Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
William S. Burroughs: Thanksgiving Prayer
Thank you, Mick, for giving a bunch of expendables a place where they feel essential.
I really liked the way you interchanged Burrough’s poem with paragraphs from your piece on Thanksgiving. You had this BS war pegged from well before it began.
Posted by JOS on from Puerto Rico 11/23 at 11:33 AMG’Mornin, Mickey Z and Big Country… good morning, my friends -
The Burroughs quotes and your article really punched me in the gut, this morning.
I could almost see myself as a kid, skulking about in the school hallways before the start of classes in junior and senior high school. I remember how alien and frightened I used to feel, almost every single day, as I watched that giant prison, that huge, absurdly complex machinery of
repression and deception spring to life each morning, like a nightmare from which I just could not force myself to awaken.I’ve said before that I couldn’t understand how supposedly intelligent human beings could have created such a place. I couldn’t understand, either, why they all agreed to reproduce such misery and cruelty and madness, again and again - day after day, year after year…
I just could not believe that this enormous lie was supposed to be our life, our world, our reality. Throughout those school years, and forever since, I’ve been waiting for people to stand up en masse, and scream out in terror and frustration and rage: “No More! Not one more moment like this!”
But the screams never really rose above the level of whispers, from small groups of people, here and there - and always people out on the periphery. And, we who seemed to see most clearly were accused of being blind. We who couldn’t figure out how to lie correctly were accused of every sort of dishonesty. We who struggled desperately to keep ourselves from being ground up in this great and terrible machine of death, were accused of cowardice, and selfishness, and stupidity. And those of us who actually fought back, who lashed out at the machine, were accused of madness or of innate criminality and were treated with detention or probation or drugs or were locked up in psych units or juvenile detention centers… We had to be relieved of these strange and most dangerous delusions before they’d let us out into the “real” world, where our disease might begin to infect others…And, even after all of these years, when many of the world’s delusions have been seen - and seen through - there remains a lingering fear that it’s really we who have been mistaken, we who have been at fault. The great disease can be consistently resisted, can be forever held almost at arms length, but never quite transcended…
But, perhaps my son’s son or daughter will be born and raised in a world in which cesspools are
no longer celebrated and worshipped, but are kept always and only under the ground, in the dark, hidden places, where they belong.Posted by joe on from Oregon 11/23 at 12:11 PMI’ve heard some strange thanks being given this time of year, but yesterday morning was a new one on me: While working on a client (I am a massage therapist) and engaged in a conversation that I won’t relate because it was pretty mundane, the aforementioned client uttered his appreciation, “Thank God for Bill O’Reilly.” I could take an idealistic attitude toward this and assume that the client was expressing a heretofore undisplayed cynical affection for Political Performance Artists, no matter how tired and predictable their act, but I don’t think that was the case. My mind is still boggled. I’m thankful I get to visit Mickey Z’s front stoop every day and enjoy the bull sessions. Just the knowledge that this world contains at least a few individuals that aren’t thanking some real or imagined deity for Bill O’Reilly dribbles at least a little bit of light into the darkness.
Posted by Rev Joe on from 11/23 at 01:08 PMHi JOS, Joe, and Rev Joe...I don’t know if our sons and daughters will live in a better world. I am not optimistic. First, I believe there must be a very fundamental change in the culture. I don’t see any way that that will happen in this or the next generation. The upcoming generation is already in the process of indoctrination. A walk through any toy store shows how we infest the minds of the young...and then we send them to schools where the indoctrination continues. That is the perfect formula for creating many more Bill O’Reilly’s, who was himself a high school teacher. Imagine the kids in his classes! To make things worse, too many on the Left only talk to each other. I often watch O’Reilly and never miss an opportunity to talk with his followers.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 11/23 at 01:26 PMHello Big Country, Joe, and RMJ...and welcome back, Rev. Joe. Long time, no hear...I’m happy to learn you’ve been visiting on a regular basis.
I just got off the phone doing an interview with Portland radio and was pleased to return here and see the discussion going on. Maybe some folks who heard the show will stop by today so please, everyone, use the coasters and keep your elbows off the table.
As for O’Reilly, I guess it can be said that his enormous success is a fine illustration of how deeply indoctrinated we Americans are. As Burroughs said: Vulgarize and falsify until the bare lie shines through.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 01:34 PMI was stuck here at work with no audio capabilities, Mick, I’m sorry I missed it.
