Tuesday, March 09, 2010

"Lost" Hendrix music takes us back to the future

Posted by Mickey Z on 03/09 at 02:41 PM
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  1. Hello all,

    I’ve not been on in ages.

    I’m concerned about Derrick Jensen. I know a lot of you are fans.

    This quote: “We have been too kind to those who are destroying the planet. We have been inexcusably, unforgivably, insanely kind”, worries me.

    That could be anyone - people driving cars, or living a 9 to 5 existence, who don’t believe in what he does. Should they be condemned, and not thought about as we “change the world for the better”?

    I must admit I haven’t read a full book of his but what I have read online seems to be the worst kind of dogmatism for his particular causes. When I hear no doubt, no humour, coupled with calls for violent/destructive action for ANY cause I get worried.

    There are plenty of others similarly convinced they are right too - be they religious, fascist, marxist, capitalist - and they scare me too when they don’t listen to the multitude and think they can and should take action to change things…

    Am i wrong - should I read his books? is he a warm and lovely person who feels the only way to affect change is by being so strong in his opinions?

    Posted by Paul M from Scotland  on  03/09  at  08:05 PM

  2. Paul: I could go on and on but yes, I recommend you read one of his books: As the World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial. Also, find some YouTube videos of him giving talks, etc.

    Then, let’s re-visit this comment.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  03/09  at  08:17 PM

  3. I think I should at least read one of his books before commenting. But can you see where I’m coming from? Yes, the system we live under is mega-destructive and insane on so many levels (by MY limited understanding and interpretation of it, anyway) - but I do not like those who would say “by any means necessary”, no matter what ideas inform this.

    Posted by Paul M from Scotland  on  03/09  at  09:00 PM

  4. If I saw a loved one being raped, I’d like to think I’d defend them by any means necessary.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  03/09  at  10:03 PM

  5. Hello, Mickey and Paul M (welcome back - and stay around for a while).

    Re ‘by any means’, I quite agree with you, Mickey:
    ‘If I saw a loved one being raped, I’d like to think I’d defend them by any means necessary.’

    At least Robert Fisk gets it right re the recent Mossad ‘adventure’ in Dubai - you can listen to him here:
    http://www.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2010/2841350.htm

    All best from a quite cool Daylesford - around 58F today.

    Posted by Helga Fremlin from Daylesford, Australia  on  03/09  at  11:00 PM

  6. Mickey, regarding the comments at Truthout: it’s good to see you putting the comfortable on the defensive. Also good to see a variety of responses. I liked this one.

    Paul M, welcome back. Regarding Derrick Jensen: I understand your misgivings, but it is intellectually lazy to base your opinion of a prolific writer on a single sentence. Derrick does seem to be, in fact, a warm and lovely person, and is pretty quick to bring humor into a lot of his writing. He also expresses an extreme amount of doubt in his work. In Endgame, for example, he does this by stating a number of premises, finding all of the possible counter arguments, and demolishing them one by one. But I suggest you start with A Language Older Than Words, which is a much more personal account.

    Hi Helga.

    Posted by Keir from here and there  on  03/09  at  11:34 PM

  7. Hi Helga.

    Not sure which comment you meant, Keir, but it’s so obvious that some of those folks read the title, skimmed the article, and ignored the main point.

    Oh well…

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  03/10  at  05:34 AM

  8. One commenter said: “I find it rude for him to suggest that I not eat meat.”

    I’m rude for writing an article while the status quo wipes out an eco-system?

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  03/10  at  10:45 AM

  9. Not to mention the common retort that somehow my opinion is less valid because I live in a city.

    And these are the progressives?

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  03/10  at  10:47 AM

  10. Okay...moving right along...a very cool new post is now up.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  03/10  at  12:35 PM

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