Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Michael Parenti: "The Culture Struggle"
Good morning Mickey,
It’s been a while since I’ve been the first out of the chute here!
"To understand a society we need to understand the problem of culture as well as that of power. And, conversely, to understand culture we also need to take note of how power is used in society, toward what end and for whose benefit and at whose cost.”
Why do I get the feeling that if I spoke this aloud right now, even if it were to magically be in context, I’d be looked at as though I’d just attempted to explain rocket science?
It always seems that the most rudimentary aspects of our common existance are the very ones which we need the most coaxing and prodding before we’ll analyse and understand.
They really should teach this shit in grade school so that by the time kids get to high school and learning about the greek origins of democracy they’ll have the ability to put it into some context instead of focusing purely on the mechanics of the construct.“Without” understanding, we’re lost.
Posted by Amelopsis from Canadia on 03/22 at 08:38 AM“I believe that life was never really meant to be a struggle - yet somehow we are taught that life is one of effort, hard work, anguish and difficulty, and battling on regardless. And yet, when we look at nature and what is around us, we can see a simplicity and a flow. Does the tiger get up in the morning and say “I´m going to try hard today; I´m going to jog round the block and stick alfalfa sprouts up my nose and lob my vitamins and I´m gonna really struggle like crazy and hopefully by lunchtimne have something to eat?” No it doesn´t. It just gets up, has a little sniff under its tiger armpits and wanders out into the forest and there at lunchtime on the path it its lunch. And it´s the same for you. If you get into flow and you pull away from the emotion of struggling, sure, you may have to drive across town to pick up a check and take it to your bank, but it doesnt have to be anguish - it doesn´t have to be laced with emotion. Effort is part of the physical condition. Struggle is effort laced with emotion. And you don´t need that.”
- Stuart Wilde
Hi all, lovely to see it so busy these couple days, even if we are still Joeless.
Posted by Owen from Barcelona on 03/22 at 09:04 AMHi Owen, I like your quoted offering very much. It’s so important to note these subtle differences that are our choice between happiness or navel gazing misery.
And, yeah, Where is Joe?
Was that Michael our Tub thumper late yesterday? Doesn’t seem quite in character and I thought it might be someone else...I hope the described lack is not causing too much struggle.
Posted by Amelopsis from Canadia on 03/22 at 09:09 AMThere’s a whole ton of stuff we should learn in school instead of the useless crap we do. A decent grounding in logic and critical thinking would be top of my list - not that thats all you need by any stretch, but its a starting point for citizenship.
Empress, if I said that out loud right now, my co-workers would probably blink, and wonder out loud what my point was. It would just be an abstract thought, one they would be quite capable of processing, but with no consequences.
Maybe we should just say it? One, two, three…
Posted by Mew from work on 03/22 at 09:17 AMI’m not sure mine could process.
I’m even always fishing recyclable paper out of the garbage when the blue box is right beside it. Sometimes I’d like to practice some Kung Fu Mixer moves around here. (like they don’t think I’m crazy enough already!)
Posted by Amelopsis from Canadia on 03/22 at 09:27 AMGood morning, all, and a hearty thank you t oMZ for the Parenti heads-up. Culture is indeed a charged construct, with winners and losers in its assignments to “The Canon” of whatever subject is under discussion. “The innocent accretion of past solutions” be damned. Innocent of what?
Mew, nice to see you around!
Empress, I thought it was a little odd of Tubthumping Michael to be sentimental but we all have moods....
Posted by Mudge from Austin on 03/22 at 09:38 AMOn Monday March 20, Michael Parenti spoke on KQED’s Forum about his new book… the mp3 download and webpage for it at KQED are problematic.
With a little fiddling, I hope you can locate and listen to it. It was mesmerizing.
Sincerely,
Robert B. Livingston
San FranciscoPosted by Robert B. Livingston from San Francisco on 03/22 at 09:54 AMExcellent conversation starter today, Mick. As shown by the early comments already, but especially Amelopsis’ first of the day…
I am a believer that we have two types of cultures in this world...those of the indigenous peoples (what little of them are left), and those of the rest of us...East, West, north or south...ours is based on greed and an overwhelming belief that we own everything on this planet and may do with it what we please. Those who have read Daniel Quinn will see where I am coming from.
