2005-01-15
Editorial
Welcome to Fiatlux Redux
Greetings to friends, old and new.
We are finally back after taking some time off after the election to decide if we wanted to continue with the website and, if so, what form it should take.
Obviously, we have decided to continue, not because we feel that we have had, are having or will have a major effect on what transpires in the future, but because we feel a need to do something, even a small something, to help others be informed, particularly those who have not been actively engaged in seeking information about the world about them.
Rather than continue as a selective news source, extracting and presenting what we thought was the most important recently occurring news, we decided that we might be more effective as a source of thought-pieces, bringing together articles and essays by competent people who take deeper looks into issues and who are able to bring together and discuss complex matters in understandable ways.
Thus, Fiatlux REDUX was born. Think of it as an on-line magazine (one of many on the web) devoted to, as its sub-heading indicates, “Bimonthly Insight, Commentary and Perspective.” We will bring to you twice each month what we feel is writing worthy of your attention, written in a straightforward manner and concerned with some of the major issues of our time.
We will start with a REDUX of four parts: An editorial, articles from our Participating Authors (formerly called By-Line Authors) Featured Articles and Commentary. The Featured Articles section will consist of 10-12 essays, discussions or interviews. The Commentary Section will be devoted to items that we feel deserve special attention.
Later we hope to include book reviews and, perhaps, appropriate poetry and other creative writing.
The format of the site has changed from what it was.
You will still be able to access the topical archives of the old site, although those archives will no longer grow. Thus, if you are interested in news from Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Environmental Issues, etc., going, in some instances, as far back as 2002 and running through October 2004, you still have access to that information.
With regard to Participating Authors, you will have direct access to all articles we have from the authors from both the old site and the new. Simply click on an author’s name in the Contents Section of REDUX and you will immediately be able to see the particular author’s contribution to the current issue as well as have access to past writings. In addition, on each author’s page, you will find a link to that author’s biography. While on the subject, we welcome Dahr Jamail to the list of Participating Authors. We urge you to read the biography of this unusual young man who is currently reporting from Iraq and, often, specifically from Fallujah. His bravery is exemplary and we are proud to present his writing.
Finally, all issues of REDUX will be archived and readily accessible so that you can quickly and easily return to previous material.
With only two participants, the editor and the webmaster, both part-time, REDUX is necessarily small. But small can be beautiful and we will strive to make it so. If journalistic beauty can be defined in terms of honesty and openness, clarity of presentation, depth of content, and a willingness and commitment to deal with unpopular issues, we are ready to enter the beauty contest and do so now.
We came into being originally because we were very concerned with the direction in which our country was heading. Our original statement of purpose, for those of you who are new visitors can be found here.
Remarkably, things have worsened since that purpose was written. Our President now feels that he has a mandate to do anything he wishes. The Republican dominated Congress is apparently ready to completely wipe out all social gains that have been accomplished by previous Democrat and Republican administrations. Senate and House meetings frequently appear to be run by members of the Flat Earth Society as established knowledge is ignored and religious beliefs and quack solutions are accepted and preached as factual. It also is becoming increasingly clear that rational voters, both Republican and Democrat, who voted against George W. Bush have been had once again. As we launch our first issue of Fiatlux Redux, there have been incidents throughout the country, but particularly in Ohio and Florida, that brought forth a storm of voter protest regarding irregularities in election procedures that seem to involve criminal intent to defraud voters of their voting rights. Many Americans are so quick to insist on democratic voting procedures in other countries of the world. At the same time, however, they seem to be committed to courses of action that are leading to the destruction of democracy in America. To reverse this seemingly suicidal commitment, we can start with insuring equal voting rights for all American citizens and go from there. Finally ,always remember that we are here to help you keep informed. We'd like to hear from you. You can write to the editor from the website (see Contact Us on sidebar). Although we cannot promise a reply, always know that we value your opinions.
