LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Monday, August 6, 2007

Annual Daily Kos Meetup

The reports are coming out about this year's meetup, with various reactions and judgments and speculations, most focused on the smoke and mirrors of the 2008 pres campaign.

What seems most significant to me, at least, are the reports that the vast majority of attendees were white, male, middle-aged and middle-class.

This is not good. One foresees the same splintering then of the "Netroots" focus, and thus effectiveness, that happened in the 70's with the left: because there was so little room for women and for others than white and male, the women and the other non-white groups splintered off into their own concerns and focus. Thus, focus was never on the essentials of a democratic society: elections + WORTHY CANDIDATES and the development of them; the eyes went off health care entirely, that allowed then, Nixon's and Ehrlichman's plan to move in for corporate profits; the same with education, and thus poverty.

One would hope that after all this time the so-called left, the progressives, etc., would at least have learned the lessons of how women must be at least 50% of the decision-makers.

When they're not, Bad Things happen.

1 comment:

Graeme said...

i didn't hear much anti-war talk either