Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Saturday, March 24, 2007
"This is what it means to be a leftist"
Introducing Cornel West at the National Constitution Center
http://tinyurl.com/2ja84p
captcha says societyPosted by frances on from british columbia 03/24 at 08:07 AMHoly moly, that Cornel speech is a lot to absorb, esp. on a sunny day when there’s so much to do, but thanks a lot for it. Also just reminded me of the first Matrix sequel which he appeared in, anyone remember that? Do you think he got a lot of money for it?
I’m still reading through Rogue State and various Kierkegaard (and anthology titled “the Humor of Kierkegaard")-- anyone have a favorite Cornel West book to recommend?
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 03/24 at 08:48 AMsunshine? dont miss a moment of that James! We’ve been under a wet gray blanket for so many months now....I am begining to turn green....
Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/24 at 08:59 AMi think rather than what it means to be a leftist that should be what it means to be a human being.
anyway, hello from an unseasonably warm scotland. it is t-shirt weather and it is not even april yet.
that is rather unusual
Posted by michael on from scotland 03/24 at 09:06 AMHello Expendables...from sunny Astoria. I’m taking the above advice and getting outside to enjoy the day. I’ll see everyone later.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/24 at 12:59 PMengland are playing israel at soccer right now. as a protestor and a scotsman i am currently trying to work out who i want to lose more
its a tough one.
the captcha is “values”
hahahaha
Posted by michael on from scotland 03/24 at 01:35 PMi want england to loe. what can i say..i’m scottish. there is a history there.
Posted by michael on from scotland 03/24 at 01:57 PMHappy Birthday, Jeremy.
I have heard Cornel West speak many times on C-span. Recently, he said the things that are on the front page here. I think that a while back his job was in jeopardy because of his views. He was under serious attack, same as W Churchill.From last night’s comments....Cynthia McKinney is a good choice, so is Barbara Lee. Right now is the time to remind those who voted for Democrats and expected an end to the war that the Dems will NEVER do it. We should all join our voices and say, “WE TOLD YOU SO”. The rule is never vote for an incumbent and never vote for a Republican or Democrat, never.
The sun just went away and a little more snow is expected.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/24 at 03:00 PMI’m not that familiar with Cornel West, but those are powerful concepts. How does one live them on a daily basis when one is wading hip deep in septic tank of contemporary culture?
Very mild day out here. I’m cleaning the house so the catsitter will feel comfortable. Tomorrow is a travel day (night actually).
Posted by The CultureGhost on from Concord CA 03/24 at 03:05 PM- hy do speakers smile while ending a sentence, comment etc.?? Why don’t they smile before they start speaking. Is there a law somewhere, do universities demand people smile when ending their speak? How can anyone talk about anything that is serious and end their comentary with a smile. Can anyone explain why speakers do this. And ‘they’ all look alike, men, women, the same timing, the same jestures...is it a sign of intelligence to appear as a robot, a broadcasting automaton? I think I have had with people always smiling while ending sentences with the same body language and smile...!
Posted by Joe of Maine on from 03/24 at 03:21 PM
CultureGhost...It seems to me that nothing any one of us does will make much difference; but, doing nothing is the worse of all possible choices. We have not lost the struggle until we stop struggling. One of the things that we should all be doing now is supporting the immigrants who are under attack. Most in the usa don’t understand the history of what U.S. Capitalism has done to their home countries. Kind of reminds me of that Tom Joad monologue in Grapes of Wrath....where there is any man being beaten up by a policeman, I will be there. Where there is any man in jail, I will be there....(I know that I am misquoting...) I guess that I am just trying to say that we should be in solidarity with people all over the planet. There is no such thing as an “alien” or an “illegal”, only people who have been displaced by Predatory Capitalism.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/24 at 03:29 PMHello again, everyone. It seems to me that what West is saying is not new. Rather, I posted such an excerpt as more of a reminder. Zinn sums it up like this: “To live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” I’m not sure if I’d call it a marvelous victory but it’s an important step.
