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

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Madison News From the Ground

The following thanks to SFF Feminists on the ground:

The mood tends to be fairly excited in a good way, not just pissed off or even depressed, among the people on the square. Angry too, but free to express it. We're also dealing with some traffic and parking issues around the Square, but that's just a minor inconvenience and not much different from any of the other, frequent events on the Square.

Not surprisingly, many people connected with the science fiction community (and WisCon in particular) have engaged in activity, from disseminating information online to showing up at the Capitol every day. Adults are protesting, their kids are protesting, and sometimes they're even protesting together.

People have been using social media a LOT to spread information, both in general and in real time. For example, the Teaching Assistants' Association of UW-Madison has a Twitter feed
 http://twitter.com/taa_madison and a Web site http://www.taa-madison.org/ in addition to a Facebook presence.
Speaking of which, if you're on Facebook you can get frequent updates from local fans, especially these folks:

-- Meg Turville-Heitz
-- Cabell Hankinson Gathman (who held her Friday office hours just off the Capitol Square)
-- Fred Schepartz (good photos from Saturday)
Other links provided by SFF Feminists:
... favorite link of the hour: a brief press release from the City of Madison about Saturday's protests:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=2512

Talking Points Memo has been doing some good coverage:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

More here on the broader aim, namely dividing us against one another, a tactic that unfortunately has worked well in the past:
http://www.alternet.org/economy/149981/exposing_the_republicans%27_3-part_strategy_to_tear_the_middle_class_apart_--_what_are_we_going_to_do_to_stop_it/

A brief press release from the City of Madison about Saturday's protests:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=2512

Another great local Madison story:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_98dffd30-3bd7-11e0-ab83-001cc4c03286.html

Amplifying a news story with local information:
http://zunguzungu.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/this-is-why-i-love-madison/
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