X
“This is the first post-Internet, post-digital-camera war [in which] the line
between private lives and public lives has been blurred.” §
“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.” §
“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.” §
“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.” §
“[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.” §
“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.” §
“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.” §
“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.” §
“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.”
T H I S
— 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.
— 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.
— Jacob Hacker, professor of political science, in his article, “Healing
Our ‘Sicko’ Health Care System,” New England Journal of Medicine,
Aug. 23, 2007.
— 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.
— 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.
— Immanuel Wallerstein, senior research scientist in sociology, in his
article, “The Vietnam Analogy,” Middle East Online (UK), Sept. 2,
2007.
— 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.
— 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.
— 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.
W 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 PROFESSORSHIPSOnce 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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