By the way, protesters, after Cindy left the Resident’s ranch the town instituted new laws against “camping.” So, we’ve had some arrests:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10173879/
Posted by JOS on from Puerto Rico 11/23 at 01:45 PMHey Big Country, I guess if the old laws don’t work “nearly” well enough...they can just make new ones. Maybe they’ll figure out a way to imprison Cindy retroactively.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 02:36 PMIn the United States, we hear constantly about the deep wisdom of the founding fathers, the adventurous spirit of the early explorers, the gritty determination of those who “settled” the country—and about how crucial it is for children to learn these things.
But when one brings into historical discussions any facts and interpretations that contest the celebratory story and make people uncomfortable—such as the genocide of indigenous people as the foundational act in the creation of the United States—suddenly the value of history drops precipitously and one is asked, “Why do you insist on dwelling on the past?"-Robert Jensen, No Thanks to Thanksgiving
Posted by tm on from underground 11/23 at 03:03 PMI have to admit that I’m with RMJ - my optimism that anything anyone is doing now will make this world a better place has dwindled to almost nothing. I don’t know if it’s possible to use a corrupt system to change a corrupt system. My father, who wouldn’t allow guns in the house, would occasionally get on his high horse and state, “Guns are just a tool, no different from a hammer or screwdriver.” I made the mistake once of replying that while, yes, a gun is a tool, it’s a tool that is only good for destruction, while the others are mostly used to build things. My jaw still hurts when I think about my young exercise in temerity, inspired only by the wish to educate. That was the day I learned that education, in its most basic and true sense, is a vulgarity upon our proud society.
Perhaps it’s my impatience that makes me doubtful of any meaningful change without our world being violently dragged into it. But I also recognize that I live in a fat, numbed, comfortable society, and as long as the Tivo works, the cell phone is charged, the fridge is stocked, Domino’s delivers, and there will be yet another season of Survivor, Amurican Idol, and The Apprentice, all is right with the world. The Men Behind the Curtain are protecting us while we sleep - no need to worry our pretty little heads about those nasty freedom-hating terrorists, dirty pichurs on the Internet, or stores that neglect to display “Merry Christmas” signs, prefering to display the damned ACLU inspired “Happy Holidays” instead. Someone SAVE THE CHILDREN! Where there is comfort, there can be no change - even if it means suffocating, so long as we’re comfortable.
I used to ponder about Gandhi, and how he was able to rally so many people behind an idea and cause. I finally realized that the Indians didn’t have X-boxes and air conditioning and SUVs and evil sucubuses (sucubi?)like Katie Couric and Ashlee Simpleton distracting them from what was really in their best interests. There was no comfort zone protecting, and restraining, Gandhi’s India from hitting the streets and demanding change.
So I’m becoming more of an Anarchist. Slow, methodical, one small step at a time ain’t really getting the job done, despite what those self-congratulatory loudmouths at Air America might tell you. We will undoubtedly have to destroy what we have now, give people no choice but to search out something else. Then we have to create a new tool. Hammering nails with a pistol is not only inefficient - it’s downright dangerous. It’s not a matter of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. There are some beautiful ideals in the small r republic that Jefferson envisioned. I did some research about him for one of my Christmas stories and was really blown away by his ideas - ideas that would probably get him locked up in the current climate. But then someone always comes along and tries to debase his ideas by bringing up his all too human foibles and failures. Still, his thoughts about this country and its governing would bring us a lot closer to that “more perfect union” than any of the current rat bastards are even interested in doing.Posted by Rev Joe on from 11/23 at 03:05 PMWow - brilliant Thanksgiving prayers, Mickey! Can one still wish you, Michele and all of you MZ’ers a happy Thanksgiving?
What about Robert Jensen’s suggestions to institute a ‘National Day of Atonement’: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/%7Erjensen/freelance/atonement.htm.
Thanks for all you do, Mickey, and thanks for all those enlightening comments and links, MZ’ers!Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 11/23 at 03:19 PMHello again...and welcome TM and Helga. “Boy,” I like the idea of using T-Day as a kick-off for change. If we peons just stopped going along for the ride, the ride would end. Another kind of ride is possible.
(Btw, if anyone is interested, my radio interview from earlier is available on-line here: http://tinyurl.com/dnsqb)
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 04:47 PMI think the Burroughs thanksgiving prayer is great, and I like it interspersed with your stuff in that article Mickey.
Kundera wrote somewhere “Hate traps us by binding us to close to our enemies.” Rosemarie, I agree that the Left shouldn’t only be talking to itself, but life is too short for me to be tuning in to Bill O’Reilly or some such asshole. I think I can speak sensitively and thoughtfully to someone whose views are different than mine without subjecting myself to those hardcore vulgarities and falsifications that make O’Reilly tick.
