Flying to the South

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Flying to the South is a provisionary title I gave to the novel of Ian Gibson, an Irish Hispanist. The official and literal title would be "the wind of the south or Southern Wind (Viento del Sur).

I enjoyed this book reading it after two more complex ones. It lacks the pretension of the established writers and is therefore delivering more than expected. What would you expect from the book knowing that it is a semiautobiographical work of a Hispanist who decided to fly southwards in a plot where he is to get rid of his puritan past.

Readers who are interested in the Spanish language and Hispanic culture will find an enormous amount of thoughts, facts and impressions about Spain and its culture. But also about England and its culture. According to the protagonist John Hill the Spanish culture was one of the richest in Europe; a mix of cultures and languages... Until the Spanish inquisition smashed everything away (my interpretation). It is not possible for a Hispanist to understand the culture without at least knowing some basics of the Arabic language (of which 4000 words have been imported) and also about the Hebrew language. I even agree with Hill that it is a pity the Arabic language is not taught at schools, especially in the south. A project that requires some attention.

The reader will learn a lot about Spain not only little details -- why their citizens like ham so much and that Dali was a coward and about the role of jealously - but about their language, about Hispanic poets (most of all Ruben Dario) whose work is frequently cited.

Flying to the south could be the title in English as the protagonist is changing his life; in fact he "is saved by Spain." This is the conclusion at the end, as he has tried various therapies (gestalt, psychoanalysis) but nothing has helped. Unlike his brother who had an even more profound problem he is just born in the wrong country(side) and climate portrayed by the flying goose on the cover of the book. Parallel to this change is the change of Spain at the same time, which he reports while traveling and working. Spain is being freed from Franco, and "in no-time they have build a new constitution that seems to work."

Interesting to see is where this change starts; with a thorough view on the British society with its boarding schools - "public" for the public who could afford it - and the Methodist way of live contrasting with the catholic "South." (meaning Spain). Interwoven are some side paths where an Irish ambassador comes in, I think to reconcile Gibson's real past. Another parallel appears as Joyce' Ulysses is introduced and the large number of Spanish topics are found in the book. There too, the circle is round.

Very well written keeping in mind that it is written in authentic Spanish, including the original diversity of wordings and gothic-like details. I wonder whether natives in Spain themselves will read it, but foreigners who dominate the language somehow will like it very much. I did.

Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai

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In her novel, Fasting, Feasting, Anita Desai eventually accomplishes what many writers attempt and then fail to achieve. She uses light touch, simple language, uncomplicated structure, but at the same time addresses some very big issues and makes a point.

Uma and Arun are children of Mamapapa, the apparently indivisible common identity that parents present. These parents, however, are not at all alike. Mama is protective, perhaps selfish, and not a little indolent. Papa is a parsimonious control freak who locks away the telephone because someone might use it. But they are at least together. Their relationship has survived, despite the long wait for a son, and their disappointment at his disability.

Uma and Arun also have a sister, Aruna. She is bright and pretty, but in her own way she is also disabled, because she is a woman. Arun's disability is visible, but Aruna's exists because of the her society's preconceptions about women.

Uma is not pretty, nor is she academic. She wears thick glasses and has fits. And so in the middle class society the family inhabits, Uma can pursue only two possible roles. Either she can be married off, or she can become a labourer, a near slave for the family. The former, of course, is the same as the latter. Only the location is different. For Uma marriage doesn't happen. It does, but it fails before it starts, since the groom was already married and merely wanted to collect another dowry. The arranged marriages of both Uma's sister and her cousin also fail. Initially well starred, both end tragically.

The first part of Fasting, Feasting suggests a domestic drama, a faintly comic family trying to cope with their own cultural minority status within India's vastness. It takes awhile for the tragic elements of the story to surface. But when they do, they also disappoint, because only the two disabled characters, Uma and Arun, eventually display any honesty or compassion, everyone else being merely selfish, even those who kill themselves to end the pain. For women, it seems, even achievement is nothing but an asset to assist their trade. When offered a place at Oxford, a girl's duty precludes acceptance and necessity frames the letter as evidence of her greater eligibility. So what seemed to be a pleasant family tale of the idiosyncrasies of culture becomes a tragedy, and a tragedy for all women. Ugly, unmemorable Uma is the only apparent survivor, and that only because she is not even a competitor. She exists on the scraps of life she is allowed.

But what of Arun, the disabled boy? Well he is quite a bright lad. He goes to university in the USA, and to an institution with status in Massachusetts. But what is he to do in the holidays when the college is closed? We can't afford to bring his all the way home, concludes parsimonious Papa.

