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

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Coughs, Sneezes, Sleepless Nights, Work & Willie Nelson

El V's having to write the script NOW for Angola Part IV, "Cuba." This involves, among other things, not joing friends for Thanksgiving, and his going to D.C. on Saturday to interview a Cuban, a scholar, at George Washington who was there as eye-witness throughout the entire venture, and by-the-by listening to a score of Fidel's speeches, including one of the most fiery ever, that he gave in Angola to the Angolans. (Just as we had to listen to a lot of Salazar's speeches he gave to the Portuguese about the greatness of their great International Colonial Empire, which put them in the line-up of the Great World Powers, and which consisted solely of the un-developed and uneducated in repressed, oppressed Africa, without schools, roads and other infrastructure -- but they had to buy their food and wine from Portugual at inflated prices (Portugal sold more of its wine to Angola than in other markets combined), and weren't allowed to grow or make their own, or buy from anyone else. Imagine after 400 years ruling Angola no Portuguese had ever ventured into the interior. But then Salazar never set foot in Africa at all.

In the meantime I remain a mess. Wretched night. I keep expecting to be better! This has gone on long enough.


Our bistro says if we wish to eat Thanksgiving at their place, there is always a place for us -- they've been booked up for Thanksgiving since the day they re-opened from Sandy. But there's a party on Saturday I really want to go to -- will el V get back in time from D.C.? Will I be well enough to go the parties Wednesday and on Friday? I want to go to them all, very much. I feel the need of some party. It's been so grindstone and anxious for so long.

But -- in the meantime, none of this stops el V from going off to Sirius Radio and hanging out with Willie Nelson, who is in town promoting his memoir, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.

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