bulk;. R&jfc u $ »Q5nr*& -'s z'.- PAID r ? Permit No. 575 Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14850 the Ithaca, NY 14853 BOOKPRESS

Volume 2, Number 8 October, 1992 Ithaca, New York COMPLIMENTARY An Interview with Nadine Gordimer Fiction and Consequences Biodun Jeyifo country was represented by two this reconfiguration of African lit­ writers, poet and novelist Mongane erature. This has little to do with the The occasion was a UNESCO- Wally Serote, and Nobel laureate Nobel prize, important and welcome sponsored conference in February for 1991, Nadine Gordimer. Both, as this may be. It is more on account in Harare, Zimbabwe on the subject incidentally, are members of the o f the range and quality of her works, o f African literature(s) in the 1990s African National Congress (ANC). especially the essays and the fiction and beyond. Logically, current pro­ I had gone to the conference that explore whites and the con­ cesses of change and transforma­ anxious to make contacts with structions o f whiteness as these are tion in South Africa figured as a writers and critics from South Africa played out simultaneously within an special issue at the conference. That who are active in tire country. 1 had enclave in Africa's own “deep also gone with a special objective — South, ” and as a projection, a a long, exhaustive interview with movement into the rest o f the conti­ INSIDE: Nadine Gordimer. One o f the almost nent. Perhaps no other writer has In an effort to break away certain cultural and intellectual ef­ explored this double articulation of from the horserace mentality fects o f the supersession o f apartheid the race question in white South that characterizes most in South Africa will be the African writing with the depth, sen­ political reporting in this coun­ reconfiguration o f African literature, sitivity, and critical self-awareness try today, the Bookpress has as an institution of society at large o f Nadine Gordimer. asked four nationally promi­ and as a vital part of the curriculum In the end it was not possible to nent thinkers to put the up­ coming election in a wider con­ in the schools and universities. For have the long, wide-ranging inter­ text. Walter LaFeber offers a one thing, it will become more view 1 had anticipated. Perhaps the historical perspective, Alfred E. "natural" for writers, critics, and occasion for that will come. In the Kahn provides an economic teachers to the north to think of meantime, the dialogue transcribed analysis, Zillah Eisenstein deals white South African writers as “Af­ here focuses less on Gordimer’s with our cultural expectations, rican ” authors. Conversely, white work than on the immediacies and and Theodore Lowi analyzes and black South African writers and contingencies o f South Africa at the our troubled domestic political critics will rediscover each other — present moment in the light o f institutions — as well as and in so doing, aid the rest o f the “unscripted" transitional politics announcing the formation of continent to reconceptualize “race" and the efforts of the community of a new national third party, as a determinant of inclusion and writers and critics to respond to to be known as the exclusion in the canon of African them. Independence Party. photograph: © Dorte Nielsen See pages 2 and 3 literature. Undoubtedly, Nadine BJ. Your novel July's People has the Gordimer will figure prominently in see Gordimer, page 13 Nadine Gordimer

Cargill's Buffalo Shuffle Urban Affinities Secular Cathedrals Heather C. White Janowitz’s new, albeit short-lived, irresistible, and, as she says flatly Bill Brown with which Dart and Dunbar’s “ma­ self. Finally, in a media-sawy move early on, her apartment hates her. rine tower” could unload steamers THE MALE CROSS-DRESSER worthy of Madonna herself, Pamela inhabits the forgotten side MEASURE OF EMPTINESS: from the Great Lakes and assist in SUPPORT GROUP Janowitz has made a video for the of the city; she is young, white, and GRAIN ELEVATORS IN THE the loading of canal boats bound for hy Tama Janowitz book in which a cast of famous employed, so is not one of its “truly AMERICAN LANDSCAPE Albany and the Hudson River. Crown, $20, 313 pp. people act out the book’s plot, to be disadvantaged.” But she makes by Prank Gohlke, And so, even though the grain shown on MTV. One can only barely enough money to survive, epilogue by John C. Hudson transhipment business pulled out of Tama Janowitz’s new novel imagine the confusion this will en­ let alone participate in the lifestyles Johns Hopkins, cloth, $59.95, Buffalo 30 years ago, it was to will not suffer for lack of hype. Its gender in thousands of unsuspect­ of the rich and irresponsible, so she paper, $29.95, 110 pp. Buffalo that the Federal Parks jacket, resplendent in eye-catching ing video viewers, and the jump in is not a yuppie either. She seems to Service (in the form of the limegreen, day-glo pink, and safety book sales as they figure out what is be constantly surrounded by gar­ CARGILL: TRADING THE Historic American Engineering orange, makes it look like a hip, going on, and a new generation is bage, as though the city, in aban­ WORLD’S GRAIN Record) came in 1990 when it wanted ‘90s kind of feel-good manual. brought back to books as another doning her, has appointed her the by Wayne G. Broehl, Jr., to research and document grain (Who’s to say male cross-dressers kind of pop culture. caretaker of all its castaways. University Press of New England elevators for the Library of Con­ don’t need a support group, just The only danger in all this is Janowitz describes filth in loving $19.95, 1014 pp. gress. Rest assured, HAER took a like anyone else?) A full schedule that a certain kind of reader may be detail, and some of her best pas­ lot of photographs. of Janowitz’s appearances around put off by the hoopla, which would sages are those that describe the As everybody in Buffalo knows, It is thus with some surprise the country is planned, to allow her mean that many fewer people to quotidian horrors Pamela encoun­ grain elevators are interesting, es­ that any Buffalo inhabitant will own much-discussed look to work read what is, underneath the glitzy ters: the sink fur that will not die, pecially to look at. They make great look at the photographs and articles its magic on prospective readers. packaging, a very Fine novel. The the gelatinous ooze that threatens subjects for photographs. in Frank Gohlke’s Measure o f Just in case anyone has lost interest Male Cross-Dresser Support Group to swallow her bathroom, the More than that, grain elevators Emptiness: Grain Elevators in the in that Ux>k, advance copies of the is the story of twcnty-five-year-old abundant waste that litters any were invented by two Buffalo men, American Landscape, and find book include a magazine article Pamela Trowel and her attempts to sidewalk she happens to be on. grain merchant Joseph Dart and not a single photograph or reference about Janowitz,’s makeover last year survive New York. Pamela lives in Pamela buys all of the recom­ engineer Robert Dunbar, 150 years to a Buffalo grain elevator. Despite and her subsequent decision to ac­ Manhattan, is underpaid, and mended cleaning products and ago, and, in little over a decade, the inclusiveness of the book’s cept her old look as part of who she underloved. Her rich boss humili­ brings to bear every lethal made the port of Buffalo the biggest subtitle, the grain elevators photo­ is. The book’s jacket features a ates and exploits her regularly, in­ chemical in the modem household grain port in the world — a distinc­ graphed are located in Minneapolis full-color glamour-girl photo of sane and impotent men find her see Urban, page 16 tion it retained as late as the 1940s. and various places in Texas, Kansas, This was because of the relative ease see Secular, page 12 pag •> the B(X)KPRESS October, 1992 The End of The Global Context

Walter LaFeber reminders of a central historical les­ Central American wars between that, in the 18th century, 50 people son of the post-1945 years and, in­ 1978 and 1990. Many of those vic­ per million population died in wars. The collapse of the Soviet Union deed, of the entire 20th century. tims had their lives ended by US- In the 19th century, the figure was and the supposed end of the Cold That lesson is that while few supported or Soviet-supplied armies 60 per million population. In the War was a cause for considerable Russians and Americans died in di­ and death squads. 20th century, it has been 460 per­ rejoicing in the West. Among other rect superpower confrontations, 21 Conclusions can be drawn. One sons per million population. The reasons for the celebration was the million people did die in wars after is that the present century, suppos­ nature of the killing has been trans­ realization that the work! had avoided 1945. At least 4 million died in edly the most sophisticated, knowl­ formed as well. As Randall Jarrell’s the nuclear holocaust that had Vietnam alone, including more than edgeable, interdependent, and poetry and Kurt Vonnegut’s novels haunted it for nearly a half-century. 57,000 Americans. Another million technologically advanced in history, emphasized decades ago, and as the Only one cheer has proved to be (at least) died in the Korean conflict, has also been among the most vio­ Scuds and Tomahawk missiles again appropriate, however. Pictures of including 33,643 US battle deaths lent. From modem technology have demonstrated in the war against Iraq, victims in Bosnia, Somalia, and even (and 20,000 related American been bom the triplets of efficiency, the means of death have come from photograph: Hilary Schwab the Commonwealth of Independent deaths.) Nearly 200,000 are esti­ leisure time, and violent death. His­ ever greater distances and been ever Walter Lafeber States itself (notably Georgia), are mated to have been killed in the torian Charles Tilly has estimated see Global, page 1! Chronic Consumption

Converting to a peacetime economy conversion problem at the end of 3.9 percent — and all this without since then. at that time was indeed a formidable World War II is illuminating in an­ any governmental conversion pro­ But this is only another way of undertaking — or at least seemed to other way as well. In the middle gram, other than unemployment in­ saying that the economic “problem” be, in prospect. 1940s, there was a great deal of surance, worthy of the name. of a “transition to peace” is nothing At its peak in the middle 1980s, anxiety and outright pessimism Of course one can read the les­ more than a mild intensification of in contrast, our spending on national about our ability to provide em­ son of that experience in a different the problem of stagnation from defense reached 6.2 percent of GNP; ployment opportunities for all the way; A 35 percent-of-GNP curtail­ which we suffer anyhow (to which, if we include total budget expendi­ combat forces and defense workers ment in military expenditures can to be sure, the leveling-off and mild tures for “international affairs,” the that the outbreak of peace would cause hardly a ripple in a dynamic drop in military spending in the late percentage rises to 6.6 — still only release onto the job market; and economy that awaits only a reduction 80s and early 90s made a small one-sixth of the end-of-World War Henry Wallace was regarded as a in the military drain to satisfy long- contribution); and that we will not II level. woolly-headed visionary for sug­ suppressed civilian demands, but a take advantage of the modest oppor­ photograph: Gladys H. Clark I don’t suggest for a moment gesting a program for an expanding curtailment only one-tenth as large, tunity it presents as to do some of the that our current military spending at economy that would produce 60 proportionately, could give rise to things that badly need doing unless an annual $275 to $300 billion rate million jobs. (Our civilian em­ real suffering in an economy that is we get over that stagnation. Like the Alfred E. Kahn is peanuts; but in an almost $6 tril­ ployment today, in a lamentably only limping along, as ours has been unemployment of some workers that lion economy, cutting it by half or weak economy, exceeds 117 mil­ for the last three-plus years. Our would follow conclusion of a North The first thing to understand is even more hardly poses a major lion.) These fears were quite un­ present unemployment in the 7.6 to American Free Trade Agreement, that to characterize the economic problem of conversion. derstandable, in light of the stubborn 7.8 percent range (though markedly the problems arc no different in ei­ task we face today — or tomorrow Of course, those savings could refusal of unemployment — which below the 11 percent peak monthly ther kind or degree from the problems — as converting from a cold war to be used to do a lot of good elsewhere. hit a horrendous 25 percent offi­ rate during the 1981-82 recession) of any healthy, growing economy a peacetime economy grossly ex­ But compared with Federal deficits cially in 1933 — to drop below 14 — which translates into something — to absorb resources displaced aggerates the dimensions of that in the $300 billion range — which percent until the upsurge of military like 11 percent if we take into ac­ from less productive into more particular problem, and corre­ we clearly have to get down — and spending from 1940 onward turned count involuntary part-time em­ productive employments; and the spondingly minimizes the dimen­ considering the huge shortfalls in the prolonged depression into a ployment and discouraged workers solution is not to continue to spend sions of what really needs to be other government expenditures — boom. Yet we cut our national de­ who have simply dropped out of the foolishly on the military — or deny done, 'fhe reasons why that is so are which we surely have to make good fense outlays from $82 billion at job market — is the consequence of ourselves the benefits of freer trade themselves instructive. — even the opportunity and the their 1945 peak to $42 billion in our having grown at a less than 1.5 with Mexico — but to convert our Near the end of World War II, “peace dividend” that it promises 1946 and 11.6 billion in 1947 — percent annual rate in the five quar­ stagnant economy into a healthy, we were devoting about 40 over a period of maybe five years from 38.6 percent of GNP to 5 per­ ters before the present recession growing one. The bright side of the percent of our total gross national begin to look pitifully small. cent in two years — while the unem­ offically began and at an average picture is that the way to make those production to military purposes. Comparison with the ployment rate rose only from 1.9 to just below zero in the eight quarters See Chronic, page 10

The BOOKPRESS is available at the the -■■■* L following upstate locations: BOOKPRESS Ithaca: ABC Cate. Blue Fox, Cate Decadence, Cabbagetown Cate. Cornell University (various locations), Country Couple, Courtside Fitness, CTB Triphammer, DeWitt Mall, Fall Creek Cinema, Hickey s Music, Irving's Deli, Ithaca Publisher: Jack Goldman Bakery. Ithaca College (various locations), Ithaca Music Hall, L'Auberge, Ludgate Farms, Muffin Madness, Editorial Staff : Jack Goldman, Joel Ray Mayers, New Alexandrian, Phoenix Bookshop, Rebop Records, Smedley's, Steigers, Stella's Cate, The Bakery, The Frame Shop, Tops, University Inn, Wegmans Production & Design: Amy Kweskin, Broome County: Art Theatre, Bookbridge, The Book Cellar, Burt's Bookstore, Gil's Book Loft, New Ritz, Design Consultant: Laurie Ray Roberson Center, SUNY Binghamton (various locations), Tom's Coffee & Gifts, Advertising: Joel Ray Vestal Historical Society Museum, Whole Earth Store & Coffeehouse

Syracuse: Ala Mode, Books End, Book Warehouse, Community Darkrooms, Eureka Crafts, Fay's, Good Bookstore, Distribution: Olli Baker, Bill Gandino, Marshall St Mall, Mallard Tobacconist, My Sister s Words, On the Rise Bakery, Papa's Deli, Pastabilities, Seven Rays Scott Nash, Steve Sena, Ken Mink Bookstore, Syracuse University (various locations), Tales Twice Told, Waldenbooks, Wescott Bakery, Wescott Market

