Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Scapegoating Mexicans is an American tradition
How is it I’m first two days in a row? Has Europe suffered a massive black-out and I just didn’t hear about it? Owen, Mew, Keir, Chris...?
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 05/31 at 07:26 AMCatLady, from last night: Air conditioning before all, sleep can’t come without it!
MZ, scapegoating “the other” is a human tradition. Mexicans here, Quebecois in New England, Caribbean folks in England, Algerians in France, Turks in Germany, whatever; never was any different anywhere or any time. It’s the Nature (capitalized deliberately) of the beast. I can’t see why this would surprise anyone at this point, nor does time, or perceived merit of politician, play any role in this mob-mentality manifestation. Humans are hard-wired for hate. We rise above this to whatever individual degree we’re able to; but the species does not, and will not, and cannot, uniformly rise above our ancestry.
Posted by Mudge on from Austin 05/31 at 07:35 AMEurope here. Having a late lunch and ‘Cool Observer’ break. International Expendable Writing Month - will get to work at once. Not sure about being hardwired for hate…
under capitalism, yep maybe (forget maybe).Posted by Unc.Joe on from office, education sector, england 05/31 at 07:54 AMSure it can, Mudge, when you’re as tired as I was. Few things wear you out as much as yet another dental experience. One more next week, then that should be it for another few months.
No proofreading lined up til maybe later tonight, so I’m going to start June early today.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 05/31 at 08:02 AMGood morning Mudge, Mickey, Uncle Joe, and James.
Power is now back on. Last night the area was without electricity again. As I sat in the silent darkness, I thought about all of those in Baghdad where they are regularly without electricity now that the USA has “improved” things so much. My area goes down on a regular basis. I think back to my childhood (centuries ago) when the power almost never went out, only once during my youth, as I can remember. Yep, things, all things, are getting worse in the USA.Mudge, I don’t think that we all are hard wired for hate. I’m with Uncle Joe on this one. Capitalists are hard wired for hate because hatred is so profitable.
James, I agree about the dental experience.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 05/31 at 08:27 AMYurp checkin’ in. Busy now. Cooking up a (vegan) storm for friends visiting from Seattle. Will have more to say later (esp. re: yesterday’s topic).
Posted by Keir on from The Hague 05/31 at 09:05 AMI’ve been unable to write anything longer than a forum post for months now, even when I was threatened with payment for some articles. I’ll have a bash but reserve the right to keep the non-results to myself.
I think our ability and tendency to rationalise a privileged position (by diminishing the humanity of others) may be natural, but the systems (feudalism, capitalism, whatever) that produce that inequity are not.Posted by mew on from great street of portland stone 05/31 at 09:55 AMMudge from yesterday:
“JOS, if one threatens violence, is one morally different from the perpetrators?”
One is in a way...one’s threat of violence is against a few who threaten many. But I must say I see your point...my thoughts and feelings on non-violent dissent seem to shift back and forth depending on my level of outrage that day. In this case...I agree with the Viet Nam vets.
On today’s topic, “Racist scapegoating… an American tradition brought to you with bipartisan support:”
Outlawing Zoot suits because white soldiers are beating anyone wearing them? What a country! Makes you proud to be an American doesn’t it?
Reminds me of the “alleged” massacre in Haditha Iraq...one incident of many brought about by our government’s illegal invasion and occupation of a non-white country...who taught their soldiers that those that live there are less than human...check out the picture at the bottom of this post:
http://wdthu.blogspot.com/2006/05/in-cold-blood.html
The funny thing is all I hear from the talking heads is that the media only reports bad things that our soldiers do in Iraq. What horseshit...this incident occurred in November of LAST YEAR. This is only one of many such incidents:
http://wdthu.blogspot.com/2006/05/this-kind-of-shit-happens-everyday.html
http://wdthu.blogspot.com/2006/04/war-crimes-on-nightly-news.html
http://wdthu.blogspot.com/2006/04/murder-of-waleed-khaled.html
http://wdthu.blogspot.com/2006/03/if-you-look-at-them-like-humans-theyre.html
Racism plays a huge role in our American mindset...in our policies at home and our wars abroad. Sorry for the lengthy post…
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 05/31 at 09:56 AMWhen I have actually written something for International Expendable Writing Month I will report so here…
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 05/31 at 09:58 AMMyself I thought the ‘moral’ (wrong word, but hey-ho) of yesterdays story was about the power of fear. I’ve never been targeted by protesters funnily enough, but I imagine the thinking goes: are these protesters endangering something I’m afraid of losing (profits, popular support, first-born’s testicles); and will they carry it through? For most ‘actions’, the answer is no on both counts.
