tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36009958.post6014098420491692071..comments2023-11-09T14:15:40.111+02:00Comments on Fatima and Ahmed's Son: Bye, Bye Ms. American Spy Ridwanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16758153484699728802noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36009958.post-83526349073991589722013-06-21T18:09:00.448+02:002013-06-21T18:09:00.448+02:00Hi there Pstonie:
Thanks for more thought to chew...Hi there Pstonie:<br /><br />Thanks for more thought to chew on.<br /><br />I disagree somewhat about the order of racism. Racism is significant because of the element of power.<br /><br />So, the US has the power to make its race prejudices felt - as you say to get to the oil or the other strategic objectives.<br /><br />Appreciating the role of power in an analysis of racism is key to any level of analysis be it focused on local, national, or international politics.<br /><br />People who align themselves with the race prerogatives are being racist but the first order or point of analytical entry is the state - the US in this case - and its ability to use power to secure its racialized interests.<br /><br />Race prejudice without power is not racism.<br /><br />So I could have all kinds of racist thoughts about the Japanese but without power of them it remains just a prejudice.<br /><br />It is no coincidence that the idea of race developed alongside the idea of the nation-state in the 16th century.<br /><br />The state at this time wields inordinate power and I, therefore, agree with your pessimistic assessment of democracy of the late capitalism kind.<br /><br />In fact, it is not a new critique because that is what they made Socrates drink the hemlock for.<br /><br />His critique of democracy.<br /><br />He derided the loss of sophistication, the dumbasses who rose to the top, and the greed of those who pretended to be democratic (the opportunists).<br /><br />These are the symbols that you speak to. The ones people take on because of the manipulation - which in effect is about power and subservience.<br /><br />Those who resist are enemies of the state - even made to be insane.<br /><br />Power concedes nothing and it fears anarchy.<br /><br />Not all political theorists parrot the nonsense that sells for political science (itself a problematic term of American origin).<br /><br />But unfortunately that is what is promoted by the order of the day.<br /><br />The rest is about resistance - a dialectic of ideas if you will :0)<br /><br />Peace,<br />RidwanRidwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16758153484699728802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36009958.post-37932248076937545192013-06-21T17:43:06.425+02:002013-06-21T17:43:06.425+02:00Racism, IMO, is a tool in this case. The demonisat...Racism, IMO, is a tool in this case. The demonisation of Muslims is motivated by greed. The ones they wanted to attack are living on the oil they want. They need the support of the voting public to do it, thus: terror. Racism is a reaction to that fear. It's not even a first order symptom.<br /><br />And it wouldn't be possible without a system as retarded as democracy to make sure the lowest common denominator (a racist fuckhead, in this case) has the most say.<br /><br />No, all men are not created equal. Most generally lack the intelligence to know that they shouldn't have power over their fellows. Have everyone vote, and you can be sure that idiots will be the best represented.<br /><br />I'm guessing there is none of this talk in political science texts. Just default exaltation for democracy, very similar to the kind mandela gets, despite the facts in both cases. People need their symbols so they don't have to think too hard about what to believe, right?Pstoniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06927310295417291978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36009958.post-71639938644091887592013-06-20T14:45:30.816+02:002013-06-20T14:45:30.816+02:00Thanks for your comment Pstonie.
I can't conf...Thanks for your comment Pstonie.<br /><br />I can't confirm your suspicion because I am dealing with what is in front of me.<br /><br />Muslimy people have carried the burden of those who flew planes in those buildings.<br /><br />The further implication is that democracies - even pretend ones - would have a system of checks and balances that protect individual rights.<br /><br />That would mean group discrimination would, or rather should, be unthinkable.<br /><br />Lastly, a large proportion of Asian people are Muslims - and a large proportion of non-Muslim Asian people would appear Muslimy to racists in the US.<br /><br />The damaging emphasis is on racism.<br /><br />Peace,<br />RidwanRidwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16758153484699728802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36009958.post-90416601693350796432013-06-20T13:46:11.070+02:002013-06-20T13:46:11.070+02:00I rather suspect most "muslimy" people w...I rather suspect most "muslimy" people would've been happy to not give a shit along with everyone else, had the media implicated "asiany" people for 9/11.Pstoniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06927310295417291978noreply@blogger.com