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September 28, 2007|Volume 36, Number 4


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“This is the first post-Internet, post-digital-camera war [in which] the line between private lives and public lives has been blurred.”

— Eugene Fidell, visiting lecturer at the Law School, about the shift in military culture in which speaking up publicly is more acceptable than in previous conflicts, “Active-Duty U.S. Troops Become Outspoken Critics of Iraq War,” Christian Science Monitor, Aug. 29, 2007.

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“Economic strength persists irrespective of deficient economic policies in many countries, including the key ones. Why? Because the engines of modern globalization — international trade and investment — keep on propelling and shielding overall economic performance. It is thus somewhat ironic and rather suicidal that politics, especially in those countries that have historically benefited from economic integration and interdependence the most, is dancing more and more to the tune of protectionism and isolationism.”

Ernesto Zedillo, director of the Center for the Study of Globalization and professor in the field of international economics and politics, in his article, “Summer of Setbacks; Ernesto Zedillo Says the World Economy Rolls On Despite a Summer of Setbacks,” Forbes, Aug. 13, 2007.

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“Medicare, our country’s most popular and successful public insurance plan, covers everyone older than 65 and people with disabilities — groups with great need for coverage and little ability to obtain it privately. Yet it has controlled expenses better than the private sector, spends little on administration, and allows patients to seek care from nearly every doctor and hospital. ... [T]he Medicare model is the not-so-secret weapon in the campaign for affordable health care for all.”

Jacob Hacker, professor of political science, in his article, “Healing Our ‘Sicko’ Health Care System,” New England Journal of Medicine, Aug. 23, 2007.

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“As a professional historian, I always shrink from the idea that education ministries should approve some sort of official view of the national past, although I know that bureaucrats from Japan to France do precisely that … But it is one thing for French kids to be told about Joan of Arc’s heroism or American kids about Paul Revere’s midnight ride; everyone is entitled to a Robin Hood or William Tell or two. It’s a bit more disturbing to learn that the new Russian history manual teaches that ‘entry into the club of democratic nations involves surrendering part of your national sovereignty to the U.S.’ and other such choice contemporary lessons that suggest to Russian teenagers that they face dark forces abroad.”

Paul Kennedy, the J. Richardson Dilworth Professor of History, on a new government-approved manual for high school history teachers in Russia, in his article, “Worried About Russia?” Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates), Aug. 17, 2007.

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“[W]hat all who participated in this early summer’s juggernaut of exhibitions [the Venice Bienniale] have in common is total exhaustion; indeed, some may spend the rest of their days as ‘cultural tourists’ in traction or ‘recovering aesthetes.’ We have become a migratory crowd of convalescents made sick by surfeit, who desperately seek a larger crowd of some other kind in which to hide ourselves and revive our taste for life and art.”

Robert Storr, dean of the School of Art and professor of painting, about the international exhibition, which he curated, in his article, “Public Holiday,” Frieze (UK), Aug. 23, 2007.

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“For most people, what they remember of Vietnam is that the United States was defeated, and this defeat resulted in a weakening of American power in the world. There is however a significant group of people in the United States who believe that the United States could have won that war had the politicians not lost their nerve. The audience that George W. Bush used for his Aug. 22 speech [in which he made the argument that withdrawing from Iraq would have the same negative consequences as leaving Vietnam did] was the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It is safe to say that this particular audience was composed largely of people who share the view that Vietnam was a war that could have been won, and that therefore Iraq is a war that can be won.”

Immanuel Wallerstein, senior research scientist in sociology, in his article, “The Vietnam Analogy,” Middle East Online (UK), Sept. 2, 2007.

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“Americans eat more ice cream per capita than the citizens of any other nation. And I am proud to say that from an early age, I have worked hard to do my part for my country. A substantial fraction of me is made up of cream, milk, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract and cocoa solids. ... My favorite flavors are all variations on chocolate, vanilla, coffee and nuts. None of which is good for you. I do not like fruit flavors. They are insufficiently redolent of sin.”

Anne Fadiman, adjunct professor of English and Francis Writer-in-Residence, “Down a Pint? Scoop Up Some Ice Cream,” “All Things Considered,” National Public Radio, Sept. 2, 2007.

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“Wars are tough on constitutions, but losing wars is particularly tough on the American separation of powers. Especially when Congress and the presidency are in different hands, the constitutional dynamics invite both sides to politicize the military. With the war going badly, it is tempting to push the generals on to center stage and escape responsibility for the tragic outcomes that lie ahead. But as Iraq follows on from Vietnam, this dynamic may generate a politicized military that is embittered by its repeated defeats in the field.”

Bruce Ackerman, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science, in his article, “The Risks of Playing Politics with the Military,” Financial Times (UK), Sept. 5, 2007.

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“Medicine has the mirage of perfection. The truth is, no one’s perfect, and no one can go through a medical career without making a mistake, the way the current system is organized. ... I always say, when you’re looking at error rates, the better hospital has the higher rate. Proactive hospitals will seem worse than a place that pretends it doesn’t have errors and doesn’t look for them.”

Dr. Harlan Krumholz, the Harold H. Hines Jr. Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Public Health, “Many Doctors and Hospitals Hate To Admit Their Mistakes; There Are Exceptions, and the Culture May Be Changing,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL), Sept. 3, 2007.

 


T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Students fan out overseas for architecture studios

University Church in Yale marks 250 years of tradition and reform

NIH honors scientist for innovative work on microscopes

‘Yale at Carnegie’ series to feature performances by students, faculty

Yale makes dramatic changes in research compliance procedures

Web-based system for effort reporting launched


ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

Once a ‘musical theater guy,’ writer is now a ‘gadget freak’

Forum to examine ways that New Haven can become a ‘sustainable city’

The allure of fly fishing is explored in museum exhibit

Workshops to explore global issues . . .

World Fellows share in a night of ‘intercultural understanding’

Beinecke show examines the Italian festival book tradition

Center’s events to feature internationally known architects

Issues of spirituality to be explored in exhibit, poetry reading

Scavenger hunt orients new graduate students to the campus and Elm City

United Way Days of Caring brings out volunteers from the Yale community

Campus Notes


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