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

Thursday, June 4, 2009

A Finger -- OAS Unprecedented Action

Wasn't that strange?

Yesterday, A.M., Clinton comes out of the OAS meeting fairly jaunty, saying that 'progress' had been made, but really saying that things were going to stay the same because Cuba won't blahblahblahblah.

Vy the afternoon, the other Latin American nations gave her the finger.

Meanwhile, Cuba doesn't care, any more than it's cared all along, because Cuba sees the OAS is an arm of the U.S. military, economic and propaganda machine! This is one of the strangest actions lately.

While, in Cairo, Obama admits that the U.S. played a major role in the 1953 coup in Iran! Then saying that he believed that Muslim women have rights -- to wear head scarves and veils, and to learn to read.

I knew Obama was a corporatist and I didn't expect much from him, other than he wasn't THEM, which considering is a lot and worth having supported him, but he's still disappointing, though I knew better and knew I should expect it. Lately, though, he's been coming off to some degree as an air head, which we know he's not, of course.

The rightwing has such a strangle hold on the national discourse and media, while the insurance, oil and gun lobbies and industries have a strangle-hold on Congress and D.C. -- we're not moving on freakin' anything.

Then he puts that damned Iowa rethug in charge of the NEH!

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