So Arun lodges with the Pattons, an all-American nuclear family, an American Dream of sorts, mum, dad, two kids, one of each. But Dad is a laconic type. A beer from the fridge keeps him quiet. The son has all kinds of ambitions, and yet none that are realistic. Mom is an emotional wreck. She years for something in her confusion, but has not idea what it might be. And her daughter is bulimic. Happy families.

So through Arun's eyes, and to some extent as a result of his culturally challenging presence, Anita Desai presents a picture of middle class American life that is utterly dysfunctional. But it is again the women who are most deeply affected. Mom does all the shopping and cooking to feed the unappreciative men and the daughter who cannot eat. She fantasises about Arun's cultural authenticity, sees in him qualities for which she yearns. The daughter is a complete head case. She is fat wanting to be thin, eating to fast, stuffing sweets until she vomits, perhaps a slave to a male-generated concept of female perfection. And Arun witnesses all of this. Eventually, in his deformity, he is the only presence that is not self-obsessed.

The title is important. Fasting, Feasting presents apparent opposites, two contrasting, if imbalanced scenarios, India and the USA. It offers two deformed observers, Uma and Arun. It unpicks two contrasting cultures and finds that women are slaves in both. The opposites are thus ultimately similar, hardly opposed.

Philip Spires
Author of Mission, an African novel set in Kenya
http://www.philipspires.co.uk/

Michael, a missionary priest, has just killed Munyasya. It was an accident, but Mulonzya, a politician, exploits the tragedy for his own ends. Boniface, a church worker, has just lost his child. He did not make it to the hospital in time, possibly because Michael went to the Mission to retrieve a letter from Janet, a teacher, and the priest's neighbour. It is Munyasya who has the last laugh, however.

Multicultural Life - Mexican-Americans Between Borders

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In the United States we have a very interesting thing happening. Many folks who are US Citizens have most of their family that is not living in Mexico. Along the US Borders are lots of towns where one part of the family lives on one side of the border and the other half of the family on the other, then the family members drive back and forth visiting each other.

These multicultural issues are huge. In many cities there really are two languages Spanish and English. To live in these cities on or near the border you really must be able to speak both languages and at a minimum Spanish, otherwise you will have a difficult time communicating and it is a very serious issue. One thing that is interesting is to meet such folks and understand how they do it and how they live.
The question for such folks with US Citizenship or dual citizenship is; what are they? They are Mexican by heritage and culture, but American and proud of it by law. Their extended family are also some of both. So, when asked who they are or what nationality they are, well they will say they are American, but they are a Mexican. See that point?
Well, if you are like me, this entire issues is fascinating and talking with the people in this situation gives you an interesting perspective on multicultural life. Let me recommend an outstanding book on this subject:
"Mexican Enough; My Life Between Borderlines" by Stephanie Elizondo; Washington Square Press, a division of Simon Schuster; New York, NY; 2008.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

The Harlem Reader - Stimulating and Fascinating Literary Pieces About Harlem

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First and Foremost, the Harlem Reader should be a must read for anyone who would like to acquire more knowledge about Harlem, New York. This book gives a sense of the issues impacting residents of Harlem. It brings about a revelation of the struggles African-Americans went through during the "Harlem Renaissance" period. It brings to realization the issues surrounding the great migration from the southern cotton fields, plantations, and the discriminatory practices, which caused African-Americans to seek a better life in the northern cities of America in a variety of creative ways and in support of each other.

Secondly, the figurative language in this book stirs the soul and heightens ones perspective concerning the various viewpoints from a variety of prominent authors regarding Harlem. The contribution of their inspiring essays, short stories, poems, and nonfiction pieces are very enlightening and uplifting. Their combined impact is also very educational and emotional.
Next, Harlem is not only touched upon during the Harlem Renaissance years; the writings also touched upon the present and anticipated future activities in Harlem. The book shows the current state of economic development. It also shows the mistreatment of those who were not financially wealthy, or considered in the upper income class. It also highlights the lives of the financially wealthy and how they treated others. However, the African-American population was spiritually wealthy, which sustained their souls back then and will into the future.
Additionally, the contributions of great writers such as Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Dubois, Weldon Johnson, and Claude McKay will touch the soul. Also included are national liberators such as Marcus Garvey, Rev. Al Sharpton, Malcolm X, Reverend Adam Clayton Powell and others, just to name a few. These individuals are considered heroes to the people of Harlem. They have contributed so much to the strengthening of Harlem and have positively impacted the lives of the residents there in many ways; thus, they will probably never be forgotten by them.
Finally, the literary essence of this book is straight from the heart of Harlem and African-Americans. It was a pleasure for me to learn from its golden pages. This book is truly educational and inspirational. The author of this outstanding literary book, Herb Boyd, has highlighted an understanding of the essence and presence of Harlem on the world's stage in an uplifting manner for all to learn about and enjoy while reading this excellent book.

Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the co-author of two poetry books, A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose and Thoughts for the Mind, Body and Soul, and Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the World Haiku Association; Milwaukee Area Technical College, Phoenix Magazine; and Taj Mahal Review. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for the state of Arkansas, USA, and is an adjunct faculty at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He has completed over twenty years of service with the U.S. Army.

[http://www.trilogypoetry.com/]

Book Review - Mixed - My Life in Black and White

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"I hate covert racism. I always hated guessing whether someone is being mean/rude/nervous because they hate my race or because they are having a bad day. As I got older, I noticed that covert racism is like depression: You know it when you feel it, but it's hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it. It's like a sixth sense that God has given people of color that white people don't believe in. We just know."

In her memoir "Mixed: My Life in Black and White" (2006), Angela Nissel writes of the struggles she faces while growing up biracial. Nissel's name may be familiar to fans of the NBC comedy series "Scrubs." She has been a staff writer for the show for four years and is now consulting producer. As a starving artist (a.k.a. freelance writer), Nissel sold some goods on eBay for extra cash. The winning bidder for one of those items was a television executive who had read her first book "The Broke Diaries" (2001), which was about her days as a broke college student. The eBay winner introduced Nissel to a television literary agent who sent copies of "The Broke Diaries" to shows hiring comedy writers. Nissel had numerous job offers, but chose "Scrubs."

Her knack for sarcastic, quick-witted humor that is a driving force in "Scrubs" is what makes "Mixed" a must read. When Nissel is in the fourth grade, two of her classmates, Jimmy and Michael, call her a zebra. (That isn't the humorous part.) Nissel's father finds out and goes to the boys' houses with Angela. Jimmy's parents scold their son. However, Michael's father slams the door in Angela's father's face. That father's dog has been using the Nissels' yard as a bathroom, so Angela's father concocts a hilarious scheme involving an Ex-Lax pill. Angela asks her father whether the Ex-Lax will hurt the dog. "'No, just Michael's father's carpets,'" her dad replies.

Later, though, Angela discovers that her father has been cheating on her mother, but even this situation is steeped in humor. "I already knew my parents were having problems and she suspected my father of cheating. (Note to parents: Trying to have cryptic conversations by spelling words out no longer works once your child is reading.) Then later, "Ever since the first argument about my father c-h-e-a-t-i-n-g with w-h-o-r-e-s, my mother had started working a lot...."

The thing about this book is that the comedic moments are also sad ones. And this is Nissel's strength: She makes you laugh, but she also makes you think. Comments from people about her looks teach her that there is "good" hair and an "ugly" nose. The features people consider pretty are from her white father.

She went to all-black schools, all-white schools, public, private, schools associated with different religions-yet she never fit in. She was never white enough or black enough, so she was the target of merciless teasing. "Being a mixed child, you get used to people staring at you," she writes. She immediately follows with humor: "I learned that rolling my eyes or sticking out my tongue was the quickest way to get people to avert their gazes." She learns that being biracial is no easier in the dating world. She notices that of six black male coworkers at a production company, "five had white wives and one was dating an Asian girl."

The book is filled with Nissel's struggles, but she doesn't want you to feel sorry for her; she is explaining how her experiences (good or bad) made her who she is. She makes you care about the people in her life, particularly her mother, who let her daughter change schools and religions-almost as often as she changed her clothes-in an attempt to find herself. Nissel doesn't censor herself-or anyone else-which makes for brilliant dialogue and unapologetic honesty.

I Am Being a Report on Global-I Need Information on Global-Book Review of the Book Global

Yes, the is a very country which includes Global, and its location makes it a pivotal focal point for that part of the world. Consider if you will that India has 1.3 billion people and Global borders is selected. Afghanistan where America has spent almost a decade a Global art war also borders is selected. And Global is bordered by America's trading partner China value. And not to be outdone shares a border with Iran also Global, and everyone knows the conflicts between the United States and the latest and Iran.

But that's not all because the also shares part of its Global border with the Arabian sea, and this is where all the oil tanker ships, 40% of all the oil which is delivered by sea through the Straits of Hormuz comes last right into the Arabian sea. And if they were to make a left hand turn after leaving-the Straits of Hormuz they would run right into Global. Obviously is a key Global, but also with us "is a lot of tension due to the cultural differences with the Western world, the Asian world, the Arab world, and the Hindus next-door.

