Press Action

Why You Should NOT Protest the RNC

Posted 08/26 |

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Am I reading this right? The following statement should be reconsidered: The police will “dispose of any meaningful protest promptly and violently.” That covers A LOT of ground. Is it really true? And why does violence against property in NYC have to be interpreted by the public as only being directed toward Bush & Co.? I must have read this thing too quickly. Nevertheless, as per the “debate” on Amy Goodman’s show today, I’d say Naomi Klein won hands down over the Mailer apologist Gitlin. What a horror that Todd is, what a “willing-to-wait forever fool” he is; he demands that we buy into the notion that we’ll have a “chance” to redirect policy with a Kerry? Here’s where the practicing journalist beats the teacher of journalism hands down. I’ve criticized Naomi heavily in the past vis-a-vis her Media Tour w Billy Bragg, but on this occasion she’s ringing all the right bells...and we should turn a deaf ear to the writer of this article AND Gitlin. So sorry to have to say this, ROX

Posted by Ox in a Sari from on 08/26 at 07:50 PM

Naomi did rock this morning on D-Now! Maybe you should nominate Ms. Klein as Arundhati’s vice presidential running mate, Richard. We could have an Indian/Canadian U.S. administration.

Posted by Mark Hand from on 08/26 at 07:59 PM

I get it now...a shame. Norman, ye sh’d know better..

Posted by j cummings from on 08/27 at 10:18 AM

Yah...it’s ok for Norm to go at his wife w a knife (when he was younger), but...youngsters today better beware of the Verboten Bogeman of Violence, yes? No. Scott Ritter’s joined in...as per ZNet today (which an otherwise lovely piece)...reminding one and all that the police will come down hard if the protesters push the envelope. Well, as per my comments above, they’ve got to find them first, yes?
Yesman

Posted by Yesman from on 08/27 at 10:23 AM

Joanne Giza forwarded me this unusual take on the RNC protests:

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showfast.html?article=42692

Posted by Mickey Z. from on 08/27 at 11:49 AM

Mailer (this is too much of an aside) is my favorite writer...so I am disapointed. Anyone who has not read Harlot’s Ghost (especially alongside Bill Blum’s Killing Hope) should read it immediately. His fiction, awesome nonfiction, scripts, etc put him up there with his rival Gore Vidal...and their debates are legendary…

Posted by j cummings from on 08/27 at 12:04 PM

I recommend that everyone check out the link Mickey has provided above...and comment here. Then...it might be good to have Mickey’s take on the takes. Not clear on what Jordy is disappointed about, by the way. I certainly don’t think his personal life detracts from the value of his fiction...like it might (potentially) with his nonfiction...and did when he ran for Mayor of NYC. From “the other side of the fence,” he’s kind of like Gore in the sense that much of what he throws out has value...in spite of the fact that one can’t expect him to lead us toward anything too radical. On that last count and more, however, I prefer Gore. Does anyone remember a bone of contention between them which drew you one way or the other? Inquiring Ox

Posted by Respectfulox n' bagels from on 08/27 at 12:28 PM

Yeah...Mailer once said “you are against the system, but in fact you are really a profound right wing aristocrat!” and Vidal said “yes.” A lot of Vidal’s radicalism is based on very conservative nostalgia and self-loathing...Vidal is a populist, while Mailer (was) a Trotskyite. As much as I love Gore, Mailer’s early political essays actually do have some real content - specificallyfrom either Partisna Review or Dissent in 1959 an essay (I read it as part of a course) called “from Surplus Value to the Mass Media” - in my mind the finest translation of Marx’s labor metaphysic to cultural production,along with the notion that royalties are not dividends.

Posted by j cummings from on 08/27 at 12:53 PM

Good, Jordy. Thanks. Guess the both of ‘em have gone a long way since...those earlier days. Time at PEN was certainly not an “unconservative” stint for Norman...and recent contact for the both of them on Amy Goodman’s show left “a lot to be desired,” to say the least.

Posted by Unpenned Ox from on 08/27 at 01:11 PM

Reuters photo of antiwar march down Broadway in NYC on 3/22/2003.

Posted by Mark Hand from on 08/27 at 09:19 PM

She is right in her assertion I think - that really there is not much being done in New York because there is really nothing more than mob violence and people who like to walk with large signs getting exercise. Now if they had machetes well they could get on with changing peoples minds to the proper way of thinking.

Posted by Johnny Cash from Columbia, SC on 09/02 at 01:19 PM

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