World Press Review, April 2002

We welcome the April issue of the World Press Review. It should have a wide circulation in the US. Every country tends to view itself as the norm by which all others must be judged. This is especially true in the US, which is especially important in view of overwhelming American power. As the name indicates, the World Press Review gives translations of samples of the world press which throw light on world affairs. The cover selection, entitled "No East Entry: The Anti-Immigrant Backlash" is a good antidote to the Mexican-American media, which make illegal immigrants heroes fighting tyranny. The backlash is common to all recipient countries, including those of Europe; sometimes, as in Australia, youths, fighting authority as usual, use immigration controls as an excuse for riots.

The backlash of public opinion now expresses itself more freely, as The Sunday Times of London explains in "Saying the Unsayable". Previously. criticism of immigration, multiculturalism, and easy naturalization were shunned for fear of being branded a racist,or, in the case of Israel, anti-Semite. The Middle East impasse is covered in a section headed "Arafat and Sharon: Endgame". One delightful regular feature is the "World in Cartoons" section; cartoons have a marvellous ability to give the essentials of a complex situation.. The Jews have a Marx-brothers sense of humor. A cartoon from the Jerusalem Post has this captions: "In the government of George W. Bush, Colin Powell plays an important part...He plays the role of Simon Peres". There is no Arab cartoon, which would provide evidence of the Arab sense of humor, if any.

Ronald Hilton - 3/30/02