Some musings that may not be amusing...

Paul R Carr's picture
Posted Fri, 01/23/2009 - 19:44 by Paul R Carr

Some musings that may not be amusing...

Obama is now the President, which is a good thing. He is, to sum it up rather simplistically, a good guy. He is authentic, he loves his family, he’s a thinker, he’s got a sense of the place of the US, he’s not afraid of the world, he’s against torture, and he does make us feel good about ourselves. All of that is a good thing. He has integrity, he comports himself in a dignified way, even when those around him are not guided by the same sense of purpose, and he wants a better life for himself and the world. He has set a new tone, has dared to utter the words “Muslim,” “non-believer,” “gays and lesbians,” etc., and has legitimized abortion and contraception once again. In one fell swoop, the world has been swept off its feet with the tantalizing fantasy that the US will... become a member of the world community, that it will engage, not disengage, that it will help, not hinder, that it will listen, not tell, that it will care about others, not belittle them...

So change is in the air...

Or is it?

A couple of things caught my eye at the spectacular inauguration, where millions of people joined together to celebrate, commemorate and manifest the possibility of a more loving society. Although many people of color were overwhelmed with the jubilation of the moment, it is unclear if as many in the White community were equally entranced with the significance of the symbolism of this event. Certainly, many are but still many are not, and this can be seen, felt, observed, and sensed in talk-radio, communities and classrooms.

Why did all of the US media repeat incessantly that the “peaceful transfer of power is the hallmark of US democracy”? Are they implying that it doesn`t happen elsewhere? It happens every year or so in Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, etc..... This is not a US phenomenon alone.

Why did the all of the US media repeat incessantly that the US is, and I`m paraphrasing here, “God`s chosen country, blessed by God, the most privileged country, the best country, etc...”? Is this to infer that other countries are not so great? How does one measure greatness? Is the US not first and foremost an Aboriginal country? But Aboriginal symbolism does not seem to be part of the US system.

Why is religion such a huge part of the US presidential system? I guess I should probably put the word “Christian” before religion? This is not to say that religion has not place in society; on the contrary, people`s beliefs are important. However, some of the religious beliefs are specifically targeted against... women, gays and lesbians, minorities, non-believers, the proverbial “other”. Obama was elected, which deserves a generous helping of rejoicing, and, at the same time, California stepped back two steps by revoking legislated rights for gays and lesbians (as a result, some analysts say, from the religious vote, as was the case of George W’s election in 2004, based on his anti-gay message, which overrode any debate on Iraq).

Another aspect to the day that is interesting for inside-outsiders (those in the US who are still getting their feet wet) is the presence of the military everywhere. Why is military experience considered a pre-requisite for public service? How does military experience prepare you to be a better leader, a diplomat, an advisor, etc.? Again, these are just musings that may not be amusing.

The US has 750 military bases in 100 countries, spends untold billions keeping a gun cocked at the world and, concurrently, suffering the wrath of humanity`s ill-forgotten humour. Is there a connection between massive military forays over there and what is happening state-side?

Does the $1-3 trillion spent on Iraq equate the massive economic meltdown and stimulus thingy for roughly $1-3 trillion in the US? Does it matter?

On the radio, President Bush is slowly being rehabilitated. “He kept us safe,” “He had principles he followed,” “He did what he thought was best for the country,” “We will not know of his legacy for another 40 years,” and the list goes on....

Many people around the world are less charitable toward President Bush, arguing that he should be brought up on war crimes against humanity for the illegal, immoral, criminal invasion of Iraq. One million dead Iraqis is an unconscionable price to pay for some still unknown reason.

All of this to say that Obama has got a real mess on his hands with “permanent war against terror,” as Peter McLaren describes it, and an economy that has given way to decades of false hope and promises from the trickle-down system that fantasizes that the rich will magically shower the poor with greenbacks.

So Obama is the right leader, much better than the others who were in the competition.

The question is: will he, or, rather, can he, raise questions that deal with US hegemony, US militarization, US political economy (how the US does not work for the majority), and, importantly, US collectivism (although it is popular to think that we are all only individuals, we are also a part of communities, whether we want to be or not)? Will more be shared without recrimination?

