years old, but he is still one of the big reasons hip-hop and rap enjoy the popularity that they do today. Forget the Hollywood resume, but don't forget that LL gave Def Jam Records their first bona fide hit. In between the acting and ventures like listsSun, Sun; they soon went on to play “The Bank helping to create the fashion line FUBU, L's and Trust” and an electrifying rendition of put out some pretty great music. His 11th “Not Going Home,” which Sennett dedicated studio album features collaborations with to Stars—it was the bands last night playing Pharell Williams, Juelz Sanana, Teairra Mari, Ginuwine, Mary J. Blige, 112, Mary together. “Fireflies in a Steel Mill” sounded Mary Mary, Ryan Toby, Freeway, and some robust, and Sennett and band mates jammed chick named Jennifer Lopez. Standouts &classic rock-style to end their set with a bang. include "Control Myself", "Best Dress" and Between sets I tried out my pass. I "What You Want." ventured into a green room area that contained nothing more than several couches. This was Morrissey no raucous party—or even a place of high Ringleader Of The Tormentors energy—everyone seemed very friendly, almost Sanctuary/Attack too “normal;” the personable Sennett and I April 4 discussed the ridiculously cold Chicago winter night, and right before Stars headed for the Morrissey's publicist recently described his stage, lead singer Torquil Campbell mentioned new album as "the most full-on rock record that they are the only band to hit the stage five Morrissey's ever done. It's a balls-to-the-wall rock record, not a slow one like the last minutes early. Scintillating stuff. The four band one." Excuse me, I laugh myself into tears members—Campbell, Amy Milan, Chris every time I read that. It seems hiring a Seligman and Evan Cranley (who also plays in former Pearl Jam drummer has allowed the Broken Social Scene)—joined a violinist, Pope of Mope to express the inner hard drummer and another guitarist on stage and rocker hiding under that pompadour all opened with the light “Theme from Stars,” a these years. Actually, the album is a lot edgier than some of the Mozfather's track from an earlier EP. Their next song, “Set
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previous efforts, it's just that the subject matter hasn't changed at all. Morrissey is Yourself on Fire,” from their third album still singing about the same things he sang (which bears the same excellent name), was about 15 years ago. Thank goodness he has much more upbeat and allowed the show to those beautiful pipes and that gorgeous command of language to fall back on . ascend. The set alternated between placid and Standouts include "You Have Killed Me," melodic pop songs and louder fare drawn from "The Youngest Was The Most Loved" and all three of their albums. In Stars, every "Dear God Please Help Me.” member was adept, as usual, at their instruments. Midway through the performance, they dedicated a cover of “Hungry Heart” to the Elected. Later on, they played one of their saddest songs, “Your Ex-Lover is Dead,” with Milan's cherubic voice adding emotional intensity. On the last song before the encore, The Elected joined Stars on stage to say goodbye. Stars returned for two more songs, including the infectious “Elevator Love Song” and “Calendar Girl.” On the latter, Campbell's voice soared on the lyric “I'm alive” and the The Flaming Lips attentive, indie-yuppie crowd screamed in At War With The Mystics corresponding excitement. One of the few Warner Brothers noticeable absences from Stars' twenty-song set April 4 was the magnificent “Look Up.” Stars is a
The Flaming Lips have always been band that sounds better live, especially with two Alternative pioneers, and if you've never equally talented vocalists on display. I'm not seen them perform live, you really need to sure that the concert lived up to my pre-show get your priorities in order. Their live show excitement, and the backstage treatment was can at times feature complex lighting anything but. Still, I haven't stopped listening displays, puppets, and even people in to “Calendar Girl” and some of the other Stars animal mascot suits. Oh, and their music is tracks-and that means that I'll be there next really good too. Largely ignored in the 1990s, the Lips have enjoyed recent success, time they swing through Chicago, front and scoring songs on soundtracks to movies like center. Austin Powers and Wedding Crashers, and even landing a Coca-Cola commercial. At War The Metro With The Mystics is a lot more guitar- Chicago, IL Feb. 17th, 2006
