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, January 27, 2011

The Revolution Cannot Be Socially Networked

According to a report from The Arabist, "Egypt has shut off the internet."

Here is as much info as we've got.  Even the links within the story are not responding now.


You want to change things?  It's still hands on, face-to-face, getting Out There.  Clicking and thumbing won't do it.  They can shut you off so damned fast you don't know what hit you.  On the other hand They don't do hands on, face-to-face, and that's a lot harder to shut off.

Once it was said the Revolution will not be televised. Nothing's changed since then, though the tech's now digital and more global than even Gil Scott-Heron could imagine in 1970.

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