Was going to write something about growing up influenced by a Palestinian ex-pat who gave me my first job, when I was twelve or thirteen, and paid me very well to do it.
How that shaped my view of Palestine and the Arab world, despite the twin marks of a disavowed Jewishness and maximalist Catholicism against me.
It's all quite irrelevant right now.
Richard and As'ad have outlined the beginnings of counter-revolution in Egypt, spelling trouble not only for the people of Egypt, but for the millions of others already under the US-NATO-WoT thumb, or in their sights.
As I wrote earlier, we have the ability and the obligation to make that task difficult for the Empire, by disrupting government and war machine operation in our various Western natsec-state homelands.
I mean that without euphemism.*
We don't have to pull punches, anymore. There are enough of us to coordinate regional actions.
Thoughts?
* - so yeah, if I've attracted the attention of a lurking federale, I mean peaceful street protests and anything fucking it else it takes to make your job harder, you fucking fuck...
Crow's Eye: Maintaining a commitment to Pointless Acrimony™ and Hate Filled Invective™! Also available in corvid mischief and traditional sly dog's mistrust.
6 comments:
My answer might suck.
While you are correct to proclaim we benefit — in very tangible ways — from corporate imperialism and the war machine... it also makes us so very. very. sick. A global human suffering — I'd assume without much of a peer — is clearly looming (Mad Max or WaterWorld? kidding.)
Our daily tools:
Joy. Non-violence. Anti-ambition. Generosity (I'm thinking about how we allocate our time and "spirit"). Symbiosis. Having less. Rejecting materialism... and fucking telling people what you're up to.
As energy crises takes shape, the possibility for cold, brutal selfishness will swell. It's going to be ugly... I suppose. It's not the boldest path, but I'm saying peace & love... fucking flower power, my brothers and sisters.
I've got nothing. I am too old, fat, and unfit to carry out all the cool ninja assignments I dream up. And trying to encourage or persuade others to action is like trying to motivate Jello. There is a high percentage of this country's population that is stone-cold evil and crazy and an even higher percentage that is as dumb as rocks and depends on groupthink.
tee vee,
I don't think happy thoughts stop the flow of money and goods to dictators.
silkwood,
I have winter weight and a lifetime of getting by. I've still been radicalized. I trust other Americans can be too.
Perhaps not. But why not? I fear you're reducing my statement to something silly — which I'm not so sure it is.
You're talking about shifting the balance of power. So... my first question: From where does a dictator derive his power? My assessment: they develop a support system by playing to our ugliest desires and fears. So long as this is doable, it will be done. I really think that is true. When dominating behavior is rewarded, dominating behavior ensues... probably.
If you can persuade — or coerce, I suppose that's the correct word — millions of men to take up arms against their fellow men and women. To physically force and aggressively intimidate others, leaving those "others" with two options:
a) shutting the fuck up and eating their shit sandwich
b) suffering prison, injury, or death
If an individual can do this, create or navigate a system that gives "everyman" those two options, some asshole will come along and do it. I think.
So, break that dynamic.
Joy (I do not mean happiness) — embracing this life, rather than rejecting it.
Anti-Ambition — if you're so smart... how come you ain't rich? That ugly sentiment sums it up: when power and wealth become the prevailing good, cracking a few skulls is easy enough to overlook... with the ends justifying the means and all.
Nonviolence — imagine (and please let it be clear that I understand how fucking difficult, seemingly impossible, this is) that the Egyptians in Tahrir Square took the beatings that the military-approved Mubarak thugs imposed on them today. Threw no stones, threw no punches... just protected themselves as best they could, and accepted whatever wounds they could not prevent. How would that have influenced tomorrow? Now, I am not deriding those who fought back. No. I understand and do not disapprove.
If you see a shorter path, I want to hear about it. But, I will suggest that the forces with which you prepare battle are not susceptible to a frontal assault. They can't be defeated on their own terms.
I do not suggest you adopt my views, but I do want to be understood — that's why I've written this.
tee vee,
I apologize for giving you the impression that I was reducing your reply to a triviality. I was just trying to be brief while acknowledging that you had been kind enough to reply, because I was doing a dozen things with the kids home today.
I just don't think personal non-violence is effective.
I think it can, under our particular circumstances, be a great aid to those who rule.
But, I don't think it's trivial or silly.
All very good, your unneeded apology suggests the quality spirit that your writing puts beyond doubt.
I am, quite sure, that my previous experiences — trying to advocate non-violence, anti-ambition, joy, etc. — is what led to my concern of being dismissed.
I've found that the line of thought that I offered, 8ish out of 10ish times, gets refuted for what it doesn't do (and, to at least some extent, doesn't purport to do) rather than get embraced for the benefits that might (just might) materialize.
Good evening to you, enjoy.
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