Owego: Hand of Man, Riverow Bookshop, Tioga County Council on the Arts Contributors: Milly Acharya Stephanie Clair, Teresa Demo, Gunilla Feigenbaum, Peter Fortunate, Nick Gillespie, Geneseo: SUNY Bookstore Robert Hill, Biodun Jeyifo, Hitch Lyman, Jeanne Mackin, Cayuga County: Aurora Inn, Wells College (various locations) Barbara Mink, Kathy Morris, Mark Shechner, J. Michael St. Lawrence County: Potsdam College (various locations), St Lawrence University (various locations) Scrino, Joanna Sheldon, Alan Singer, Suzanne Stewart The entire contents of The BOOKPRESS are copyright (<>1992 by The Bookcry. Rochester: Abacus Bookshop, Borders Bookshop, Bookshelf, Brown Bag Bookshop, RIT Bookstore, Gutenberg's, Kinko's, Monroe C.C. Bookstore, Park Ave Bookstore, Pyramid Arts Gallery, Silkwood Books, Village Green, Visual All rights reserved. The BOOKPRESS will not be liable for typographical error, or Studies Bookstore, Wild Seed Bookstore & Cafe, Writer Books, Yankee Peddler errors in publication except the cost to advertisers for up to the cost of the space in which die actual error appeared in the first insertion. Questions or comments for The BOOKPRESS should be addressed to The BOOKPRESS, DeWitt Building, see page 9 for Buffalo locations 215 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca. NY 14850; telephone: (607) 277-2254. page 3 the Cold War All in the Family

this process is that this language husband Bill says, you would think force with a wife at home. Never ues” constructs the perfect post­ bespeaks faulty distinctions and di­ Bush is running against her. And in mind the reality that this version of modern moment in its elusiveness visions which are not entirely true. some sense he is. Ms. Clinton has the family applies to less than 16 and vagueness of borders. As Bar­ The new world order is new and also been dangled out there by the Re­ percent of US families today. bara Bush says, family is whatever very old. Domestic and foreign publicans as a radical feminist, arch- The economy and its demand you say it is, even though she thinks policy are no longer separate spheres. critic of marriage and family, and for dual wage-earning families un­ her kind is the best kind to have. The The economy and family are inter­ defender of children’s rights to sue dercuts the hollowness of traditional plural vision she alludes to is a false related realms. The middle class parents. Everyone, including family rhetoric further. So do the pluralism because the Quaylcs, Pat was forgotten in the past decade, but 1 lillary, seems to ignore the fact that vast number of single-parent Buchanan, Phyllis Schlafly, and the fact that this middle class is also if she were a radical feminist she households, especially those headed President and Barbara Bush make a “working class” has been wiped might run for President herself. In­ by women. And we have not even clear that the kind of family they off the map. stead, she has chosen to be a politi­ yet mentioned the issue of poverty live in is the model for the all- This duplicitous cacophony sets cal "wife.” We need to remember for these families. When the Re­ American family. Bush sums this the context for the swirling contra­ that her early outspoken role in the publicans speak of “family values” up when he says he wants America dictory messages about women and campaign unfolded amidst the it is this multiple reality of family to be like the Waltons, and not the Zillah Kisenstein their proper identities in the present charges of her husband’s infidelity. that they try to cover over, looking Simpsons — he does not even election. On the one hand we are She was drawn into the Gennifer back to what they perceive as a better mention the Hux tables. It is almost impossible to sort told that this is the “year of the Flowers affair to speak for her time: a stronger and more dynamic- It is interesting to note that the out real political issues from their woman”; more women (16) are husband’s faithfulness. She tried to economy which allowed the “tradi­ Republicans’ theme has not been misrepresentations and rhetorical running for the Senate than ever silence the rumors as only a wife can tional" white middle-class family families, but family “values.” This abuse in the present presidential before and one is “even” African- do. One should not mistake this structure to dominate. Family and sleight-of-hand allows them to ig­ election. Candidates from both American. Two of the four candi­ early active role in the campaign as economy arc completely intertwined nore the structural realities of fami­ parties speak of a “new world order,” dates’ wives are lawyers; one a co-presidency. here, but they are treated as separate. lies by focusing on imagery. The “economic issues” vs. “family val­ practices, the other does not. Bar­ Women’s lives do not lend “Family values” has become a discussion of values in Bush’s ues,” "domestic vs. foreign policy,” bara Bush presents herself in a homey themselves to easy homogeneous political code word for anti- rhetoric emphasizes individual the forgotten “middle class,” as self-denigrating fashion and gains description, although election abortion, anti-feminist, anti-affir­ choice and responsibility for self though these political phrases ac­ record-high popularity. She uses rhetoric attempts to do just this. The mative action, anti-homosexual, rather than the constraints which curately describe the issues— and her paper-thin persona to bring in rhetoric trumpets worn-out models anti-social welfare, anti-drugs. The impinge on people’s choices. But they do not. The effectiveness of whatever pluralist vote exists out that do not work for most women imagery elicits the vision of a tra­ don’t get me wrong here — I am not this political rhetoric is that it partia//y there for the Republicans. She has and/or their families today. This ditional white-male-headed hetero­ saying that people, especially rings true and does so through the become the party’s umbrella. But does not stop the right wing of the sexual family which is supposedly women, would chtx>se the patriar­ vague imagery it creates. Anyone more on that later. Republican party from privileging orderly, drug-free, abuse-free, chal family if they were free from can read whatever they like into the Hillary Clinton is the other the model of the traditional patriar­ and AIDS-free. economic constraints. Of course sound-bite rhetoric. Obscured in election icon at the moment. As her chal family — husband in the labor The language of “family val­ see Family, page 9 Beyond Political Paralysis

Yet, despite the elaborate analytic rations; convertible currencies and universalism of the market. shared inability of the two major processes of the CIA, State Depart­ instantaneous flows of capital 24 Despite its great power, the parties to cope with the collapse of ment, and special international hours a day; easy movement of United States is not immune to these another system — their own. Dur­ relations advisors we have been companies from high-cost to low- opposing tendencies. Although our ing the current epoch of some 40 living passively through a genuine cost labor markets without regard to economy has long been built on years, there has been a political world revolution. country loyalties. market principles, it is in a constant consensus between the parties. In The collapse of the Soviet satel­ The interaction among these state of friction with those aspects of the 1930s a new welfare and regu­ lite system, followed quickly by the revolutionary changes is what con­ American nationhood that we call latory stale was constructed, basi­ collapse of the Soviet Union itself, fronts the public policy agenda in family and community, neighbor­ cally in defense of human values has unleashed a process of world every country including the United hood and ethnic group, tradition and against the brutally efficient but revolutionary development that far States. What will first require our religion. Efforts reaching back at imperfect economic system. This exceeds the dreams of the original attention is the interaction between least to the New Deal — mainly by “new American state” constructed architects of the Soviet system itself. nationhood and global markets. the Democratic party — can be un­ by the Democrats was eventually photograph: Cornell University But with the end of armed con­ Nationhood is culturally specific, derstood as government programs accepted by the Republicans, who frontation between East and West in attached to land and blood, arising designed to defend individuals, during the 1950s and ‘60s ran vir­ Europe, the popular cry for “self- out of the sense of a common past families, and communities from the tually as Democrats who could do determination” has returned after an and shared destiny. In contrast to harshest aspects of the market. These the same job better and cheaper. Theodore J. Lowi absence of half a century. Having the particularism of nationhood, the policies have been regularly attacked Mainstream Republicans accepted forgotten that the Soviet Union per­ market is universalistic. It has no by the Republicans as interfering the new state for practical reasons It’s the end of the Cold War. formed a very useful service by past or future except by contract. It with the economy, and there is of — the only way to get elected was to The Wall is down. Hopes are up. keeping more than 25 major nation­ needs neither culture nor knowledge course a great deal of truth in that. play along as frugal New Dealers. Why do we feel so bad? alities within Russia and Central — only information, for purposes of But Republicans and many conser­ But the right wing in both parties It’s as though the raising of the Europe from making war against instant communication. It requires vative Democrats have been inter­ accepted the new state for reasons of Iron Curtain enabled us for the first each other for 45 to 75 years, we are no loyalty, except to the bottom line, fering with the economy in their principle. Hie Burkean right (e.g., time to see not our adversary but not ready for the dangers their re- and no responsibility, except the fi­ own way for an even longer time, Russell Kirk and George Will), the ourselves, not blinded by the re­ emergence produces. The present duciary kind. Nationhood and with such policies as tarifs, govern­ Christian right, and the white su­ quirements and restrictions of na­ situation bears a strong resemblance market globalization are contradic­ ment subsidies, banking laws, food premacist right had always seen se­ tional security. Our democratic to the epoch that ended in 1914 — tory forces that, left unattended, may and drug regulations, divorce laws, rious problems with capitalism institutions have never been more quite an ominous model for a New undermine one another. laws on prostitution and other mo­ because of its permanent assault on severely tested, not only by our own World Order. What was then called This provides at least an inti­ rality, medical licensure, child traditional community values. domestic problems but by the need Balkanization meant nationhood and mation of the emerging world order labor laws, and universal compulsory Naturally they did not express to serve as a beacon for the newly self-determination, but it also meant and its meaning for American po­ education, to name but a few. Both themselves as anti-capitalist: no one emerging countries whose people war. It was in Sarajevo in August litical institutions. Ilie old World sides, both parties, obviously favor likes to appear to be a traitor. But yearn for the advantage of individu­ 1914 that Archduke Ferdinand was Order was shaped by external bi­ intervention in the economy in dif­ Wall Street, absentee ownership, alism and the benefits of economic assassinated, inaugurating World polarity — West versus East, ferent ways but for the same general wage labor, women laborers, and and political participation. Ameri­ War I. maintained by Mutual Assured De­ purpose: to defend communities, contract itself were the enemy of cans have a particular obligation to A further consequence of the struction (MAD). The new bipolarity neighborhoods, character, and so­ traditional community values. In ask whether our political institutions Soviet collapse is the globalization is internal, wherein each country cial values against individual and 1933, for example, the profoundly are equipped to confront the new of the market, or, one could say, the must struggle to deal with the ten­ corporate greed that is the underly­ reactionary congressman, John international challenges as well as globalization of capitalism: multi­ sion between the cultural imperatives ing motive of the market economy. Rankin of Mississippi, sounded like our persisting internal problems. national and foreign-owned corpo­ of nationhood and the economic That brings us to the mutual and see Beyond, page 8 page 4 page who read from and signed copies of his just hisjust signedwhoandof readcopies from series continued last monthwith last continuedseries t h Bookery The At O ff Campus Off Ithaca Women’s A nthology Bookery" lecture Campusthe "Off atThe o r ifr to cl (0) - 5 5 0 5 - 3 7 2 (607) call ation inform ore m For October18 December 6 publishednovel, October4 . auaS. Ihc, Y . 0 5 8 4 1 NY Ithaca, St., Cayuga N. 5 1 2 All events are held Sundays at 4 p.m. 4 at Sundays held are events All in Bookery ll's new lecture space. lecture new ll's Bookery in h Boey slctd in located is Bookery The h DWit Building, itt DeW the i oes Mansion.Love's copies of his recent book book recent his of copies Goldsmith, William whose work appears in the the in appears work whose sign will and City" the and a reading by local writers writers local by reading a and City teaches Goldsmith Poverty "Politics, on speak once a year. This year's year's "Transformation." This is theme year. a once Anthology Women's Ithaca U.S. Cities.Inequalityin and Poverty Societies: Separate literary journal published published journal literary women's a Anthology, 1992 Cornell. at Planning Regional Dr. Peter W. Nathanielsz W. Peter Dr. read from his upcoming upcoming his book from read Newborn research at Cornell Cornell at research Newborn Born. Be To the of Director is Nathanielsz Time A lsn Lurie Alison University Pregnancy andLaboratory for on "Good and Bad Children's BadChildren's and "Good on include include hildren's C Subversive is book newest Her Books. Literature Grown-ups: the Tell Don't TheTruthLorin Jones.about ie eoe it and Birth Before Life Foreign Affairs Foreign (90. Her novels (1990). will give a talk talk a give will PaulWest

and and will will will

NATIVES IN CARIBBEAN, NATIVES THE ALTER­ DEVELOPMENT AND ADJUSTMENT STRUCTURAL STORM SIGNAL: STORM edy for the problems of developing developing of problems the for edy policies. Access to foreign markets markets foreign to Access investment policies. and trade their eralize lib­ first should nations developing argued, is it lessened, be will dency depen­ and debt, Poverty, nations. rem­ all-purpose an considered ten pp. 259 $15.00, Press, End South McAfee Kathy by once these nations adopt a few few a reforms. policy adopt simple relatively nations these once of the export sector will then stimu­ then will sector the export of Expansion technology. and capital much-needed of infusion an bring produc­ export local stimulate will BOOKPRESS the reliant” and “economically sound” sound” “economically and “self- reliant” own her propose to on goes where Caribbean, the on Focusing neo-liberalism in the developing developing the in neo-liberalism growth and development. and growth and capacity productive increasing economy, the of sectors other late will investment foreign while tion development model. development She region. the of on economies havoc” the “wreaking be to finds them McAfee universally, almost societies. developing of that interest best the in is notion adjustment the structural rejects McAfee cessions, the establishment of programs. of debt-equity of establishment the cessions, In investment. direct foreign restrictions on eliminated and import tariffs their slashed of nations many these 1980s the During world. toward movement the led tainly laying the foundation for rapid rapid for foundation the laying such reforms have been adopted adopted been have reforms such industrial free zones, and the creation con­ tax generous including tions, corpora­ foreign attract to place into cannot succeed, in promoting eco­ promoting in succeed, cannot structural that strong is evidence “[tlhe it, puts she As terproductive. fact, numerous incentives were put put were incentives numerous fact, clining export incomes, higher debts debts higher incomes, export clining “increased these engendered have reforms argues, she attempted, been inor the countries.” majority of poor in the Caribbean development nomic and succeeded, not has adjustment con­ coun­ are is reforms these that vinced America, Oxlam of Unit Advocacy and Research Policy the and political unrest.” political and de­ unemployment, and poverty has it everywhere almost fact, In or marketing skills to compete with with to compete skills marketing or technology, advanced scale, econo­ of mies capital, the artisans lack obviously Small-scale persuasive. cannot often which enterprises, in­ and agricultural local often has crippled contends, she products, foreign of influx to an market mestic ply local products to meet local local is meet argument McAfee’s Here to needs.” products local ply sup­ to and jobs to provide rations, corpo­ foreign large with compete local of ability the “reduce these policies her, For production. dustrial do­ the Opening trade. benefit free from nations Caribbean which the transnationals. the The usual prescription is that that is prescription usual The of­ is adjustment” “Structural aiba ntos ae cer­ have nations Caribbean In In McAfee, a senior member of of member senior a McAfee, McAfee also demonstrates the demonstrates also McAfee to degree the questions McAfee tr Signals, Storm Francis Adams Francis Reggae-nomics

Kathy Kathy

extent to which world market prices prices market world which to extent primary products to decline relative relative decline to products primary to a referred often have Researchers to the value of manufactured goods. goods. manufactured of value to the of value the for tendency long-term a or trade world in bias” “structural exports. Caribbean undervalue economic consequences of such in­ such of consequences economic in a world m arket largely manu­ their to largely relative undervalued arket m industrialized the by world dominated a in place take relations trade Because equalities in the region. Such Such region. in­ the in reinforces equalities which vestment, and social destructive often the highlights she Grenada and Jamaica, Dominica, of studies case detailed lhrough terest (Caribbeanof nations, in­ the in is investment foreign that factured imports. factured often are exports world third states, capital-intensive export enclaves enclaves export capital-intensive etr fteeooy absorbing economy, the of sectors other from off cut largely arc which small, create to tends investment are used to meet foreign rather than than rather foreign meet to used are nations these of resources material than reinvested rather abroad ported been have nations Caribbean of structural adjustment is to to is adjustment structural of needs. local ex­ are surpluses generated cally as domesti­ time over decapitalized result, a As production. industrial than rather primary toward sources In reality, rather than establishing a establishing than rather reality, In she puts it, puts she As dependency. Caribbean deepen and Human economy. local the in re­ scarce pulling and capital local dent on the manufactured goods, goods, manufactured the on dent depen­ economically left are They developing from nations Caribbean prevented often has markets world the economies. with up industrialized world’s catching their f o and chances populations own their reducing is adjustment structural growth, economic for basis sound capital investment. capital manu­ their for markets ready ties, commodi­ primary and labor cheap to access nations industrialized the invest­ and Trade states. ad­ the vanced of technology and capital, capabilities. productive own their sustain to capacity nations’ ...those ment liberalization simply assures assures simply liberalization ment factured for goods, andopportunities McAfee also refutes the notion notion the refutes also McAfee For McAfee, the actual effect effect actual the McAfee, For hs rae atcpto in participation broader Thus Although McAfee effectively McAfee Although from aac al es courtesyEPICA JamaicaDaily News Now let's see you get up get and move. see you let's Now

