The Volunteer, September 2007

8/14/2019 The Volunteer, September 2007

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Vol. XXIV, No. 3 September 200

Moe Fishman at his desk in the VALB oice, planning the annual veterans' reunion, April . Moe dedicated his lie to VALB,

acting as the national spokesman or the vets or over years. See Memory's Roster, page . Photo by Richard Bermack.


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3/28

THE VOLUNTEER September 2007

By James D. Fernndez

Somecameromasnearbyas

Astoria,Williamsburg,andEast

Harlem.Otherstraveledallthe

wayromCanton,Milwaukee,

Greensboro,Chicago,SanDiego,andSanFrancisco.Joiningtheirranks

weremenandwomenwhojourneyed

romasarawayasAustralia,Brazil,

Canada,Croatia,England,France,

Germany,Ireland,Mexico,Slovenia,

Scotland,SwitzerlandandUruguay.

TheyexpressedthemselvesinEnglish,

Spanish,French,Catalan,German,

Italian,Japanese,andPortuguese.All

themembersothisremarkablydi-

versegroupomenandwomenhadonethingincommon:theyallvolun-

teeredtowritecommentsintherst

volumeotheguestbookotheexhi-

bitionFacingFascism:NewYorkand

theSpanishCivilWar,whichwason

viewattheMuseumotheCityo

NewYorkromlateMarchuntil

mid-August.

Theshowwasseenbytenso

thousandsoindividualsromall

overtheworld.Thousandsmorehaveattendedtheparallelpublicpro-

gramslectures,lmscreenings,

concerts,andseminarsmounted

bythemuseum.Hundredsoteach-

ersandstudentshavealsobeneted

romspecialguidedtoursandteacher

developmentinitiativescoordinated

bythemuseum.Manyotheseguests

havetakenamomenttoleavearecord

otheirvisittoFacingFascismby

jottingsomethingdownintheguestbook.

Itsdiculttocharacterizesuc-

cinctlytheheterogeneousinscriptions

theyhaveletbehind,whichrange

romsimple,grati-likeI-was-

hereannotationstoparagraph-long

ref ectionsand,occasionally,coun-

ter-ref ections.Thereis,moreover,

agooddealocontradictionamongtheresponses.Inspiringandvery

depressing;uplitingandtragic;

impartialandhorriblyone-sided,

inormativeanddisingenuous.

Thesearejustsomeothecontradic-

torycharacterizationsthatappearon

the75-oddpagesothebook,roughly

coveringthersteightweeksothe

showsrunatthemuseum.

Forthecuratorsotheshow,the

proximityotheexhibitedpast(just7

yearsago)representedbothagreat

challengeandagreatopportunity.

Andonethingsharedbymanyothemoresubstantialentriesintheguest

bookispreciselyastrongsenseoim

mediacyorurgency.Thesearethe

inscriptionsthatmakeonerealizetha

ormanyothemuseumsvisitors,th

historybeingchronicledisbyno

SceneS from an exhibition

James D. Fernndez is co-editor with

Peter N. Carroll o the exhibition

catalogue, Facing Fascism: New York & the

Spanish Civil War(New York University

Press). Continued on page


4/28

2 THE VOLUNTEER September 2007

meanssomekindoremote,detached

past,butratherakindounullled

promiseor,perhaps,anopenwound.

Identification, memorializationGreatorourtime,butnopic-

turesomymomanddad.

Apparently,somevisitorscameto

theMuseumotheCityoNewYork

ullyexpectingtondamiliaraces

portrayedintheexhibition.Notall

weredisappointed.FacingFascism

wasobviouslyvisitedbymanyothe

survivingveteransotheAbraham

LincolnBrigadeandbyscoresotheir

riendsandrelatives.Formostothesevisitors,theexhibitionrepresenteda

longoverduetributetothemenand

womenwhohadriskedlieandlimb

togotoSpaintostemthetideoas-

cism.Thesevisitorstendtowritein

memoryoronbehaloothersand

otenexpressgratitudetothe

museum.

Thanks for keeping the spirit and

ideals of the brigadistas alive. And thanks

for perpetuating the memory of my broth-er, Hy [Greenfield].

In honor of my uncle Edward K.

Barsky, I thank you for an excellent

exhibit.

In honor of my father Arthur

Munday, member of the LB. I thank you

for this wonderful exhibit.

In memory of my uncle, Savino

Martinez

In memory of my father, Georges

Adorian, who fought in the IB (Toronto)Congratulations and thank you

from the family of Ben Leider and L R.

Bradley.

Very good. My grandfather died in

Spain War.

For Bill Lazarre aka Bill Lawrence,

political commissar, Spain, ALB, Comrade

and Grandfather. For Bill Lazarre, my fa-

ther. Thank you for this exhibit and all

your work.

On behalf of the families of the brig-

adistas who volunteered and neverreturned from Spain. Thank you for the

moving and wonderful exhibit.

I thank the MCNY for a job well

done. My great uncle, Herminio Avils

Valencia, was a volunteer in Spain. He

was wounded there and died as a result in

the Presbyterian Hospital of San Juan,

Puerto Rico.

My husband Jack Penrod fought in

Spain, [and I] loved the exhibit.

I write this entry on behalf of veter-an Hy Tabb, 93 years old, who was

brought by his wife Tommy (Tamaara).

My grandmother, Alice Wagnon,

was a member of the Lincoln Brigade as a

nurse. I have always admired her for this

achievement, and I have traveled from

California to see the "Facing Fascism ex-

hibit. Thank you MCNY for this tribute.

This is my third visit. The exhibit

seems even better each time. My father

was in the ALB and yet Ive learned somuch from this exhibit. Such important

work. History is a treasure and you have

brought it alive.

In memory of my father who came

here from Cuba and fought in Spain.

In honor of my brother-in-law who

fought valiantly in Spain and returned

wounded; a dom-dom bullet in his chest.

God bless his memory.

Great exhibit. Remembering my

dad, vet, Robert Klonsky.Oneothesignalcontributionso

theexhibitionhasbeenthedocumen-

tationothevastantiascist

mobilizationthattookplaceinNew

Yorkinthelate-1930s.Thoughthe

2,800volunteersotheAbraham

LincolnBrigadenaturallyenjoyapriv

ilegedplaceintheexhibition,thetrue

protagonistsotheexhibitionarethe

tensothousandsoordinaryNew

Yorkerswhotooktothestreetsinde-enseotheSpanishRepublic.These

visitorsandtheirdescendentswere

alsoabletoidentiyimmediatelywith

thescenesandeventschronicledin

theexhibition.

My mother raised funds for the

Abraham Lincoln Brigade!

My father was in NY, coming from

Chicago, to help load ships for Spain.

Saturday night was raising mone

in the New York subway night. You camwith your collection can, you paid your

fare and made speeches on the train. Yes

we believed in the fight for Democracy in

Spain. We believed in Democracy for the

world, and we still fight. Ruth, 87 yrs.

An excellent presentation of this

important historic moment in history.

From one who shook the collection box

calling out Make Madrid the Tomb of

Fascism.

In memory of the many times mySpanish mom and I screamed at German

and Italian embassies: Hitler and

Mussolini, Keep your hands off Spain.

My older siblings were in Spain

during this terrible civil war. I was touched

and admire the volunteers of Lincoln

Brigade, your courage gave many hope.

Thank you for this exhibit!

De una nia de la Guerra que se

fue a Mexico pasando por Nueva York y

pasando una semana en Ellis Island.[From a child of the war who went to

Mexico, passing through New York and

spending a week on Ellis Island.]

Enhorabuena. As the wife of the

son of an exiled Republican, and a New

Yorker descended from Jewish immigrant

exhibitionContinued rom page

Continued on page


5/28


By Joe Butwin

OnMay30,1937,ashipcalledLa

Ciudad de Barcelonawastorpedoedby

anItaliansubmarinewithinsightotheSpanishcoast.Twosurvivorso

theinitialblast,BobReedandAbe

Oshero,swamashoreandoughtto

deendtheSpanishRepublicasparto

alie-longcommitmentthatwould

leadbothmentoSeattle.There,exact-

ly70yearslater,onMay29,2007,poet

andactivistMartnEspadadelivered

thesecondannualReed-Oshero

LectureattheUniversityo

Washington.Espada,whohaspublished13vol-

umesasapoet,editorandtranslator

andteachescreativewritingatthe

UniversityoMassachusetts-Amherst,

addressedagroupomorethan150

people.Initsbroaddiversity,theaudi-

encedeedcharacterizationasthe

bandousualsuspectswhoarenor-

mallyroundeduporpoetryreadings

andacademiclectures.Certainlythere

werestudentsopoetryinthecrowdandstudentsoSpanishlanguageand

literature,alongwithsomeotheir

proessors.Therewerealsoparents

andgrandparentsandaliberalsprin-

klingochildren,citizens,scholars,

andactivists.ThatwouldincludeAbe

Oshero,inawheelchair.BobReed,

whodiedtwoyearsago,wasrepre-

sentedbyhissonBillandhisdaughter

Janet.

Espada,hisaudience,andthetitleohismostrecentbookopoemsThe

Republic of Poetry(Norton,2006)re-

mindusothelongassociationo

poetryandpoliticsthatgoesbackto

whatwritersatthetimeotheFrench

andAmericanRevolutionsbeganto

callTheRepublicoLetters.Writers

ceasedtorelyonthepatronageo

kingsandaristocratsandturnedtoa

vastnewaudienceintheemergentde-mocracyoranewkindopatronage.

Spainin1937mayhavebeensucha

country,arepublicopoetrywithem-

issariesateveryrontandacapitalat

PabloNerudasCasadelasFlores,the

HouseoFlowers,inMadrid.

