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

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Outsourcers and Offshorers, Beware!


I had to retire about 10:30 PM-- so tired. But the election had been called. I didn't dare believe it. At some point later in the night el V whispered in my ear, "Obama's still won the election. You can keep dreaming." This was a reference to the nightmares I had during the bush-cheney years, of bush and cheney personally bombing my city, my childhood farm, raping and torturing me.

I am thrilled that we get to have the FLOTUS for four more years!

It was so good that the President won this one.  He earned it.  Look how loose his suit is on him.  He's skin and bones, he's worked so hard and slept so little.  May he and the FLOTUS get some private just them together time very soon.

Now it's snowing, and I must go out and get more supplies as we're no where, not even anywhere, in replenishing all the things we've lost, and what I've used up cleaning up.

Just back from outside, porting in more supplies.  The wind is getting very strong.  And this year, finally, I thought I'd gotten el V kitted up for Weather -- new coat, gloves, everything, even boots -- his African all weather, water-proof, all terrain boots.  Well, no.  He doesn't know what he did with them.  They're here, he assures me.  In the apartment.  He just has no idea where.  He is also too under deadline hell to search them out  He looks at me hopefully.  "You are so good at finding things I've lost," the look says.  But not today.

There's is no way to deny it longer.  I am sick.

It's a good thing I've got a fat biography of Jefferson Davis to read and take notes on, as well as a terrific French Revolution era historical - fantasy novel (no, not that preposterous thing just out from Fantasy publisher): The Stockholm Octavo by Karen Engelmann (2012), HarperCollins. As well netflix is sending me, finally, the English mini series made from the Victorian historical novel, The Crimson Petal and the White. Then, there's the third season of  Treme to catch up with,  hooray!




3 comments:

Eleanor said...

Lovely posts about New Orleans and the election. Disturbing posts about New York. Firedoglake is raising money for Occupy Sandy, and Patrick says Architecture for Humanity is in New York right now. They do a lot of work in the third world, building shelters. My brother and sister in law were supposed to fly to Japan today, en route to Indonesia. But I don't think they will be flying today, since all the northeast airports seem closed. All best and take care. Eleanor

Foxessa said...

Just as in New Orleans, the poor are homeless. But in New Orleans their Projects were never flooded. They were structurally sound, built in the era when real materials were used and real builders and electricians and plumbers did the work -- and note, in New Orleans, due to the legacy of slavery, even now, all that work, any manual work, is done by people of color.

Here, the Projects by the East River that storm surged so fast and so extensively put 40,000 people out of home immediately ....

This is in Manhattan alone -- not including Long Island homeless, and the other boroughs of Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island and Brooklyn. They all have homeless too -- most of all on Staten Island.

Last night el V asked an Asian-African American who works in the Japanese market around the corner whether her power was back. It still wasn't. She's in Red Hook (Brooklyn), still without heat and without power. Imagine ... treking in to work here in Manhattan where we've been restored for almost a week (as of Saturday) and it's 32 degrees and you have to go home after a 12 hour day -- to the cold and the dark.

Love, C.

Foxessa said...

In other words, as I intended to say initially YES! NYC NEEDS Architecture for Humanity. We certainly need them.

Love, C.