Rather than simply reflecting a a reflecting simply than Rather which to degree the demonstrates system of “unequal exchange” be­ exchange” “unequal of system limited. of somewhat is conception dependence her development, dependent nation. Nations are con­ are Nations nation. dependent thein autonomy” of “policy-making stressedthelack have Furtado) Celso Osvaldo Santos, Dos Theontonio as (such this field in writing scholars most nations, poor and rich tween Caribbean undermines liberalization national economies. national no are they when dependent sidered and Emmanuel, Arghiri Sunkel, economies with the global market in market global the with economies sec­ such Developing sector. goods longer able to their exert over control order to complete the cycle of capi­ of cycle the complete to order these articulating necessitates tors capital- viable a of absence the to cial and economic development. economic and cial so­ self-sustained autonomous, out to carry de­ unable are such, nations As pendent reproduction. talist cally accom pany structural structural pany accom cally typi­ that measures austerity the of duction in social welfare programs, programs, welfare social in duction ser­ public needed badly other and extension, agricultural education, health, on their expenditures cutting “are out, points she governments,” “Caribbean programs. adjustment contribution to the field. Similar Similar field. the original to contribution particularly a make not economic impoverishing region's bear it.” bear to able least of those onto burden adjustment the “[shift] reductions wage and controls, price of lifting re­ spending, public in cuts such how demonstrates she and vices,” ruet, o eape cn be can example, for arguments, food of degradation and decreasing self-sufficiency, services, social has “declining to This contributed directly deterioration.” social the and economic further for established conditions and dependency its deepened structures, social and the “reinforced has adjustment tural Payer (in (in Payer does she persuasive, well-de­ and is veloped adjustment structural environment.” the decaying and standards living found in the writings of Cheryl Cheryl of writings the in found Dependence is often attributed attributed often is Dependence McAfee is also highly critical critical highly also is McAfee While McAfee’s critique of of critique McAfee’s While struc­ that concludes McAfee seeReggae, page 6 The Debt Trap, Lent and Lent Trap, Debt The *** coe, 1992 October,

page 5 Conscientious Objection The Other Israelis

Will Fudeman conversely, by which one is impelled the army. Milgrom writes: Deena Hurwitz, in her intro­ that can fulfill the promise of equal to action, perhaps consciously, to duction, provides perspective on the civil rights to non-Jewish citizens, WALKING THE RED LINE: incur risk.” In the essays, poetry, The dose call suffered by the Jewish difference between the mainstream though its prevailing ethos and sym­ ISRAELIS IN SFIARCH OF and interviews with Israelis from people during the Holocaust, far Israeli peace camp (which is Zionist bolism are Jewish.” Landau advo­ JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE diverse backgrounds (women and from sensitizing them to the abuse of and pro-US) and the progressive cates sacrifices “necessary to reach edited by Deena Hurwitz men coming from native kibbutz power in the service of inhumane peace movement, which includes a just compromise with the Palestin­ New Society Publishers, families, the US, France, Germany, ideology, has made them obsessed Zionist, non- Zionist, and anti-Zion­ ian people.” He grounds his argu­ paper, $19.95, 224 pp. South Africa, and Argentina; ist elements. Where mem­ ment in God’s charge to the Jewish religious Zionists, secular bers of the mainstream peace people in Exodus to be a “kingdom The Israeli peace movement anti-Zionists; a Palestinian camp ceased dialogue with of priests,” which means “in our rarely receives much attention in cleric from Nazareth and a Palestinians during the Gulf understanding, to use temporal or the United States. We read about Druze journalist and novel­ War, the progressives put state power...as a means toward mass rallies in times of crisis, but ist), we encounter a persis­ forth a critique of the moti­ priestly, spiritual, redemptive ends. how many Americans are aware of tent passion for justice. vations of the mainstream And what is the essential ministerial the weekly vigils of Women in Rabbi Jeremy Milgrom, peace movement, while con­ role of the priest? It is to mediate Black, or die continuing activities co-founder of Clergy for tinuing dialogue and sup­ forgiveness through sacrifice. It is of the members of Yesh Gvul, the Peace, an Israeli/Palestinian port of Palestinian rights. this forgiveness that is the source reserve soldiers of the Israeli interfaith initiative, de­ “By exposing the range of of real peace, the inner peace of army who refuse to serve in the scribes his personal devel­ debate in Israel, these essays the soul.” occupied territories? opment from a young man chip away at the argument In contrast with Secretary of Deena Hurwitz first traveled to emigrating (making ‘aliyah’) that criticism of Israel, or State Baker’s high-profile efforts to the Middle East in 1981, a trip that to Israel as a way to celebrate even debating the premises bring Israeli leaders and Palestines “changed [her] life.” She has led his religious and cultural of Zionism, is inherently anti- to the negotiating table (which could study delegations to Israel, the oc­ identity to a man who recog­ Semitic.” In fact, a primary lull us Americans into trusting the cupied territories, and various Arab nizes that “it is rather in bad Yesh Gvul symbol motivation for these activ­ experts to work out Middle East countries almost every year since, taste for immigrants to refer to the only with their own vulnerability. ists who seek to confront and change peace), Hurwitz’s book introduces and spent 1989-90 living in east original inhabitants of the land as ‘Never Again' means 'Never Again Israeli policies is the affirmation of us to the thinking and actions of Jerusalem, helping to establish ‘strangers'.” Rabbi Milgrom com­ to us ’ - all threats to Jewish exist­ Jewish moral values. Israeli citizens who struggle to cre­ Middle East Witness. Hurwitz has pleted three years of active duty in ence must be eliminated, at any cost. Yehezkel Landau, a leader of ate a cultural context in which peace gathered an impressive array of the Israeli army, as well as 16 years This includes, if necessary, even an the religious peace group Oz ve’ between neighbors can grow from writings of 19 Israeli peace activists of reserve duty. His developing entire nation of innocent bystand­ Shalom, counters the right-wing re­ the grass roots. in Walking the Red Line. The “red conscientious objection began with ers.... The release o f the Palestinian ligious settler movement by trying + line” refers to a “personal, moral, or a refusal to serve in the war in Leba­ people is essential to the resurrec­ “to communicate how Jewish tradi­ psychological limit beyond which non and ended with his refusal to tion of Judaism, the very goal that tions should guide public policy in a Will Fudeman is a writer who lives one is unwilling to transgress; or carry a weapon, and his release from Zionism set out to accomplish. reborn Jewish commonwealth, one in Ithaca, NY.

"An extroardinarily wise and lyrical narrative of Food For Thought ; a haunting commentary on birth, sex, death, memory, and ...and rebirth; a memoir of Conversation! 'heat and loneliness.'" — Gretel Ehrlich For Unhurried Dining or a Leisurely Drink From Our

New from Vast Selection of The University of Fine Wines & International Beers and Unparalleled Bar List, its Chicago Press n "A book that tears ON THE COMMONS the heart,not only for the young men who died in Mann Gulch but for the old man grabbing at dried grass on the same slope thirty years later, trying to keep himself upright long enough to get it all down." — Pete Dexter

By the author of A River Runs Through It * $19.95 ITHACA, N.Y. Kitchen Open 7 Days 11 AM -12:30 AM — Available At Bookery II All M ajor Dewitt Mall - Ithaca (607) 273-5055 224 E. State St. 272-2212 Credit Cards page 6 • the BOOKPRESS October, 1992 other sources of credit including the rations based in the North. Multinational corporations of­ industrial production. Workers’ World Bank, the Paris Club, many ten collaborate with local capital in cooperatives should develop practi­ bilateral programs, and most For McAfee, structural adjustment establishing joint ventures, trade cal technologies and marketing continued from page 4 commercial banks, began making programs have a common purpose: associations, and other financial systems for foods and other goods Lost, and The World Bank: A Criti­ further loans dependent on accep­ connections which benefit large- processed from local crops and raw cal Analysis) and in such works as tance of an IMF' agreement. to transfer more funds from impov­ scale local enterprises, while smaller materials. Linkages between agro- Susan George’s A Fate Worse Than While these developments are erished debtor nations into the cof­ firms or handicrafts, unable to com­ processing and other economic sec­ Debt and Jill Torrie’s edited volume chronicled elsewhere (see for ex­ fers of the Northern governments, pete with the transnationals, go un­ tors would then be expected to re­ Banking on Poverty: The Global ample Arthur MacHwan’s Debt and commercial banks and multilateral der. It is poor and working-class duce import costs and expand Impact of the IMF and the Disorder, Chakravarthi Raghavan’s lending agencies to which they are people who are most adversely af­ employment opportunities. World Bank. ReColonization, or the edited col­ officially indebted. fected by the price increases, wage Non-governmental organiza­ Storm Signals is also weak his­ lection by Barbara Stallings, Debt cuts, and loss of publicly funded tions (NGOs) such as farmers’ and torically. Though McAfee effec­ and Democracy in Latin America), a Caribbean governments are thus services which accompany workers’ unions, women’s associa­ tively demonstrates the negative brief historical overview in one of portrayed as the helpless victims of structural adjustment. tions, and community cooperatives effects of structural adjustment the the early chapters of Storm Signals these transnational processes. These Clearly, a domestic elite, with are also a central component of reader gains little sense of the forces would have provided a little more governments, McAfee contends, interests that transcend those of their McAfee’s model. Because that brought Caribbean nations to context for understanding the have lost all power “to determine own country, has emerged and grassroots or popular organizations this point. Global recessions of the current crisis. their own priorities.” gained state power in these nations. are composed of and accountable to mid- 1970s and early 1980s, coupled McAfee’s analysis is least con­ While the prevailing interna­ Ihe present structure of international the poor, she argues, they are most with deteriorating terms of trade, led vincing when she turns to the tional economic order indisputably capital tends to promote a mutuality orientated toward social change. to negative economic growth and mechanisms through which Carib­ contributes to Caribbean poverty and of interests between foreign inves­ These organizations are thus more chronic balance-of-payments crises, bean underdevelopment is gener­ underdevelopment, McAfee’s tors and the larger local entrepre­ effective in “reaching, mobilizing while attempts to offset foreign ex­ ated and preserved. Her argument is analysis tends to ignore the class neurs. McAfee’s failure to fully and representing the poor and change shortages through massive based almost exclusively on the divisions within these nations. She recognize the extent to which do­ marginalized.” “(T]heir variety and external borrowing engendered de­ notion of rich countries exploiting occasionally refers to “governing mestic class actors favor liberaliza­ flexibility enable them to respond to bilitating debt burdens. poor countries. This, she argues, is and economic elites” or “commer­ tion, because they benefit from these rapidly changing conditions in ways Ihe combination of higher debt a function of the current “global cial and land-holding elites,” but the policies, constitutes a fundamental that more formal and established payments and reduced export economic hierarchy” or “interna­ role played by them in preserving weakness in her analysis. institutions cannot.” NGOs are earnings led to chronic liquidity tional pecking order,” which results die existing order is not systemati­ credited with finding innovative so­ problems and shortages of foreign in an “outflow of human and natural cally incorporated into her analysis. *** lutions to the pressing problems of exchange throughout the Caribbean. resources from impoverished popu­ Ihe political and economic elite poverty and, in the process, creating New commercial lending also lations and indebted nations.” The of Caribbean nations benefit from Given these analytical short­ new structures and methods for dried up as the banks lost confidence debt crisis is thus portrayed as a structural adjustment reforms at the comings, McAfee’s “alternative” achieving social justice and in the ability of these nations to “powerful siphon draining the eco­ expense of other social groups. I arge model for Caribbean development sustainable development. repay their past loans. At the same nomic lifeblood of Caribbean and landowners gain access to wider is not entirely convincing. Relying McAfee places considerable time, bilateral and multilateral other nations of the South.” This markets for their agricultural on what she calls “interactive re­ emphasis on popular “empower­ organizations were either unwilling theme is continually reiterated products through publicly funded search” (based on workshops with ment,” by which the impoverished or unable to step in and make up throughout Storm Signals. export incentives. Small farmers and people from various sectors of and marginalized are active partici­ the deficiency. peasants, on the other hand, are of­ Caribbean society), McAfee pants in the formulation and imple­ In order to continue purchasing At the root of many of these prob­ ten displaced as production of cash concludes that greater “self-reliance” mentation of all development vital imports, many Caribbean na­ lems is the continuation o f systems, crops for export replaces the pro­ is the key to equitable growth programs. These programs can only tions turned to the International albeit in modified form, which per­ duction of staples to meet local needs. and development. be successful if they draw upon the Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance. petuate the withdrawal of resources The best lands often become con­ According to this view, local knowledge and skills of poor and IMF support was contingent, of from the South and which concen­ centrated in the hands of a small firms should produce a larger per­ woiking-class people and earn their course, on the adoption of structural trate power over global economic economic elite who dominate the centage of consumer goods and the “wholehearted and active support.” adjustment reforms. Moreover, structures in institutions and corpo­ rural export sectors. inputs needed for agricultural and see Reggae, page 16

HAIR ETC. Fall ' LANA M. GOKEY Dinnerware Sale SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, Community Comers Fine China, Crystal, & FINANCIAL AID Ithaca, NY 14850 Stemware and Flatware by: 607-257-7910 M Lenox, Gorham, ARE AVAILABLE! Wedgwood, Adams, October Special: S>< 15% Discount Royal Doulton, Through our unique service, clients will receive on all men and women's haircuts Royal Albert, a computerized report of financial aid 10AM TO 7PM Den by, Spode, Wednesday thru Saturday Royal Worcester, based upon the completed student data form. Johnson Bros., Franciscan, Mikasa, Fitz & Floyd, Send no money now. Gil's Book Loft Noritake, Yamazaki and Oneida. Complete the form below and mail to: Bridal Registry Quality Used Books... Student Services And Exquisite Wedding Flowers! Records, Ephemera and Fine Art P.O. Box 935 The V Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 82 Court Street, 2nd Floor Plantation Binghamton, NY 13901, 130 Ithaca Commons 273-7231 “ 1 (607) 771-6800 Mon.-Sat. 10-5:30; Thurs. I am interested in: Gil Williams, Prop. , & Fri. till 9 P.M.;Sun. 11-4 > O Undergraduate financial aid matching service (processing fee $59)