ThatnightinSeattle,Martn

EspadacalledhistalkThePoetryo

theGoodFight,which,asheex-

plained,reerstothepoemsand

poetsthatemergerompoliticalstrug-gle,butitalsoreerstothewaysin

whichpoliticalactivismmakesliepo-

etic.Therearepoliticsinthepoetry;

thereisalsopoetryinthepolitics.He

remindedhisaudienceohis,and

their,rootsinthepoetryandproseo

WaltWhitman,alongwithpoetryo

Neruda,CesarVallejoandMiguel

Hernandezthatf ourishedinthe

RepublicandtheAmericancontribu-tionsbyEdnaSt.VincentMillay,

GenevieveTaggard,andthesoldier-

poetEdwinRole.

Espada,clearlyacitizenothe

sameRepublic,alsoreadromhisown

poems,includingatributetoAbe

Osheroandtheotherswhoswamto

shoreromtheCiudad de Barcelonaand

tohisownather,who,likeAbeand

BobReed,wasalsoacivilrightswork-

er.Espadaspassion,hispoetry,andthpeoplewhogatheredinSaveryHallat

theUniversityoWashingtonthat

nightshowthatineverycornero

BushsAmericatheRepublicoLetters

isaliveandwell.

Joe Butwin is a proessor o English at th

University o Washington.

Poet Martn Espada PresentsReed-Osheroff Lecture

Martn Espada and Abe Oshero, ater Espada read The Carpenter Who Swam to

Spain" at a VALB reunion in999. Photo by Richad Bermack.


6/28


AspartoSanFranciscosan-

nualsummerLaborFest,a

Julylmestivalandcele-

brationothecityslaborhistory,

ALBAandtheBayAreavetsco-

sponsoredthescreeningotwodocumentarymoviesaboutthe

SpanishCivilWar,drawingalarge

crowdtotheRoxieTheatertosee

Spanish Earth(1937)andSouls with-

out Borders(2006).

Theolderlm,madebyJoris

IvensandwrittenbyErnest

Hemingwayasapropagandapiece

insupportotheSpanishRepublic,

presentedthestarkblackandwhite

ootagethatcelebratedtheheroicSpanishpeopleintheirghtagainst

better-armedascistinsurgents.In

hisintroductoryremarks,Peter

Carrollexplainedthatthelmhad

beenscreenedattheWhiteHouse

exactly70yearsearlierinaneort

topersuadePresidentFranklinD.

By Char Prieto

ThecityoBurgosinSpainisan

historicalplace.Itswell

knownoritsmonumental

13thcenturyGothiccathedral,the

medievalcastle,theLasHuelgas

Monastery,and,aboveall,the

Inquisition.Ionlythecenturiesold

stonesothesemonumentscouldtalk,wewouldhearaboutblood,

massacres,repression,torture,and

injustice.

Eventodayvisitorscanseeatthe

entranceoLasHuelgasMonasterya

signthatsays:Intheyear1937the

FirstFascistNationalCongresscon-

vened,unitingGodandGeneral

Franco,withapledgetogiveitsser-

viceandlivesoitsmembersinthe

HolocaustorareeSpain.DuringtheSpanishCivilWarBurgosserved

asthebaseoGermanysCondor

Legion.Thiscityisasymbolothe

Francoistcrusadeagainstliberalism,

aswellasthebaseooperationsrom

whereGermanplanesletorthe

bombingoGuernica.

Thewallsothesehistorical

monumentscannottalk,butthe

thousandsoRepublicanvictimso

Francosterroranddespoticideals

can,andtheyhavegivenpersonal

testimonyconcerningthecrueltyo

theFascistregime.

June23,2007,wasanhistoric

dateorcrusadersagainstFascism.FinallytheAntiascistAssociationo

Ex-PoliticalPrisonersunveileda

monumentinBurgosdedicatedto

thevictimsotheCivilWarand

Francosrepression.Oneotherst

wordsduringthecommemorative

eventswastogivethankstothe

InternationalBrigades.Thisgroupo

combatantswasmentionedseveral

timesduringthehomage.

ThemayoroBurgos,romtherightistPopularParty(Partido

Popular),ocourse,wasnotpresent

insteadtherewereseveralhundred

antiascistsupporters.

Char Prieto teaches at Caliornia State

University, Chico.

Continued on page

Vets (l-r) Hilda Roberts, Nate Thornton, Dave Smith and Milt Wol answering

questions at the screening oSouls without Borders, produced by Miguel Angel Nieto

and Tony Geist. Photo by Richard Bermack.

Bay Area Vets Star at Film Screening

Antifascist Monumentin Burgos

Irving Norman Exhibit

The paintings o Lincoln vet Irving

Norman continue their national tour.

The next stop or Dark Metropolis:

Irving Normans Social Surrealism is the

Katzen Art Center at American

University in Washington, DC,

November 6 to January 2, 2008.

These meticulously detailed paint-

ings reect a troubled and turbulent

world in which urban spaces and mod-ern lie are decimated by technology,

poverty, and war. The show was curated

by Scott Shields and organized by the

Crocker Art Museum.

For more inormation call 202-88-

ARTS (28).


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Antiascist monument at Burgos.


8/28


By Daniel Czitrom

ALBAispleasedtoannouncethe

winnersothisyearsGeorgeWatt

Awards,establishedtohonorthe

memoryothisLincolnvet(1914-1994),author,activist,andleading

gureincreatingandsupporting

ALBA.AterhisstintinSpain,George

servedintheArmyAirCorpsduring

WorldWarII;hisplanewasshotdown

overBelgiumandheescapedrombe-

hindNazilineswiththehelpolocal

resistanceghters.Togetabetter

senseohisremarkableliestoryand

hispassionatecommitmenttoradical

socialchange,takealookathisengag-inglywritten1990memoir,The Comet

Connection: Escape from Hitlers Europe.

TheWattAwardsweredesigned

toencouragestudentresearchand

writingontheAmericanexperiencein

Spain,aswellasonrelatedtopicsin

theSpanishCivilWarandthelarger

historyoanti-ascism.

For2007,webeganacceptingwork

writteninSpanishaswellasEnglish,

animportantpartooureorttomakeALBAamoreinternationalpres-

ence.Wereceivedsometwodozen

entriesthisyear,onethirdowhich

werewritteninSpanish.Wehadan

especiallystronggroupoundergrad-

uatesubmissions.

Thisyearscommitteeojudges

consistedoSebastiaanFaber(Oberlin

College),GinaHerrmann(University

oOregon),andDanielCzitrom

(MountHolyokeCollege).ALBAisdelightedtoawardtwo

prizeso$500each,oroneunder-

graduateessayandonegraduate

essay.Wepublishherebrieabstracts

othewinningpapers.Theullessays

arepostedontheALBA/VALB

website.

Andthisyearswinnersare:

Graduate: Julie Prieto, Stanford

University,PartisanshipinBalance:

The New York Times Coverageothe

SpanishCivilWar,1936-1939Undergraduate: Ashley Johnson,

Mount Holyoke College,Healingthe

WoundsoFascism:TheAmerican

MedicalBrigadeandtheSpanishCivil

War

Abstract of:

Partisanship in Balance: The

New York Times Coverage of the

Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939

by Julie Prieto

Withtheoutbreakothe

SpanishCivilWarin1936,

Spainbecameamagnetor

internationaljournalistsollowing

theortunesotheSecondRepublic.

Innewspapersandmagazines,writ-

erswithawiderangeopolitical

aliationsoeredcompetingvisions

oSpain,presentingthecountryas

bothasymbolodemocracytrium-

phantandothepoliticalinstability

orevolutioninthecontextothein-

ternationalspreadocommunism.

Withitswell-knowncommitmenttooreignnewsreporting,The New York

Timesinvestedconsiderablereport-

ingresourcesintoSpain,assigning

numeroustemporarycorrespondents

andthreepermanentreporterstothe

warinitsopeningdays.

Mypaperexplorestheexperience

othethreepermanentreporters

assignedtocovertheSpanishCivil

WarorThe New York Times.All

veteranoreigncorrespondents,these

threemen,HerbertMatthews,LawrenceFernsworth,andWilliam

Carney,competedwithinthestructur

othepapertoconstructverydieren

versionsoSpanisheventsbasedon

theirownchangingpersonalpolitics.

Eschewingcontemporarynotionso

journalisticobjectivity,Herbert

MatthewsandLawrenceFernsworth

bothwrotearticlesthatwerehighly

supportiveotheRepublicromtheir

postsinMadridandBarcelonarespectively.WhileLawrencehad

beenasupporterotheRepublic

throughoutthe1930sandwasstrong

inavoroincreasedregional

autonomy,pro-Republicanpolitics

representedadepartureorMatthew

whohadbeensympatheticto

MussoliniandtheItalianarmy.

PreviouslystationedtoMadrid,but

assignedtoNationalistSpainthrough

mostothewar,WilliamCarneyalso

wrotehighlypartisanarticlesbutwas

astrongsupporteroFrancisco

FrancosSpain,otenminimizingin

hisdispatchestheroleooreigninterventioninaidingtheinsurgents.

Ratherthanappearbiasedto-

wardseitherside,thismeantthat

editorsatvariouslevelsotheTimes

werechargedwithcreatingairness

andbalancebyattemptingtogive

Continued on page

George Watt Memorial Award Winners:

In newspapers and magazines, writers with

a wide range of political affiliations offered

competing visions of Spain


9/28


equalweighttothereportersdiver-

gentviewpoints.Evenwhenthis

approachwasshowntobef awed,as

whenWilliamCarneysdispatches

romNationalistSpainwereshowntobealseinmid1937,theTimescontin-

uedtopursuethesameeditorial

policy.Thiscreatedanumberoper-

sonalanimositiesamongthereporting

andeditorialstaotheTimes,andled

Matthewsinparticulartobecome

highlycriticalonewscoveragedur-

ingthewaranditseectonpublic

knowledgeandopinionintheUnited

States.

