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, October 10, 2007

Hangman's Noose -- The Meme This Nation Does NOT Need

Jena, the university in North Carolina, and now Columbia University.

Outrage At Columbia Over Noose On Black Professor's Door

This professor, by the way, also happens to be a woman.There have been other recent noose events, though you probably haven't heard about them, such as [ "A noose was also found recently dangling in the locker room of the headquarters of the Hempstead Police Department on Long Island." ]

Who says that racism (and sexism) is over and done with in this country?

Slavery and racism and torture and mercenary militias -- we've rolled back the Enlightenment all the way, never mind The Great Society, and FDR's New Deal.

3 comments:

Graeme said...

what the hell is up with these nooses? And conservatives would have us believe racism is dead.

Sontín said...

I find it interesting how quickly overt hatred rises its ugly head from under the trappings of "polite" society when the government and media move to the right and suddenly make it acceptable. The illusion that was built up of tolerant, multicultural and egalitarian societies disappears as people turn their insecurities and fears into aggression against the "other".

Foxessa said...

And particularly so when so many white males have been seething at their perceived 'political correctness' enforced polite behavior, taking away their historical, entitled rights to be as ugly to women and people of color as they feel like, whenever they feel like it.

The hatred of women in this country is equally frightening.

Shades of Margaret Atwood's, "The Handmaid's Tale," -- sure looks like extreme xtian right Blackwater army to me.

Love, C.