Pirates of the Caribbean – Tariq Ali
Just a quick word on the updated 2008 edition of Tariq Ali's Pirates of the Caribbean - Axis of Hope which I'm just finishing. This is a vibrant and supportive look at what Ali sees as the strongest challenge in the world today to what he terms the "WC" (Washington Consensus) -namely the Southern American regimes of Chavez in Venezuela and Morales in Bolivia, with Castro's Cuba in the background.
Ali has an uneven and hectoring writing style, heavy on point-scoring against opponents, and goes off on tangents somewhat. He also goes a little too light on the anti-democratic clampdowns of Castro. Nonetheless, his accounts of the rise to power of Chavez and Morales are detailed and exhaustive, his description of the massive great strides they have made for the poor of their countries' inspiring, and his demolition of their venal and disengenuous opponents lively and amusing. His literary allusions to local authors and poets, and his exploration of the 19th century "Liberator" Simon Bolivar who inspired the new "pirate" leaders in particular is a delight.
Ali's book is a reminder that in a grim world some good is happening. The economic crisis we are living through is 100% attributable to Thatcher-Reaganism. I live in a country whose response to this crisis will shortly be to vote in another fucking Thatcherite Conservative government. I live in a region whose response to this crisis has just been to vote a fucking neo-Nazi to the European Parliament. I look at South America, look home, and feel inspired and ashamed. In that order.
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This movie is very good story .. made me curious about the next story..
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Sorry to break it to you Rizal but the book doesn’t really have anything to do with the Johnny Depp series of films. That’s just Tariq’s little joke. I’d hate to think of you buying it and being disappointed.
Tariq Ali is an activist through and through. And a very successful activist through his writing. Proof of his successful activism? That he can move us to react this way when he writes.
Creative Views
True enough Christa.
I agree with Ben G.
if you buy, you will be disappointed .
Bali Villas
Never said that though Nara did I like?
Actually I did but…..this is getting us all NOWHERE