Abstract of:

Healing the Wounds of

Fascism: The American Medical

Brigade and the Spanish Civil

War by Ashley Johnson

InJanuary1937,underthejurisdic-

tionotheMedicalBureautoAid

SpanishDemocracy,menand

womensuchasDr.EdwardBarsky,

NurseFrederickaMartin,NurseSalariaKee,andhospitaladministra-

tor/interpreterMildredRackley

ormedtheAmericanMedicalBrigade

toestablishtherstAmericanhospital

ortheLoyalisttroopsinSpain.

Catholics,Jews,AricanAmericans,

andmanyothersjoinedromallwalks

olietohealthewoundsinf ictedby

FranciscoFrancoonthepeopleo

Spain.

ThesemenandwomensailedtoSpainwithhighhopesandaervent

dedicationtothePopularFront.Many

lettershomeexpressedtheiropti-

mism,whiletheirdiaryentriesshowa

darkersideotheirexperiences.In

thisverypublicwar,theyremained

cheerulorthesakeothehomeront,

thehopeolitingRooseveltsembar-

go,andortheirownpersonalsanity.

Aterall,intheSpanishCivilWara

RedCrossdidnotrepresentmedical

asylum,butatargetorFascistbombers.

ThestoryotheAmericanMedical

Brigadeisoneoheroism,internation-

alism,andallegiancetothePopular

Frontothe1930s.Forabrietimein

history,Communists,Socialists,liber-

als,andsimpleanti-ascistsjoined

togetherwithonegoal:thedeeato

Franco.BehindtheirPartyslogans

andoptimistictales,medicalperson-

nelwerenormalhumanbeings,subjecttoearintheaceowartime

violence.Theirstorydisplaystheten-

sionsbetweenerventpoliticalbelies

andthehorriblerealityooneothe

bloodiestwarsinworldhistory.

Roosevelttointervenetosavethe

Republic,butithadsucceededonlyinmakingFDRremarksadly,

Spainisthevicarioussacriceo

usall.

Souls without Borders,madeby

journalistMiguelAngelNieto

andTonyGeist,whichwas

recentlyscreenedattheSeattle

FilmFestival,haditspremierein

Caliorniawithseveralothe

membersothecastinattendance.

Thehour-longdocumentarywon

livelyapplause,buttheaudience

cametoitseetwithcheersorourLincolnvetsnurseHilda

Roberts,DavidSmith,Nate

Thorton,andMiltonWolwho

spokeaterwardsabouttheir

involvementintheSpanishCivil

Warandrearmedthevalueoa

lieoactivism.Collectively,they

presentedalivinghistoryothe

greatstrugglesothe1930sandan

enduringspiritoanti-ascism.

Bay Area VetsContinued rom page 4

Prieto and JohnsonContinued rom page

Bay Area vets Hilda Roberts and Nate Thornton addressing the audience oSouls

without Borders.


10/28


it was moving to see my worlds intersect

in the space where moral conscience meetshuman solidarity and action.

Relevance and Immediacy:Intervention and Appeasement

Bychroniclingtheinvolvemento

NewYorkersintheSpanishCivilWar,

FacingFascisminvitesspectatorsto

thinkaboutquestionsointervention

andappeasementinourday.Therhet-

oricotheBushadministration,which

hastriedtocategorizeopponentsotheIraqinvasionassupportersoap-

peasement,ounditswayintoone

entryintheguestbook:

Today, Maunanu Achamanadinjad

and the Islamist Fundamentalists are the

Fascists. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are

the same type of people who appeased the

Fascists in the 1930s. George Bush and

Tony Blair are the Republicans of today,

who are fighting this new type of fascism.

Signed, Loyal Americans who are the toosilent majority.

Anothervisitorwrotetheword

Idiotinlargelettersacrossthisen-

try,andyetanothercommented,

Anotherchickenhawk,likeBush/

Cheney/Wolowitz.Severalvisitors

expressedaverydierentreadingo

theparallelismsbetweenthe1930s

andtoday:Remarkable exhibit.

Congratulations on a brilliant job.

Impeach Bush-Cheney, fascists in

residence.

Now its time to fight fascism here

at home. Impeach and jail Bush, Cheney

and the rest of Francos successors in the

White House.

Excellent! Down with fascism

still alive in the 21st century.

Sins of OmissionManyspectatorschosetowrite

aboutwhattheyoundmissingin

theexhibition:Notamentiono

Lorca,killedbyFranco;Wonderul

exhibitbutneededsongsothewar

andahugecopyoGuernica;

Excellentbutthesongsaremissing.

Otherswrotetocomplainothe

allegedinvisibilityothenon-com-

munistletintheexhibition,orothelackoattentiontotheideological

striewithinthelet.Someothese

complaintsseemtobemadebysym-

pathizersothenon-communistlet,

othersbyanti-communistsandene-

miesotheletingeneral.

Where are the anarchists and

trotskyists who died fighting vs. Franco?

They are invisible in this exhibit and that

shameful.

There was an anti-Stalinist left of

some significance in this period that

played an important role in the SpanishCivil War. You would not know that from

this show, unfortunately.

Unfortunately, the views presented

here are most disingenuousreally lies

the Communists were no better than the

Nazis

A horribly one-sided view of histo-

ry. Hardly a mention of communist

atrocities or the soviet unions effort to

wield control. I guess there are still unre-

constructed communists and fellowtravelers in NYC and on the museums

staff.

According to the comments above,

our society still harbors unreconstructed

fascists who have learnt nothing from his

tory. Viva la quince brigada.

An excellent exhibit, although mor

emphasis could have been placed on the ac

tivities of the Soviet Secret Police in Spain

and on the Trotskyist critics of the Popula

Front in New York. Nevertheless, a gem oan exhibit.

Spaniards Reactto New Yorkers ReactingHow,orwhether,toremember

andmemorializetheSpanishCivil

Warisaburningpoliticalquestionin

Spaintoday.Forthisreason,thereac-

tionsoSpaniardsthatvisitedFacing

Fascismtransmitastrongsenseo

immediacyandurgency.Thegeneralcontoursothedebateabouthistorica

memoryinSpainarenicelycaptured

intheinscriptionsspontaneouslyjot-

teddownbySpanishtouristsinthe

museumsguestbook.

From a Spaniard born in 1941 and

raised in Francos Spain, thank you from

exhibitionContinued rom page


11/28


the bottom of my heart for then and for the

exhibition now.

Franco never supported Hitlers

ideas. Viva Espaa.

Fascist! Lies! [in response to above,

my translation]I dont know what you saw. But

you must have been blind. [in response to

above, my translation]

I am a Spanish woman, and I dont

share the vision of this exhibition. I have a

doctorate in History and Geography. The

exhibition is poor and reductionist. The

War was a fight among brothers, spurred

by political leaders pursuing party inter-

ests. Its a shame that in 2007 history is

once again reinvented by current politi-

cians (Zapatero) trying to cultivate

divisiveness. [my translation]

Im also a Spanish woman with a

doctorate in Contemporary History for theAutonomous University of Madrid, and

this person that wrote above is what in

Spain we call a fascist. Memory must

not disappear from Spains history as

Aznars government attempted to do. Long

live Socialist Spain! [my translation, in re-

sponse to above]

I too am Spanish and I think that

this exhibition doesnt presume to talk

about the causes of the War, but rather to

demonstrate that the human spirit can beso grand and generous that you can fight

even on behalf of people that you dont

know, thousands of miles away. All of

these testimonies of the Lincoln volunteers

arent the declarations of politicians, they

are the statements of men and women who

saw injustice and the horrors of fascism,

and who took action. [my translation]

Thanks to the American volunteers

who helped the Spanish people, and thanks

especially to the women nurses that did

their job taking care of children and the in-

firm. As usual, the people proved to bemore admirable than the politicians pursu-

ing their own interests. [my translation]

Excellent work! As a Spaniard I feel

deeply indebted with the men and women

from New York who fought for an ideal.

You Americans are not the saviors

of the world. Only those who lived through

that war can know what kind of torture it

was. 30 years of dictatorship cant be

summed up in a small room in a museum.

I am not from Spain but my family is. Ah!

There are many things here that ought to

be returned to Spain. [my translation]

The Homeland (Patria) is the

refuge of cowards. Franco was a patriotand a fascist, and for 40 years he subju-

gated us. Only with freedom have we

Spaniards earned a place in the world.

Yesterday, April 14, 2007, we commemo-

rated the 71st anniversary of what the

fascists destroyed. Long live the Republic!

[my translation]

Thanks to all the New Yorkers who

went to our country when times were

tough. Franco wasnt that bad, and the re-

publicans werent that good. There wasgood and bad on both sides. Unfortunately.

Viva Espaa! [my translation]

And there you are, lurking in the

middle, taking advantage of everything.

People have to respect the legitimate re-

gime, whether they like it or not!!

[response to above, my translation]

It has been a surprise to meet this

exhibition. Im from Spain, from Basque

Country. I didnt know anything about

Abraham Lincolns Brigade. Thank you

very much to these NY-ers in my name

and the rest of Spanish people. My grandmas family was death in Gernicas crime.

Thanks.

Thanks very much to all the

Americans who decided to fight in my

country against the fascism. Thanks very

much. Spaniards are very proud of them

and we will try that all generations never

will forget them. Vivan las Brigadas

Internacionales!!

Talking Back:Famous Last Words

Shortlyatertheinaugurationo

FacingFascism,The New York Times

publishedaremarkablytendentious

andcrotchetyreviewotheshow.

Dozensoresponsesweresenttothe

paper,butnonewerepublished.Som

visitorschosetorespondinthemuse

umsguestbook.Foronce,thelast

wordsbelongtothem.