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lines lists oriented than their last record, Yoshimi Battles &Much More Than Luck The Pink Robots, which really started to put the band in the mainstream. Regardless, An All-Star Cast Delivers Bite to The Flaming Lips are masters of all things This Crime Thriller sonic-and always worth checking out. Standouts include "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song", "Mr. Ambulance Driver" and "The THERE AREN'T MANY SURETIES about Lucky W.A.N.D." Number Slevin, but one is that it is terribly titled. Another is that the film is one slick piece of Jack De Voss entertainment. Josh Hartnett stars as Slevin, the sarcastic slacker at the center of director Paul McGuigan's mistaken-identity crime film. Shortly after being mugged, Slevin is abducted CCM from his friend Nick's apartment by a pair of inept henchmen who work for a local crime FILM PICKS lord named The Boss. The Boss (Morgan Freeman) informs 'Nick' that he has three days to pay back $96,000 dollars, and that he'll have to murder the gay son of The Boss's arch nemesis The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) if he can't pay off his debt in time. Ironically, both of the warring gangsters rule their crime syndicates from the safe confines of their penthouse apartments across the street from one another. Stanley Tucci and Lucy Liu costar; Tucci as a cop who wants to catch Slevin and Liu as a Brick's Emilie de Ravin and Joseph Gordon-Levitt share some face-time. coroner who catches Slevin's eye. From the opening beats of J. Ralph's Brick moody score during its visually dynamic Focus Features opening title sequence, Lucky Number Slevin March 31 proves itself as a stylish, worthy entry in the Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a force to be crime genre. McGuigan and screenwriter Jason reckoned with. See last year's Smilovic waste no time, piling up four bodies in underappreciated Mysterious Skin if you don't the first five minutes as the film catches us up believe us. This nifty film noir from first- on its significant back-story, which concerns a time director Rian Johnson stars Levitt as a
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high school student investigating a peer's murder. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at hot racing tip that winds up getting one man Sundance, this is one mystery not to miss. and his family killed. Aside from that initial setup, the only thing that's clear in this darkly V For Vendetta comic piece of film noir is that nothing is what Warner Bros. it seems. That much is established in an early March 17 scene where a mysterious wheelchair-bound gentleman named Smith (Bruce Willis) explains The Wachowski Brothers are back…sort of. the Kansas City Shuffle to an anonymous The eccentric directing duo are credited young man at an airport. with only writing and producing this adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel, Smilovic's tricky screenplay holds many leaving the responsibility of yelling “Cut!” aces up its sleeve, and the dialogue snaps and to long-time first assistant director James pops with clever one-liners. You'll understand McTeigue. Originally scheduled for release by the end why catchy snippets of dialogue like last November, the controversial story the "Shmu" and the "Tall Knock" are lines that follows V (Hugo Weaving), a political successful attracted an ensemble cast of Oscar- terrorist who dares to question his own winners and A-listers; Smilovic's witty writing fascist government, and Edie (Natalie Portman), a woman he recruits to help him. allows the experienced cast to really bite into The actress famously shaved her head for their roles. McGuigan and cinematographer the role, and her commitment pays off. Peter Sova take advantage of the screenplay's Antiheroes have never been so heroic. time-bending narrative, and the film's constant flashbacks are effectively gritty. During the last third of the film things really kick into high Failure to Launch Paramount gear, and the mood grows palpably darker. March 10 Willis' supporting role suits him just fine and allows him the chance to retain his A romantic comedy is all about the character's air of mystery and dry sense of characters and fortunately, Matthew humor. Freeman and Kingsley are equally McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker are mesmerizing in their scenery-chewing roles as as likable as it gets. The attractive pair couldn't be more perfectly cast as a slacker rival gangsters, each rife with their own set of who still lives at home with his parents and idiosyncrasies. Surprisingly however, it's the woman who has to lure him out of the Hartnett who holds the film together. Never house. Surprisingly, the film suffered its own entirely above suspicion, Slevin is the ultimate failure to launch when it was yanked from wiseass. He plays the straight man so straight an original Valentine's Day-ish release date. and holds his cards so close to his chest that his
