Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, April 11, 2005
Is Bolton UN-important?
I agree with their critics that the appointments are an obscenity, the men have no serious qualificiations and that they will spare no effort to make things much worse.
Opposition that would lead the rubber stampers legitimizing the farce to ask them pointed questions—like the ones suggested by Phyllis Bennis—might be worthwhile, but that’s not going to happen. It would be a breach of collegiality. There is no chance they will get grilled, melt down publicly and slink off in disgrace. Whatever grilling they face has a foregone conclusion: just enough opposition to retain the loyalty of gullible people, not enough to change anything.
Posted by Harry on from 04/11 at 05:24 AMI have been saying this to my friends in the movement I am most involved with - instead of trying to change the mainstream, let’s divorce ourselves from it, and create our own alternative culture - but the problem is that most other activists are very attached to their “goodies” and unwilling to make real sacrifices of anything more than a bit of their time.
Posted by Rich G. on from Boston, MA 04/11 at 07:03 AMThe genius of the system is to provide just enough goodies (and the unfulfilled promise of more) to keep us hooked. I know I fall victim to this smooth lure sometimes, too...but that doesn’t change the reality that the system is far worse than any single appointee.
Thanks, Rich and Harry…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 04/11 at 07:20 AMOh, no! Am I straddling the fence on this issue? I guess so, because I agree with your statements, Mickey. And yet to nominate Bolton is to watch the U.S. thumb its nose at the rest of the world (again), which pisses me off (again).
Allow me to state the obvious:
Those who worship power above all else are generally not peace-lovers because aggression is needed to climb to the top. Once at the top, the power lovers inflict their nastiness on all. Realizing and maintaining an equitable balance of power for the masses is the question. I have an answer (for me)
eat right / exercise
treat people with respect
make peaceful action for your belief system
live simply
and keep the faith that the pendelum (eventually) swings both waysPosted by deb on from Seattle 04/11 at 12:52 PMI like your answer, Deb...but as for straddling the fence, I don’t even know if there is a fence here. A fence, to me, connotes the existence of two sides. The appoinments of criminals like Bolton, Wolfowitz, and Negroponte arise out of situations with many sides and angles. I’m not sure what to do with all those sides and angles, but I’m right in line with your conclusions as a place to start.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 04/11 at 01:00 PMGreat comments all around, but while I’m not sure how seriously you meant this part, I sure do wish that CUNY would stop raising tuition. I really did get a lot of great classes there in the early 90s with fantastic professors, and wish I’d finished really badly and if the tuition were back at the ‘93 rates it’d be one less reason for me not to. But I know what you meant and y’know, I’ve actually heard around that it’s possible to be a successful writer w/o a degree, I ah, forget where at the moment… (trying to be funny, just so there’s no minsunderstanding...)
Posted by James on from NYC 04/11 at 02:27 PM“Successful” is in the eye of the beholder, James…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 04/11 at 02:39 PMThanks for making me laugh on a Tuesday morning, Mickey! Really like the ‘Wolife’. Hope the Dems grow some spine in opposing both these nominations. I know, I know - pigs can fly! ..
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 04/11 at 04:14 PM
Next entry: What's on your Island iPod?
Previous entry: Steal this city
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