Impressively organized exhibit, notas biased as the negative reviews have

claimed.

Great exhibit. Eddie Rothstein got

it wrong in his New York Times review.

Excellent! The NYTimes review

was so unfair! You can see the conflict

from all the points of view involved. Good

luck with it.

Bravissimo. Balanced. Unlike the

New York Times review which did not re-

view the exhibition as much as give anopinion of historical readings.

Excellent show! Shame on the

New York Times. Rothstein is a soul-less

crank. History is complex, of course.

Courage is not.

Now its time to fight fascism here at home.

Impeach and jail Bush, Cheney and the rest of

Francos successors in the White House.


12/28


By Peter H. Pinkerton

HenryNormanBethunewasa

CanadiansurgeonoScottish

origin.Hisparentshadwide

interestsinacademia,thechurch,the

arts,medicineandbusiness.Bethunehadwideinterestsinmedicine,poli-

ticsandthearts.Hegraduatedin

medicineinDecember1916inToronto

aterbeingwoundedwhileserving

inFlandersin1915.Hereceivedpost-

graduatesurgicaltraininginLondon

andreturnedtoNorthAmerica,set-

tingupapracticeinDetroit.Hewas

diagnosedwithtuberculosisin1926,

romwhichherecovered,resolvedto

workintheeldochestsurgery.HeworkedinMontrealorthreeyears

withEdwardArchibald,oneothe

pioneersochestsurgeryinNorth

America.Archibaldhadalsobeenone

othersttousebloodtransusionin

theGreatWarin1915.

BethunemovedtoSacreCoeur

HospitalinCartiervillenearMontreal

asheadothechestsurgeryservice

inearly1933.Thepatientshesaw

withArchibaldwouldtendtobeAnglophonemiddleclass,whereasat

SacreCoeurtheywouldbecharity

patientsromthepoorFrancophone

community.Thisexperience

exposedhimtothejuxtapositiono

tuberculosisandpoverty,andtothe

dierencesintreatmentopportunities

andoutcomeinthepoorandwell-

to-do.Incidentally,weknowhewas

usingbloodtransusiontotreat

patientsatSacreCoeur.Hissocialconsciencewasarousedbythese

experiences,andbyavisittoRussia,

wherehewasimpressedwiththe

availabilityandeectivenesso

treatment,givenasarighttothe

individual,ratherthanascharity.

ReturningtoMontrealexcitedbywhathehadlearnedinRussiaandrom

hisownexperience,heormedthe

MontrealCommitteeortheSecurity

othePeoplesHealth.Drivenby

Bethunesenergyanddedication,a

comprehensivereportwasproduced,

advocatingmeasuresordelivery

ohealthcareservicestoenhance

universalaccessandtomitigate

injustices.Thereportwasrejected

bothasanelectionissueinQuebecandbyorganizedmedicine.

Bethunewasangry,rustrated

anddisappointedattherejection

ohisproposalsandwasreadyor

somepracticalactionref ecting

hisdevelopingsocialistandanti-

ascistviews.Atthistime,hewas

approachedbytheCommitteetoAid

SpanishDemocracy(CASD),which

invitedhimtoheadasurgicalteamin

Spain.Heagreedtodoso,althoughhehadnoclearideawhatthissurgical

teammightcontribute.Inearly

November,onhiswaytoMadrid,

hevisitedandwasimpressedbythe

BloodTransusionServiceestablished

inBarcelonainSeptember1936byDr.

DuranJorda,whichwassupplying

bloodtoalimitedareaaround

Barcelona.

InMadridBethunemetwith

HenningSorensen,amulti-lingualnewspaperreporteroDanish

extractionromMontreal,whowasto

actashisinterpreterandliaison

ocer.WithSorensen,Bethunevisited

hospitalsandmetwithsurgeonsrom

variousorganizationsservingthe

Republicanauthoritiesandthe

InternationalBrigades.Hebecame

increasinglyuncomortablewiththe

prospectoworkingwithinthe

administrativeandpolitical

environmentotheseorganizations.

Onhisvisitstohospitalsandindiscussionswithsurgeonshebecame

awareotheverylimitedcapacityor

supplyingbloodortransusion.He

conceivedtheideaoacentralized

transusionservicebasedinMadrid,

providingbloodortransusionatthe

ront.Thiswasattractiveinthathe

wouldhaveaclearlydenedareao

responsibilityindependento

authorityandtheorganizedsurgical

services.HelaidhisproposalbeoretheSocorroRojo(theonlyeective

medicalserviceatthetime),which

endorsedtheidea.Fundsweremade

availableromtheCASD.

OnNovember21,Bethuneand

SorensenletorParisandLondon,

returningonDecember6toquarters

assignedtothemat36Principede

VergarainMadrid,withsuppliesand

equipmenttoestablishtheMadrid

service,tobenamedtheServicioCanadiensedeTransusiondeSangre

Drivers,technicians,nursesandoce

stawerehiredrombothoreign

volunteerandSpanishsources,

includingtwoSpanishphysicians

involvedwiththesmalltransusion

serviceattheMadridmedicalschool.

Volunteerdonorsweresolicited

throughnewspapersandradiowith

anoverwhelmingresponse.

TherstdeliveryobloodortransusionwasmadeonDecember

23.Theserviceexpandedrapidly,wit

about10gallons(about80units)

giveninJanuary1937.Additional

centerswereopenedinValenciaand

Jaen;thestaincreasedtoabout

100,with4,000registereddonors

Peter H. Pinkerton is a member o the

Department o Clinical Pathology,

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and

Department o Laboratory Medicine

and Pathobiology, University o Toronto,

Ontario, Canada.

Blood Transfusion in the Spanish Civ


13/28


and5deliveryvehicles.Fivemonths

aterstartingtheservice,Bethunes

organizationwassupplyingaront

1,000kmlong.Asmanyas100

transusionsmightbegiveninasingle

dayattimesohighmilitaryactivity.ItisclearthatBethuneappreciated

theneedorprompttransusioninthe

exsanguinatingwoundedandurged

thattransusionbegivenasarorward

aspossible,incasualtyclearingstations

andeldhospitals.Transusionswere

otengiveninprimitivecircumstances

andcoldstorageobloodwas

sometimesprovidedbyimmersionin

mountainstreams.

However,allwasnotwellwithintheInstituto.InMarch

1937theSanidadMilitartookover

responsibilityormedicalservices

(includingBethunes)andmoved

toappointathree-mancommittee

(Bethuneand2Spanishphysicians)

tooverseetheservice,whichwas

re-namedtheInstitutoHispano-

CanadiensedeTransusionde

Sangre.Thischangewasinconf ict

withBethunestemperamentandintoleranceooutsideauthorityover

hisaairs.OnApril12hecabled

theCASDdemandingtherecallo

Canadianpersonnel.

Furthermore,Bethunespersonal

conductwascausingdiculties.

Thepressureosupportinghis

transusionservice,withitswide

rangeooperations,andgiving

manytransusionshimselwas

aectinghisbehavior.Hewasshort-tempered,drinkingexcessively,and

promiscuousinhissexualactivities.

HisSwedishsecretary(andlover)was

suspectedospyingontheRepublican

side,andBethunewassuspectedby

association.Thissuspiciononthepart

oskepticalRepublicanauthorities

wasenhancedbyBethuneslming

hisactivities(Heart of Spain)to

promoteundraisinginCanada.

TheCASDsentadelegationto

reviewBethunesoperationand

decided,withtheencouragementoSorensenandotherCanadians

workingwithBethune,torecall

BethunetoCanada,ontheexcusethat

alecturetourwouldhelpund-raising

athome.BethunereturnedtoCanada

inMay1937toanenthusiastic

welcomeandahighlysuccessul

lecturetour.InJanuary1938,helet

orChinawithaCanadian-American

MedicalUnit,wherehejoinedthe

CommunistorcesunderMaoZedong.Hediedosepticemiaromacut

sustainedduringsurgeryin

November1938.

TheInstitutocontinuedto

unctionuntiltheendothewar

underthedirectionoDr.Vincente

GoyannesandlaterDr.Valentinde

laLoma,includingtheinvolvement

oSorensenandotherCanadian

membersoBethunesteam.Overall,

about5,000unitsobloodweretransused,accountingoralmost80%

othetransusionsduringthewar.

Bethunesmaincontributionto

bloodtransusionwastodemonstrate

thatthesystematiccollectionand

distributionobloodonalargescale

ortransusionneartherontwas

possibleandcouldbequitequickly

organized.Heclearlyrealizedthe

importanceoprompttransusionand

wenttogreatlengthstoensureavailabilitynearthebattleront.

Curiously,hiscontributionshave

receivedlittlepublishedattention,

includingromthosewhowerewell

awareohisactivities.Reginald

Saxton,asurgeonwiththeBritish

contributiontotheInternational

Brigades,notonlywasvisitedby

Bethune(oeringtransusionsuppor

andvisitedBethunesservicein

Madrid,butalsopublisheda

descriptionoBethunesservicein

MadridwithoutmentioningBethuneDuranJordawaswellawareo

Bethunesactivitiesbutnever

mentionshiminhisextensive

accountsotransusioninSpaininthe

late1930s.Britishauthors,preparing

ortheoutbreakohostilitieswith

Germanyin1939,werewellawareo

thetransusionexperienceinSpain

reportedbySaxtonandDuranJorda

(whobythenwasadvisingtheBritish

butnevermentionBethune.Severalactorsarelikelyinvolved

inthelackorecognition.Bethune

neverpublishedaormalaccounto

hisactivities,andourunderstanding

ohiscontributioncomeslargelyrom

indirectsources.Hiscommitmentwa

oshortduration,andhehadno

establishedreputationintheeld.Hi

aggressive,irascible,boisterousand

unconventionalcharactermayhave

compromisedappreciationohisservicebyothers.Thereisnoquestion

therewereproessionalandpolitical

tensionsbetweenBethunes(and

perhapsotheroreignmedical)

service(s)andthelocalmedical

establishmentandtheSanidadMilita

whichmayalsohavetendedto

obscurethevalueoBethunes

contributions.