It is unfair to not give him a chance, especially after the time-warp that we`ve just gone through, and yet it would seem that things will not be changing that much. Money still rules in the day in politics. Poor people and racialized people, although rightly hopeful, still face significant hurdles in many sectors: education being a key one that could be the tipping-point for any evaluation of the true degree of change. How much will be invested in education? Will there be an attempt to diminish the neoliberalized tendencies of No Child Left Behind? Will there be a halt to the insane attack on public education, with an end to vouchers, charter schools, private schools and the exodus from urban to suburban schools? Will predominantly White schools be obligated to help predominated Black schools? Will the message be one of collective success or individual achievement?

So, and I am conscious of the historic nature of this new presidency, I, like so many others, is hoping for... change. For Obama, bonne chance !

Peace,

Paul

 

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jonadale's picture

Shawshank Redemption

by jonadale - 01/28/2009 - 01:27

 

I do not possess a crystal ball nor do I wish to confer with Las Vegas bookmakers to determine outcomes or potential outcomes concerning Obama’s willingness or ability to question what has long been an arrogant American attitude concerning questions of state, religion, or religion of state.   From a functionalist perspective, the American positivistic education system has taught us many untrue facts about ourselves and others. The pervasiveness and power of this pro-American ideological rant has robbed America of many potential political possibilities by closing the minds of millions. In spite of the ideological superstructure, many people saw that the king was naked.
In the post-9/11 era, America’s two political parties joined arm-in-arm and marched hope directly down the road to despair; not because we had a mutual enemy or clear objective, but because we didn’t. The Bush administration created an enemy armed with weapons of mass deception and sold it on a world stage.   Bush’s Christian soldiers were low-minded politicians armed with re-election ambitions and flag lapel pins to battle the tyranny of terrorism.   Like torture, the good thing about the Bush administration, it came to an end.  Enter Obama. 
As an educator, I’d like to take some credit for Obama’s success no matter how misguided or undeserved. Critical theory has been my weapon of choice. Like Freire, I was a pilgrim of the obvious. I stood, like so many other pedagogues, before the masses and classes and asked students to consider possibilities, to consider hope, and to reconsider prevailing attitudes. 
I believe that Obama has the opportunity to raise questions and reinvent America particularly as the economy seems to be waging the dog.   The have-nots’ numbers are growing each day. Not long ago, right-wing ideologues took to the nightly airwaves and vilified migrant workers. They were accused of stealing American resources and American jobs that no one wanted. In a world economy (another form of community), we cannot live in a vacuum. With a straight face, we cannot tell the world of our moral superiority, pseudo-democracy, and capitalist economy while water-boarding people who disagree with us, holding combatants indefinitely, and building xenophobic fences along our southern border. In my mind’s eye, understanding why terrorists hate us is the sixty-four thousand dollar question? My uneducated opinion suggests that it has something to do with Palestinians. Fortunatly, Obama brings the possibility of dialogue.
During the Bush years, policy was a misspoken monologue reduced to Bushism, fodder for late-night talk show hosts. American policy toward Arab nations has largely been self-serving; that is, they have oil and we’ll protect it for national security interests and contributions to re-election campaigns. Any fascist worth his or her weight in demagoguery knows that you must vilify your enemies. In the US administration that preceded Obama, an overt portrait of good verse evil was painted. The axis of evil, a not-so imaginary line was drawn between Pyongyang and Tehran. 
In typical American historical ignorance, the demagogues found fertile soil in which to plant their dead seed. A majority of Americans could not tell you the capital of North Korea, nor could Bush, I imagine. Thousands and scores of dead and maimed later, Americans have come to the realization that our enemies resided in the White House. This is not to suggest that evil people do not exist who would like nothing more than see the Great Satin come to an end. Yet in many respects, they are no different than the true believers that occupied the White House. But fighting back does not always require violence.  
Our history is steeped in violent responses, so no one should be surprised when the United States uses force. We have a lot of military hardware with short shelf lives that needs to be expended. Throughout our history of violence, we either lost our moral compass or realized that we never had one. Our military losses weren’t just moral or in the Middle East; we lost the compass to the moral highroad in Vietnam, Korea, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, and McCarthyism. Obama recently asked America’s enemies to unclench their fists and open their hands whereby former belligerents can begin to restore some diplomatic stability. 
But why should they trust us? We are a community of humans who have similar and dissimilar objectives; life and love are the most important in my view.  Throughout the entirety of my life, the United States has been in one conflict after another. Like many people, I’m sick of it. I’d like to go to my grave with a few years of peace. I do not want my son and any other person’s son to die for a lie. So, here we are in the midst of an economic downturn that has ravaged many families around the world. So in the final analysis, I don’t know what he’ll do but just as in the movie Shawshank Redemption, I have hope.

