As many of you know octogenarian writer Kurt Vonnegut has just released a new book titled
A Man Without a Country and will be on tonight's Jonathan Stewart. Hooray. I also believe he is going to be on PBS's NOW in October. This new book is a collection of his writings over the past few years, some of which have appeared in the magazine
In These Times.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/158322713X/qid=1126652920/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-796749
1-7845560?v=glance&s=books
KV is one of the most influential writers in American history and a true national treasure. In an age where the future is one of perpetual war, hypocrisy and political buffoonery, every person would benefit by reading some of his past works. In fact, I would like to see a copy of Slaughterhouse Five handed to every 18-year-old as they receive their diploma. Indeed, blessed is that high school English teacher who manages to recommend or teach one of his works.
Here are some excerpts from an article that was ostensibly about librarians that is in the book:
So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries...
The book can be truly unparalleled in its scathing attacks on the current administration:
In case you haven't noticed, and as a result of a shamelessly rigged election in Florida, in which thousands of African Americans were arbitrarily disenfranchised, we now present ourselves to the rest of the world as proud, grinning, jut-jawed, pitiless war lovers, with appallingly powerful weaponry and unopposed.
In case you haven't noticed, we are now almost as feared and hated all over the world as the Nazis were.
In case you haven't noticed, we also dehumanize our own soldiers, not because of their religion or race, but because of their low social class.
Send 'em anywhere. Make 'em do anything.
Our president is a Christian? So was Adolf Hitler.
What can be said to our young people, now that psychopathic personalities, which is to say persons without consciences, without a sense of pity or shame, have taken all the money in the treasuries of our government and corporations and made it all their own?
EEEYOOWW!
My last words? "Life is no way to treat an animal, not even a mouse."
Well, "Goodbye blue Monday."
Ah, God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut.
Here are some links to recent articles he has written - great stuff:
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/false_advertising/
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/state_of_the_asylum/
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/requiem_for_a_dreamer/
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/the_end_is_near/
To close here is a poll for favorite KV book:
(Mine is Breakfast of Champions)