Today, the institutions that Parenti speaks of must the most powerful engines of greed and destruction that this world has ever seen.
Posted by JOS from Chicago on 03/22 at 10:04 AMHeavy day at the office so far but I’m really glad to see such an enlightening post and a busy house here at Mickey’s place, check later…
Posted by James from work on 03/22 at 10:11 AMWell hello Expendables. Plenty to chew on already, I see. I wish I had more time so I could quote Parenti at length from his excellent new book. I will get to it soon...but in the meantime, I strongly suggest you give it a read. Following up on last year’s Superpatriotism, Parenti has never been better.
Also, don’t underestimate our tub-thumping colleague from Scotland. He likes to crack wise but he’s a sensitive soul...as far as I can ascertain.
I’ll be back shortly (I hope).
Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 03/22 at 10:19 AMit was/is tubthumper and if it was out of character it was heartfelt but perhaps by that stage of the evening the beer had got the better of me!
Posted by michael from temporary exile- on 03/22 at 10:20 AMHi JOS, Robert Livingstone, Mudge, James, and Michael,
Michael - heartfelt expression is a peculiar thing and my questioning was only me getting to know you better. (I genuinely wondered if we had a few Michael’s in the room for a moment)
When beer gets the better of me, I get downright silly along with my usual sentimentality.
Posted by Amelopsis from Canadia on 03/22 at 11:23 AMI don´t drink anymore but used to wake up in strange places in strange clothes.
Posted by Owen from Barcelona on 03/22 at 11:25 AMOwen...it’s the waking up with strange people that you really have to worry about.
Posted by JOS from Chicago on 03/22 at 12:38 PMi’ve done both.
i once woke up with all my clothes on inside out. i have absolutely no idea how it happened.
Posted by michael from temporary exile on 03/22 at 12:43 PMWuzzup everybody. Sorry to be off topic but I just ran into China’s report on the state of human rights in the US and man is it good.
PS: Michael if you wake up one of these days on this side of the North Sea lemme know. I would be happy to steer you away from (or directly to) the less salubrious parts of A’dam.
Posted by Keir from The Hague on 03/22 at 12:51 PMand for the record i will go for a fortnight at a time and not touch the stuff and then spend three of four days inside a whisky bottle
Posted by michael from temporary exile on 03/22 at 12:54 PMsounds good keir
Posted by michael from temporary exile on 03/22 at 12:55 PMGood morning from me as well, Mickey (it is 6:46am on a Thursday morning in Daylesford) and thanks for this great post! Michael Parenti whom Mr and Mrs Helga met in late March 2003 in Berkeley is one of my favourite writers - I like all of his books.
And hi to Amelopsis, Owen, Mew, Mudge, Robert B. Livingston, Jos, James, Michael and Keir - good to see you are all gathered here! Quite a warm day coming up down under: 86F.
Amelopsis, this one is for you:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1597993.htmI wonder which Canadians find the use of the word ‘hell’ offensive - about 12 or so?
Auf Wiederemailen,
HelgaPosted by Helga Fremlin from Daylesford, Australia on 03/22 at 02:47 PMAnd I agree with JOS: ‘It is the waking up with strange people that you really have to worry about’, Owen. I LOVE your sense of humour, Owen - unless that wasn’t meant to be funny. Ah Barcelona - hope I’ll see it again some day ..
And Michael, that is strange indeed - having your clothes on inside out!
Posted by Helga Fremlin from Daylesford, Australia on 03/22 at 03:08 PMHi Helga, I have a feeling that the Canadians worried about the word ‘hell’ being used are the same ones who are teaching their children to fear it! (some, at least)
What in the bloody hell is wrong with some people, anyway?!
Posted by Amelopsis from Canadia on 03/22 at 03:51 PM
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