New World Notes - Pinter on Truth, Lies, and War (Second of two parts)

This week on New World Notes: radio program #396, October 6, 2015, Tuesday from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. (and on Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m.), host Kenneth Dowst excerpts playwright Harold Pinter's Nobel Prize acceptance speech of 2005 (newly edited by K.D.). Pinter's address is a stunning indictment of U.S. wars and skulduggery since 1945.

Pinter contrasts dramatic art--where "truth" is elusive, perhaps unknowable--with public life. Here truth indeed can be known. But citizens don't know the truth--Pinter charges--because the government is lying and deceiving nonstop to cover up its plunder abroad and its vicious wars of aggression.

The heart of the speech is Pinter's denunciation--and survey--of U.S. military aggression abroad since 1945. Pinter pays particular attention to the war against Iraq and the proxy wars of the recent past (notably against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, under Reagan).

Ten years on, this remains a powerful and moving indictment of U.S. foreign policy--and of the foreign policy of the U.S.'s "lapdog," Pinter's own country, the United Kingdom.

Part 2 is especially relevant to the present day. Pinter focuses on official hypocrisy, Guantanamo, U.S. nuclear weapons, the bombing of civilians--and the duty of citizens to find out the truth.

Plus brief commentary by K.D. and a song by Ethan Miller and Kate Boverman.

2015 marks the 10th anniversary of Pinter's Nobel speech and the 85th anniversary of his birth (on October 10, 1930, in Hackney, London, UK). He died in 2008.

Thanks to the Nobel Prize Committee for the video of Pinter's address. I have cut approximately six minutes from near the beginning of the speech (a close analysis of parts of certain Pinter plays) and shortened a few long pauses. The speech is otherwise complete. Pinter titled his speech, "Art, Truth and Politics."

Correction: Last week I incorrectly said that former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair received British honors and is now Sir Tony Blair. In fact Blair was offered a life peerage but declined the honor.

New World Notes is produced under the auspices (Latin for "suspicious gaze") of WWUH-FM, a community service of the University of Hartford.

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Series overview: Political and social commentary in a variety of genres. Exploring the gap between what we want--and what they're trying to make us settle for.

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