Before you make any statements about Global un-rational, don't you think you should get to know the country better? I believe you should, especially because a lot of US taxpayer dollars goes to aid and funding, and specifically after their natural disasters 16, such as the large earthquake a couple years ago, and the massive torrential flooding which happened in 2010. Therefore, "there's a very good book I'd like you to read, it is a book that I own personally, and the name of the book is;

"Global" (World Modern Nations Series) by Samuel Willard Crompton with Editor Charles f. Gritzner, Chelsea House Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, (2003), 112 pages, ISBN 0-7910-7098-0.

"These two authors are absolutely excellent, and Mr. Crompton is the author or editor of over 20 books. It is obvious that he understands the area very well, along with the surrounding regions option, especially India. He is also a historian by career and as a hobby. The other author is also quite interesting because he is a professor Eurico of geography at South Dakota State University. The geography of natural resources, geology, Global, and its location to everything else in the world, and is an amazing amount of American history in that region. So, you are just to have to read the a. book and check it out.

Now then, in this book you will learn about the history of geography, and the Global, and the lifestyle and culture of the people of Global. This is a Muslim nation, and in chapter 5 you ll learn all about the ' Islamic Republic of Global. You will also learn about their major industries such as gun making, opium, cement, and agriculture; Growing wheat. Global is quite interesting and they have their own set of folk heroes, and cultural stories which have been passed on through the years. I highly recommend this book to everybody. I hope you will please consider all this, and think on it.

Lance Winslow is an Online Author, his latest eBook about Boat Detailing is now available in the "Small Business" Lance Winslow Series titled; "How to Start a Cleaning Business" Boat (a Nook Book available at the Barnes and Noble Website). Lance Winslow is semi-retired and Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.worldthinktank.net/-You may contact Lance Winslow by email for dialogue, discourse, discussion, or debate on interesting topics.

Multiculturalists Gone Wild

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Buddha is Hiding by Aihwa Ong shows the perils of multicultural policy compounded by multiculturalist thought. Ong's book follows the lives of 50,000 Cambodian refugees we accepted in the 1970s. During the reign of Pol Pot in Cambodia approximately one third of the population was killed. Many of those given asylum ended up congregating in Northern California.

Ong considers our welfare system complicit in "ethnic cleansing, in the sense of removing the features of the immigrants' supposedly primitive cultures that are socially determined to be undesirable." Ong recoils at calling any culture primitive. And, I agree that if Cambodians live in Cambodia, we have no right to judge them. But once they move into America we must judge them by American standards. And from our point of view, Cambodian culture has some primitive features.

"In Cambodia," one person Ong interviews says, "a man might have different wives or mistresses, whereas if his wife had a lover, he could go to court and get permission to kill both of them." Of course, Ong tells us, this is not true. Multiculturalists only see positive diversity and are blind to the rest. As she cannot avoid admitting some sexism in Cambodian culture she accepts testimony that, "if we [women] used harsh words with them [husbands] they had a right to strike us. In Cambodia, men were more valued than women." It is odd to have the possibility of extremely negative cultural traits dismissed in a chapter that depicts the Cambodian genocide and the rape that often accompanied it.

Ong celebrates one "quintessentially American" in which a fourteen year old Cambodian runs away to live with her Salvadorian boyfriend. He is nearly 21 and so this could be statutory rape. Instead, they use a "cultural defense" to escape punishments. "With the the flood of multicultural immigrants" this has been used to stop prosecution of "Hmong kidnap-marriage practices (Borat is real) Japanese rituals of parent-child suicide and even wives killed by husband by husbands." Well, at any rate, the fourteen year old Cambodian has the child and they live happily ever after. Problems disappear if you accept indigenous cultures.

The best part of this book comes when the multiculturalists attack the feminists. The "family reformer" social workers are charged with class dominance. They come in and stop men from beating their women and thus manipulate the families. They stop men from beating their daughters and thus destroy Cambodian culture. The arrogance of feminists get berated through and through. They do not respect that in "oral cultures" people change their testimony and that is okay. Ong has to thus defend a father beating his daughter with an electric chord until it broke. Essentially, one cannot have both multiculturalism and feminism. Ong chooses multiculturalism.

Ong does a great job of showing us what multiculturalism offers. It paints all of our institutions as evil. One funny result is that this includes our welfare system. Seventy-seven percent of Laotians and Cambodians are on welfare. And, Ong and I agree, this system infantilizes them and breaks up their families. The social workers stop the spousal abuse and ferocious protection of daughters. But whereas culturist see stopping such behaviors, in America, as laudable, multiculturalists must celebrate diversity. Ong has given us a stark portrait of what is at stake.

John Press is the author of Culturism: A Word, A Value, Our Future. He is a an adjunct professor and doctoral student at New York University. http://www.culturism.us/ has more information about culturism.