Comments on: Kvetcher in the Rye http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/ Greg Palast, reporting for BBC, Harpers and more Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:16:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: bekka jion http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-75905 bekka jion Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:47:41 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-75905 Enlightening article. You are read here in Japan, even in English. Your book THE BEST DEMOCRACY... is seldom on the library shelf very long, at least where I live. It is like a contemporary voice of the enlightened man in Plato's REPUBLIC running outside the cave trying to convince people that their truths are an illusion, something I have tried to do in my own novel THE TOUCH OF OUR SLEEVES, hoping all the time that I am not in some kind of counter-illusion. I'm getting old and sometimes I wonder..., so I find your efforts encouraging as I try to publish my new translation here. Bekka Jion Enlightening article. You are read here in Japan, even in English. Your book THE BEST DEMOCRACY... is seldom on the library shelf very long, at least where I live. It is like a contemporary voice of the enlightened man in Plato's REPUBLIC running outside the cave trying to convince people that their truths are an illusion, something I have tried to do in my own novel THE TOUCH OF OUR SLEEVES, hoping all the time that I am not in some kind of counter-illusion. I'm getting old and sometimes I wonder..., so I find your efforts encouraging as I try to publish my new translation here. Bekka Jion

]]> By: Lara Dale http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-75298 Lara Dale Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:56:39 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-75298 DEAREST MR. PALAST - IF YOU DO NOT READ CATCHER IN THE RYE TO YOUR KIDS, I WILL STOP BELIEVING IN YOU MR. SANTA CAUSE! PLEASE GET YOUR BUTT TO THAT SHELF RIGHT NOW AND ALL OF YOU READ IT TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!! NOWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE TIBETANS BELIEVE A NEW WORLD IS BEING BORN, AND BIRTH IS BLOODY BUT WORTH IT, AND JD SALINGER IS ONE OF THE FINE GREAT THREADS THAT HAS HELD IT ALL TOGETHER IN READINESS FOR THAT BIRTH! JUST BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT LIVE TO SEE IT DOESN'T MEAN IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN, EBENEZER SCROOGE! DON'T PLAY THE PHONY CENSORSHIP GAME AND DEPRIVE YOUR KIDS OF THE CHANCE TO LATER BECOME THE PARENTS YOU ARE TO THEM, AND THE GREAT JOURNALIST YOU ARE TO US! GET THEE TO A BOOKSHELF! NOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!! DEAREST MR. PALAST -

IF YOU DO NOT READ CATCHER IN THE RYE TO YOUR KIDS, I WILL STOP BELIEVING IN YOU MR. SANTA CAUSE! PLEASE GET YOUR BUTT TO THAT SHELF RIGHT NOW AND ALL OF YOU READ IT TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!! NOWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE TIBETANS BELIEVE A NEW WORLD IS BEING BORN, AND BIRTH IS BLOODY BUT WORTH IT, AND JD SALINGER IS ONE OF THE FINE GREAT THREADS THAT HAS HELD IT ALL TOGETHER IN READINESS FOR THAT BIRTH! JUST BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT LIVE TO SEE IT DOESN'T MEAN IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN, EBENEZER SCROOGE!

DON'T PLAY THE PHONY CENSORSHIP GAME AND DEPRIVE YOUR KIDS OF THE CHANCE TO LATER BECOME THE PARENTS YOU ARE TO THEM, AND THE GREAT JOURNALIST YOU ARE TO US! GET THEE TO A BOOKSHELF! NOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: George Kuhn http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-75215 George Kuhn Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:19:28 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-75215 Greg "Catcher" is a perfect book. So are "The Great Gatsby " and "Huckleberry Finn" though it did get more "phony" —appropriately so—when Mark Twain put Tom Sawyer in it at the end. Huck was real and Tom Sawyer WAS phony and a big reason why Huck "lit out for the territories. They wanted to civilize me, and I been there before." I'm 78. My parents voted for FDR four times, though they were not working class My mother quit her job—on a Newspaper in New York City—, because she felt it was not right for two people in the same household to have full-time employment during a depression. FDIC. Social Security and the G I Bill are three of the ever-dwindling supports that are preventing the total collapse of our society. In other words, I grew up believing, with Hammurabi that the most important function of government was to protect the weak from the strong. So I have lived to watch the government become "Robin Hood in reverse." We sacrifice the many for the few. I've sent you small amounts of money in the past, because I like what you say and how you say it. I might send more, but I'm no match for the Corporate America. I'm afraid Ralph Nader's new book, "Only the Super Rich Can Save Us Now" expresses a depressing truth, and our leading poet often mirrors a mood I have often given in to: "and I don't know why, I should even care. It's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there." BOB DYLAN George Kuhn Greg

"Catcher" is a perfect book. So are "The Great Gatsby " and "Huckleberry Finn" though it did get more "phony" —appropriately so—when Mark Twain put Tom Sawyer in it at the end. Huck was real and Tom Sawyer WAS phony and a big reason why Huck "lit out for the territories. They wanted to civilize me, and I been there before."

I'm 78. My parents voted for FDR four times, though they were not working class My mother quit her job—on a Newspaper in New York City—, because she felt it was not right for two people in the same household to have full-time employment during a depression. FDIC. Social Security and the G I Bill are three of the ever-dwindling supports that are preventing the total collapse of our society. In other words, I grew up believing, with Hammurabi that the most important function of government was to protect the weak from the strong. So I have lived to watch the government become "Robin Hood in reverse." We sacrifice the many for the few.

