This is well said, even if it's hardly earth shattering news. However, the devil's in the details and Professor Mandami's take on the genocidal war in Rwanda is telling. I found myself wondering, though, if class warfare might not have emerged--perhaps not to the same degree-without the machinations of colonialist powers. I see hints and know personally of instances of what might be viewed as class warfare here in the US. Take the miners' strike at Matewan, WV, for example. Nobody had to be 'othered' for those miners, who were more ethnically diverse than you might imagine, to want a living wage. And it was clear that they were right about 'the enemy' when that enemy hired gun-toting Pinkertons to mow them down (men, women and children) en masse for the affront of trying not to die of privation while the mine owners lived the life of Riley. I feel encouraged by the fact that Zohran's voters were ethnically, religiously and to some extent economically diverse. IMO what we need is to see the plain fact that our worst oppressors are the wealthy whose only true belief is in their right to rule, be they tech broliarchs, petrochemical billionaire,s pharmaceutical billionaires or what have you. Including of course their bought and paid for politicians at every level. Fingers crossed the coalition holds and increases to the point where the fog of misinformation parts and we recognize our common interest in and right to justice and equality. The ultra wealthy do suffer from a kind of mass psychosis, which has been described in various ways, and because they're totally crazed, they must be sidelined.
Thanks for this, Daniel. I was familiar with Mamdani's work in postcolonial studies, and loved Mira Nair's films as they came out, but had no idea until the NYT explainer finally came out, that they were Zohran's parents. So interesting how these complicated skeins of geography and history weave together, blossoming into our present moment. I take Zohran's success as a glimmer of hope. We desperately need liberal/left young people to get engaged, although even as I say that I waver because I know how dangerous it could be for them. So far the anti-Trump movement in the US is missing that irresistible tide of youthful energy, which has been channeled online for the most part. Let's see if it comes out of the smartphone and on to the streets in the coming months....
Absolutely overjoyed by the successful mobilization. Did what I could with my fairly-influential-in-Brooklyn Alchememes page to campaign for him all spring. First politician in my lifetime who isnt beholden to CSA Mossad kompromat and such a sweetie.
When Mississippi Masala arrived in theaters --the movie was pretty radical.
He: a southern black man pulling himself up by his bootstraps.
She: from an intellectual Indian/Ugandan (civil service) family. A family forced to leave Uganda by Idi Amin.
Denzel Washington & Sarita Choudery fall in love and end up together.
The movie challenged the complications of colonialism & also that racism worked for both Denzel, the native southener, bkack and the refugee daughter, also considered black at the time.
Mira Nair accomplished the very difficult with that movie.
We ( most of us) loved the characters for exactly who they were.
Love Zo & parents.
I would like to pay for 100+ dangerous Sikh guards to watch over him.
Kind of an adjacent comment but I am in chapter four of Reza Aslan’s Zealot on the rec of a friend and so far it’s brilliant. It is a result of 20 years of scholarly research by an Iranian who became an evangelical Christian and then decided to study the history of Jesus of Nazareth vs the study of Jesus Christ, and the echoes of ancient political intrigue and activism are astounding. For me, really shining a new light on our current moment. Also the writing is brilliant, vivid, and transporting.
Being a Fanatic isn't being fully Human. One gives themselves over to what they believe as a reality in order to avoid the process of fully feeling the emotional pains you need to fully feel in order to fully feel All 5 senses. If one avoids fully feeling themselves they live a stunted life.
Most Male egos are stunted, those men whom have the divine sense of themselves are truly the only ones strong enough to ban together as One Conscious Collective of individuals who Know themselves to be True and Most Real.
U R A W
Ur a Double You, you have the ability to see in the darkness.
Join the U man Race on FB we are the ones weave been weaving fore
This is well said, even if it's hardly earth shattering news. However, the devil's in the details and Professor Mandami's take on the genocidal war in Rwanda is telling. I found myself wondering, though, if class warfare might not have emerged--perhaps not to the same degree-without the machinations of colonialist powers. I see hints and know personally of instances of what might be viewed as class warfare here in the US. Take the miners' strike at Matewan, WV, for example. Nobody had to be 'othered' for those miners, who were more ethnically diverse than you might imagine, to want a living wage. And it was clear that they were right about 'the enemy' when that enemy hired gun-toting Pinkertons to mow them down (men, women and children) en masse for the affront of trying not to die of privation while the mine owners lived the life of Riley. I feel encouraged by the fact that Zohran's voters were ethnically, religiously and to some extent economically diverse. IMO what we need is to see the plain fact that our worst oppressors are the wealthy whose only true belief is in their right to rule, be they tech broliarchs, petrochemical billionaire,s pharmaceutical billionaires or what have you. Including of course their bought and paid for politicians at every level. Fingers crossed the coalition holds and increases to the point where the fog of misinformation parts and we recognize our common interest in and right to justice and equality. The ultra wealthy do suffer from a kind of mass psychosis, which has been described in various ways, and because they're totally crazed, they must be sidelined.
Aho! Couldn't agree more.
Amen, Leigh, spot on!
Thanks for this, Daniel. I was familiar with Mamdani's work in postcolonial studies, and loved Mira Nair's films as they came out, but had no idea until the NYT explainer finally came out, that they were Zohran's parents. So interesting how these complicated skeins of geography and history weave together, blossoming into our present moment. I take Zohran's success as a glimmer of hope. We desperately need liberal/left young people to get engaged, although even as I say that I waver because I know how dangerous it could be for them. So far the anti-Trump movement in the US is missing that irresistible tide of youthful energy, which has been channeled online for the most part. Let's see if it comes out of the smartphone and on to the streets in the coming months....
“Out of the smartphone and into the streets”—love it
Absolutely overjoyed by the successful mobilization. Did what I could with my fairly-influential-in-Brooklyn Alchememes page to campaign for him all spring. First politician in my lifetime who isnt beholden to CSA Mossad kompromat and such a sweetie.
I just subscribed & glad I did.
When Mississippi Masala arrived in theaters --the movie was pretty radical.
He: a southern black man pulling himself up by his bootstraps.
She: from an intellectual Indian/Ugandan (civil service) family. A family forced to leave Uganda by Idi Amin.
Denzel Washington & Sarita Choudery fall in love and end up together.
The movie challenged the complications of colonialism & also that racism worked for both Denzel, the native southener, bkack and the refugee daughter, also considered black at the time.
Mira Nair accomplished the very difficult with that movie.
We ( most of us) loved the characters for exactly who they were.
Love Zo & parents.
I would like to pay for 100+ dangerous Sikh guards to watch over him.
Great article, Daniel - thank you!
Very interesting analysis.
Kind of an adjacent comment but I am in chapter four of Reza Aslan’s Zealot on the rec of a friend and so far it’s brilliant. It is a result of 20 years of scholarly research by an Iranian who became an evangelical Christian and then decided to study the history of Jesus of Nazareth vs the study of Jesus Christ, and the echoes of ancient political intrigue and activism are astounding. For me, really shining a new light on our current moment. Also the writing is brilliant, vivid, and transporting.
Anyone Fanatical about Anything is the Problem
Being a Fanatic isn't being fully Human. One gives themselves over to what they believe as a reality in order to avoid the process of fully feeling the emotional pains you need to fully feel in order to fully feel All 5 senses. If one avoids fully feeling themselves they live a stunted life.
Most Male egos are stunted, those men whom have the divine sense of themselves are truly the only ones strong enough to ban together as One Conscious Collective of individuals who Know themselves to be True and Most Real.
U R A W
Ur a Double You, you have the ability to see in the darkness.
Join the U man Race on FB we are the ones weave been weaving fore