BethuneneveragainvisitedSpain

nordidheexpressanyregretthathedidnotreturntohistransusion

service.Aninterestindeveloping

homesororphansotheSpanish

CivilWarprovedtransientandnever

cametoruition,beingovertakenby

hisdesiretoservethecauseothe

ChineseCommunistorces.

War: Dr. Norman Bethune


14/28


Robeson in Spainby Joshua Brown and Peter N. Carroll

Episode 1

Brought to you in part by a grant to The ALBA Arts & Letters Program

from The Pufn Foundation, Ltd.

Created in collaboration with The Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee

What follows is the rst episode of a new graphic serial about Paul

Robesons adventures with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in 1938.

Three years later the vets made him an honorary member of VALB.


15/28



16/28



17/28



18/28


The Spanish Civil War: Reaction,

Revolution, and Revenge by Paul

Preston. Third edition, revised and

expanded. New York and London: W.W.

Norton & Company, 2007.

By Sebastiaan Faber

Itisdicultnottobeinaweo

PaulPreston.Itisalsohardnotto

envyhim.Overthepast30years,

hehasbecometheworld-wideauthor-ityoSpanishCivilWarstudies.Not

onlyisheanastonishinglyprolic

andsuccessulscholar,aninf uen-

tialmentoroseveralgenerationso

historians,and,asounderanddi-

rectorotheCaadaBlanchCentre

orContemporarySpanishStudies,a

crucialpromoterandsponsoroschol-

arshiponcontemporarySpain.Heis

alsoanengagingauthorobestselling

books,aprodigiousresearcher,andagenerousandtirelessparticipantin

electronicdiscussionorums,includ-

ingtheALBAlistserv.Asoneomy

Spanishriendsputsitadmiringly:

Paulesunamquina.

Thebookunderreview,which

cameoutinBritainlastyear,is

thethirditerationoPrestons

chronological,overarchingaccount

otheSpanishCivilWar.(Previous

editionscameoutatthe50thand60thanniversariesothewarsoutbreak,

in1986and1996.)Whilethoroughly

updatedandabout50percentlonger

thanthesecondedition,thegeneral

pointsoPrestonsnarrativeremain

unchanged,asdoeshispositioninthe

protractedwarowordsthathas

markedtheeldsince1936.

First,againstcompetingaccounts

romconservativescholars(such

asPayne,Maleakis,DelaCiervaand,morerecently,Moa),Preston

arguesthattheoutbreakothewar

inJuly1936cannotbeblamedonthe

provocationsromtheradicalized

let.Tobesure,LargoCaballeros

revolutionaryrhetoricwasnaveand

irresponsible.However,intheend,

therightwasunwillingtoaccept

anythingbutareturntoconditions

beore1931andwasdeterminedto

useviolencetosetbacktheclock.

NordoesPrestonagreewith

accountsproposedbyhistorians

sympathetictotheAnarchistand

anti-Stalinistlet(suchasEsenweinorBolloten)orright-winganti-

Communists(suchasRadosh),who

blamethedeeatotheRepublic

ontheviolentsuppressionosocial

revolutionbytheComintern-dictated

policyotheSpanishCommunist

Party,alliedwiththemiddle-class

Republicanparties.Prestonreadily

concedesthattheCommunists

methodswereunnecessarilybrutal.

Still,heremainsconvincedthatthelineollowedbyNegrn,the

Communists,andtheirRepublican

alliescreatingaconventional

armywithacentralizedcommand

structure,prioritizingwinningthe

warovermakingrevolution,and

keepinguptheincreasinglydesperate

ghtagainstFrancoinhopeso

eventualoreignsupportromthe

Westwasbyarthemostrealistic,

giventhedomesticandinternationalsituation.

Third,againstneutral

commentatorswhomaintainthat

atrocitieswerecommittedonboth

sides,Prestonconvincinglyargues

thatFrancoistrepressionotheenemy

wasnotonlyarmoreextensive,but

alsoconsciouslyplannedandimpose

romabove,andthereoremore

morallyreprehensible.

Finally,Prestonmaintainsthat,

whilethewarwasatbasetheresulto

longbuilt-upSpanishproblemsand

tensions,itsdevelopment,duration,

andeventualoutcomewerecruciallyinf uencedbyleadersandrepresenta-

tivesooreignnations.Thewar

wouldhaveevolvedandendedquite

dierentlyiithadnotbeenorthe

spinelessWesterndemocraciesthathid

behindthegleaonon-intervention,

Book Reviews

Sebastiaan Faber, currently serving on

ALBAs Executive Committee, is chair

o the Spanish department at Oberlin

College. He is author oExile and Cultural

Hegemony: Spanish Intellectuals in Mexico,

1939-1975.

"[T]here is little sympathy here for the Spanish right,

but I hope there is some understanding." Paul Preston

Prestons Authoritative Account

Updated, Expanded

Continued on page


19/28


Book Reviews

Teaching Representations of the

Spanish Civil War. Ed. Nol Valis. New

York: Publications of the Modern

Language Association, 2007.

By Lisa Vollendorf

TheSpanishCivilWarlooms

largeinnumerousuniversity

coursesoeredbylanguage

andhistorydepartments.Whetherthoseclassesocusonthewaryears,

theFrancoperiod,oreven20thcen-

turyEurope,instructorsinevitably

acedicultdecisionsabouthowto

sitthroughtheabundantmateri-

alsavailableabouttheperiod.As

NolValispointsoutinherexcellent

editedcollectionoessays,Teaching

Representations of the Spanish Civil War,

thedicultyoteachingthecon-

f ictrelatesasmuchtothecontestortruthasitdoestotheseemingly

innitehistoricalandartisticinterpre-

tationsotheeventso1936-39.

Valisbookispublishedbythe

ModernLanguageAssociationand

thereorespeaksmostdirectlyto

languageandliteratureproessors.Yet

readersoThe Volunteeralsowillnd

muchmaterialointeresthereand

willlikelycomeawayromthe

volumewithalonglistobooks,lms,andideasorurtherconsideration.

Althoughaspecializedbookor

universityteachers,itgivesallreaders

theopportunitytoengagewith

currentthinkingandtoref ecton

pointsocontactbetweenSpanish

ascism,violence,anddemocratic

strugglesandthesamephenomenain

otherpartsotheworldsincethe

1930s.

Valisbeginsthebookwitha

questionthatmaystrikereadersaspurelyrhetorical:Whydoes

theSpanishCivilWarcontinueto

hauntus?Asthebeautiulexhibit

attheCityMuseumoNewYork

in2007decisivelydemonstrated,

InternationalBrigadevolunteers,

aswellastheiramilymembers,

riends,andsupporters,willhave

highlypersonal,extraordinarily

movinganswerstothisquestion.

Similarly,the36essaysinValisbookprobeideological,artistic,individual,

group,andinternationalresponses

tothisdecades-longhaunting.For

example,Valisshortintroduction

contextualizessomeothekey

questionsordiscussionsothe

SpanishCivilWar,includingwhether

wecanagreeupondenitionsoa

justoragoodwar.Liketheother

contributorstothevolume(including

well-knownscholarsAntonioCazorla-Snchez,EnricUcelay-DaCal,David

Herzberger,JoLabanyi,Shirley

Mangini,CaryNelson,JanetPrez,

RandolphPope,JoanRamonResina,

AdrianShubert,MichaelUgarte,Mary

Vincent,andnumerousdynamic

youngerscholars),Valisemphasizes

theneedtoteachtheSpanishconf ict

withinitsnationalandinternational

contexts.

Teaching Representations of theSpanish Civil Warwillbeogreat

servicetoproessorsinterestedin

developingnewclassesormodiying

currentcourses,particularlysince

theessaysgiveoverviewsokey

componentsothewar(e.g.,the

AbrahamLincolnBrigade;North

Aricansoldiersparticipation;

andpartyalliancesinGalicia,the

BasqueCountry,andCatalonia)and

itsrelatedculturalproduction(e.g.,lm,literature,andmemoirs).Forall

readers,thebookrepresentsabeacon

ohopeasitimplicitlyhighlights

thepowerotheSpanishCivilWar

togalvanizetodaysstudentsinto

thoughtandaction.

Teachingstudentsthathistory

doesindeedmatterisnoeasytask,as

evidencedbythenumerousreerence

toboththechallengesandrewardso

teachingthisparticularcivilwar.Yetanyonewhohasseenentireclasses

cryinresponsetolmsaboutthewar

orheardthemcryoutinindignation

aterreadingpost-warnovelsknows

thatthistragicmomenthasthepowe

toserveasacrucialintroductionto

politicalactionortodaysoten

apoliticalanddisaectedyounger

generation.Moreover,immigrant

studentswhosehomecountrieshave

experiencedtheirowncivilwarsinrecentyearsandGenerationXandY

Americanswhootherwiseneverhave

consideredtheravishingeectsowa

cometogetherintheseclassesto

considertheconceptual,political,and

socialimpactoSpainsviolentyears.

History Matters: Teaching the

Spanish Civil War Today

Continued on page

Lisa Vollendor is an associate proessor

o Spanish at Caliornia State University,

Long Beach, and author, most recently,

oThe Lives of Women: A New History of

Inquisitional Spain.


20/28


Trinity of Passion: The Literary Left &the Antifascist Crusade. By Alan M.

Wald. University of North Carolina

Press, 2007.

