Wednesday, July 07, 2004

Kerry and Edwards: White America's Dream Team

By Justin Felux

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Posted 07/07 | Add a Comment

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  1. It’s official: Dubya is now the poorest Dem or Rep in the race.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from  on  07/07  at  04:42 PM

  2. Considering that the Civil War in this country did not advance the cause of those Justin has compassion for here...why would we want to take seriously any “promises” the Democratic Party might make --to get elected-- this time around?  Why is it so difficult for activists/engaged citizens to see that the electoral game is rigged whether or not this or that party fixes a given election?  I beg all the writers here --a talented and well-meaning group, to say the least-- to consider why so much effort is put into criticizing souls who are (obviously) lost souls...at best.  Why hope is held out to such a degree for electoral politics.  Readers too.  Is it that people here have really bought into the notion that there is no alternative?  I submit that what the Civil War did NOT correct...SNCC attempted to correct...by stopping business as usual.  Those lunch counters simply could not serve customers during the hiatus that was created down South.  My Kwame Ture article below...addressed the fact that the likes of the Kennedy administration and the Johnson administration did NOT work for the Blacks in this nation...unless you want to discount what I present there and buy into the opinions of Stanely Crouch types and images that we are given from products such as “Mississippi Burning.” Please. The arthiritic tortoise pace that activists have adopted in going about trying to make the world a better place can only be adopted by those who are not suffering sufficiently at this very moment.  It is NOT true that we have no alternatives.  It is also not true that options must include getting arrested or having one’s head bashed in.  I am NOT being condescending to the writers on this site.  I am not of the opinion that you are either a fraud or a fool if you do not agree with me.  I simply ask you to up the ante, get creative, acknowledge the urgency required, etc., etc.  Nothing will be advanced unless people on the Left are willing to push their envelopes...and accept the necessity of some little uncomfortable times, disruption of their own routines.  Let’s be more adventurous, yes? Loving best, O’Xman P.S. We must raise our voices w one another a bit and rub one another the “wrong way” for awhile.  Please.

    Posted by O'Xman from  on  07/08  at  06:53 PM

  3. Great article Justin.  A minor quibble however.  Wish you wouldn’t have undermined the class angle.  The struggle shouldn’t be either class or racism, but rather both class and racism.  Racism is a form of classism.  I think class is one of the strongest of cards we have, as we are so many and they are so few as the saying goes. When the Repugs or the corporate media get the slightest sniff of activists playing the class card, they take the strongest preemptive, propagandistic measures.  Inevitably accusing those who are the victims of classism of engaging in class warfare.  I agree with Richard that the electoral approach is not the only or the strongest possibility of effecting change.  But as Chomsky says, it exists and we can’t ignore it.

    The Kerry/Edwards ticket is as white as dandruff.  Still, Nader had encouraged Kerry to choose Edwards - that is encouraging.  Although I haven’t heard Nader weigh in now that the deed is done.

    Posted by Tracy McLellan from  on  07/08  at  07:38 PM

  4. Do all roads lead to the Kwame Ture article?

    Posted by Mickey Z. from  on  07/08  at  09:14 PM

  5. No one is saying we should “ignore” the electoral process. Quite the contrary, I have been asking for writers and readers to acknowledge it in these quarters for what it is. I haven’t seen any substantial discussion here regarding the issue of the electoral politics being given way too much time and space relative to the alternatives that exist or might exist.  If it is NOT “the strongest possibility” of affecting change, why are so few heartbeats addressed in the direction of our options?  Do all roads lead to the Kwame Ture article?  First of all, when constant pleas for feedback go unanswered, I’m inclined to bring the piece up again and again.  Also, when the central questions/issues raised in the piece (which I have addressed in the commentary sections to no avail) are not answered/addressed when the article IS finally mentioned...I have what I consider an understandable tendency to refer to the piece..."again." Yes, I would say many, if not all, roads lead to the Ture piece under such circumstances.  I have tried very hard to make it clear that whatever impression I may have left with anyone...I did not INTEND to be disrespectful...in urging readers to consider moving beyond whatever groove they may find themselves in.  I do not feel that is getting across.  To not have a dialogue re the Ture-related matters raised is very disheartening. To not have people here exchanging views regarding the value of the electoral process and its alternatives (in detail) is discouraging, to say the least.  Best of fortune to one and all, O’Xman.

    Posted by O'Xman from  on  07/08  at  10:33 PM

  6. Richard, I agree with everything you said.

    Tracy, I didn’t mean to undermine the class struggle.  I was just countering the notion put forth by a lot of people on the left (ranging from communists to the Democratic Leadership Council) that goes something like “class is the real issue, not race.” They want to ignore the racial caste system and act like working class whites and poor blacks are in the same boat, which isn’t true.  In fact, black people have historically been treated like shit by the white working class.

    Posted by Justin Felux from San Antonio, TX  on  07/09  at  11:59 AM

  7. Entirely true Justin.  Since you put it that way, I entirely agree.

    Posted by Tracy McLellan from  on  07/09  at  07:10 PM

    8. Next entry: Mickey Z.: America's Intellectual Self-Defense Instructor

    Previous entry: A Ray of Hope for Iraq

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