I've sent you small amounts of money in the past, because I like what you say and how you say it.
I might send more, but I'm no match for the Corporate America. I'm afraid Ralph Nader's new book,
"Only the Super Rich Can Save Us Now" expresses a depressing truth, and our leading poet often mirrors a mood I have often given in to:

"and I don't know why, I should even care.
It's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there."

BOB DYLAN

George Kuhn

]]> By: Matty Matt http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-74862 Matty Matt Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:16:42 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-74862 Incredibly interesting developments in Turkey and Iran. The words 'Operation Gladio' and 'Strategy of Tension' come to mind! Turkey: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/8531486.stm http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/02/2010223141353497258.html Iran: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/02/2010223164715638529.html Incredibly interesting developments in Turkey and Iran. The words 'Operation Gladio' and 'Strategy of Tension' come to mind!

Turkey:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/8531486.stm

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/02/2010223141353497258.html

Iran:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/02/2010223164715638529.html

]]> By: Aunty Ism http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-74607 Aunty Ism Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:32:34 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-74607 Don't jump, Greg! Remember the story of the person on the beach, throwing stranded starfish back into the sea? Someone said "Why try? You cannot possibly save them all!" "Well," replied the person, "I saved This one, and now This one, and this one..." Some will run over the cliff no matter what. Your words have caught me more than once, and I am inspired by your perseverance in exposing the vultures in our midst. Things would be much worse without some who resist the darkness; it has always been so, throughout time. Hold your torch high and keep your pitchfork sharp! Don't jump, Greg! Remember the story of the person on the beach, throwing stranded starfish back into the sea? Someone said "Why try? You cannot possibly save them all!" "Well," replied the person, "I saved This one, and now This one, and this one..."

Some will run over the cliff no matter what. Your words have caught me more than once, and I am inspired by your perseverance in exposing the vultures in our midst. Things would be much worse without some who resist the darkness; it has always been so, throughout time. Hold your torch high and keep your pitchfork sharp!

]]> By: Maria Minno http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-74271 Maria Minno Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:45:07 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-74271 It seems like it's a lot easier to save the world than to save your own kids, I know, I'm a grandma. But don't give up on either, they are both important. Kids are the most important, because then it's their job to save the world, and their own kids, and they can't do it without you. It seems like it's a lot easier to save the world than to save your own kids, I know, I'm a grandma. But don't give up on either, they are both important. Kids are the most important, because then it's their job to save the world, and their own kids, and they can't do it without you.

]]> By: Metem http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-74150 Metem Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:54:00 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-74150 Hey Greg, You helped save me, and I'm eternally grateful, though I know how you feel. Best of luck, and keep up the good work. Hey Greg,

You helped save me, and I'm eternally grateful, though I know how you feel. Best of luck, and keep up the good work.

]]> By: Matty Matt http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-74109 Matty Matt Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:52:54 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-74109 Christoher Hitchens doesn't like Nafeez...because Gore Vidal has praised him in the past. Ahmed's rather good response to Hitchens below. Admittedly, I think Ahmed's theory on Peak Oil is the opposite to that of a certain Mr. Palast, but his work on 9/11 is highly regarded. He gives a mention to Greg's work here, by the way: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/hitchens-has-no-clothes-a-response-to-lsquovidal-locorsquo-1891507.html More links here. Including Hitchens' laughable response to Ahmed's letter to Vanity Fair. Hitchens certainly has a lot of vanity but no fairness. http://nafeez.blogspot.com/2010/02/christopher-hitchens-on-gore-vidal-and.html#links Christoher Hitchens doesn't like Nafeez...because Gore Vidal has praised him in the past.

Ahmed's rather good response to Hitchens below. Admittedly, I think Ahmed's theory on Peak Oil is the opposite to that of a certain Mr. Palast, but his work on 9/11 is highly regarded. He gives a mention to Greg's work here, by the way:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/hitchens-has-no-clothes-a-response-to-lsquovidal-locorsquo-1891507.html

More links here. Including Hitchens' laughable response to Ahmed's letter to Vanity Fair. Hitchens certainly has a lot of vanity but no fairness.

http://nafeez.blogspot.com/2010/02/christopher-hitchens-on-gore-vidal-and.html#links

]]> By: Brian http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-73991 Brian Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:41:21 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-73991 Greg, I was right there with you until the '50s pastoral started. Come on, man -- there's nothing more phony than the notion that the world's bright and wonderful youth just happened to coincide with your own. Any teenager will smell that BS immediately. If anyone ever did capture that adolescent American spirit you're talking about, it was Walt Whitman -- and you know what he had to say about nostalgia? There was never any more inception than there is now, Nor any more youth or age than there is now, And will never be any more perfection than there is now, Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now. Go forth. Greg, I was right there with you until the '50s pastoral started. Come on, man -- there's nothing more phony than the notion that the world's bright and wonderful youth just happened to coincide with your own. Any teenager will smell that BS immediately. If anyone ever did capture that adolescent American spirit you're talking about, it was Walt Whitman -- and you know what he had to say about nostalgia?

There was never any more inception than there is now,
Nor any more youth or age than there is now,
And will never be any more perfection than there is now,
Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now.

Go forth.

]]> By: Lisa Wines http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/comment-page-1/#comment-73919 Lisa Wines Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:48:19 +0000 http://www.gregpalast.com/kvetcher-in-the-rye/#comment-73919 Greg, your voice rings a clear and distinctive bell. I know you won't silence it, and neither will I silence mine. Thanks so much. Greg, your voice rings a clear and distinctive bell. I know you won't silence it, and neither will I silence mine. Thanks so much.

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