Anyway. A national day of atonement is a fantastic idea. To some extent, most of us here have a national day of atonement every day.
Or here’s another way to spend part of this last Thursday in November---tune into http://www.tag004.nl (a cultural organization that I’m involved with here in The Hague) at 3pm (New York time) and check out a solo performance I’ll be doing. I’m celebrating 20 years since I first picked up the saxophone (so, two-thirds of my life). I will post a reminder tomorrow, hope that’s okay.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague 11/23 at 06:54 PMJust listened to your interview on KBOO, Mickey. Thanks much for supplying the link. Great interview, and I hope it results in loads of 50AR sales. Oh, and it’s cool to be able to attach a voice to your face, finally!
Posted by suzanne on from 11/23 at 06:59 PMVery cool, Keir. Yes, feel free to remidn us tomorrow. if you send me some more info now, I’ll spread the word.
Joe: Thanks for listening and for not mocking my New Yawk accent. “Half” the time, I felt like I was talking too fast. Was I?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 07:16 PMHi Mickey, Helga, TM, and Rev. Joe -
Mickey, I just listened to your entire radio interview. It was wonderful to listen to, my friend. I kept thinking: “Hey, that’s Mickey!”
I thought you did a fine job, by the way; you were quick on your feet, agile, thoughtful, calm, patient… I thoroughly enjoyed the half-hour, and I’ve already read the book!Now, about that serious hook to the gut, from you and Mr. Burroughs this morning. I hadn’t even finished my first cup of coffee, yet.
I’m with JOS again, Mickey. Thanks for this place.Rev. Joe - great posts, thank you, too.
You know, Rev., I often think that an anarchist is simply someone who just can’t lie to himself / herself any more. Someone willing to be truly honest in his evaluation of the circumstances, no matter what the consequences of such an evaluation might be… I’ve had conversations with many people, over the years, who’ve told me that they beleived that government was probably the single biggest problem for the ordinary people of the world - but that they refused to “be an anarchist,” because there would be nothing but chaos and terror if we just eliminated government.
Putting aside the fact that I completely disagree with that conclusion, I feel that we need to be honest, no matter where that honesty might lead… even if it did lead to chaos and terror.Sooner or later, we have to grow up and get out of mommy and daddy’s house… even if it’s scary to do so.
Congrats, Rev.Posted by joe on from Oregon 11/23 at 07:23 PMFYI...Daniel Ellsburg was arrested a few hours ago in Crawford, Texas.////////////
Keir. I agree with what you say about O’Reilly but It helps me to do what I do when I understand what those who love war are hearing. It really does help me so when I speak to a right wing group I am already tuned it to their thought processes. For example, the Pentagon is now recruiting at NASCAR events. I think that one of the reasons that the anti-war movement has failed is precisely because it has failed to communicate with groups such as the NASCAR group-thinkers. Tuning in to the extreme right wing media is probably less important for those who work in the ivory towers of academia but for those of us on the ground, it is essential.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 11/23 at 07:25 PMOops, I did it again...as Britney might say. Sorry, Suzanne. When I see the e-mail address, I assume it’s Joe and then I realize (too late) it was you. I’m truly sorry.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 07:31 PMMickey, listening to your radio interview now. You sound like any of a number of relatives of mine. Cheers. (You come off pretty laid back and under control, by the way, so far. Not too fast for me.)
Here’s a link with more info about my concert…
http://tinyurl.com/7ognv
...but listeners beware: this will be pretty experimental, mostly improvised stuff, lots of long drones and aggressive sounds. But hey, I like it, and I’ve been working on it for 20 years.Posted by Keir on from The Hague 11/23 at 07:31 PMMickey, I could not listen to the radio interview so I tried to access the transcript. That didn’t work either. Can you link me to it?/////////// Below is something I just received from a vet’s group.
Kill ratio in Modern Warfare
7% military personnel to 93% non-combatants
(34% are children & 59% civilian men and women)Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 11/23 at 08:02 PMHi Rosemarie. This is the only link I have: http://tinyurl.com/dnsqb
As for the stats you offer, I once read where 9 out of 10 killed during war are civilians and 5 out of 10 of those are children. These, I believe, are the types of numbers that would go in an Inform the Troops book.
Thanks for listening, Keir. I will post a note about your performance in tomorrow’s post. If I’m home, I’ll listen in.
Where’s Mudge?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 08:14 PMI don’t know how to listen to the interview, but I do know that Mickey is finally getting the recognition he deserves. I remember reading “Saving Private Power” three years ago and thinking “finally, a book that talks about the atrocities and hypocrisies of the great war”. Because really, that war is referred to as “the good war”, and if you can dismantle the myths and glory of such a war, then you can dismantle the ones behind all other wars. Keep it up, Mickey. I enjoy reading your stuff.
