Signs of the Times

The very last day of January 2006 marked the passing of an era. Coretta Scott King was one of the last and most inspiring symbols of a time when equality, justice, and peace had real meaning. Her passing coincided with the confirmation of Sam Alito as the newest member of the Supreme Court. Alito does not believe that women have the right to choose what happens to their own bodies, that government should help overcome historic racial inequality, or that individuals should have the right to sue corporations. For our newest judge, equality and justice are not what the Constitution is about; property and power clearly reign supreme.

The Democrats, of course, did nothing to prevent Alito’s ascension. After the mostly tepid opposition they mounted during the confirmation hearings, they then rejected the filibuster. A president with a 42% approval rating thus miraculously managed to get exactly what he wanted: a far-right zealot on the court for the next 30 years. That same night, when Bush delivered the endless stream of gibberish that he called his State of the Union speech, the Democrats’ main response came in the form of a truly uninspiring civics lesson delivered by the new governor of Virginia. Say what you will about the Republicans, but at least they’re not afraid to think big. This is all rather downbeat, so I’d better stop here. The future may seem bleak, but sometimes in memory of the past there is hope for the future. It’s Black History Month, and so we dedicate this issue to Coretta Scott King, whose last name rhymes with spring, which we can only hope is just around the corner.

With this issue, Emily DeVoti, one of the Rail’s founders, turns over the reins of the Theater
section she has so artfully developed to the capable hands of Jason Grote and Brook Stowe. As she devotes more time to her own playwriting, Emily will continue to oversee the “In Dialogue” showcase of new work. Brook joins us as a playwright and editor of both theater2k (www.theater2k.com) and the New York Theater Review (Black Wave Press, 2005). Jason Grote, meanwhile, is a playwright as well as activist who has worked with Reclaim the Streets, Billionaires for Bush, and Reverend Billy’s Church of Stop Shopping. Last but not least, we are equally pleased to announce that Claudia La Rocco, who’s been writing for both the Grey Lady and us, is now the Rail’s co-Dance editor.

—T. Hamm