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Rudolph the Red by Saab Lofton

the reveal — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 01:16:05 +0000

Rudolph the Red
by Saab Lofton

"The present splendid brotherhood of FICTION writers in England, whose graphic and eloquent pages have issued to the world MORE political and social truths than have been uttered by all the professional politicians, publicists and moralists put together."
--Karl Marx, praising Charles Dickens in an article for The New York Tribune on August 1st, 1854

Well, there you have it: The godfather of communism himself explicitly stating just how important a work of fiction can be.

The Sex Police, Part Two of Two

the reveal — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 00:09:02 +0000

The Sex Police, Part Two of Two
by Saab Lofton

In part one ...

Sadly, despite the obvious success of Scandinavia insofar as balancing social freedom with fiscal security, the number one reason why communism has yet to take hold in America is the fear that commies will censor, torture or murder their enemies. To further assuage that irrational neurosis, I've recently taken stances which are extremely unpopular with the ladies -- at great risk to my already-beleaguered reputation: First, I defended hard core porn's right to exist from some Stalinistic women who're the spiritual daughters of Andrea Dworkin (1946 - 2005) during a debate in Seattle's Pioneer Square, and while online, I defended the free speech of that fat bastard, Rush Limbaugh.

... and now, the conclusion ...

The Sex Police, Part One of Two

the reveal — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 00:03:29 +0000

The Sex Police, Part One of Two
by Saab Lofton

"In terms of socialism ... countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark, poverty has almost been eliminated. All people have healthcare as a right of citizenship. College education is available to all people, regardless of income, virtually free ... They have a lot of political participation, high voter turnouts [WHICH MEANS NO PURGES OR GULAGS] ... There is a lot to be learned from countries that have created more egalitarian societies than has the United States of America."
--U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Democracy Now, November 8th, 2006

... and ain't shit changed in the past six years ...

Black and Blue: The Ray Lewis Interview by Saab Lofton

the reveal — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 21:17:49 +0000

Black and Blue: The Ray Lewis Interview
by Saab Lofton

Solutions to Problems

the reveal — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 23:57:32 +0000

Solutions to Problems
by Saab Lofton

"On Earth, there is no poverty, no crime, no war. You look out the window of Starfleet Headquarters and you see paradise."
--Commander Sisko, from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, The Maquis, Part II

... and how exactly did the Human race achieve such a utopian state of affairs? Well, according to the 1996 movie, Star Trek: First Contact ...

The Power of Amnesty

the reveal — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:35:46 +0000

The Power of Amnesty
by Saab Lofton

He worked for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from 1966 to 1967 ("the most important experience of my life" as he put it). His 1972 documentary, It's Ours Whatever They Say, won the Silver Medal at the Venice Film Festival and his column regularly appears in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and The Boston Globe. He is Jonathan Power, Amnesty International's point man, and I feel so honored to have been able to interview this real-life superhero.

The Greatest Australian Heroine

the reveal — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:29:56 +0000

The Greatest Australian Heroine
by Saab Lofton

Dr. Helen Caldicott and Superman have a couple of things in common--both of them were born in 1938 and they're both die hard anti-nuke activists (see the movie Superman IV: The Quest for Peace if you don't believe me). They obviously differ in gender and hometowns -- the extraterrestrial "man of steel" was raised on a Kansas farm whereas Dr. Caldicott came from Melbourne, Australia (hence the title of this piece).

Come With Me If You Want To Live

the reveal — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:31:21 +0000

Come With Me If You Want To Live
by Saab Lofton

"NO sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be ... Our statesmen, our businessmen, our everyman must take on a science fictional way of thinking, whether he likes it or not, or even whether he knows it or not. Only so can the deadly problems of today be solved."
--Issac Asimov (1920 - 1992)

Shooting Fish in a Barrel by Saab Lofton

the reveal — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 08:41:21 +0000

Shooting Fish in a Barrel
by Saab Lofton

How did I learn the definition of solidarity? Not from attending a protest, but by watching an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine entitled "Crossover" in 1994 ...

A callous version of Ben Sisko from a parallel universe: What do you care about Terran freedom?
Major Kira: I care about FREEDOM.

Beware the Backlash Yet to Come

the reveal — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:36:02 +0000

Beware the Backlash Yet to Come
by Saab Lofton

"[Pat Buchanan's article entitled 'In the Long Run, Is the GOP Dead?'] is a fatalistic prediction that the GOP [Grand Ole Party or the Republican Party] is doomed because it can't promise enough free lunches for the inexorably rising percentage of non-white voters."
--Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone Magazine

... I prefer the term Freedom Lunches myself ...