Posted by mew on from great street of portland stone 05/31 at 10:08 AMRosemarie, that nice baldy Greg Palast had a good piece about power in the NE (and the States generally): http://tinyurl.com/k58q
Btw, Captcha has been a bit dull and not at all oracular lately.Posted by mew on from great street of portland stone 05/31 at 10:25 AMAn even more edifying link: http://tinyurl.com/mbnuo
Posted by mew on from great street of portland stone 05/31 at 10:53 AMMew, i hat link to the Palast article. We have been warned but the disaster will come anyway. Part of the reason, up here, is that those with money have generators and alternative heat sources. Those who will be most affected have no power to solve the power problem. It is like a big Katrina just waiting to happen. Politically, there will be an advantage to those who push for corporations and nuclear power. When the lights go out they will use that to push their nuclear agenda. I am an advocate for wind mills. We have a few and they work well up here but the fat cats say that they do not look “nice” on the ridge lines.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 05/31 at 11:08 AMHere’s something else that may be of interest to New Englanders amongst others...and Mr Monbiot’s article the other day for good measure.
Posted by mew on from great street of portland stone 05/31 at 11:16 AMMew, thanks for that on passive houses. When I built my house I did all of the passive things that I could, the ones that did not add to the cost. I put almost all of my windows on the south side, etc. It did not increase the cost at all. It is amazing how many people don’t do that. My hope was that I could be completely off the grid but that would have increased the cost too much.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 05/31 at 11:30 AMAlthough I am a ‘lesser evil’ type, I quite appreciate this post, Mickey - one always likes to have myths shattered.
And hi, Mudge (the first!), Uncle Joe, James, Rosemarie, Keir, Mew, JOS - all the familiar expendables are back on deck.
It will be another cool day here in Daylesford: around 55F - is also the first day of winter.
Bye ..
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 05/31 at 01:34 PMAnd thanks for all those interesting links, Mew.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 05/31 at 01:39 PMI just love getting here to see the party rocking in my absence. Hello Expendables…
Only nine hours till the start of International Expendable Writing Month. Can you smell the anticipation?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 05/31 at 01:49 PMsmells like...victory.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 05/31 at 02:25 PMLet me finish fixing the air conditiner, then I’ll let you know. The irony of my a.c. issues is that this is where my dad went to school:
http://www.apextechnical.com/main.htm
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 05/31 at 02:37 PMI can relate, Cat Lady.
The AC from our old apt. didn’t fit in the window here...so we sold it. That left us AC-less during the August-like weather this past weekend. We’re going to go with a small AC and some ceiling fans.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 05/31 at 03:13 PMGoing up to Bed Bath & Beyond rignt now myself to buy a new fan. They’re always a good choice, because of their unlimited return policy. If you need extra money in the winter, just return your a.c.! Something like that.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 05/31 at 04:08 PMJames, I like your style. You are a creative consumer.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 05/31 at 04:16 PMI’ve been treating that place like a pawn shop for years now…
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 05/31 at 09:37 PMIntersting (sic) essay (sic)...
How does one blame Bush for the scapegoating of Mexicans? He has been one of the few sensible voices on this subject from the right. And how did the incident mentioned involve FDR?
The story of the riot and the zoot suit was somewhat interesting to me. But this piece did nothing to support the points it asserted.
Just so you know, I think FDR was the worst President ever and Bush may well eclipse him. So I am not one to defend either.
Posted by Ron on from Concord, Ca 05/31 at 10:01 PMYou might want to read (sic) the essay again, Ron.
Since so many want to blame everything on the fact that Bush is in office, I pointed out that a similar climate existed during the reign of a supposed liberal, FDR. The problem is not Republican or Democrat, it’s systemic.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/01 at 05:17 AMI certainly read it and now have reread it and am only slightly more enlightened.
My point was that everything concerning the scapegoating of Mexicans should not be placed on Bush. If anything he has attempted to bring some calm to the discussion, though I have some skepticism of his motives.
Your claim is that the LA city council was “positively Bush-like” implying that Bush is somehow responsible for the current state of hysteria. But you fail to offer any argument for that.
Further, I don’t see any connection between the riots you mention and FDR. At least none that you have offered.Again, I am not a fan of either.
I guess, I failed to note that this seems to be an anti-American, anti-capitalist, or whatever, rant. That’s fine, for what it is, but an essay it is not.
Posted by Ron on from Concord, Ca 06/01 at 10:45 AM
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