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by GAYNOR PAYNTER

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Seasons greetings from South Africa, where although we are fast approaching Christmas Day I am disheartened to comment that commercialism is at an all time high. South African consumers find that we must spend very many more hard earned rands on goods of poor quality than we had to even last year. Some plastic toys which will be broken within ten minutes of opening cost over one hundred rands - a lot of money in these cash-strapped times. Some shops are so keen for us to spend our money that they are opening on Christmas Day itself, something which was unheard of in South Africa in years gone past. All I can say is that I am glad I don't work for any of these places as I plan to spend Christmas Day nowhere else but with my family... MORE




by STUART ALTMAN

NEW YORK, NY, USA - According to some anti-Semites the Jews own Hollywood, the Banks, and the Media. However these anti-Semites would even have to agree there is something the Jews don't own, the Holiday Season.

Lets face it the Christians own that arena and don't look like they will give up space any time soon. It's not that I begrudge the Christians for their holiday fervor, it just as a Jewish person, I'm surprised we can't give them more competition. This year's Hanukah was hardly commercialized because it came the day after Thanksgiving. Who's planning this holiday? It's hard enough to compete with Christmas.

I realize there are many more Christians than Jews but I figure - with aggressive marketing - we can get back in the holiday ballgame. To do this we have to address why the holiday of Hanukah has not spread beyond the Jewish mainstream. Therefore I would like to bring up some marketing principles that will get Madison Avenue to finally pay attention to us ... MORE

MARIETTA, OH, USA - Patti Austin has had a successful career as a pop singer, but listening to her new album, "For Ella" (Playboy Jazz/Concord) puts on display a new star who should find favor with those who adore the solid sounds of the glory days in show business.

Critics have respected Patti Austin for years, and in the last few weeks this critic has kept her new album, "For Ella" in heavy play. In listening to the CD at least a dozen times, I find it seems better with every twist of the turntable. Austin has created a package of fabulous music from some of the premium writers across two centuries. ... MORE





by ROD AMIS

NEW ORLEANS - As this is the Holiday Special Edition, I believe I should begin with speaking of the generousity of women. You know that like Blanche DuBois, another (if fictional) tragic New Orleanian, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

Most of the people I know are strangers, after all, to me. My life has been so disjointed, in so many places, that no one knows everything.

The only consistent element has been women taking mercy on me. My ex-wife said that I bring out the maternal instinct in women because I am so obviously a lost child.

"Orphan," I said. "Get it right, Deb. I'm an obvious orphan. I have no home."

Only a jerk like a writer would say something like that.

To get back on point, it has been women who have stepped up to the plate in this Season of Giving for the male version of Blanche. Lynda surprised me with FOOD. She sent steaks and burgers. She also sent Sophia Style, a book about the woman I consider our earthly goddess. And she sent two cigars. I will smoke one and give one to a friend to share the experience with me... MORE




by CLIFFORD THORNTON, JR.

HARTFORD, CT, USA - I travel all over the U.S., speaking and organizing trying to change the mindset of the current "war on drugs". Last year, I was in Cleveland to address the Unitarian- Universalist convention. While there, I also spoke at a luncheon sponsored by City News, spoke at other civic functions, appeared on various radio, and T.V. programs.

All speakers look for that current hook to bring one's subject into plain view. With the drug war it's not hard to find. "A Cleveland Police detective while in a hand to hand struggle with a drug suspect, discharges his weapon and critically wounds a six year old boy several yards away" appeared in Cleveland's Plain Dealer. This incident occurred while I was in Cleveland. Every day, on average, in this country, five children age five to sixteen years die because of drug related situations. This is called collateral damage. When are we as a nation going to learn this is an un-winable war? This is and will always be a public health problem, not a law- enforcement one ... MORE




by YOU

THE WORLD - From Ed C., Bloomfield, MI, USA:

SUBJECT: Yes honey, me again

Dear Raheem:

Actually, "ad hominem" is an attack against a person's ideas because of who they, objectively, are - I attack you because of what your ideas and mindset,subjectively, appear to me - racially blind and hateful. Almost as if you think no white person in their right mind would dare take you to task over it, since that would be too politically incorrect. Personally, if you were a white dude I would have the same basic problems with your mindset.

We've also danced the Robert Jensen dance before (and that linked article does not discuss white privilege, though I recall the article you are referring to. Find the correct article in the archives; otherwise, I think you were a bit "S & L" ). Despite that, you still haven't explained how a person "passively" catches group guilt. Give us YOUR theory, not a regurgitation of someone else's theory. Most men on this planet get privilege over women, and have throughout history. Does anyone(like you) suggest we untie the twisted knots of history and repay the women of the present, for the abused women of the past? ... MORE

G21 WORLD HEADQUARTERS - We welcome more new Link Partners this week. Visible is as visible does... MORE

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OTHER EDITIONS

THE PREVIOUS ISSUE: WHO'S THAT GIRL...?
(GAYNOR PAYNTER sends a message to terrorist bombers in South Africa in LETTER FROM SOUTH AFRICA; Peter Bennett fights the Hit Wars in VICTORIA'S SECRETS; and much more!)

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