The picture that describes our age is composed as a mosaic. Its pebbles can be missed as the details obscure the whole. This column presents overlooked details that deserve attention.
 
1. Castro goes, or is about to be carried away by pall-bearers. Good news but too bad that the laws of biology will save him from a Nuremberg-style trial for crimes against humanity. His totalitarian system stays. For now. The Chief Butcher’s chosen enemy was the USA. Nevertheless, the main danger to his system comes from within that kidnapped country.
 
2. Soon the Cubans will not have Castro. As a resulting compensation they might get access to the goods folks like to consume. It is not about “Socialism or Death” ( the question is whether there is a difference) but rather “Socialism or ‘Food.’”
 
3. Italy’s party alliance of radical leftists are abandoning their traditional hammer and sickle. A rainbow will take its place. Not to worry. It is not apostasy but only an election ploy. They promise to preserve the old symbol “in our hearts.”
 
4. More from the Left. Om February 12, Christel Wegner, a German local politician spoke too much – but not untruth. Her revelation: “If we create a new social order then we will again need an organ to protect us, so that… reactionary forces, shall not be able to exploit” the chance to subvert our state. True. Also tried and tested: the GDR’s State Security (Stasi) used the same argument to justify itself.
 
5. The honest utterance proves that terror is fine as long as the state exercising it is your state.
 
6. Responding to the outcry, on February 18 the Party of the Left expelled representative Wegner for her endorsement of a future Stasi. Her fault was not the idea but blabbering at an inopportune time. Systems that contradict human nature only function if the gap between theory and reality is bridged by terror.
 
7. Ms. Wegner has shown impeccable judgment since way back. She once justified the Berlin Wall as needed to keep West Germans from inundating communist East Germany.
 
8. The case proves that, to be a good comrade you must have a clouded vision of the past and to be in the dark regarding the consequences of your advocacy. Any relevance in the US’ presidential contest is not accidental.
 
9. Two more snide remarks about America‘s elections. A Clinton-Obama ticket would win. The magic does not work with an Obama-Clinton combination. Hillary cannot be anyone’s VP because that would make Bill visibly superfluous.
 
10. There is a crucial question regarding Obama’s candidacy. Is he the Democratic candidate or the Leftist candidate? The decoded answer will only come after the possible election/inauguration.
 
11. Most of those who run around in Che Guevara t-shirts know little about his activities besides his fear of barbers. There is no desire to be confronted with his murderous record as that would spoil the illusion. Che’s killings did not flow from a personality disorder alone. He has done what he had to. In the real world the errors of ideology must be rectified by violence.
 
12. Public slogans and what is really meant diverge. When the Left and its fellow-travelers preach “no war” it means that the right to self-defense of their intended victims is denied.
 
13. Remember the old leftist slogan “Many more Vietnams?” Today Vietnam is experimenting with capitalism in the economy. Are they secretly adapting the slogan “Many more Americas”? Hanoi might prove that it is smarter than the “useful idiots” that served it abroad. (S’cuse the bluntness, Jane.)
 
14. People wonder why the rich, such as Hollywood celebs, are attracted to radical causes. An answer: wealth, if created by accident, can lead one to regard the successful as undeserving leaches. Furthermore, a seemingly unlimited supply of income and a limited education inclines one to covet after the Royce the luxury of costly dreams. It is like with divorces: one can afford to pay for it if things do not work out. Especially so if advocacy happens to be convertible into good PR.
 
15. A tax-avoidance scandal has erupted in Germany that has scandalous taxes. For about 5 million the country’s secret service purchased a stolen CD with data on citizens who have money in Liechtenstein. Some rejoice that big earners are caught. However, almost everybody, including those who cheer, also avoid taxes by working illegally. Wide-spread tax avoidance is a sign that something is wrong. Whoever can will cheat once the worth of the state’s inflated services and its take from earned wealth is felt to be out of order. Once this happens coercion will have to replace good citizenship.
 
16. Be thankful to the Jihadists. They are honest enough to prefer to confront the enemy frontally from “the outside.” Thereby they ignore the advantages of subversion from “within.” The 68ers – as Marxists like to call themselves nowadays – realized early on that the “march through the institutions” is more effective than direct confrontation. A proof of their thesis might be the outcome of the US’ election. One party is about to nominate a candidate that rose high enough to do from within what was likely to fail if attempted by a direct attack.
 
17. Kosovo’s independence. Serbia threatens those who dare to recognize Kosovo with the break of diplomatic relations. Furthermore, if Kosovo is recognized, Serbia will not negotiate with the EU about association. Apparently Serbia is about to isolate and encircle the world.
 
18. Kosovo’s independence is not the optimal solution for overcoming multi-ethnic states that oppressively pretend that they are homogenous. In this case, past abuses and the probability of their continuance, left separation as the only practical solution. Nevertheless, the needed reorganization or Europe into entities that are not rightly regarded as oppressive by their minorities, is best served by another solution. It is local autonomy, cultural and political self-government. The future of the idea will tell whether reason can triumph over the instinct to dominate.
 
19. Still Kosovo. The Kosovars’ independence celebrations showed a sea of the Stars and Stripes. Nice to notice that Old Glory was not exhibited to be barbecued. Makes one think. Indeed, the US has helped. Mainly, however, once Russia or a comparable power is against you, you do not look for succor in Brussels or Berlin. Not everybody cares to know this, but if in trouble, relying on Washington is your best realistic bet.
 
20. The International Herald Tribune reports that on May 8th a book fair opens in Italy. As usual, there is a special guest. This year it is Israel’s turn. The Communists and the Palestinians want to boycott the event. Their polemics reveal that everything not actively “pro-Palestinian” is, in a typically totalitarian manner, regarded as “hostile.” More: just imagine the outcry if the Jews would protest and boycott Palestinian books. The least of that would be the invoking of Hitler’s book burnings.