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, May 27, 2010

Speaking (Writing) Sensibly About the BP Criminal Catastrophe

What is and is not being done, and who is or is not doing it: Go here, to the Humid City Blog, where the consortia get their hands in the petroleum and clean the feathers.


Some of the comments to today's entry are by other members who are disagreeing -- they too worth reading.

5 comments:

K. said...

Thanks for this link.

The public debate about the spill is out of control. The progressive punditry in particular seems to think that Obama would get more done if he'd only run around like a chicken with his head cut off.

I expect the sneering from the right, which doesn't bother me. I have to admit that I've refrained from writing much about the spill because I don't want to be fending off attacks from the left on my own blog.

The immediate game was essentially over when the first attempt to plug the hole failed. The chances of each subsequent effort working are reduced every time, and they're down to desperation measures. The spill will not be stopped until the relief wells are ready. No one wants to admit that, but it's true.

The spill is the product of more than 30 years of deregulation and MMS hiring of career people sympathetic to the oil industry. I actually have some sympathy for the MMS head who resigned: No one is going to undo 30 years of drift in 11 months, especially when the agency has 1700 employees spread over 20 locations and she had day-to-day responsibilities.

Foxessa said...

????

Love, c.

Foxessa said...

Now if you're sayin' what I thought you were sayin', go here -- thanx to Library Chronicles:

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Obama-heading-to-Louisiana-for-oil-spill-update-95107494.html

K. said...

Thanks for the article! I was ranting; yours happened to be the lucky comments section.

I happen to believe that this is an impossible situation brought about over thirty of bad policy and crony hiring practices. This will sound harsh, but I've lived on the Gulf Coast: Believe me when I say that there has been little demand for effective offshore drilling safety regulations. The prevailing belief is that the gub'mint should stay out of the oll bidness. The only truly innocent parties here are the Gulf aquatic life and ecosystem.

Foxessa said...

No doubt.

But it's not as though there weren't people, WHO LIVE AND WORK ON THE GULF, who knew this all along, and have objected.

I demand these cronies and de-regulators and heads of greedy corps*all to do the right thing, which they'd have to do in Japan.

Love, C.

* If you all are confused as to who of you qualifies for that venerable honorable course that in Japan is still in effect, I have a list.