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disaffected slacker charm makes us underestimate him. Although the story contains some minor plot holes and is a little too predictable at times, it genuinely had me on more than one occasion. The filmmakers'
biggest flaw is insisting on the romance subplot Presley Chweneyagae as thug with a heart Tsotsi. between Slevin and Liu's character, who are Tsotsi little more than strangers. Their relationship Miramax interrupts the narrative action, even if it's hard February 24 to keep such a beautiful actress off screen. Unfortunately, there's no room for her in the Stories about criminals and their redemption story. are nothing new, but writer/director Gavin Lucky Number Slevin is a sharp thriller that Hood's gritty adaptation of acclaimed South African writer Athol Fugard's novel is takes advantage of a top-notch cast, an above- powerful stuff. Talented newcomer Presley average connect-the-dots plot, and comic relief Chweneyagae stars as “Tsotsi” (a slang term interspersed between brief but brutal scenes of meaning black urban criminal), a thug violence. It's an accessible genre picture that whose life changes when he steals a car— has all of the elements audiences expect and and quickly finds a baby in the back seat. enjoy, with a few surprises mixed in, courtesy of The South African “Kwaito” soundtrack and “Tsotsi-Taal” street language lends Smilovic's smart script. The Weinstein authenticity to the film, and the visceral Company may well have its first bonafide hit ghetto setting of the Johannesburg township on its hands, because Lucky Number Slevin is a Soweto is top notch. Official nomination in sure bet for a fun time at the movies. the Academy Awards Foreign Language Film Category. Lucky Number Slevin The Weinstein Company The Hills Have Eyes March 31 Fox Searchlight March 10
Fresh off the acclaimed gore-fest High Tension, director Alexander Aja dares to step into the big shoes left behind by Wes Craven. The master's 1977 original found an unfortunate family getting stuck in the middle of a desert occupied by cannibalistic
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lines mutants, and horror fans will be pleased to lists know that the story has been faithfully &Counterculture, updated. It's yet another remake, but this one, featuring “Lost” star Emile de Ravin, Anyone? packs a punch. Dana Spiotta's New Novel Traces the Lives of Intertwined Political Activists Across Decades
Thank You For Smoking Fox Searchlight EAT THE DOCUMENT BEGINS ON September 15, March 17 1972, as twenty-two-year-old Mary Whittaker sits alone in a motel room, gazing absently at This satire of the cigarette industry stars Aaron Eckhart as a talking head who gets the TV. Mary is freshly showered. She has just paid to make up excuses for why his dyed her mousy-colored hair to blond. She's company kills hundreds of thousands each trying to settle on a new name for herself. year. The film was a hit at Sundance and co- Mary chooses “Caroline,” sealing the stars Mario Bello and Anchorman's David transformation from her old life as a suburban Koechner as alcohol and tobacco reps, as subversive activist to her new life as a fugitive well as Rob Lowe and Katie Holmes. First- living underground in “smeary obscurity” and time director Jason Reitman has assembled an impressive cast for this adaptation of “isolation.” Christopher Buckley's best-selling novel. Caroline wonders about the fate of Bobby DeSoto, her boyfriend and fellow subverter. After their violent demonstration against Jeff Sneider with Theo corporate America and its tacit manufacture of Mazumdar noxious gases for military use in Vietnam, Bobby went underground, too. “I'll get in touch. I'll find you... when and if things [cool] down,” Caroline remembers Bobby saying before they separated. Flash forward twenty-six years. It's 1998. Fifteen-year-old Jason—a judicious aficionado of 1960s and 1970s rock-and-rollis in his bedroom listening to the Beach Boys' Smile. His Eat the door is open. His mother stands in the Document doorway, smiling. She is not mindful of Jason; Dana Spiotta instead, she's pausing to listen to the music of Scribner her generation. Jason's mother is Caroline, and