O Graduate/Professional financial aid service CARVER Sonic Holography Receiver (processing fee $79) 80 watt / channel 6 audio inputs O Athletic award matching service 3 video inputs (processing fee $39) remote control O Four-year college matching service 3-dimensional sound $599.00 HR-742/ (processing fee $39) For the Best Quality in Home and Car Stereo O SAT preparation video program MclNTOSH • YAMAHA . SHERWOOD • KLIPSCH • NAD • NAKAMICHI (complete program $69) BOSTON ACOUSTICS . PIONEER • CARVER • PHOENIX • MONSTER KICKER • MTX • ACI . ENERGY . QUART . ADCOM . AIWA . ORTOFON Name:______Installations, sales and service Address:------|City: State: Zip:. 272-2644 STCUJM ZJ 702 Elmira Ithaca, NYr A h i STEREO/AUTOSOUND Appropriate data forms will be sent promptly Our services are guaranteed Don't forget, we are now at 702 Elmira Rd." For your convenience, fees can be paid by credit card 7 Urban Meltdown Fire and Ice Norman Krumholz separate parts.” Yet, despite this have harmed most American cities resource development. has failed to capture the Presidency almost despairing point of view, the and workers. Programs recommended for since 1976, its liberal wing is weak SEPARATE SOCIETIES: argument of the authors is essen­ The final chapter is the book’s federal support include: a national and suburbanization has drained its POVERTY AND INEQUALITY tially optimistic, asserting that poli­ most riveting. It contains a history employment program to rebuild ur­ strength. Similarly, the authors IN U.S. CITIES tics and economics can be reshaped of federal and local efforts in ban infrastructure; educational en- reject the probability that the by William W. Goldsmith and positively to re­ r i c hm en t , suburbs might agree to an effective Kdward J. Blakely spond both to including ex­ coalition with the central cities Temple University Press, worldwide eco­ panding early if only to protect their own $19.95 192 pp. nomic restructur­ education and suburban isolation. ing and to the needs using the com­ Hope for betterment, the au­ Separate Societies: Poverty and of the urban poor. munity school as thors believe, must start with the Inequality in U.S. Cities arrives at a The book be­ a means of central cities and their empowered propitious time. For the first time in gins with a brief delivering social neighborhoods. Ihey point out that over twenty-five years, the issue of analysis of three services; a fam­ several cities with successful city urban poverty—and our national usually competing ily-support pro­ hall/neighborhood coalitions have failure to deal with it—is front page and sometimes gram using a adopted “bottom-up” policies and news, There is no mystery about the overlapping theo­ br oadened developed programs focused on the catalyst. With the I.os Angeles riots ries of poverty: as Earned Income essential needs of poor residents and as backdrop, politicians, economists, pathology, as acci­ Tax Credit or neighborhoods. Using tire example religious leaders, and other Ameri­ dent, or as a fea­ family assis­ of Chicago under Harold Washing­ cans are groping for an adequate ture of economic tance plan; and a ton and other “progressive cities,” response. In the policy debate which and political struc­ National Health they suggest what might happen is now underway, this highly read­ tures. I lie authors Plan. Emphasis when those in power in city hall able, exhaustively researched book reject standard is wisely placed push for local, state, and national should be inllucntial. definitions of pov­ on the need for economic agendas that fit real Separate Societies is a study of erty, and argue that universal rather needs. The authors believe that how political and economic factors poverty is perpetu­ than means- a number of progressive-minded have affected die lives of poor people ated through racial tested services. cities working together and in US cities since the end of World isolation, educa­ This recognizes working with grass-roots, War II. In clear language and sup­ tional and social that over the past neighborhood-based reform porting graphics, it examines trends disadvantage, in­ 20 years, Social movements could force needed and public policies that have helped stitutional hostility, Security benefits change at the national level. turn the hopeful and optimistic War and international were regularly Regardless of what one thinks on Poverty of the 1960s into today’s economic policies. illustration: Fernando Llosa adjusted for in­ of the authors’ conclusions, their smash-and-grab war on welfare. The In the second chapter, the authors fighting poverty and a set of propos­ flation, while the purchasing power documentation of the bleak book joins a number of excellent document the appalling conditions als for federal action. Perhaps most of welfare and food stamp benefits existence of the urban poor, their studies of urban poverty written in of poor and minority people in cen­ useful, it also contaias an analysis of for single mothers declined by an analysis of causes, and their the 1980s, including Thomas tral cities, and examine these condi­ potential sources of political support average of 27 percent. proposed solutions provide a Boston’s Race, Class and Conser­ tions in relation to continued racism for the proposals it recommends. It Where will the political support provocative optimism that is a vatism, Michael Katz's Undeserving and inequalities in national distribu­ is in this discussion on the sources come from? The authors consider— refreshing challenge in this Poor, and William Julius Wilson’s tions of income and wealth. Chapter and probability of political support and reject as unlikely—support from period of pessimism and despair. Truly Disadvantaged. three examines the interaction with that the book proves to be superior in large corporations, a revived Demo­ The book deserves a place on Separate Societies argues that the restructuring of the global comprehensiveness and strategy to cratic party, or a suburban-city coa­ the shelf of any student, teacher, American society is in danger of economy and shows how the avail­ many other recent books that have lition. While large corporations need or policymaker dealing with the social, economic, and geographic ability of cheap overseas labor has gone over similar ground. The au­ an educated work force and wish to problems of urban poverty. separation that may prove to be deepened the dilemma of the poor­ thors believe that any successful plan shift the growing costs of health and permanent. Using the water-into- est Americans. The fourth chapter to undo the problems of severe ur­ scfcial expenditures to the govern­ ice analogy, the book argues that extends the argument to analyze how ban poverty and racial discrimina­ ment, they still resist the higher taxes "American society is like water just changing industrial patterns in the tion must begin with efforts to this implies. The authors also be­ Norman Krumholz is a professor of above the freezing point, danger­ US, including the suburbanization reshape the city into a vehicle for lieve success is unlikely through a urban planning at Cleveland State ously close to dissociating into of manufacturing and service jobs, local and national human and revived Democratic party because it University in Cleveland, Ohio.

THE GOURMET FARM STORE i^jLUDGATE PRODUCE the most unique farm market Pumpkins & Fall Decorations FARMS in the county Fresh Local Fruils & Vegetables Gourmet Specialty Foods OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR Coffee Beans LUDGATES QA .. Q D .. Local Baked Goods 9 A. M. - 9 P. M. Beans, Rice, Grains, Nuts 1552 HANSHAW ROAD • 257- 1765 Dried Fruit & Specialty Flours ITHACA,N.Y.

Take It From Knoivledgeable Food Lovers — Plummer's New York State '92-'93 Travel Guide “The new toast of the town is Thai Cuisine where a polite and formal atmosphere reigns"

— Getaways for Gourmets guide to dining in the Northeast “The best Thai food in New York State including New York City"

— Ithaca Tim es, Steve Ehrhardt, March 12, '92 "...clientele quickly recognize the fresh flavors, exotic aromas and colorful presentations of authentic Thai cooking" LUNCH • DINNER • BRUNCH Call 273-2031 Plus Vegetarian Menu

Lunch 11:30-2, Dinner 5-9:30, Fri & Sat 'til 10 Sun Brunch 11:30-2, Closed Mondays 501 S. M ea d o w St. (Rt. 13) Ithaca page 8 the BOOKPRESS October, 1992 Beyond continud from page 3 Party Crashers a Communist when he raved about the national economy: Barbara Mink l am for taxing prof its... [to] Theodore Lowi’s effort to help found a third political party in the US redistribute the wealth o f the nation, is a result, in part, of an Op-Ed piece Lowi published in the New York Times and lift the burden of taxation from last April. In it he appealed to Ross Perot to form a new party, and though • those least able to bear it. I am Perot declined, some of his regional organizers were intrigued. Their told that Andrew W. Mellon interest was the impetus for an organizational meeting which took place last himself has an income o f $30 million month in Chicago; but Lowi says the rationale for believing that a third party a year. If l had my way we would put might take root now lies in two broader phenomena: the number of a wound stripe on his purse big alienated citizens in this country, and Ross Perot’s candidacy. enough to be seen from Pittsburgh “There are more alienated people today than there have been since the to Philadelphia. Progressives were a political force to be reckoned with. As for Perot, he galvanized a huge segment of the American electorate, and it’s the middle.” Russell Kirk, as recently as 1988, Lowi says the “radicalization of the middle” should be thought of in its put it this way: “Libertarianism mathematic sense, where radical is defined as the search for roots or [Adam Smith liberalism], properly fundamentals, rather than “crazies on the right or the left.” He says what understood, is as alien to real differentiates the party from other “third” parties, like the Libertarian or illustration: Stephanie Clair American conservatives as is Com­ Right to Life, is that it is not based on a single issue. munism.” And no genuine pro­ monument to the Cold War, we have campaigns have not been empty of “Both the Democratic and Republican parties have staked out posi­ market capitalist could feel begun the new era renouncing the “the issues.” In fact, recent presi­ tions on every conceivable issue; so the Independence Party will focus comfortable with the title (or the liberalism upon which the Welfare dential campaigns are far more filled instead on priorities.” One basic priority is to do three things simulta­ text) of George Will’s book, State­ State was built. with issues than were campaigns of neously: raise taxes, cut expenditures, especially defense, and cap entitle­ craft as Soulcrafi. Beginning in the The Republicans scream against the past. Every candidate tries to ments. “The key here is to do all these things at the same time,” maintains late 1970s, the entire American right government (it’s the problem, not corner the market on economists- Lowi, “ so no one feels like they’re getting it in the butt. Both Clinton and wing was willing to make common the solution) even though their five- for-hire to help build a very large Bush have danced around one approach or another, but they won’t commit cause with the Republicans, whose year prosperity under Reagan was briefing book, so that the candidate to seeing it through.” intention was not to terminate any of produced by government deficits can have a ready-made position on Lowi says it’s never convenient to start a new party, in part because of the New Deal programs, but to del­ larger than even Keynes would have every conceivable issue. You might our rigid electoral system. “It’s either too late or too early: too late, like this egate social legislation to the state approved. The Republican right even think we could get a domestic year, or too early, when by February or March no one is interested in governments where conservatives wing claims to endorse the great free policy that prepares American politics.” Unlike the parliamentary system, where elections can be called have always been able to protect market, even though virtually every workers and communities for the almost at will, the fixed election dates in this country can hamper the their own traditions. policy and constitutional change they global economy with instruction in spontaneous growth of alternative movements. The New Deal consensus seek would be a restriction upon it. relevant skills and in true Right now the Independence Party is operating on the doctrine that worked well for over 30 years, with Meanwhile, the Democrats are so multicultural understanding. You theory is more powerful than practice. Lowi wrote the statement of Democrats and Republicans alter­ traumatized by their lack of under­ would also think we could get a principles for the group, and used them to approach Lowell Weicker, nately in control of the White House. standing of the causes and nature of foreign policy that discouraged large governor of Connecticut, to be the party’s chief spokesman. “W e asked The entire New Deal program re­ the debt that they have abandoned American corporations from ex­ Weicker to be involved because he is the highest ranked independent mained in place though the 1960s their heritage, refusing even to evoke porting jobs to countries where officeholder in the country, and because he’s so damned smart.” W eicker (even now, no important New Deal the L-word. The Republican era workers are exploited at slave wages will officially announce the formation of the Independence Party at a news program except the Civil Aeronau­ began in the 1980s when Democrats and costs of production are further conference in Washington in mid-October. tics Board has ever been terminated), began running as Republicans. reduced by exploiting the environ­ The organizing committee was made up of 35 self-selected people, proving we could have high levels Internal bipolarity is so difficult ment with wanton utilization and slightly more than half, alienated Republicans, the rest form er Democrats. of government services, safety nets because it is so contradictory. But dumping. But the present situation There were many more men than women, and overwhelmingly more whites for the rich and the poor, a redis­ making the best of both sides of a calls up the moment in “Murder on than blacks; but Lowi says those proportions are bound to change. tributive income tax, and at the same contradiction has always been the the Orient Express” when Hercule “The only way you can last is to run candidates, and that’s what w e’re time, sustained economic growth signifying mark of the politics of Poirot discovered he was being set going to do in 1994. W e ’ll be focusing mainly on Congress, as the true bridge democracy. The skill and the up because “there are too many between local and national representation, with an eye on other offices, like What killed the New Deal epoch strength of politicians is to take big, clues.” Too many issues can be a the Presidency, later. The main focus for the 1992 election will be to stir was the Cold War. Successive So­ moral issues and to trivialize them cover-up for the absence of priorities. voters to realize that the present campaign is the last one in which they will viet and American leaders spent their — that is, to bring issues down from Strategic obfuscation. The Ameri­ be faced with no choice.” nations into the economic equivalent Grand Alternatives to relevant can political system suffers more Lowi’s interest in third-party politics goes back more than ten years. of Armageddon. The Soviet Union choices that can be dealt with prac­ from the absence of priorities than He has written steadily on the subject in many venues, and in 1983 signed ended in oblivion. The United States tically and incrementally. from gridlock. on as an advisor to then-presidential candidate John Anderson. The effort was lucky, spending itself only into The American political system Is it any wonder, then, that to start a third party fizzled when Anderson resigned to become head of insolvency. But we are paying for it succeeded supremely in the politics nearly half of the American elec­ Independents for Mondale. This time around, Lowi says, the party structure now, and somehow all the econo­ of democracy, until about 20 years torate is today without party loyalty? stands with or without a charismatic leader. “It ain’t likely it will succeed,” mists are looking for an answer in all ago. Since that time — and we That over 60 percent of Americans he admits. “As gamblers say, it’s an 8-5 chance against anything happening. the wrong places as to why we have falsely blame this on Watergate, feel antipathy toward the President But it’s more possible today than at any time in the last fifty years.” a runaway debt that prevents us from OPEC, what have you — the Ameri­ and the executive branch, as do 72 + sustaining the highly beneficial New can political system has displayed a percent toward the US Senate, and Deal system. Rather than denounce decreasing capacity to deal with post- nearly 70 percent toward the House Barbara Mink teaches at Cornell University and represents Ithaca’s 5th Ward the Cold War and the idiots who led Cold War problems in an appropri­ of Representatives? Is it any won­ on the Tompkins County Board o f Representatives. us to insolvency, and rather than ate discourse with a relevant set of der that 60 percent of the American accept the debt as a permanent policy alternatives. Presidential see Beyond, page 14

W hat Do a powerful drama set You Think., in contemporary South Africa

The Bookpress staff M y CHILDREN! M y AFRICA! is interested in by hearing from Athol Fugard readers.

Letters must be • October 22 - November 1 • signed and a daytime 11 performances 1608 Dryden Road phone number included. Between Ithaca and 'Pickets $5 and $7 Dryden on Route 13 Send letters to: Limited seating available Open Mon.-Sat. 10-6 the Bookpress Sunday 12-6 Department of TICKET CENTER DeWitt Building, 215 N. Cayuga St. Theatre Arts 607-347-4767 Ithaca, NY 14850 Cornel! University 254-ARTS page 9

Republican anti-abortion stance in might just end up with a gender gap chosen her family as her first UxJay only approximately half of the Family less strident language. Family that counts electorally this time priority, although she works public votes. About 1/4 of the vot­ values are already axled and in place around in a way it didn’t in 1984 full-time campaigning for ing public actually voted for Reagan. continued from page 3 as anti-abortion. Pro-choice and 1988. her husband. About 1/3 voted for Bash. And that most people do wish to be activists still hope to make abortion Barbara Bush’s role is to ensure Unlike the Republicans, the is just the way the Republicans, and surrounded by love, to have inter­ a decisive electoral issue and there is that this gender gap does not mate­ Democratic candidates did not even some Democrats, like it. esting and well-paying jobs, to be a good chance that there will be a rialize. For more than a decade choose to have their wives address For those who say we cannot free of the life that nurtures addic­ mobilized pro-abortion vote in when she was asked her thoughts the axivention. In part this is because make a difference, it’s important to tions. Family values rhetoric simply November. This was made more about abortion and whether they they did not have to make up for an remember perestroika, and the revo­ sidesteps these considerations. likely with the Supreme Court’s differed from the President’s, she anti-abortion party plank. But Ann lutions of 1989. Our issues are not The rhetoric of family values spring 1989 Webster decision which refused to answer the question, Richards opened the Democratic all that different. The struggle over and “women’s place” allows Re­ severely curtailed women’s access commenting that she was not going convention by saying “I am pro- women’s “appropriate place” in the publicans to stake out old territory to abortion. to let the press make it seem like she choice and 1 vote.” This was to family, economy, and society re­ within the so-called new world or­ The Clarence Thomas - Anita and George were in conflict over the remind us that the next President mains a part of the “new world or­ der. The new order is no longer Hill hearings which publicized the issue. But when her husband started will choose the next Supreme Court der.” Post-revolutionary Eastern defined by an anti-communism fo­ issue of sexual harassment and un­ to trail badly in the polls and the justice, who will likely decide the European societies are deeply con­ cused on Eastern Europe or the covered the callous and uneducated Republican party platform took a abortion issue. Women candidates flicted over women’s lives — former Soviet Union. The new anti­ stance of white male senators also rigid anti-abortion stance—un­ running for Senate were abortion rights, family leave policy, communism targets feminists, ho­ complicate politics as usual. F’am- popular even with a majority of Re­ highlighted, reminding us all of the day care supports, and so forth. The mosexuals, and people of color as women of Poland face new the new egalitarians who want too restrictive abortion legislation much government. As Gary Wills initiated by the Catholic Church. says, the new enemy for born-again Gorbachev argued, without asking Republicans is inside our borders. women, that perestroika would The enemy is pro-state (more taxes, “allow” them to return to their do­ more civil rights legislation, more mestic duties in the home. Vaclav social services) and anti-family. I Iavel of the former Czechoslovakia Family values are center-stage thinks feminism is “da-da” and en­ in this election because this is the visions a male public living in way the right wing of the “truth.” "Hie women of the former Republican party has chosen to de­ East Germany have lost most of fine the battle against liberal demo­ their family supports which allowed cratic politics. I’hc battle reflects a them to continue working in the certain truth: family structures are at labor force. the core of society and are changing The revolutions of 1989 the way we live. The traditional reminded the world of the family is in as much trouble today as importance of democracy. Perhaps the savings and loan industry. Many the election of 1992 will make clear of those living in marginalized that women’s lives — their jobs, families would love a government their right to reproductive freedom, bailout too. their families, their sexual freedom 1'he internationalization of the — must be at the core of these economy and the multicultural na­ democratic imaginings. For family ture of the IJS work force have cre­ is structurally as integral to society’s ated new problems for family life well-being as the economy, that used to be defined by the model and reproductive rights are of white men with good jobs. In the ily, economy, the right to abortion, publicans—George needed her to Thomas-Hill hearings. fundamental to democratic life. current economy there are not and the problem of sexual harass­ speak. So at the Republican con­ So where are we? Men and enough good jobs for white men, not ment intersect as issues in most vention Barbara told us that the women who arc pro-choice can make to mention single parents, whatever women’s lives. abortion issue does not belong in the a difference in 1992, but this docs their gender or race. TT»e traditional Those issues are key in several party platform. The morning after, not mean that either party is out * family structures don’t fit well with current political races. Carol she recanted, revising her statement there charting a new course in terms an international economy that Moseley Braun in Illinois is running to read that she is not pro- or anti­ of family issues and women's lives. requires women’s entry into the for Senate partly as a protest against choice. Barbara Bush remains the But if people who do not usually '/Allah Eisenstein is professor and labor force and consigns them to Hill’s treatment. Lynn Yeakel in dutiful wife. vote, and if people who usually vote chair of the Department of Politics low-paying jobs. As the economy Pennsylvania hopes to beat Arlen Marilyn Quayle offers herself along party lines vote pro-choice, at Ithaca College. Her most recent constricts, fewer people than ever Specter who led the assault against as the appropriate choice for women anti-sexual harassment, and pro- hook was The Female Body and the inhabit the structure of the Hill. Add together the stress of who do not want to be, as she claims, family leave, electoral politics may Law in 1993 the University o f traditional family. women’s everyday lives, abortion “liberated from their essential na­ be radicalized and taken in a new California Press will publish her Family values rhetoric is also rights, day-care, family leave, sexual ture as women.” Educated and direction. Voting itself is more Rethinking Democracy: Sex, Race an attempt to repackage the harassment on the job, and we professional, she claims to have radical titan it once was. After all, and Rights.