By Peter Carroll

ThisstudyoU.S.writersonthe

letisthesecondvolumeoa

plannedtrilogy,ocusingonthe

impactotheSpanishCivilWar,

WorldWarII,issuesoracialidentity,

andthelabormovementonvariousliteraryendeavors.Asinhisearlier

volume,Exiles from a Future Time,

whichexaminedwriterswhoseworks

expressedtheissuesothe1920sand

early1930s,Waldprovestobeanas-

tutereaderandsensitivecriticoa

widerangeoauthors,somescarcely

known(LeonardZinberg),othersemi-

nentandstillinf uential(Chester

Himes,IrwinShaw,ArthurMiller).

Thebooksrstchapter,whichwillbeospecialinteresttoour

readers,istitledToughJewsinthe

SpanishCivilWar.Itprobesthe

thematicinterrelationshipsothree

novelswrittenbyveteransothe

AbrahamLincolnBrigade:Alvah

BessiesThe Un-Americans(1957),

WilliamHerricksHermanos!(1969),

andMiltonWolsAnother Hill(1994).

Whatthethreenovelistsshared,

besidestheSpanishwar,weretheiroriginsinsecularNewYorkJewish

amilies.

Allsueredthelossoor

alienationromtheirathersata

youngage.Twowerewonto

radicalismintheearlyDepression.

Thethird[Herrick]wasbornintoa

revolutionaryamilyduringWorldWarI.TheirroutestoCommunism,

Spain,andwritingnovels,Wald

observes,collectivelycompriseavital

subsetotheliteraryLetaswellasa

hithertoneglectedsegmentoJewish

Americanculturalhistory.

Contrastingtheirctional

characterswithvariousbiographical

narrativesospecicsoldiersinSpain,

Walddeconstructstheprimary

themesthatemergeintheirworks:an

emphasisnotjustonthewarspolitic

outcome,butalsotheinventionoa

warriorJewishmaleidentity.

Measuringthetruthoctionremainsacomplicatedmatter,though

Waldsucceedsorthemostpartin

separatinghistoryromsheer

imagination.Onewisheshealso

addressedthechangingcontextsin

whichthethreenovelswerewritten

BessiesintheheatotheMcCarthy

period,Herricksintheerao

Vietnam,andWolsinthepost-

Franco1970sand80s.

Book Reviews

HitlersandMussolinissupportor

Franco,Stalinsless-than-enthusiastic

andanythingbutdisinterestedsup-

portortheRepublic,andthe

thousandsooreignvolunteerswho

joinedtheInternationalBrigades.

Prestonrepresentsathirdgenera-tionobrilliantBritishhistorianso

20thcenturySpain.Therstwas

GeraldBrenan,whoseSpanish

Labyrinthwaspublishedin1943,three

yearsbeorePrestonsbirth.Thesec-

ondwasRaymondCarr,Prestons

teacheratOxord,whosehistoryo

Spaincameoutin1966.(Prestonalso

studiedwithHughThomas,whose

Spanish Civil War[1961]isgenerally

consideredlessbrilliantthanecientandtimely.)Prestonsapproachto

Spanishhistoryisindebtedtothato

hispredecessorsandtotheBritish

historiographicaltraditionmoregen-

erallyinitsliberaloutlook;itsocus

onindividualagency,particularly

rompoliticalandintellectualelites;

anditsgitorecient,engagingnar-

rativethatskillullycombinesthe

generalsweepwiththetellingorsur-

prisingdetail.

Prestonisalsoadiscipleothe

maverickAmericanhistorianHerber

Southworth,whomaintainedthatthstudentotheSpanishCivilWarcan

andshouldberigorousand

intellectuallyhonest,butnever

politicallyneutral.AsPrestonwrites

inhisintroduction,hisbookdoesno

aimtondaperectbalance

betweenbothsides:Despitewhat

Francosupportersclaim,Idonot

believethatSpainderivedanybene

romthemilitaryrisingo1936and

themilitaryvictoryo1939.Hence,thereislittlesympathyhereorthe

Spanishright,butIhopethereis

someunderstanding.

PrestonsidentityasaBritish

historianisalsoclearromhisinteres

inbiography,whichhasbeenhismai

3 Novelists & a War

PrestonContinued rom page

Continued on page


21/28


Mosess Moe

Fishman(1915-2007)

TheseeminglyindestructibleMoe

Fishman,whorepresentedthepublic

aceotheVeteransotheAbraham

LincolnBrigade(VALB)ormorethan

halacentury,diedopancreaticcan-

ceronAugust6,2007,inNewYork.He

was92.

Duringthepastyear,Moehadat-tendedpubliceventsaroundthe

UnitedStatesandSpaintocommemo-

ratethe70thanniversaryothe

outbreakotheSpanishCivilWar,a

warthatpittedrebelliousgenerals,led

byGeneralFranciscoFranco,backed

byNaziGermanyandFascistItaly,

againstthelegallyelectedSpanish

Republic.

BorninNewYorkonSeptember

28,1915,FishmanletschoolduringtheDepressionandbecamealaundry

workerandtruckdriver.Hepartici-

patedinunionizinghisellowworkers

andoundacommitmenttosocialjus-

ticeissuesasamemberotheYoung

CommunistLeague.

WhenthewarinSpainbegan,

Moevolunteeredtoght,buthewas

rejectedorlackomilitaryexperi-

ence.However,hisskillasatruck

driverwasneeded,andasecond

applicationorservicewasaccept-edwiththeprovisothatherecruit

10othervolunteers.Fishmanquickly

oundthemen,thoughnoneactually

showedup.Therecruiterstookhim

anyway.

MoearrivedinSpaininApril1937

andtrainedasaootsoldierinthe

GeorgeWashingtonbattalion.Inhis

rstaction,hewaswoundedduring

thebattleoBrunete,nearVillanueva

delaCanada,inJuly1937.HespentayearinconvalescenceinSpainbeore

returningtohishomeinNewYork.

Hethenspentanothertwoyearsin

hospitalsasdoctorsusedbonesinhis

injuredleg,leavinghimwithalie-

longlimp.

Duringhislengthyrecuperation

romwarinjuries,Fishmanstayedin

touchwithNewYorkhumanitarian

aidorganizationsprovidingassistance

orthecivilianreugeesotheSpanishCivilWar.Heworkedintheware-

houseotheJointAnti-FascistReugee

Committeewhilestudyingtobecome

alicensedradiooperator.Hisskills

enabledhimtoserveintheMerchant

MarinesduringWorldWarII.

Aterthatwar,Fishmanworked

againorthereugeeaidcommit-

tee,evenateritwastargetedbythe

HouseCommitteeonUn-American

Activities(HUAC)orallegedsub-versiveactivitiesin1946.Indeed,it

wasFishmansproximitytothatcase

thatchangedhisliewhenHUACset

itssightsontheVALBandPresident

HarryTrumansattorneygeneral

listedthegroupasasubversiveorga-

nizationin1947aspartothepostwar

anti-Communistcrusade.

WhenCongresspassedthe

McCarranActin1950,obligingall

designatedsubversiveorganizations

toregisterwiththeederalgovern-mentandcreatingheavypenalties

orleaderswhoreusedtocooperate,

theentireexecutivecommitteeothe

Added to Memorys Roster

Continued on page

Among all the people we

worked with, I knew I could trust

Moe Fishman. Whatever we did to-

gether, I could trust him to do, to be,

to take care o whatever had to be

taken care o.Milton Wol

Moe Fishman was consistent in

his devotion to the vets. Mondays,

Wednesdays, Fridays he was at the

ofce, did whatever needed to be

done. There was no question o his

loyalty to our organization.

Abe Smorodin

The loss o every vet is a great

one, so many o them embodiments

o belies and a kind o commitment

that resides in some deep place in all

o us, we hope. Because Moe has

been one o the most prominent

public aces o the VALB or so long,

because hes been a stalwart since

returning to the US ater being shot

in Spain and holding down the ort

or 0 years, this eels particularly

sharp. Vets will survive Moe, but he

carried the standard with relentless

spirit and, even, charm.

Peter Glazer

Condolences to all on the loss o

a great spirit and a wonderul hu-

man being. It was my honor to know

him.

Jamie OReilly


22/28


VALBresigned.Initsplace,twoLincoln

veteranssteppedorward:MiltonWol

becametheNationalCommander;

MoeFishmanbecametheExecutiveSecretary/Treasurerandservedtheor-

ganizationinanexecutivecapacityor

therestohislie,morethanahalcen-

turyodedicatedservice.

FishmanandWolledtheVALB

deensebeoretheSubversiveActivities

ControlBoardin1954.Atertheire-

ortsailed,theypursuedtheappeals

processthatconcludedwithaavorable

courtrulinginthe1970s,declaringthe

attorneygeneralslistandtheSACBsrulingsunconstitutional.Throughit

all,Fishmanremindedthevets,we

havenotorgottenthatourmainpur-

poseinlieisouranti-Francoactivity.

Thelongghtisover,Moe

wrotesoonaterwardtovetHerman

GabbyRosenstein,andwearein

(sotospeak)alegitimatenon-subver-

siveorganization.Imnotsurethatis

good.Maybewebetterdosomething

subversiveandgetbackonitother-wisethepublicwearetryingtoreach,

especiallytheyouthconstituency,will

lookaskanceattheserevisionists

whohavestoppedbeingsubversive

andhaveaU.S.CourtoAppealsthat

agreeswearenot.Howaboutthat?

Duringthedarkyearsothe

blacklists,FishmankepttheVALB

organizationrunning.Hehelped

producedozensoour-pageissues

oThe Volunteertokeepthevetsap-prisedovariousColdWarpolitical

cases;ralliedsupportorindividual

deensetrials;andparticipatedinpro-

testdemonstrationsagainstSpanish

governmentpoliciesandculturalac-

tivitiesintheUnitedStates.