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they live in the suburbs of Seattle. Caroline has guessing these characters and entices you to never heard from Bobby. wonder if, how, or when they all might cross Fifty-year-old Nash Davis is a loner who paths. And that's what works best in Eat the exists “off the grid”—no telephone, bank Document: Spiotta's finely constructed chapters account, or health insurance. He manages build one upon the other, and as they reveal Prairie Fire Books, an eclectic emporium which more and more about these constrained carries fringe texts that advocate “resisting characters they race you toward a rousing American hegemony... and embracing rebellion conclusion. Other bright spots include Spiotta's and nonconformity of any stripe.” Hangers-on commanding narrative of Caroline's twenty- at this Seattle bookstore include middle- eight years underground and Jason's authentic twenties “misfits,” “scragglers,” and pseudo- first-person voice. protestors who organize into “collectives and The central problem with Eat the Document fronts and miniarmies.” The Kill the Street is that it's often overly dialectical. While the Puppets Project, an “antipuppet guerilla characters', especially the Prairie Fire gang's, theater group,” is one such collective; the espousals and refutations are provocative and Brand and Logo Devaluation Front is another. smart—Spiotta comprehends antiestablishment Nash allows them to hold meetings at Prairie alternative culture and she details its doctrines, Fire, even though he finds most of the dress, expressions, and thinking with mastery— participants smug, entitled, and arbitrary. eventually their exchanges get wearisome. However, there is Miranda Diaz. She doesn't These worldview polemics do not blemish the quite fit in with the hard-edged, “vapor-thin” novel's insight or worth, but they do distract. girls who frequent Prairie Fire. She has trouble Instead of concentrating on their significance, concealing her true-heart optimism that the you rush through them, eager to return to world can be a better place if people tried Spiotta's precise and graceful rendering of harder. Nash picks up on Miranda's vibe. He despair, loneliness, adaptation, and what it likes what he senses. costs to live life “forever at the margins.” Author Dana Spiotta (Lightening Field, 2001) The novel's title derives from Bob Dylan's produces an effective atmosphere of 1972 documentary film Eat the Document, which counterculture resistance, “agitprop,” and chronicles his 1966 European tour, when he attitudinized activism in this multifaceted and transformed himself from an acoustic folk far-reaching novel. Her chapters move skillfully singer to a rock-and-roll musician. Spiotta's back and forth from decade to decade and choice is apt; self-alteration and identity are at character to character. Spiotta crafts a the heart of this flawed but gratifying, pervasive tension that keeps you second- distinctive novel.
97 CCm issue8mutawa 3/13/06 3:01 PM Page 98 WHAT’SNEXT Careers & Education
The FIRST-EVER Magazine Concept Competition FINALISTS After searching all over the country for the “Next Big Publishing Thing,” these teams came out on top. Now you be the judge.
EXCLUSIVE NEW FICTION Mutawwa (part two): Can technology keep you faithful? Should it?
PHOTO & ART CREDITS
Cover: istockphoto; TOC: Austin: courtesy of Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau; p.6: John Iton/CCM; p.14: Jocelyn Lin/istockphoto; p. 18-24: Courtesy of David Irving/FocalPoint; p. 41: Samantha Grandy/istockphoto; p. 46: Alvaro Arroyo/istockphoto; p. 50: Dan Herron; p. 54-57: istockphoto; p. 58: Anthony Brennan; p. 61: Jesse Hamilton, courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films & Sony Pictures Releasing International; p. 64-68: John Iton/CCM; p. 69-70: Courtesy, Esquire magazine; p. 72: All images courtesy The Mitchell Wolfson, Jr. Collection at the Wolfsonian-Florida International University, Miami Beach, Florida; p. 82-89: Courtesy of Ramesh Avadhani; p. 98: istockphoto (2).
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