^ B A C K C P M U S I C Ithaca Piano R ebuilders AUTHOR Rebuilt and 0*70 (XKAH PHOTOS VSW' 1 Reconditioned Pianos 4 4 for I \ v \ Pianos Tuned, Bought, 310 4th St. Ithaca Music I f S° ld °r M°Ved (Off Hancock St. 2 Complete Rebuilding Services Blocks From Rt. 13) Your Mac Available. No Job too 9-5 Weekdays Big or too Small. 10-2 Saturdays ^ ► O p c o d e W^\MIDI Software V\(ortfisicCe ‘lA^ines & S p i r i t s Thursday, October 22,7-9 p.m. ITHACA SHOPPING PLAZA (Across from K-Mort) * Holiday Inn, Triphammer Rd., Ithaca ELMIRA ROAD • ITHACA, NY 14850 i M x'f (607) 273-7500 • FAX: (607) 273-0843 • (800) 281-1291 i Please call to Pre-register: (607) 272-8262 Honored as one of the TOP 10 ALCOHOLIC BEVER- i < m F £ l \ AGE RETAILERS in the nation by Market Watch maga- i Portfolio • References I HICKEY’S zine. Our selection of OVER 6,000 WINES AND SPIRITS < Studio 97 Photography MUSIC CENTER < is the largest in the area. Call for shipping information. by Kathy Morris * M / i 104 A d a m s St ., Ith a c a (off Rt 13 at Dey) i O p en M onday thr

Anderson Art Gallery, Band Box Cleaners, Barbara Schuller Galleries, Bond Art Supply, Bradens, Browser's Books, Buffalo Graphics, The BOOKPRESS Buffalo Picture Frame, Buffalo State University (various locations), Care in the Square, Crabtree & Evelyn, Family Tree Restaurant, Epicuris Restaurant, Frame & Save, Gnome's Needle, Guildcraft Arts & Crafts, Health Food (Kenmore), Herdman's Art Supplies, is available in the following lllos Piano Store, Mastman's Deli, Old Editions Book Store, Oracle Junction Books, Paper Cutter, Park Florist, Point of View, Buffalo locations: Pumpkins, Preservation Hall, Queen City Books, Stereo Advantage, SUNY Buffalo (various locations), Talking Leaves Book Store, Teddy's Music & Books, Vem Stein Gallery page 10 the BOOKPRESS October, 1992 • the best characterization of the which is the measure of the has traveled abroad recently will run closely associated with the pro­ trends in our real living stan­ extent to which we go into debt attest. And why is the dollar cess of saving and investment — Chronic each year to the rest of tlie world, that is, of devoting something less dards over the last 15 to 20 now so undervalued? Why do continuedfrom page 2 years was the title of a recent on balance — from its $160 dollars, when converted into than all our income and output transitions is to start doing the things survey of the evidence in the billion peak in 1987 has been pounds or marks, buy a lot less (whether of an individual, family, or we should have been doing anyhow, London Economist, “Running made possible only by the stag­ coffee or hamburgers abroad country) to current consumption and for their own sake. to Stand Still”; nation in our own incomes than they will here and why do devoting the difference to increas­ foreign tourists drool over how ing the capital stock — of produc­ The current condition of the cheap it is to travel and shop tive plant and equipment, physical American economy here? The reason is that the infrastructure, technology, and Net US Savings United States has come to look the skills and educational level 8.9 8.9 like a relatively unattractive of the labor force. Our national It is very difficult to present a 8.2 as a % of place in which to invest, partly savings and investment rate is fair picture of our present economic Net National Product condition — especially in an election because of its stagnation, partly the lowest among the world’s major season. It would have to begin by 6.2 because of the low interest rates industrialized countries; and it has pointing out that we still enjoy that the Federal Reserve has been declining. something like the highest living pressed upon us in hope of There are two ways of looking standards — on average — and stimulating a recovery. at this phenomenon; both are pro­ highest average labor productivity foundly discouraging. Our net na­ in the world, and that most of the The significant point is that tional savings (which is, in real terms, complaints about our competitive whether through recession, stagna­ the same thing as our net national decline are grossly exaggerated. The Federal Government tion, or a gross undervaluation of the investment — the portion of our dollar, we have had to be restrained output that consists not of goods we only way in which it makes some '50s '60s 70s '80s sense to refer to us as having become in our national tendency to live be­ consume but of capital goods, a second-class economic power is in '50s '60s 70s '80s 0 1 yond our means; and we have failed broadly defined) averaged approxi­ -0.3 the gap between our international Private to expand those means as rapidly as mately 8.2 percent of our net national the demands we have been placing income during the 30 years between political aspirations (or presumption) -1.9 and the resources we choose to de­ on them. That unhappy conjuncture 1950 and 1980 and only 3.4 percent vote to support them. produced chronic tendencies to in­ in the decade of the ‘80s. By far the The fact remains that flation, restrained only by periodic greater portion of that drop was ac­ -4.3 and progressively severe recessions, counted for by the mammoth in­ • the 2.5 to 3.0 percent annual in the 1970s and early ‘80s; rapidly crease in the federal government’s growth in output per worker- • the stagnation of our economy (which cuts our imports) and increasing international indebted­ deficits — which may be interpreted hour of the ‘50s and ‘60s that overall during the last three- the progressively severe under­ ness since then; and stagnation of either as negative savings or as a we came to regard as an im­ plus years and our present stub­ valuation of the dollar. Both of employment and living standards so cla im on more than 50 percent of our mutable basis for ever-expand­ bornly persistent recession are these are cures by impoverish­ far in the ‘90s. shrunken private savings, leaving ing living standards averaged the price we are now paying for ment: the first by cutting the correspondingly less to finance pri­ something much closer to 1 the fact that the long recovery growth in our incomes and Fundamental causes vate consumption and investment. percent during the last decade; of the 1980s was so heavily throwing people out of work; That, in a nutshell, is why we had debt-financed — and, especially the second, by offering our We are far from understanding such heavy recourse during the • our income is more unequally troublcsomely, financed by products to foreigners at lower fully what it is that makes an ‘80s to financing from abroad, distributed than it was ten or foreigners; and lower costs to them and economy progress satisfactorily or converting us from the world’s big­ fifteen years ago, and poverty making their goods and services stagnate. The one thing we are gest international creditor to its and homelessness have • the sharp decline in our annual more and more prohibitively certain of is that increasing output biggest debtor. gotten worse; balance of payment deficit — expensive to us, as anyone who and income per capita are in the long see Chronic, page 15

An exquisite collection of treasures from the villages and regions of Turkey

Mark Strand rugs with David Lehman Quality and Value Thursday, October 22,1992 at 8:00 p.m. that , speaks for itself Donald Hall with David Lehman 2nd ANNUAL Wednesday, December 2,1992 at 8:00 p.m. CRUISE i/l SPECTACULAR! H • Get your feet wet! Join us At the CSMA State Street Annex, < along with 12 of the world’s 330 East State Street, Ithaca leading cruise lines to learn D firsthand about new 1993 z ships and destinations. < (on the third floor of the • Meet personally with their u T.G. Miller's Building) representatives at special ifl presentations throughout D the day. z Readings are free u . • Enjoy free films and and open to the public refreshments. o _J October 13th o 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM o Ithaca Sheraton Inn X Just off Rt. 13 in Ithaca u «/> THIS SERIES IS MADE POSSIBLE COMMUNITY CORNERS • ITHACA BY A GRANT FROM 257-2515 THE LILA WALLACE- z 401 COLLEGE AVENUE* ITHACA D READER'S DIGEST FUND 273-4443 Monday-Saturday 10-6 13 CLINTON AVE • CORTLAND Oriental Thursday 10-9 z For more information 753-8283 Sunday 12-5 z o call (607) 272-1474 TOLL FREE 1 -8 0 0 -6 3 1 -6 4 6 4 T r i z a s u n z s u Community Corners is open Thurs. ‘till 8 PM u i X fine rugs CLINTON HALL ♦ 112 N. CAYUGA ST. ♦ 273-7184 H page 11

is that US foreign and military policy Vietnamese or Central Americans. Hong Kong and Mexico. The irrel­ the point. in the Cold War focused on (as the Rather contempt was bred by igno­ evance of the separation between The origins of this problem ac­ G lobal Trench termed it) the Third World of rance of their cultures and the causes domestic and foreign affairs is not tually go back far beyond the 1950s. continued from page 2 the less industrialized nations. The of their upheavals. new in the 1980s and 1990s, only 'Die necessity to think about the con­ more impersonal. Those character­ United States was preoccupied with Another chapter of the (’old War more dramatic and costly. As early stant relationship between domestic istics of modem warfare have made Soviet Communism when the mo­ also continues into the 1990s: the as the 1950s, US multinational cor­ politics and global economics was killing more acceptable. ment arrived for the making of the increased blurring between foreign porations accelerated their overseas perhaps best phrased by Henry The Reagan and Bush adminis­ defense budget or when a president and domestic policies. It is neater, expansion to take advantage of the Adams in Iris autobiography of 1907: trations learned the lesson. Under­ (usually beleaguered) asked for especially for politicians and uni­ then-new European Economic “Washington [where Adams lived standing that the Vietnam War was support. But one mourner’s com­ versity departments, if the nation’s Community and, soon after, the in­ as a highly acute observer] was al­ the first covered (indeed blanketed) ment at Andrd Malraux’s funeral ways amusing, but in 1900 as in by television, and that the results was relevant: Malraux, as a 20th 1800, its chief interest lay in its were politically and militarily disas­ century man of images, “never asked distance from New York,” where trous, the Pentagon carefully im­ if an idea was right or not, but whether the powerful financial centers lay. posed tight censorship over US it made an effect.” US leaders, as “ The movement of New York has actions in Grenada (1983), Panama their appeals focused on the dangers become planetary — beyond con­ (1989), and the Middle East (1990- coming out of Moscow or Beijing, trol — while the task of Washing­ 91). The results, both politically and and as nearly half their military ton, in 1900 as in 1800, was to control militarily from the administrations’ budgets was spent for defense in it 'Ilic success of Washington in the view, were greatly improved, al­ Western Europe, obtained the past century,” Adams concluded, though in all three instances evi­ desired effect, even as the most ac­ "promised ill for its success in the dence later appeared to raise tive and deadly commitments oc­ next.” How Americans might pay fundamental questions about the curred in Korea (1950), Guatemala for the kinds of medical care, motives and costs of the operations. (1954), Lebanon (1958 and 1982- education, retirement benefits, en­ These questions, however, did not 83), Cuba (1961) Vietnam (1950- vironment, aid to the poor and dis­ disturb Americans, or even many in 75), Cambodia and Laos (especially abled, and even the roads and the media. In the 1960s, such cen­ 1969-73), Angola (1974-89), landfills they wait, will be more aid sorship was impossible, as Presi­ lil Salvador and Nicaragua (alter more determined by the relation­ dent Lyndon Johnson’s staff 1979), and the Persian Gulf (notably ship, in Adams’ terms, between New admitted, because loud protests alter 1987). York aid Washington — or, in sim­ would further erode the Viewed in this context, some of pler terms, between an interna­ administration’s already low cred­ the most important US foreign tionalized economy and a ibility. In the 1980s and early 1900s, policies have continued from 1945 parochialized politics. no such protests appeared. We into the 1990s, regardless of the Cold Ibc end of the 75-year confron­ believed what we were first told. War’s end. Historically, the United tation with the Soviet Union was Americans’ reaction to war has thus States defined the Soviets as the cause for celebration, especially in changed, as the means for carrying greatest military danger, but it con­ illustration: Fernando Llosa such horrors of that conflict as the out the violence have become less sistently committed its forces to agenda can be divided between in­ viting labor rates of the Ear East and killing fields along the Berlin Wall personal, amid a century that has areas of Asia the Middle East, Af­ ternal and external problems, but it Latin America. Thereafter, discuss­ and tiie gray societies of Eastern been the bloodiest, by a factor rica and Ixitin America, sometimes is also increasingly irrelevant — ing domestic problems without Europe. But history, unlike base­ of seven, of at least the last to fight Soviet surrogates, oftenout especially, say, for the 3000 Smith- understanding the shifting interna­ ball, does not stop neatly and start three centuries. of serious misjudgmeni about the Corona workers who lost their jobs tional economic context (the again cleanly. (No doubt that is a Another conclusion to be drawn nature of the actual threat. It was during the past decade. They lived context that, for example, was deter­ major reason why baseball is the from the number and locales of not, contrary to the saying, that fa­ and worked in central New York, mining how those domestic prob­ National Pastime and history is not.) Americans killed in battle since 1945 miliarity bred contempt (or fear) of but their futures were decided in lems would be paid for) was beside

F T i ADDICTION] | - in - n ADDICTION I l Don't Miss Our 4 W e J Two Modern Art Exhibitions! FIRST EXHIBIT: treat Paintings of the 19th & 2 0 th Century: "Irving Lehman - American Modernist" Specializing in 1910-1970 Modern Art. Opening Reception: Friday, Oct. 16,1992, your 5 - 1 0 p.m. (through Nov. 16). Featuring 1930-1970 paintings by the late Russian-American. Located Upstairs a t the Irving Lehman (1900-1982). This internationally renowned art­ ist's works appear in museums throughout the world. His life­ Syracuse Antiques Exhange long art career is featured in 'Who Was Who In American words 1629 N. Salina St. - Syracuse, N.Y. 13208 Art" and other publications Probably the largest display of Lehman's work ever assembled; larger than any of his 40 one-man shows and European museum exhibitions. with care. WALTER MILLER SECOND EXHIBIT: (315)432-8269 "Art of This Century-Not Necessarily Hung in Alphabetical Order" 0 Short-run Editions Opening Reception: Friday, Nov. 20, ------W ------0 Custom Invitations 5 - 1 0 p.m. (through Dec. 24). Featuring 1910-1970 paintings by over 40 different American 0 Art Cards for The smart alternative to a purchase and European artists in the impressionist, cubist, abstract and of contemporary art is an investment other modern styles. galleries &. openings LOCATION OF THESE EXHIBITS: in reasonably priced art of the Armory Square at CD. Heaven, 0 Fine Stationery recent past that you are sure to 327 W. Fayette St., Syracuse, enjoy as it appreciates in value, betw een Franklin and West Sts., 471-3472 All paintings are for sale. High Quality Offset Printing