By1957,however,thetwoVALB

leaders,MoeandMilt,acedanempty

treasuryandconsidereddisbanding

theorganization.Theydecidedtopoll

someothevets,whoresoundingly

opposedtheidea.Meanwhile,MoehadreceivedaletterromaSpaniard

whohadworkedwiththeVALBin

NewYorkinthe1940sandwasnow

inaFrancoprison.Moeresponded

bysummoningacampaigntoaidall

politicalprisonersoSpain.Anaid

andamnestyprojectbecameVALBs

majorocusuntilthedictatordiedin

hisbedin1975.Toraiseundsorthe

prisonersandtheiramilies,therecon-

stitutedVALBhelditsrstreunioninadecadein1957,anannualceremonial

gatheringthatcontinuesnowunder

theauspicesotheAbrahamLincoln

BrigadeArchives.

Asmoreveteransreachedretire-

mentageandreturnedtotheVALBin

the1970s,Moeremainedaconstantin

theorganizationsactivities.Hepartic-

ipatedininnumerablepanelsand

conerences,spoketostudentsinhigh

schoolsandcollegesaroundthecoun-try,andtraveledtointernational

meetingsabouttheSpanishCivilWar.

Inhispublictalks,aswellasininter-

views,herevealedanincredible

memoryornamesandhistoricalde-

tails,linkingpastandpresent

eortlessly.

Moehadthepatiencetolistento

themostasked,otenhostilequestions

andyettypicallyoeredclearlyrecited

answers.Heseldomallowedaspeakertoescapeacommentwithwhichhe

disagreed.Sometimesheseemedare -

lentlessquestioner,assuringthatthe

roleotheLincolnvolunteersreceived

itsproperdue.Hewasdirect,articu-

late,andunselconscious.

Injustonemonth,Moeappeared

onPacicasDemocracy Now program,

greetedguestsattheopeningnighto

theexhibitionFacingFascism,spoke

toahighschoolclassonNewYorks

westside,andsharedapodiumwithHarryBelaonte,whilehandlingamul

titudeoocedetailsandgiving

interviewstovisitingjournalists.

Moewasalsoanactivemembero

VeteransorPeace,proudlycarrying

theVALBbannertoparades.

Moeissurvivedbyhispartner,

GeorgiaWever.

Foryears,seeminglyorever,Mo

Fishmanstoodatthecenteroahalo

thatsurroundedtheAmericanswhooughtintheSpanishCivilWar.He

relishedthespotlightanduseditwel

Lean,well-dressedinsuitandtie,

darkeyebrowsandbrownmustache

osetbyaull,grayheadohair,he

carriedthevitalityoayoungmans

causeintohisoldage.Eachyearatth

annualreunion,itwashisvoicethat

announcedrecentdeathsandcalled

therollothesurvivingveteransin

attendance.Hissilencebringstheendoanera

PeterN.Carroll

Clifton HolmanAmsbury

(1910 2007)

ThispastMay28,VALBsSan

FranciscoBayAreaPostlostyet

anotherstalwartromitsalltoorapidlythinningranks:long-time

Richmond,Caliornia,residentCliton

Amsbury.Clitonhadmusteredthe

strengthtoattendthisyearsannual

VALBreunioninOaklandandully

intendedtobepresentorthe


Continued on page

Continued rom page 9


23/28

THE VOLUNTEER September 2007 2

unveilingoSanFranciscos

waterrontmonumenttoAbraham

LincolnBrigadevolunteersnextall.

Butitwasnottobe.Hehadbeenin

declininghealthorsometimeand,onMemorialDay,diedpeaceullyat

homesurroundedbyamily.

ClitonwasbornonJuly16,1910,

inLongton,Kansas,thesecondoour

brothers.Fromearliestchildhoodhe

exhibitedaninsatiablecuriosityabout

theworldaroundhim,togetherwitha

markedindependenceomindanda

wittomatch.Itisnosurprisethathe

developedakeeninterestinthe

burningsocialandpoliticalissuesohisday,heightenedbytheinsights

gainedromacademictrainingin

anthropologyatUC-Berkeleyandthe

UniversityoNebraska.

Clitonunderstoodthemenaceo

ascisminthe1930sand,withthe

FalangistuprisingagainstSpains

RepublicanGovernment,hejoinedthe

internationalbrigadesghtingto

deendSpanishdemocracy.Hearrived

inSpainattheendoAugust1937,

receivedhisbasictraininginTarrazonadelaMancha,servedwith

theLincolnsontheEbroront,and

waswoundedinMarch1938and

evacuatedtoasuccessionohospitals.

Bythetimehehadhealedsuciently

torejoinhisunit,theinternational

brigadeswerebeingsenthome.He

wasrepatriatedattheendo1938.

LikeothersurvivingLincolnvets,

theremainderoClitonslonglie

wasshaped,denedandinspiredbyhisexperienceinSpain.Heserved

intheU.S.ArmyduringWorldWar

II,marriedand,togetherwithhis

wieShirley,raisedourchildren.

HeworkedortheCaliorniaState

EmploymentOceuntil1971,when

heretiredtopursueasecondcareer

inanthropology,whichhetaughtat

ContraCostaCommunityCollegeor

another20yearsuntilhewasobliged

toretireatage80.Andallthewhileheremainedsteadastinhissupport

oprogressivecauses,especially

oppositiontoU.S.interventionism

aroundtheworld.In1987Cliton

traveledtoNicaraguawitha

VALBcontingenttodeliverToyota

ambulancesorthevictimsothe

U.S.-proxywaragainsttheSandinista

Government.

TotheveryendClitonremained

unwaveringlycommittedtotheultimategoodght.Heremainsan

inspirationtoallouswhohavebeen

ortunateenoughtoknowhimand

whostrivetocontinuethatnoble

struggle.

R.H.Bartley

Herbert Hy Tabb(1913-2007)

HyTabb,aLincolnveteranwith

prociencyinoreignlanguages,hasdiedinNewYorkattheageo94ate

alongprogressiveillness.

Tabbwasarebelthroughouthis

lieanactivetradeunionistanda

ghterorjustice.InSpain,heserved

asamachinegunnerandtranslator

romtimetotime.Hereturnedhome

toworkasaprinterandprooreader

The New York Times.

Tabbstudiedoreignlanguagesa

severalcolleges,andheandhiswie,

Tamaara,bothgraduatedwithMAde

greesinSlavicLinguisticsromNew

YorkUniversityin1972.Hisacility

withlanguagesenabledthemtotrave

widelyandliveabroad.TheyweregenerousbeneactorstoALBAover

theyears.

Hyleavesbehindalovingamily

thatremembershimasareal

mensch.


Continued rom page


24/28


We also welcome contributions to specifc ALBA programs such as our website education modulestraveling art exhibitions, publications and administrative ofce operations.

SPONSOR:

Lewis B. Cullman Ruth and Jacob Epstein Foundation Wellfleet Foundation, Inc. in memory of Steve Nelson

ASSOCIATE: Edith Cohen Terry and Bob Corbin in honor of Maynard Goldstein Bill J. Crouch in memory of CliftonAmsbury Ruby Dee Davis Lola and Isaiah Gelman Blanche Gibons in memory of Sam Gibons ThomasKnight Jane Koenig Henry and Suzanne Linschitz in memory of Michael Russo Gerri Matsusewitch PatriciaMunday in memory of Arthur Munday and Alvin Warren Edith Oxfeld Nieves Pousada in memory of AlvinWarren H. David Prensky Sally and Robert Prestandrea Michael Ratner Arthur Rosen Rosalind and FredScheiner Donald and Doris Shaffer in honor of Milt Felsen Tessie Sacher David L. Smith Theodore and CallSmorodin in honor of Abe Smorodins 10th decade Esther Surovell Helene Susman Marjorie Kalins Taylor

DONORS: Estelle Abrahamson Bernard Aisenberg Dorothy Ames Clifton and Shirley Amsbury Leonard Bacich Gail and Howard Baker Enzo and Marta Bard Catherine Blair and Stephen Becker Jane Bjoze Martha Bloom Charles Bloomer Judith Lorne Bly Sander Bolis Regula Boorstein Vernon Bown Adele and Sam Braude Kiki and Ed Brodkin Nancy Hall Brooks Elaine Bunn in memory of Tommy Lloyd Claire Carsman Larryand Christine Carsman Kevin M. Cathcart Douglas and Rosemary Corbin Abe Cotton Barbara Dane Andres and Maria Delgado Stan and Adam Distenfeld Art DLugoff John Downes, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John J.Dropkin Nadine Etkes Laura Falb Antonio Farina, Jr. Anne Foner Herbert Freeman Nathan Friedman Rebecca Friedman Karen Furey Milton Garberg Isaiah Gellman Hyman Gold Arthur and Eleanor Golden Sara Goldstein Peter Goodman Sondra Gorney Matilda Graff Alba Greco Ed Greer Doris Griss Sigrid Hackenberg Kathleen Hager and Arthur Wasserman Earl Harju William and Lucille Harmon Norma

J. Hart in memory of Al Schwartz Jefferson Hendricks Estelle Herskovitz Alexander Hilkevitch honoring Dr.Aaron Hilkevitchs 95th birthday John G. Hovan James Howard Henry and Judy Jacobs Lee Joseph EstelleKatz Ruth Kavesh Helen Keenan Evine Kimerling Claire and Marvin Klenosky in memory of Sylvia Liss Bella and Murray Kranz Beatrice and Henry Krivetsky Edwin Krales Lillian Lanser Florence Lefcourt Robert Lehrer Henrietta and Max Levine Celia Lewis Sara Lieberman Louis Linn Marlene Litwin BessieLoewe Ervin Loretz Barbara Lowitt Fred Magdoff Addie Marks Charlotte Pomerantz Marzani JanetMarzullo Margaret and Arnold Matlin Harold Mellman Lyle Mercer Thelma J. Mielke Nina Miller EllinoR. Mitchell George Nelson Rita Neri Barbara Neuberger Hoseph Nichols Saul Ostrow Rose Pessak Betty and Leonard Pollack Harold Reiss Margery Resnick Ruth H. Richwerger Louis K. Robbins Ramonand Dagny Rodriguez Stanley Romaine Howard and Lisa Rose Naomi Rosenblum Mildred Rosenstein IdaRoth Herbert G. Rubenstein Helen Rucker Naomi Rucker Tessie Sacher Terry Sadin Daniel Schaffer Arnold Schlanger Judith Schoenherr Herman Schwide Richard Sidon Henry and Morrie Silvert JosephineSimon Elizabeth and Irwin Solinger Elaine Spiro Dmitri R. Stein Harold Stephens Richard Stiller LuiseStone Jane Van De Bogart Harriet Vincente Ron Viner Tedd Watts Bernice Weissbourd Carol Wells Irving and Evelyn Wolff

We have received the above general contributions through August 1 and are grateful for the continued help of our great

supporters and friends. Donations received after August 1 will be listed in the December issue ofThe Volunteer.

