When Herbie comes to town...

What's left (2)

“Anti-communism was never accepted as the moral equivalent of anti-fascism, not only by my parents but also by the overwhelming majority of liberal-minded people. The Left was still morally superior. Even when millions were murdered and tens of millions were enslaved and humiliated, the “root cause” of crimes beyond the human imagination was the perversion of noble socialist ideals.” Nick Cohen in “What’s Left”; pag.3. All parties in the Portuguese parliament voted today a declaration applauding the successful liberation of Ingrid Betancourt… all except one! Yes, you guess it! (read more here; in Portuguese)

What's left? (1)

This book caught my attention very rapidly. I’ve been asking this very same question for many years. Actually, there are two questions been asked in this clever and assertive title. What have we inherited from past left-wing movements? (or, if you prefer, what is their present legacy?) and what is the common matrix of present left-wing movements? The front cover is iconic and appealing. Liberation movements, guerrillas, peace and the third way… hippies and yuppies! So what’s left?

É minha intenção ao criar este blog, instituir uma espécie de diário de bordo das leituras que vou fazendo. É nessa perspectiva um espaço egoísta embora aberto ao exterior. Tal paradoxo resolver-se-á, assim o creio, nos meandros da sua construção. Optei por fazer uso quer do Português quer do Inglês, já que as leituras em que embarco são normalmente feitas nestas duas línguas. Viremos então a página…

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It is my intention by doing this blog to create a sort of traveller chronicle of my readings. It is in that perspective a selfish blog that, nevertheless, I want it to remain wide-open. In my opinion, such paradox will self-resolve along the blog construction. I have opted to use both Portuguese and English as most of the books I read are in one of these two languages. It is now time to turn the page…