Competitive Pricing n \A PaperWorth For only $7.50, the next ten issues of the BOOKPRESS will be delivered to \ Clipping ^ your home! FINE • LINE P-R-I-N-TI-N-G Name: _ send to: Address: the BOOKPRESS David St. George DeWitt Building, 215 N. Cayuga St., 409 Vl W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 2 7 2-1177 I Phone: Ithaca, NY 14850 Fax: 607-272-2504 VISA / MC, Discover, Check or money order payable to th e BOOKPRESS I______J page 12 the BOOKFRESS October, 1992 side the elevators.” If Gohlke were “a full-scale...business history” of facts, someone would be able to and the Electric elevators to their to take his camera inside one of these Cargill, the largest grain-trading use them.” respective fates. In the case of the Secular elevators, he wouldn’t find “generic” company in the world, and the larg­ How well these remarks apply historic Electric elevator, built in continuedfrom page 1 grain-handling machinery, but the est privately held Company in the to Broehl’s own book; it is an over­ the 1890s, that fate was demolition. and Oklahoma, not in Buffalo and very site of the “growth in transpor­ US. The production, marketing, sized, up-to-date, wisfully hopeful, But none of these facts is even Oswego, "where the first large ter­ tation technology” spoken about by and manufacturing of grain is the fact-filled disappointment. Fre­ mentioned by Broehl. He simply minal elevators in the American Hudson. For example, motor-pow­ biggest business in the world, so quently Broehl can't see the forest says that the Great Eastern elevator grain trade appeared,” and where ered pumps have replaced, or at least Cargill must be counted among the for the trees, or, shall we say, the “had been razed,” without saying “nearly all” of the "more than twenty supplemented, the old motor-pow­ very top multinational corporations bushel for the grains. His book is why. The absence of such facts is million bushels...being sent east via ered belt-and-bucket conveyors, es­ in the world. divided into six .sections, which move explained by the promise that they the Great Lakes vessels" in the 1850s pecially at the country elevators “A particularly important fea­ from 1865-89 (“Cargill's Roots”) to “will be addressed in books to fol­ were destined. serviced by trucks. ture of my Cargill study,” Broehl 1890-1915 (“Genesis of the Modem low this study." What's frustrating Gohlke’s pictures are of so- But, to be fair, the blame isn’t all writes, “is the availability of a rich Corporation") in a lean 200 pages, about the 1962-63 period of called country elevators, which John the photographer’s. He has at least set of business and personal corre­ then from 1916-30 (“Free to Grow”) Cargill’s history (at least as Broehl C. Hudson, in the book’s epilogue, managed to capture the range of has presented it) is how well the defines as “located along railroad building materials used in the con­ author has prepared as for it. Though sidetracks in towns., receiving] struction of grain bins. He shows us one of the subsections in the 19 lb- most of their grain from local wood-binned, tile-binned, steel- 30 part is entitled “The Enigma of l farmers.” ( Terminal elevators are binned, and reinforced concrete- Buffalo,” there’s no enigma con­ erroneously defined by Hudson has binned elevators, each of which has cerning Cargill's attitudes towards elevators that “receive their grain distinct features. But in the texts the city. Broehl reports that in via rail or truck from the country accompanying most of these photo­ 1922, John MacMillan, Sr. said elevators, and they sell the product graphs, neither Gohlke nor Hudson that, “As you know, we have kept to manufacturers or store the grain is there to explain what the pictures out of Buffalo during all these past for shipment to distant domestic and show, to explain that wood-binned years...I am anxious to have our foreign markets.” Even to this day, elevators were invented in the 1840s own facilities at Buffalo so that we Buffalo’s Standard terminal eleva­ and were the dominant building type can move grain freely through that tor receives its grain via lake from in the 19th century; that concrete- port at all times.” the country elevators.) binned elevators were invented in But just two years later, John I don’t mean to imply that the 1900s and have been the domi­ Sr. would hear from John Gohlke’s pictures aren’t expertly nant type of this century, with the MacMillan, Jr. that, “I am not at all composed and executed, or that the tile and steel-binned elevators de­ certain that it would be good busi­ 44 black-and-white plates aren’t veloped in die 1890s and 1900s as ness for us to commit ourselves skillfully arranged and printed. It’s transitional types. heavily in Buffalo...I am just as just that, by and large, the country It is in this context that a trip to certain as can be that property there elevator is generally uninteresting Buffalo would have been of help. will have relatively little value once Photograph: In ing Mink from the standpoints of architectural Unlike the other cities, which only the St. Lawrence is opened to large Cargill Grain Elevator. Buffalo, New York design and engineering. have one or two of the four types of lake vessels.” By 1929, John Jr. Hudson, for his part, seems to elevators, Buffalo has all four, and spondence between and among the to the 1930s (“Ideas and Innova­ was saying — on the basis of the realize this; he writes that “the nearly all of them are on the water­ family members over many years. .. tions”) in over 400 pages, and then Interstate Commerce Commission’s country elevators that began to ap­ front. Gohlke claims that “the es­ The total set of documentation from World War II (“War Once rate reductions on railroad trade pear after the mid-1870s were really sential grain elevator view Is obtained available to me has been superb. More”) to 1962 (“Assessing the John from Oswego to New York and little more than scaled-down versions through the windshield of a car or a As a felicitious companion to this, MacMillan, Jr., Years”) in a full Boston — that, “it seems to all of of the early terminal elevators,” and truck while traveling on a highway the Company has made available 250. Finally, in an astonishingly us here it will definitely mark the that “contractors used the same in Kansas or Oklahoma or the Texas to me all of its records for this inadequate three pages, Broehl end of Buffalo as an important blueprints over and over, thereby Panhandle.” But if he were driving period.” (The 1,000-page book in­ covers 1963 to 1991 — key years, in transfer point.” stamping the same jagged silhouette through Buffalo, Gohlke would have cludes footnotes, glossary, illustra­ anyone’s estimation. There’s a story here that Broehl of elevators against the horizon of to slow down, pull over, and get out tions, and index.) Quite simply, Broehl seems to is missing. On the one hand, Cargill every town.” Furthermore, Hudson of his car. But all that raw information have devoted space to whatever itself did a lot to undermine provides a justification for Gohlke may not have been so “felicitious” subject or period was well-docu­ Buffalo’s status as an “important to vary the rigid “stamp” of the for an academic such as Broehl (he mented, rather than to whatever sub­ transfer point.” In 1932, in an effort country elevator when he writes is a professor of the science of ad­ ject or period was important to to capitalize on the new improve­ that the grain elevator’s function If the photographer were to have ministration at Dartmouth College). anyone other than Cargill employ­ ments to the Welland Canal, the “over the course of American agri­ any doubts about this, he should ask There comes a very awkward mo­ ees. Much needs to be cut from the company built a 13.5-million-bushel cultural history...has changed Cargill, the huge international grain- ment some 600 pages into the book book, or summarized more quickly, transhipping terminal elevator in scarcely at all, but its appearance trading company that is the subject when, in the midst of a very dense, and yet much needs to be focused Albany, so that grain could be has repeatedly been transformed as of Wayne G. Brochl, Jr.’s new book. detailed discussion of the Tempo­ on in greater depth. Take, for ex­ shipped there from Oswego, rather agriculture has grown in productiv­ In the late 1920s Cargill slowed rary National Economic Committee ample, the author's handling of the than from Buffalo. Broehl reports ity and transportation technology has down, pulled over, and got out of its of 1938, Broehl calls upon the his­ crucial 1962-63 period, at which time that “Certainly John Jr. sensed evolved in response.” car in Buffalo. In 1927 the company torian William E. Leuchtenberg to Chase Manhattan Bank, one of trouble when he read a Buffalo But Gohlke, in the main, didn't leased the city’s Superior elevator give the following damaging testi­ Cargill’s creditors, evaluated the paper’s story on this; ‘The Cargill take the hint. Though he writes in for three years, and eventually bought mony; “ The TNEC’s shelf of studies organization’s overall performance. Grain Company by going to Albany his preface that “the sounds that it in 1939; in 1932 Cargill leased brought knowledge of business op­ "The analysts urged Cargill to make has aroused intense opposition.’” come from inside the elevators — space in the Saskatchewan elevator, erations up to date, but the total a careful study, elevator by elevator,” But the Company won out, and the whining, thrumming, generic ma­ eventually buying it in 1962; in 1936 yield of the investigation proved Broehl writes, “to determine which Albany terminal assisted in the by­ chine noise — reverberate in the it leased the Great Eastern elevator; disappointing...unwilling either to locations were bleeding the Com­ passing of Buffalo. deep alleys between rows of bins,” and finally, in 1939, the company tackle the more difficult problems pany most. The Company’s own There’s another story here be­ he doesn’t seem to realize how lucky bought the Electric elevator and ex­ or to make recommendations which elevators should be shut down first." cause Cargill apparently had the he is to come upon a working grain tended it in 1940. might disturb vested interests, the The company took the analyst’s same ideas about the US that it did elevator, because he apparently Cargill: Trading the World’s committee expressed the wistful advice, and by 1964 had simply about Buffalo. In 1938 John Jr. hasn’t taken any pictures “from in­ Grain is, in the author’s own words. hope that if it assembled enough abandoned the Superior, the Pool, see Secular, page 15

Coffees OCTOBER CALENDAR SERIES HIGHLIGHT: of FFresh-roastedroasted Post-V&ll Germany t h e d a ily j g Films by East and West German filmmakers that document and World examine the shattering historical event. Several free afternoon screenings, as well as two evening programs; j “For People Who Love Books’ Kittle* III a ieleelM. The Gourmet's Delight Marcel Ophuls’ November Days (Oct. 2) Sybile Scnonemann’s Locked Up Time (Oc^ 16) 4700 Vestal Parkway fine cheeses Vestal, NY 13850 OTHER SPECIAL SERIES THIS MONTH spices & teas (607) 798-8844 Tennessee Williams: Plays on Film (Mondays) chocolates Asian American Film Festival Beyond Voyeurism (Wednesdays) kitchenware Thunderhearts: Native American Rebellion 'Wholesale Coffee Prices Available

Triphamm er Hall e order any hook For more information, pick up a calendar at die DeWitt Mall, l l h a e a , \ Y w Willard Straight Hall lobby, or at our theatres, or call 255-3522. (#07) 257-2669 10-6 Hun-Sal. 10-8 Frl page 13 cotts of chocolate factories — stu­ mental shifts and realignments of different philosophical conception back door, and nobody lets you in. dents who took part in extramural race and class in South Africa? How from that deployed by apartheid; it Now they just walked in through the Gordimer front door. It was not an easy time if protests were harshly disciplined. would you describe it, non-racial or might mean that you make the most continued from page 1 This was de Klerk’s bill, the last multi-racial? In fact, is there any positive, non-coercive, non-domi- you were white, but still, this was a the following quotation from Anto­ thing he did before becoming kind of minority problem, and one nio Gramsci's Prison Notebooks as president. So you can see, he’s shouldn’t go into it too much its epigram. “The old is dying and moved from that right-wing, Now, you talk about COSAW. the new cannot be born; in tins conservative position. COSAW, from the very beginning, interregnum there arises a great di­ B J. What accounts for that change? has been absolutely non-racial, open versity of morbid symptoms. “ As N.G. Well, survival, pragmatism, to anybody, quite apart from what­ CODESA* gets underway and we lie is also a very intelligent man. ever political alliance people might can begin now to envisage a post- B.J. This leads to my next question, have had. Whites, until very re­ apartheid South Africa, would you one which touches on the bitter les­ cently, for all sorts of reasons, have say that the “morbid symptoms” have sons of our postcolonial experience been unbelievably slow in coming been averted? in the rest of Africa. Essentially, to join COSAW. There was a kind N.G. Well, you know, at the time some of us worry that CODESA of inhibition, I suppose left over that I wrote July's People [ 1981], the might lead to a South African ver­ from the ‘70s when they were re­ situation in the novel, an all-out war sion of the classic neocolonial so­ jected by black separatism. But you between blacks and whites, seemed lution to the demands for an end to know, once the United Democratic very much in the program. The dispossession and disenfranchise­ Front ]UDF] came into existence in morbid symptoms now...well, ment. In this case, it would mean 1983, they changed, because the there’s the rise of the extreme right- white privilege, consolidated white Democratic Front was open to ev­ wing white groups, the neo-Nazi’s, privilege, making an alliance with erybody, it had an amazing collec­ this is one of the morbid symptoms. black opportunism to... tion of people, people like myself Then there is the revival of tribalism N.G. You mean minority rights found a political home, a platform for political means, cynical political guaranteed? for political expression that they means; this is another morbid symp­ B.J. Yes, but only as a mechanism hadn’t had for a long time. We had tom. So it gives me quite a cold for containing the necessity for de­ had ANC! and others, but they were feeling to see that Gramsci was right. cisive redistribution of power and all banned, so UDF provided a forum B.J. Over the years you've engaged resources, so that a black elite could for everybody. So, by the time the subject of whites in Africa in be fostered which would have the COSAW was formed, which is now general, and in South Africa spe­ trappings of power, the symbolism, about four and a half years ago, even cifically. You have examined what but would leave the present whites who had been in UDF—it this meant in the light of a perspec­ racialized structures of privilege was amazing —whites who would tive informed by a historical vision. substantially untouched. stand up for African writers who You’ve always questioned the N.G. Honestly, B.J., I don’t think were imprisoned, whites who were grounds of the racial construction of this can happen in South Africa. At strongly against censorship, dis­ whiteness, in terms of privilege, in the present stage of negotiations, tanced themselves from COSAW. terms of modes of thought and ANC is saying everybody has got to Psychologically, whites are so used feeling, and in terms of an ideology have a right to have a voice. The to saying “right, we’U do this, and of domination. My question is: apart problem is that in CODESA you we’ll do that,” and very often the from extreme right-wing, neo-Nazi can’t rule anything out of the discus­ right thing. But they are not used to white groups, do you see a pre­ sion, you can’t say in advance that being made by blacks to do things. paredness on the part of most whites this thing or that thing can't be ex­ When a black says our policy is to accept that a post-apartheid South pressed. What is important now is Illustration: Joanna Sheldon going to be this thing or the other Africa would involve substantial, for the PAC [Pan African Congress and they have to be followed, whites even massive relinquishing of these of South Africa] to come into distinction to be made between “non- nating uses of difference. are not used to that, and I think that privileges in institutional, economic, CODESA. You know there was this racial” and “multi-racial"? N.G. Yes, I know that’s possible, has psychologically been the cause juridical and cultural terms, terms pact between ANC and PAC which N.G. Oh yes, a very important one. but it’s too subtle to get into politics, of their distance from COSAW. And which have so far defined and con­ broke down; they have to come back We don’t use this term “multi-ra­ it doesn't weak in politics, and it has they also were very frightened by structed "whiteness”? How much into CODESA. If you have some­ cial” anymore because it has basi­ been highjacked by the government ANC, when it was still banned. In of a hope is there for this? thing like a patriotic front in cally come to stand for minority B.J. In some of your essays and the preamble to its constitution, you N.G. A few years ago, I would have CODESA which includes PAC, then group rights you know, a code word novels, you have made farsighted know where the ANC pledges itself said to you, no hope. But it’s inter­ people like Inkatha [Zulu-based po­ for ethnic rights, many different na­ and knowledgeable criticisms of the to base the future culture of South esting to see how pragmatic people litical organization which has alleg­ tions. If we are all to have the same pitfalls of black nationalism. Africa on the workers and the people, are. Look at de Klerk. De Klerk, edly been manipulated by the South rights, “multi" would imply a con­ N.G. Black separatism you mean... this, for them, had a nasty, commu­ under Botha, belonged to the right African government] haven’t got a gress of many different nations, B.J. Yes, black separatist nist smell, and COSAW was thought wing of the National Party! The chance, and de Klerk will be defeated while "non-racial” implies a unitary nationalism... to be a front organization for the very last thing de Klerk did before in his attempts to write minority South Africa. N.G. Well, you know, I am one of ANC. But now some of that is he became president, one of the last group rights into the constitution. B J. And apartheid has always used the few whites who understood in changing and a lot of young white bills he presented as Minister of What does it mean to have 26 seats “multi-racial” as a conception to the ‘70s... I don’t give myself any writers have come in. Of course Education in the mid-’80s, was an reserved for white people? I re­ entrench and rationalize its racist great credit for this, because I think again, you’ve got to face the facts absolutely despicable bill which re­ member coming here to Zimbabwe, policies its attempt to naturalize the it was so very obvious, but I under­ that you have to be careful. In the quired that university authorities, right after independence, and it was separation of the races. stood that what had happened to paid personnel of COSAW we’ve including the faculty, were virtually awful because it was perpetrating N.G. Yes, exactly . . .and enlightened blacks was so terrible, and the whole got a mixture of blacks, Indians, and to spy on what the students were the old race thing, it separated, people here have always said: they, period during the ‘50s and ‘60s of whites, and sometimes there's some doing. It went so far as to disallow marked off black from white. If you the apologists of apartheid, talk of while liberalism produced nothing. kind of rivalry as to why an Indian students and their organizations from have a bill of rights, a right of indi­ nations; we talk of a South African So then, inspired by events in ‘60s got a post, or a white, because it putting up posters and notices be­ vidual guarantee, what do you want nation, a unitary South Africa. America, inspired by Fanon, by should be Africanized, you know. cause, you see, students were sup­ minority rights for? As you seem to There’s a very big difference. But Cleaver, this black separatism de­ But it’s all dealt with very openly, porting protests against detention suspect, the whole thing is a it’s very hard sometimes for people veloped in South Africa. Of course very openly indeed. It’s very diffi­ without trial, all sorts of things re­ cover-up, it’s a power thing, it’s overseas to understand this differ­ it was devastating if you were white cult to make decisions on merit when ally, but detention without trial was not about the freedom to practice ence because they think that “multi­ and you were working together and a whole majority of the people have the main thing. Every poster had to your religion, or rights of assembly, racial” means that everybody mixes, you really were committed. But it been disadvantaged in every way. be approved, the bill even went so your customs and language, it’s but it doesn’t mean that here, it was necessary. And Wally Serote BJ. What of the debates on litera­ far as to include photocopying re­ simply a power thing, in order to means the opposite, it means every­ had turned round and said in his ture and cultural production in a production, this had to be approved. keep a white veto. It’s unaccept­ body is separate. famous poem that I’ve quoted a lot: post-apartheid South Africa that And if a student took part directly in able, and I don’t see it going any B J. But “multi-racial” does imply “White people are white people, they were generated around Albie Sachs’ protests, and this is one of the worst further than the very first stage of that, philosophically, you don’t must leant to listen; black people are document?*"' How have these de­ aspects of this bill, because at that the present negotiations. obliterate difference, which “non- black people, they must learn to talk” bates gone? time there were protests — and B.J. Looking at the Congress of racial” seems to do. Rather, “multi­ So this was really the difference, N.G. That was so healthy. I mean boycotts against certain businesses South African Writers [COSAW], racial,” in a different political and black people beginning to talk and quite a lot of us, Njabulo Ndebele, and corporations, for instance boy­ how does it relate to these funda­ historical context, might have a not to knock passionately on the see Gordimer, page 14