General Contributions


25/28

THE VOLUNTEER September 2007 2

Sponsor ($5,000 - $9,999):

Jennifer Howard DeGolia

Supporter ($1,000 - $4,999):

Anonymous Paul Blanc inmemory of Esther Silverstein Blancand Irene Spiegel David N. Bortzin memory of Louis Bortz BurtonJ. Cohen Frances Goldin StevenJonas Dennis Mar in memoryof Coleman Persily The RickFoundation Tamaara D. Tabb

Friend ($500 - $999):

Larry Carsman Frank Dell Henry Doherty in memory ofRobert G. Colodny Aleix Martinezand Mar Jimenez Francisco M.Rodriguez Giovanna Benadusiand Fraser Ottanelli in honor ofRose and Abe Smorodin

Associate ($100 - $499):

Francisco Andraca Kiko Andrakaand Gail Osterweil in memory of

Francisco Andraca Sr. and IsabelGalan David and Carolee Bessiein memory of Alvah Bessie Susan M. Billings Ellen Broms George Coles in memory of CliftonAmsbury James V. Compton Bill J. Crouch in memory of Clifton Amsbury Barbara Dane Thomas C. Doerner Lewis and EdithDrabkin Paulette Nusser Dubetz Jose and Selma Fortoul Ayesha Gill Angela Giral Kate and MaynardGoldstein Sigrid Hackenberg Robert Hamburger, Jr. Ellis and Ellen Harris Paul J. Heinricher in memoryof Lincoln Vet Stanley A. Heinricher Stanley G. Heinricher in memory of Lincoln Vet Stanley A Heinricher Michael Heller Corlan Johnson Joseph Gordon Konick in memory of Joe and Leo Gordon Ruth W.

Levitan Suzanne and David Manning George Markham Matti Mattson in honor of Joe Hautaniemi Timothy Michel Nancy A. Newkirk Richard K. Olmo Michael Organek Lola Pazos in memory of JuanDominguez Pazos Nancy I Phillips in memory of Paul Wendorf Mollie Portner Rebecca Schachter in honorof Philip Schachter Rosalind and Fred Scheiner James O. Sehon Ramon Sender Harry and Yetta Sokolin memory of Esther Silverstein Blanc Michael Tanzer and Hester Eisenstein Pierre-Paul Villafafila LiseVogel in memory of her father Dr. Sidney Vogel Nancy E. Wallach in memory of Lincoln Vet Hy Wallach

Continued on page

WE ARE ALMOST THERE and we could not have done it

without you, our loyal riends and supporters. We are

hoping that by the end o this year there will be a

dedication and celebration at the site o the NATIONALMEMORIAL in San Francisco, honoring the volunteers o the

Abraham Lincoln Brigade. We will keep you posted.

We still need your help. Please i you have riends and

colleagues who would be thrilled to know that this

memorial to the Lincoln Brigade is going to be a reality,

spread the word! Or call us in the ALBA oce 212-674-5398.

We will never give up!

I youve already contributed to this campaign, please

consider an additional git.

Checks should be made payable to ALBA and mailed to

ALBA, 799 Broadway, Suite 341, New York, NY 10003. For

more details, call (212) 674-5398.

Thank you again or your support.

Donations made ater August 1 will appear in the

December 2007 issue oThe Volunteer. All donations to the

NATIONAL MEMORIAL will be placed on the ALBA website,

www.alba-valb.org.

National Monument Contributions


26/28


Donor ($1 - $99):

Isak Arbus in memory of Al Prago Lucille Banta Eugene Baron James Benet Phiip L. Bereano in memoryof Perla Bereano Dan and Jeanne Bessie in memory of Alvah Bessie Kathryn S. Blalock Thompson Bradley inmemory of Bill Gandoff Julianne Clark Daniel and Susan Cohen Juanita Contreras Alice D. Correll Joseph

Dimow Polly Nusser Dubetz Edie and George Fishman Martha Friedberg in honor of her father SaulFriedberg Victor Fuentes Barbara Gingher Rhoda and Sheldon Glickman Hilda Grunblatt RosalindGuaraldo Norma J. Hart in memory of Al Schwartz Sue Hestor Joan Intrator Estelle Jelinek Lillian R. Jone Beatrice and Henry Krivetsky in honor of Greta Sugarman Marian Kroon in memory of Freddie Martin LillianT. Lanser Jack Lerman Marlene Litwin Barbara Mason Dick and Gerry Meister Richard Miller Gloriaand Bill Powers Michael P. Predmore Paul Preuss Sally Rainer in honor of Abe Osheroff Marsha Raleigh Gus and Joanne Ricca in honor of Carl Geiser Bill Ritchey in honor of Moe Fishman Bill Ritchie in memory ofWilliam B. Morrell and Morris Davis L.W. and Kazuko Rogers Bill Roller Susan Saiz Kraig A. Schwartz Lucille and Richard Seeley Patricia Sitkin Erin Sheehan Ted Solis Eunice Stack Margot Steigman DmitriR. Stein Roslyn Stein Richard and Elizabeth Tesh Ethel Tobach Ron Viner Gloria F. Waldman ManceWebb Morris Weiss Karel Weissberg and Eliott Spiker in memory of Ernest Amatniek Jeri Wellman and Nick

Bryan in memory of Saul Wellman Lois and Robert Whealey Peter M. Wolff Jack and Bebe Ziebel

Nat iona l Monument Contr ibut ionscontinued from page 23

passionoverthepastcoupleo

decades.Histremendouslyengaging

portraitsinFranco(1993),Comrades!

(1999),Doves of War(2002),Juan Carlos

(2003)and,mostrecently,Idealistas bajo

las balas(2007),showcasePrestons

enduringascinationwiththeimpactohistoryonindividualslivesand

theirimpactonhistory.

SpanishhistorianssuchasJulin

Casanovahavepointedoutthat,orall

itsmerits,BritishhistoricalHispanism

hasbeenweakonsocialhistory,meth-

odologicallyconservative,and

reluctanttoengagewiththeory.To

someextent,thisistrueorPrestonsworkaswell,whichtendstoreserve

itsmeta-historicalcommentsorpre-

acesandepilogues.Onecurious

stylisticeatureothisbook,orin-

stance,isitsauthoritativetone,withi

lackodirectreerencestoprimary

andsecondarysources(alackpartly

madeupbyanextensivebibliograph

calessay).Prestonsnarrativevoice,itseems,tellsushowitis.Thismakes

orwonderullyecientstorytelling,

butisintensionwiththenotion,to

whichPrestonhimselsubscribes,tha

anynarrativeothewarisnecessarily

contentious,inotprecarious.Tohis

greatmerit,however,Prestonhaspro

ducedbrilliantdisciplessuchasHele

Graham,SebastianBalour,Mike

Richards,andChrisEalham,who

havegoneontobecomeoutstandingandinnovativeculturalandsocialhis

toriansintheirownright.

AsValisbookconvincinglydem-

onstrates,theSpanishCivilWarshould

notbetaughtasananomaly,butasan

episodewhosemultiplemeaningsand

repercussionsmustbegraspedincon-text.Inthisundamentalsense,the

teachersroleisnotdissimilartothe

roleoallwhoghtordemocracy:we

shareadeepbelieintheconnection

betweencommitmentandknowledge,

actionandeducation,pastandpresent.

Teaching Representations of the Spanish

Civil Warprovidesamuch-needed

roadmaporthoseinterestedinnavi-

gatingthediculttaskomakingthat

connectioncleartouniversitystudents.

Thebookwillhelpinstructorsacrossthecountrydevelopcoursesthathelp

studentsdeveloptheknowledgeand

empathytheyneedtourthertheght

orapeaceul,democraticuturethe

worldover.

History MattersContinued rom page

PrestonContinued rom page

www.l-vl.g


27/28

Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives


28/28

Support the NationalMonument!

Scenes From an Exhibition, page 1

Poet Martn Espada Presents Reed-Osherof Lecture,page 3

Bay Area Vets, page 4

Antiascist Monument in Burgos, page 4

Watt Memorial Award Winners, page 6

Blood Transusion in the Spanish Civil War:Dr. Norman Bethune, page 10

Robeson in Spain, a graphic serial, page 12

Book Reviews, page 16

History Matters: Teaching the Spanish Civil War Today,page 17

The Volunteerc/o Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives

99 Broadway, Suite 4

New York, NY

NON PROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE

PAID

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

PERMIT NO. 1577

Documents

The Volunteer, September 2007