Posted by RB on from 11/23 at 08:25 PMYO MICKEY! Great to hear your voice...very cool interview and you kicked ass.
I can’t wait to read about the African slaves and Native Americans teaming up, I never heard that before. I wasn’t able to afford any books until recently and I am supposed to get 50AR on the 29th. I can’t wait. Back to listening…
Posted by JOS on from Calle Colón 11/23 at 08:44 PMGreat job, Mick. I think that you gained some new readers today and I hope they come pay you and the rest of us a visit here at the site.
To answer your question about Mudge...I heard from him today and he says that he will be writewritewriting away until midnight of the last day of this month.
Posted by JOS on from Calle Colón 11/23 at 09:03 PMAn excerpt from a recent article by Dahr Jamail:
Inter Press Service
Dahr JamailSAN FRANCISCO, California, Nov 23 (IPS) - A year after the U.S.-led “Operation Phantom Fury” damaged or destroyed 36,000 homes, 60 schools and 65 mosques in Fallujah, Iraq, residents inside the city continue to suffer from lack of compensation, slow reconstruction and high rates of
illness.The Study Centre for Human Rights and Democracy based in Fallujah (SCHRD) estimates the number of people killed in the city during the U.S.-led operation in October and November 2004 at 4,000 to 6,000, most of them civilians. Mass graves were dug on the outskirts of the city for
thousands of the bodies.Last week, the Pentagon confirmed that it had used white phosphorus, a chemical that bursts into flame upon contact with air, inside Fallujah as an “incendiary weapon” against insurgents. Washington denies that it is a chemical weapon, as charged by some critics, and that it was used against civilians.
Posted by JOS on from Calle Colón 11/23 at 09:09 PMRB: It’s been a long time. How are you? And thanks for the kind words.
Big Country, I appreciate you listening in. Thanks. And thanks for the Mudge update. I snuck in some novel work today and have crept up over 31,000 words. Boy, this book is a novel only because I call it that. It’s a novel in the way that a Jackson Pollock creation is a painting. I gotta admit, though, I’m enjoying it. If only had a little more time…
How’s it going with your book?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 09:10 PMNot Good. I’m stuck at around 20,000 and not because of writer’s block, just because I am not sitting down to write. I think I will try to get to it tonight. My “novel” is extremely personal (whose isn’t) and delves deep into places I am not sure I am ready to go.
Hey, if you pull off a Jackson Pollack novel, I think you would have a big fan right here. But I know what you are saying...kind of a splattering of themes going round and back and round again not ever taking a form that anyone would actually call a plot line? Or is that just me? I am glad you are having fun with it because that’s a good thing.
By the way, my captch is “radio” and my idea is that we have to think of ways of getting you on some other shows somehow. How did this opportunity come up?
Posted by JOS on from Calle Colón 11/23 at 09:23 PMYou hit it on the head, JOS, with your description of my novel. I’ve written several screenplays....linear and clear. But I feel I can’t write a traditional story anymore.
As for your writer’s block, is Mudge helping? I’ll bet he’s full of useful suggestions.
I got the radio gig through the publisher and we’re trying soooo hard to get on Air America or Democracy Now...with no luck. if anyone has ideas, I’m all ears.
Finally, in relation to the Dahr Jamail item above, I’m reminded of a passage from the new Mike Palecek novel, Looking for Bigfoot: “Would evil men and women kill in order to gain absolute power? Pretty darn near impossible to believe when they look just like us and sound like us, tell the same tired jokes and watch the same TV shows. I do know, because I saw it myself over the top of my SuperSize Diet Pepsi, that while children are being bombed to gooey bits, the mail still arrives at our house at ten and the garbage is picked up at one, school dismisses at three-thirty, and Raymond comes on at seven.”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 09:34 PMThat pretty much says it all, Mick.
Yes, Mudge has helped a lot. I just have to get to work. I’ll check in later, but in case you sign off beforehand...good night.
Posted by JOS on from Calle Colón 11/23 at 09:38 PMIt’s 10:39 in chilly Astoria. G’Night all…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/23 at 10:40 PMHey Mickey. I’ve been fine. I’ve been checking in to see what you have to say every day since the beginning of your blog. It’s one of the sites I go to every day to get my daily dose of insight. I wish you the best, Mickey. You truly deserve it.
Posted by RB on from 11/25 at 12:53 PMThanks, RB. What a nice thing to say.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/25 at 03:30 PM
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