 

Paul R Carr's picture

The glass is half-full

by Paul R Carr - 01/29/2009 - 21:41

Jon,

Thank you for your analysis and humane message about what Obama means at this time in history. You have worded your thoughts in a very natural and reflective way, and I am happy that you have shared your thoughts.

I am constantly facing the glass half-full/half-empty dilemma. I cannot quantify anything because of the vasteness of the human experience so I won't use basball metaphors to describe what I think is happening, at leats in my mind.

I sense a change... in my mind, in my family, at my university, in the media, in basic community relations, in what the world is thinking.... Has this change translated into peace? more love? more decency? a redistribution of wealth?

This is not a quantitative change, as I mentioned above, but a shift in thinking. So, one might call it, as Obama has, ... hope. But there is something there, and this is the aspect that I think will cause some good, will force some reflection, will ignite some generosity, will create some opportunity, and which will. potentially, make us, collectively, do the right thing.

Perhaps this is too espteric, especially in a blog that has sought a more decent and humane aproach to democracy but my sense is that it is good to want to work with others. As I mentioned in my previous message, there are many obstacles, and there are a range of forces that will resist tangible, meaningful change.

So, I agree with you Jon, we must work toward peace in the truest vision of Freire and others, and Obama represents the glass being half-full, not half-empty.

Peace

Paul

Ilhan Kucukaydin's picture

This is a nice

by Ilhan Kucukaydin - 01/30/2009 - 12:37


This is a nice dialogue my friends. I enjoy reading and pondering over it

Thanks.

In solidarity,

Ilhan

 

Paul R Carr's picture

Nickels, dimes and billions

by Paul R Carr - 01/30/2009 - 15:24

Hey Ilhan,

Thanks for the comment, and please feel free to jump in.

One quick point: it is really difficult to digest the incredible insanity in the present economic wrangling over who should get or be stimulated, if there is such a thing.

At the same time as Obama is working to get money into the economy, and he seems to be since and focused about this important task, he must also face the rather grim reality that billions of dollars from these bailout packages are directed toward multi-millionaires/billionaires who skim off billions in bonuses, as was the case with the news yesterday that Wall Street bankers rewarded themselves with $20 B in bonuses. What can be said about such greed and disproportionate theft? The problem is, as has been alluded to, that systemic, structural, ingrained actions are part and parcel of the US political economy.

The other piece that seems to be mysteriously absent is the proverbial elephant in the room: hundreds of billions of dollars continue to be plowed into Iraq, and yet the average American needs a job, health care, housing, etc.. No one wishes to put an end to the runaway train called the military, which serves to not only impoverish the US financially but also morally, politically and spiritually. Working toward peace is not only the right thing to do but it would also save a lot of money.

The economic team that Obama has mobilized is repleat with Wall Street connections and lobbying credentials but there remains enormous hope that he can bring people around to see the light. His challenge will be not only to rejuvenate the masses but also to take on the power-elites, the media and the captains of industry, who have not shown a great interest in restructuring society.

Crossing the border into Canada today, I can attest to how the economy here is locked into a similar strangle-hold, With 80% of the Canadian economy tied to the US, the notion of political independence is a relative one. A Canadian stimulus package of $80B has been proposed by the government.

On an semi-related note: will Obama`s administration bring the Bush administratiion up on war crimes against humanity, starting with torture, bombing, and worse in the invasion into Iraq? One can imagine the implications but this is a question that many people around the world feel must be addressed. If war crimes against humanity can only be assessed by the non-aligned countries, this will further erode the interest to work together.

Is there a silver lining to this situation? That the issues are being stripped bare, to a certain degree, is a good thing, and that many people are intonating that collaborative work can transcend ideological barriers is also promising.

Peace

Paul

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