WANTED: For advertising information, contact: the Bookpress Automobile Literature Top Hat 1900-1975 □ Buffalo...... Ken Mink (716) 833-1891 circulation is now at Antiques and Collectibles □ Syracuse...... Bill Gandino (315)443-3711 WALTER MILLER 10,000 copies 6710 Brooklawn Parkway «•“ Large Selection of Classical I.Ps □ Rochester...... Steve Sena (716) 442-4173 L, Syracuse, NY 13211 Paper Ephemera PH: 315-432-8282 □ Binghamton....Scott Nash (607)273-4679 m - Unusual Santas I buy sales brochures, repair manuals, parts catalogs, owner's manuals, showroom items or any literature 186 Clinton St. □ Ithaca...... Joel Ray (607) 277-2254 (607) 771 - 8631 pertaining to automobiles. I travel to purchase literature. Binghamton, NY page 14 the BOOKPRESS October, 1992

struggle against apartheid, there was colonial servant, Bray, but she is his in 1988 at a conference which which I am a member, let me ex­ the ordinary human element, so that lover. She, to me, was very much brought together Anglophone and press the hope that the opportunity Gordimer was an exaggeration. I'hey were the colonial white female product. Francophone writers and we had will soon arise... confined from page 13 only writers of very poor quality And there 1 show her as being long sessions. And so one expected N.G. Yes, let’s hope so. myself, Mbulelo Mzamane, we’ve who were afraid to have any kind of handed...she starts off in Kenya, she to have met him here again. The been saying these things for a long human richness in their works. marries very young, she’s handed reason I raise this point is that it ^Congress for a Democratic South time in our own work. But you see B.J. This point brings me to the from father to husband, and that seemed to some of us that at this Africa: the forum for the present when Albie, who lost his arm, who’s question of your rejection of a femi­ isn’t very satisfactory...they move historic moment white South Afri­ negotiations for a new constitution proved himself ten times over, he’s nist label, even though you do write further south in Africa and the whole can writers and critics who’ve been for South Africa involving the white committed his life to the struggle, he powerfully and consistently about dependent condition for her identity consistently opposed to apartheid, minority government of President can say things that even I can’t say female characters. is a shadow in that book, but it’s and have had a vision of genuine de Klerk, the ANC, the South Afri­ and that was why that was so impor­ N.G. But my books are not there. Then time goes by, and I write dialogue with other African writers can Communist Party, the Indian tant. Of course it was misunder­ “women’s books.” July’s People. In July's People 1 and critics to the north, would have Congress, and others. stood; Albie is a man full of humor, B.J. No? Maureen Smalcs in July‘s think I develop that question to its found their way to a conference like he says things tongue-in-cheek. 1 People? ultimate, because here is this woman, this one. So can one read this absence personally think that the “culture as N.G. Okay, let’s look at my latest Maureen (and there I return to my as a sort of reflection on the state of ** Published in the Weekly Mail of a weapon” was an important thing. novel, My Son's Story. childhood background, but it’s the things in South Africa? Johannesburg in February 1990, But it also produced, especially in B.J. I haven’t read that one... man to whom I give that background) N.G. No, not really, because, apart Albie Sachs’ “Preparing Ourselves young, beginning writers, a kind of N.G. Well, it’s about a father and a and she again is handed from father from me, there were two other white for Freedom” was originally written fear of saying what they felt about son. Let’s look at The Conserva­ to husband. But she has two hus­ South African writers who were in­ in 1989 as an “internal document” of their childhood, about being in love, tionist which is a novel of mine I’m bands, because Bam, her real hus­ vited — John Coetzee, who’s a the ANC abroad. The essay argues because this was not “relevant.” The fond of, or A Guest of Honour, or look band, looks after her, but, without wonderful writer but who’s a very against the perceived word “relevant” was actually used at The Old World of Strangers. These realizing it of course, she is also shy man who never wants to go prescriptiveness and reductionism as a whip. So what Albie said was works don’t deal with women or totally dependent on the black man, anywhere, and Andre Brink who of the “culture is a weapon of very valuable and it opened up a “women’s issues.” There is this July, who is the major domo in the goes everywhere but couldn't come. struggle” doctrine of the ANC and whole can of worms, it freed people. desire of feminist writers and critics house. And she also has the illusion The other person who didn’t come sections of South African progres­ B.J. But it did also seem to imply to claim me, and the rest of you fall that she has this great friendship from home was Njabulo Ndebele, sive writers, critics, and teachers. It that in a post-apartheid South for it! But if you look at my protago­ with him. In other words, she is a but he just couldn’t come because generated extensive controversy in Africa, struggles would no longer nists, the whole range, you get a combination of dependent and lib­ he’s making a move from I^sotho to South Africa [See Spring is Rebel­ affect artistic creations. This may more complicated picture. I’ve even eral attitudes. This is the ultimate the University of the Western ( ’ape. lious, Ingrid de Kak and Karen Press, be a premature view, don’t you been attacked for indeed writing neocolonial white woman. She But it has no significance the way Banchu Books, Capetown, 1990], think? I’m speaking now from consciously from the point of view doesn’t realize that she indeed has you see it. our own experiences in of men, and being hard on women, two men, that she doesn’t exist B.J. Well, you see, I can understand * post-independence Africa. and portraying women in the wrong without them. The white man why a writer like Coetzee, for all N.G. Of course it does, but it’s not way. And then suddenly I’m also without his business and without his kinds of complex reasons, a writer Riodun Jeyifo is a professor of quite true, because there will be new being attacked because Ilillela in A gun, can’t look after her. And then who’s rather like our own Ayi Kwei English at Cornell University. situations arising. And even more Sport of Nature—some American the black man, she is amazed to Armah, very shy and somewhat wary pointed, if you’ve waited for so long says she’s a bimbo— because 1 was discover that he doesn’t belong to of conferences, would not feel ex­ for the policies of the people you trying to show that we’re often so her, she doesn’t belong to him either, actly comfortable or be of a temper believe in, or that you are a part of— cerebral, but there are some people but he’s got his own people and to dialogue with writers to the north... Beyond like the ANC— to come into power, for whom there’s a kind of truth for there is that scene when he actually N.G. I’ll tell you one reason why. there’s always the danger of think­ them of the body, and the influence tells her that fact. You see, he keeps totally out of any continuedfrom page 8 ing, well, you mustn’t rock the boat of sensuality. But, you know, all B..J. Which is quite an extraordi­ support for or alliance with organi­ people feel antipathy toward Kith so early, their position is not really writers face this sort of thing. nary scene, because at the level of zations and parties of liberation. The the major parties? Is it any wonder very secure, they are just beginning B J. I do want to pursue, though, the language, of words... sad thing is that at home, because of that 70 percent of Americans feel to sit in these seats, where’s our relationship between Maureen (in N.G. I think it works... this, he’s not read among black that current incumbents will never loyalty, and what is this great July’s People) and July or Mowake B.J. It works! I am saying that it’s people, they don’t read him, they reform the political process? That thing about artistic integrity here, (his true African name) because 1 almost magical, the way it works... don’t care for the quality of his 60 percent of Americans approve and what about the whole fate of the think there is a powerful infusion of N.G. It’s really a horrible scene, but writing, yet there’s a tremendous the proposition that there ought to be people there... gender into the racial conflicts of the you know... amount of protest in his writing. a new, third political party? B.J. What I’m saying is that it’s novel. What did you intend by that B J. How so? B J. Yes, yes, a complicated but How much time do we have kind of like Mao’s “let a hundred intense... N.G. Well, when two people have a very, very powerful protest... before we reach the irreversible point Bowers bloom, let a thousand N.G. Well, 1 don’t know how you bond — and even he has a certain N.G. Yes, but you see, because you where Americans switch from say­ thoughts contend,” which doesn’t see it, but I see it in my own work bond with her — when all the things can’t draw him into things, he’s set ing “government is the problem, not therefore mean that the struggle has and that of other writers... we are in we have against each other work aside as just a “white” writer., it’s the solution,” to saying “politics is ended...I gather that some people a sense like dogs worrying away the against the bond, it’s very painful... unjust but it’s in the nature of these the problem”? The current crop of took Albie Sachs to be saying that same old bone, digging it up, and it B.J. This is the moment when he complications at home at the present politicians are going to have to get the struggle is now behind us... has a different taste every time. Most speaks in his own language? time. down to business or get out of town. N.G. Well, people read things into of us have things that we are capable N.G. Yes, she can’t understand, but B.J. Well, last question: Your vi­ America is no longer a young nation issues that they want to, they over­ of dealing with only in one way at she knows that what’s being said is sion in your works often takes in the that can depend on providence for simplify. But in frankness, Albie one stage. A couple of years go by an absolute rejection of her...not whole of Africa. Have you been in salvation. Only a sound analysis of also said things that were not quite and you approach it from a com­ horrible, but painful. other parts of Africa, in West Africa this Godforsaken world can do that. true. For instance, it wasn’t true that pletely different angle, and nobody B J. Final question: Some of us sort in particular? + the writers who were real writers, the notices it, but it’s the same thing of expected a bigger white South N.G. Yes, in the ‘70s. I Ghana, better writers, were ignoring the hu­ again. In A Guest o f Honor, which is African presence at this conference. have been in Cote D’Ivoire, Angola Theodore Lowi is John L Senior man condition; and the way that not set in South Africa, it’s set in an 1 mean certainly a presence includ­ and in Senegal and Madagascar. I’ve Professor of American Institutions Albie said, “don’t revolutionaries unnamed country to the north, there’s ing more writers than yourself, of never been in Nigeria because there at Cornell University, and the author ever make love,” I mean this was not a woman character, she’s not the course your distinguished self. I hasn’t been the opportunity... o/Poliscide: Big Government, Big true because in all the books of the most important character, because thought in fact Breytenbach was B J. Well, on behalf of the Associa­ Science, Lilliputian Politics and better writers committed to the the chief character is a former white going to come. He’d been in Lagos tion of Nigerian Authors (ANA) of other books. For Your CRANES, COURTESANS 1 T l II; Quality since 1956 and CACHEPOTS n Antique FRAME tor 36 years, we re taken the artisan s Prints approach, giving time and care to each piece o f C9BToys andatme Gifts lo r Imaginative Children S I D P art. We don't take short cuts. We do offer our Photos by customers the highest quality workmanship Local Artists as well as a complete selection o f mats — Infant/Preschool — Science & l"™ ‘ 2 7 2 - 1 3 5 0 — Arts/Crafts 414 W. Buffalo St.. Ithaca. NY . — Outdoor Many Parents’ Choice award winning toys