As for England v. Israel, I think I might have to root for the referees.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/24 at 05:01 PMThanks for bringing Cornel West to my attention, I had never heard of him before. He puts much emphasis on bridging the gap between elders and youth. That in the context of creating a movement for social change older folk must shift their attention to younger folk. That youth need mentors who have a “courageous orientation” and so encourage them to be non-conformists. West also speaks of channeling our deep seated fears and anxieties in productive ways. That all of this together can work to shape a climate of opinion to shatter conservative consensus. This fits in nicely with the seven generations model of First Nations peoples. I have been thinking about age segregation and its detrimental effects on culture for a while now. Bring back the one-room school house!
Bill Maher totally laces into Bush and Cheney:
http://tinyurl.com/2cz7aj
replace his last line with prez. candidate of your own choosing.
The sun did make an appearance here today, and the trees are starting to leaf-out.Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/24 at 05:40 PMI also learned that I am a cross between an Emersonian and Melvillian (sp?) democrat. Ah the wonderful world of the web, and to think for years I would have nothing to do with it because it was a by-product of military research and developement.
Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/24 at 05:47 PMfrances...I, too, think a lot about the age segregation in this culture. Not only segregation but a devaluing of the elderly. The popular culture, especially TV, portrays the older people among us as useless and unintelligent. I can’t think of any area in which the old are represented in an accurate way. Makes me a little sad, not only for myself, but for all in this culture. When I see film clips from Iraq, Iran, and so many other places, I am envious of the way that they look upon the elders in their communities. .....Here, the state legislature is debating the issue of physician assisted suicide. So far it has not passed and become law. When it does, some old folks will be pressured into dying. Yes, there are families that will put pressure on grandpa to do it. Pressure will come from families and also the general public because old folks have medical problems that cost money. It’s all about money. This culture makes all of us expendable eventually. Sometimes the thought of wearing a burka does not seem so bad.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/24 at 05:59 PMBurka! How would you ride yur bike?
http://tinyurl.com/2d8l8gPosted by frances on from british columbia 03/24 at 06:27 PMRMJ...I believe the revolution begins at home. What am I doing in my day to day affairs in regard to the causes/actions I feel I can tackle. Being a bit of an anarcho-isolationist (recluse) makes it hard for me to get involved in group activities.
Picking up from last year’s learning experience of a vegetable garden, we’re once again attempting the French bio-intensive method of vegetable gardening. Very organic, very systematic. I really, really like the idea of growing my own food.
As to the football match, why does it always have to be one country vs. another country? Why can’t it be A Bunch of Guys From England vs. Some Fellows From Israel? Reducing the aspect of rabid nationalism (the implied If We Win This Match, Our System Is Better holdover from The Cold War) might make the games a tad less political and put the fun back in sport.
Posted by The CultureGhost on from Concord CA 03/24 at 06:33 PMhello culture ghost.
i certainly don’t take the rabid nationalism involved with international sport seriously. there are no implications involved.
Posted by michael on from scotland 03/24 at 06:40 PMwith that in mind, it can occasionally be fun to watch when you r not getting involved with serious actions trying to change things
Posted by michael on from scotland 03/24 at 06:42 PMMichael, I have a quandry I’m facing in the next year and a half. My kid sister will be participating in the 2008 Olympics for the United States and while I really want her team (Synchronized swimming, is that really a sport?) to do well, I don’t want to get involed with all the rah-rah USA stuff that accompanies such endeavors. When the club had a send-off for them back in early Feb. quite a few of the parents and other supporters were waving flags and had flag accessories (jackets, towels, etc)along with posters saying, “GO USA.” I was uncomfortable with it all.
Posted by The CultureGhost on from Concord CA 03/24 at 07:09 PMcultureghost, I wholeheartedly agree, home grown food is the best of the best. When I had my veggie garden I felt like the richest person on the planet! Especially in the winter time, all those potatoes and frozen corn and beans and canned tomatoes. Yum. It gave me a whole different perspective on life. And the children loved it too, whenever they were hungry they would just amble into the pea-patch and graze. It was really something special.
Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/24 at 07:12 PMThanks MZ and RMJ!
Posted by Jeremy R. Hammond on from Taipei, Taiwan 03/25 at 12:32 AM
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