“ ‘Communism is fascism, “successful” fascism . . . fascism with a human face.’ ” Susan Sontag did, indeed, say that. (See “The Week,” Mar. 5.) She also did suggest that “a steady reader of the Reader’s Digest would have gotten a better sense of ‘the reality of Communism’ than a steady reader of, yes, The Nation.” All correct as reported. There is more to her controversial statement, however, than just this.
Let me say, first, that it was a hallelujah moment. “Hisses, boos, catcalls filled Town Hall.” All correct again, but there was more applause than sibilance and even a bravo or six (some of them mine). On reflection, I should’ve whiffed it coming. The speech was in careful manuscript: her voice gave under foot again and again: she never let a glance of connection slip up from page to orchestra or balcony. But I had been left vague-brained by such liberal ooze as Pete Seeger and Gore Vidal (see my “Gimlet Eye,” Apr. 2)—all met here to screw the Polish situation ass-around until Solidarity and PATCO, Brezhnev and Reagan, became exact moral equivalents. Afterward Sontag bolted stage right and out. Given the intellectual eating habits of her audience, it had been a brave endeavor. I felt both impressed and grateful.
Comments