New acquisitions of prints & sculpture - to October 19 October 20 - November 14 Al Brown, Photographer Comers Community Center SOLA' ART GALLERY (where parking is never a problem) DeWitt Mall • Ithaca, NY • 272-6552 257-5834 Mon-Sat. 10:30-5:30, Sun. 12:00-3:00 recipients — interest on our sky­ and sharply increasing the ben­ investment. By this 1 do not mean a rocketing national debt and the so- eficiaries’ contributions to their generalized cut in the capital gains Classifieds Chronic called entitlements programs — heavily subsidized Medicare tax, which would confer enormous continued from page 10 social security retirement and benefits on the basis of ability windfalls on people who merely SMEDLEYS BOOKSHOP; There is nothing wrong with Medicare, farm parity price supports, to pay; hold, buy, and sell securities and real Ithaca's feminist bookstore. going into debt. We don't assess the civil service and military retirement, estate — the connection of which to Books and much more. health of either a household or a veterans’ benefits, as well as the • drastically reducing the scores increased productivity is extremely 307 W. State Street, business by looking only at the social safety net programs like of billion of dollars of annual remote and the payoff rates very (607) 273 - 2325. liability side of its balance sheet. Medicaid and welfare. The entitle­ tax breaks for housing — the low. If there is one thing we do not What is crucial is how productively ments have increased from some­ unlimited deductibility of need, it is more speculation. Nor do WRITING WORKSHOPS it uses the resources it borrows, flow thing like 10 percent to 50 percent of mortgage interest for two houses we need lax credits for home pur­ for women, led by Irene have we used the total resources the total federal budget over the last — and unlimited non-taxability chases: the connection between in­ Zahava, at Smedley's available to us, supplemented as they 30 to 35 years; and — mark this — of employee fringe benefits; vestment in housing and productivity Bookshop. For information were during the '80s by the excess of only about one fifth of them are is likewise very remote. The con­ and schedule: imports over exports financed by under programs specifically targeted • shifting the basis of our taxa­ trast between Japanese workers (607) 273-4675 or 273-2325 foreign borrowing? at low-income beneficiaries. I'he tion from income and employ­ saving some 20 percent of their THE 12TH CLEVER In the 1950s we devoted 58 share of GNP that we devote to ment (remember that the Reagan disposable incomes and spending GETCHEN CONFERENCE percent of our real gross national government investment expenditures income tax cuts were offset by some 5 percent on housing and On Folklore, Literature & income or product to consumption; on infrastructure and the rest, in sharply increased, and far more Americans doing just the reverse is Storytelling that ratio rose steadily in each of the contrast, has declined by something regressive, social security taxes) sobering. I refer, rather, to tax credits Saturday, Nov. 14, ensuing decades and reached 64.6 like one half. to consumption — as always, for real private investment, R&D, 9 a m. - 6 p.m. percent in the 1980s. The share of So our problem has been a taking pains to offset its apprenticeship and worker training Hall of Languages our production that went into in­ chronic and growing tendency to regressivity with negative in­ programs, and expanded employ­ Syracuse University creasing our privately owned overspend on consumption, financed come taxes and expanded em­ ment tax credits. physical assets — gross private do­ by cutting personal savings and by ployment tax credits; There is one aspect of this that CUSTOM FRAMING mestic investment — in contrast, the exploding government entitle­ makes me uncomfortable, as I look AND MATTING: was essentially flat: 16.3 percent of ments, and a corresponding neglect • increased taxes on energy, not it over: its almost exclusive concern Bevelled Mirrors, French GNP in the 1950s, rising to 17.2 of investment in physical capital, just to raise revenue — every with changing government policies Matting, Painted Bevels, percent in the ‘70s, then dropping to people, and technology. 10 percent per gallon tax on carries the implication that those Shadow Boxes, Custom 16.9 percent in the ‘80s. The critical gasoline raises 10 billion dol­ policies bear the principal responsi­ Easel Backs, Canvas net business fixed investment in plant I'he solutions lars — but for independent rea­ bility for an economy’s performance Stretching, Framing of and equipment dropped from an sons of energy and environ­ and have the capacity radically to Needlework and Fabric Art. average of about 3.7 percent of GNP I'he clue to healthy economic mental policy; improve it. They do not; and what The Frame Shop, 414 W. in the first 30 years to 2.9 percent growth, to resuming our lamentably they can actually do to change that Buffalo St., Ithaca, NY during the last decade. And, as we delayed progress in combating • cutting other non-productive course for the better is limited. I'he 14850. Ph. 272- 1350. will see, government investment poverty, combating homelessness, government expenditures — fact remains that, whatever the limi­ "We Take the Time." outlays declined even more. In short, taking care of the 35 million people such as on the military, manned tations on the capacity of sensible we used the resources made available without medical insurance and the spaced exploration, and the government policies to do good, FRIENDS OF THE to us by foreign lenders and inves­ far larger number who lack cata­ construction and maintenance there is little question that bad poli­ LIBRARY'S 46TH ANNUAL tors not to increase the rate at which strophic medical coverage (which of underused veterans hospitals. cies can cause a great deal of harm; BOOK SALE we accumulated real assets but, on means, almost as an afterthought, and we have had a surfeit of those. Oct. 10-19, will offer over balance, for consumption. absorbing workers displaced by what 2. At least as important as re­ The foregoing list of reforms is 200,000 volumes. What offset this dramatic in­ we should hope will be sliarp cuts in ducing federal government dissaving not very different from the one that The sale will be held at crease in the share of our resources defense expenditures) is to reverse is the need to reverse the long his­ was prepared for Ross Perot, not 509 Esty St., Ithaca, NY. that we consumed? Believe it or not, those unhealthy trends. This means, torical decline in productive gov­ long after he said he could take care Prices decrease daily. it was government purchases of in the most general terms, increasing ernment expenditures on of the federal deficit without break­ More info- (607) 272-2223 goods and services — from 25.1 savings and the productive invest­ infrastructure, technology, and edu­ ing into a sweat. Is it any wonder percent of our gross product or in­ ment they make possible, in three cation. Since our resources are dial he pulled out of the race after BOOK SALE: come in the ‘50s to 19.8 percent in major kinds of ways: limited, we have to find ways of looking at that plan and before re­ The Binghamton University the ‘80s. increasing the efficiency of those leasing it to the public? Libraries announce their How can this have been, when 1 Reducing our huge collective expenditures at least as much as + annual book sale: Thurs, — as we’ve been told over and over dissavings via the federal budget their total — easier said than done, Oct 29 from 1 to 4; Fri, Oct — total government expenditures and the subsidies to consumption I recognize. But, for example, Alfred E. Kahn is the Robert Julius 30 from 9 to 5; and have grown more rapidly than our that it provides, protecting only the since, I understand, we already spend Thorne Professor of Political Sat, Oct 31 from 1 to 5. national income over the last several needs-tested programs. Specifically, more on education per capita Economy, Emeritus, at Cornell Uni­ A "bag sale" is planned for decades? The answer is that actual this will require: than any other country in the versity. He was chairman of the Nov 2, from 9 to 5. government purchases and provi­ world, we obviously have to learn New York Public Service Commis­ The sale will take place on sion of real goods and services have • cutting the bloated entitlements to spend it better rather than sion from 1974 to 1978; chairman of the 2nd floor of the declined, in relative terms, as the programs — for example, by simply more. the Civil Aeronautics Board in 1977- Glenn G. Battle figures show. What have ballooned making the entire non- 78; and Advisor to the President on (main)Library. have been mere transfers of money contributed portion of social 3. Correspondingly, we need to Inflation during the last two years of from government to private security subject to income tax use taxation to encourage private the Carter Administration.

“we don’t want socialism, collectiv­ bent upon himself to comment upon of his introduction to Measure of Secular ism or coopcrativism as a scheme die “classic” boom-and-bust cycle Emptiness, Gohlke reports that “A G lobal under which we live.” But what itself, or how it might be regulated woman in Plainview, Texas, told me continued from page 12 Broehl tries to do widi this difficult or softened. Perhaps such recom­ ‘Out here the churches don’t need to continued from page 11 wrote that “We would be advised to problem is to have it both ways — mendations are simply unimportant have tall steeples — we have the Hie problems that have emerged in liquidate entirely our business in the and he fails, as when he flady juxta­ when, in the midst of die current grain elevators.’” In these "secular the post-Gold War era are rooted in US. There seems very little real poses die two viewpoints, widi a economic recession, “die ( ’ompany cathedrals” otherwise known as the Cold War and earlier. This past understanding in Washington of the parenthesis and exclamation point had record earnings of $372.4 mil­ grain elevators, Plainview, Texas' May, Mikhail Gorbachev observed nature of (lie problem, let alone with doing all the work: “John Sr. had lion on sales of $44 1 billion, with and Buffalo, New York sit side by in a speech at Fulton, Missouri that the disposition to work out a solution seen this coming...when he wrote year-end net worth standing at almost side, next to Portland, Maine and the world’s peoples were threatened along rational lines.” Eventually, John Jr.: “I’he only thing diat is pre­ '$3.7 billion.” Portland, Oregon with the exchange of the Cold War's Cargill became a multinational, venting an entire collapse of our Though he doesn’t tackle diffi­ But the key question is end for a return to the conditions of originally founded in Conover, Iowa business is our Federal Reserve cult problems or make troublesome Gohlke’s, and it remains unan­ 1914. As the poorer, often highly but now acting in its own best, in­ System’ (some governmental con­ recommendations, Broehl dix;s “el­ swered: “If grain elevators are secu­ nationalistic regions grow more ternational interests. trols were acceptable to John Sr.!)” evate" his language on occasion. lar cathedrals, is it because the volatile, military responses can be­ To give him credit, Brochl There is something ironic in “The elevators, standing like spires spiritual has invaded the domain of come more templing, especially doesn't miss it all; he’s aware that John Jr.’s statement, but it is also in those scattered, often-isolated die material, transforming dross into since no otlier great power can any some people'— including US clear that some sort of recommen­ towns and villages, gave a perma­ gold, or has the material appropriated longer check the West's military. Senators, Supreme Court Justices, dation should be made as to what nence and an identifying physical the spiritual, reducing it to a hypo­ New York will continue to “become and the like — believe that because degree of governmental controls are sign, almost as if someone had critical justification for the planetary" in an economic sense. die grain trade is ‘‘affected with die necessary. Certainly John Jr. him­ moved out dirough die plains to put exploitation of the land and the The central question is whether public interest,” and is “of a public self made many such recommenda- a mark’ as a signpost along die pursuit of wealth?" Washington's politics will become character,” it should be carefully tioas. But Broehl doesn’t, and there’s way.” It is on diis lofty plane dial a * more parochial and, in both senses regulated, in the public’s interest, by frankly something troubling about a real conversation can lake place, not of the word, bankrupt. die federal government, while other business historian who "remembers only between Broehl and his readers, Bill Brown received his PhD in people — including the owners of this panic (of 1907) as one of the but between a business historian such American Literature from SUNY Walter IjaEeher is Marie Underhill Cargill — believe that government classic ones, along with 1873, 1893 as Broehl and a photographer such Buffalo, and is a professor at Rhode Noll Professor of American History regulation is “socialism,” and that and 1929,” but doesn’t feel it incum­ as Gohlke. In one of the highlights Island School o f Design. at Cornell University. page 16 the B(X)KPRESS October, 1992 of hers mostly in terms of the emo­ ner child,” is a consummately '90s The result is Pamela’s inces­ road, she comments: Urban tional upheavals her parents were idea, the very kind of idea Janowitz’s sant and wandering internal dialogue ■i undergoing. Her emotional life, like novel mocks so devastadngly. Her which chronicles her attempts to I am nothing if not a product of the continuedfrom page 1 Abdhul’s, is overdetermined from real gift as a satirical writer is her reconcile the bizarre and twentieth century and well aware arsenal, but to no avail; detritus is threatening forces that meet her that in Freudian terms all of this simply her lot. at every turn with the enlightened, means something. To find a head in On the bright side, it is this sensitized, self-scrutinizing con­ the road might be a quirk o f fate, but trashy magnetism that brings her sciousness she knows she ought to to find a head in the road and then to Abdhul, a little boy of indeterminate possess. She is so taken up by this stumble upon the scene of one’s age who, like a stray cat, shows up process that she is left weirdly un­ father and stepmother’s demise— on her doorstep and will not go away flappable. When she is whisked obviously some larger psychosis until he is taken inside. Pamela does away to an isolated location by a or neurosis is involved. But hey, take him in, thereby instigating the crazy cab driver, she wonders what so what? I mean, who the hell strange and wonderful partnership form of abuse he will make her un­ actually cares? Life is short and that ensues. Abdhul has no past and dergo and how she will feel about it. psychoanalysis is long. In the Pamela has no future, but together Then she immobilizes him and es­ end the only cure is death. In the they make a life, l ime passes, the capes, and comes home to tell meantime, as my mother always two become half friends, half fam­ Abdhul about it — all without any told me, the main point of ily, and both their lives become in­ elevation in pulse rate. existence was to have fun and grow creasingly marginal. Pamela loses In Pamela’s town that sort of thing as a human being. her job and Abdhul continues not to happens far too often for her to be attend school or have friends; they surprised, much less indignant, when Janowitz. is an extremely skill­ need, and have, only one another. it finally happens to her. Further­ ful comic writer, blending outrage Janowitz builds a funny and moving more, there are certain protocols and platitude into a very dark, very relationship between the two out­ for such situations, which anyone funny commentary on modem man­ casts, based on shared loneliness who watches TV knows about, so ners and morals. Few contemporary and fondness. The reason that New what’s the worry? It's all part urban pretensions go unmarked and York will cat Pamela is that at heart, of growing up in modem New York. unridiculed in this book. In her she cares what happens to other Janowitz is at her best in irony, however, she does not sacri­ people. This is not only not a sur­ imagining her heroine’s endless fice empathy; she is not a cynic. We vival skill in Pamela’s New York, it meditation on the nature of identity care about what happens to Pamela is a deadly liability, and gets Pamela in the 1990s. At one point and Abdhul, and because we do, we into more and more serious trouble. Pamela reflects: care about what their predicament Abdliul, however, needs someone says about the city in which they to care about and someone to care It was hard to he so paranoid and live, and the times in which we live. about him. The moment Pamela judgmental, but the re was nothing I At the heart of the book’s wit and offers him a slice of pizza, as she could do about it, unless I changed flash is some serious and insightful does die first time she sees him, he is my personality completely—and thinking about city life and its effect hers for life, lhere is nothing maud­ then who would I be? I would be a on those who live there. Janowitz’s lin about die friendship, however, completely different person, a novel is intelligent as it is enter­ and a great deal of its interest is stranger to myself, and apart from taining. Anyone who does not like based on Abdhul’s indeterminate Abdhul and my mother, I was the the hyper-publicity surrounding attitude toward Pamela. We assume only person I could trust and be Janowitz should simply ignore it he loves her, but it’s hard to tell from comfortable with. If I were a and read the book; few will be dis­ illustration: Joanna Sheldon what he says to her. stranger, it would take years to get appointed. Janowitz’s story is in many ways die sum, and her story is as much ability to sort out the truth of her to know myself And right now, 1 just the story of a generation without a about finding her own life as it is generation’s predicament from its didn 't have the time. real childhood. Abdhul makes only about making one for Abdhul Of media-friendly image; to find, in * one reference to his, when he specu­ course, the whole notion of reac­ short, die real Pamela among all the Inter, when, in typical Pamela fash­ lates that his real mother was prob­ quainting oneself with one’s would-be’s who write and buy the ion, she has found and picked up a Heather C. White is a writer who ably a crack addict. Pamela speaks childhood, of searching for the “in­ self-help manuals. severed head from the side of the lives in Ithaca, NY.

For McAfee, NGOs represent an model could actually be put into linkages. Self-reliance hardly comes reinforce the very conditions which effective vehicle for popular em­ place. Given the small size and across as a viable alternative. generate poverty in the first place. In powerment: “NGO’s can help im­ limited resources of the Caribbean, McAfee also fails to effectively this respect, the book is a timely and continued from page 6 poverished communities to define few of these nations are in a position address the underlying structural useful contribution to existing “Empowerment” thus reflects the their own needs, to develop more to significantly reduce their ties to inequalities in these societies. While scholarship on the region. effective mechanisms for providing the external world. such notions as “grassroots em­ Clearly the sacrifices associated capacity by groups and individuals, services and to make demands upon Moreover, the integration of all powerment” and “genuine democ­ with structural adjustment have particularly the poor and the state and the private sector.” nations into a single global economy racy” sound appealing, their fallen disproportionately on poor and disenfranchised, to survive; to un­ Self-reliance and the empower­ has become an effective reality. achievement requires fundamental working-class people in the Carib­ derstand their relation to the natu­ ment of the poor is thus considered The exponential growth of changes in the structure of local bean. But creating the type of soci­ ral, cultural, economic and political vital to the “creation of real democ­ international trade, the spectacular power and class relations. Here, ety which McAfee envisions will forces that affect them; to organize, racy,” in which people have a “sig­ diversification of transnational McAfee provides little insight and require going beyond her call for plan, implement, and evaluate ac­ nificant degree of control over corporations, and the expansion of few guidelines for action. self-reliance and community initia­ tivities to protect their interests and decisions that affect their lives, international information and fi­ Despite its weaknesses, Storm tive to directly challenge the improve their situation at the local particularly decisions about the al­ nancial systems constitutes a funda­ Signals does present an effective underlying power and class relations level; and to enhance their ability to location of resources.” mental restructuring of the world critique of structural adjustment re­ that preserve and protect the affect change on the regional, na­ While McAfee’s call for self- economy. Thus the growth and de­ forms in the Caribbean. McAfee existing order. tional, and international level. reliance is appealing, she provides velopment of any national economy demonstrates how these reforms •F little reason to believe that such a is a function of its transnational exacerbate existing inequalities and Francis Adams at Ithaca College.

Celebrate the harvest season Six Mile Creek Vineyard wtih the taste sensations of Ithaca's , finest local wines and herbs. Fresh herbs release exquisite aromas and when taste-enhanced by the Come & Join Us ^ distinctive bouquets of Seyval or Chardonnay. Breads with V North Point Gardens delectable sauces and dips, in the accented by pungent basil or dill are an unforgettable gourmet treat. Most Beautiful Village on Cayuga Lake Stock your wine collection for the holiday season. Bottled herbs, freshly cut and dried will also be for sale. « T h e A u rora In n« October 11th Access to recipes. Aurora, New York 12 - 5:30 p.m. Six Mile Creek at VINEYARD The Winery Restaurant & Pub Op en Daily except Monday 1551 Slateruille Road A Ithaca, N.Y. memorable Rlegant Guest Rooms Sunday Brunch (Rte. 79 East) way to spend an Autumn 272-WINE ITHACA.r? NEW YORK Sunday Afternoon Route Q0, Aurora, NY (315) 364-3388 New Ownership