Ever since the campaign for the presidency, Republicans have been hurtling the socialism label around with reckless abandon. So let's break this down. And let's really not run away from the label.
First of all, because it seems to me that the right always needs an enemy, they quickly label people and positions with the most incendiary labels so we don't even think about the CONTENT of the positions being moved. I think our country is in too perilous a condition to be frightened by labels.
With that said, let's start with socialism and end with their other favorite bogeyman - homosexuals. Socialism. Am I supposed to go running and take cover with images of the Russian Revolution of 1919? I suppose I'm supposed to weep and wail with the prospect of losing my religion and losing the ability to be the top 1% of people keeping all of the wealth while others live in tent cities? Let's get something straight. After the unbridled capitalism present in the U.S. before the Great Depression, thank God for those "socialist" trends of creating a social safety net. Thank God for Social Security, Food Stamps, and protections for labor to organize. Because I'm not interested in having a bunch of old people who can't take care of themselves thrown out on the street because they can't even afford food; hungry people in general; and having wages moving towards a race to the bottom. Actually, this reminds me that I wish there was a stronger international labor movement so that we can no longer hold out workers in China or India as cheaper so we don't get jobs. They don't deserve to be paid so little, especially given the profits made from their labor. If this makes me a socialist, sue me!
Finally, let's discuss the other bogeyman, "homosexuals". Homosexuals are credited with everything from hampering other people's civil rights to creating the downfall of American society (let's not forget the cause of 9/11). If we are going to make real strides for women in the United States, and don't think that men won't be beneficiaries, we can't allow the alleged "threat" of gay marriage to get in the way. What is the right really afraid of - that women will stop saying "yeah I'll cook your dinner, raise your kids, and clean up after you." Perhaps women should. Then men would have to take real responsibility for themselves.
Ultimately, socialists and homosexuals are used to keep real progress from happening in the U.S. I'd prefer progress - non-legally sanctioned discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, etc. [remember that the Lilly Ledbetter Act just passed this year; a real social safety neck so that we can all heave a sigh of relief until this economy gets its legs back, and a kinder, gentler nation. We could start the kinder, gentler part of this vision with ending the scapegoating of queers and socialists . . .
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Black Women in the Radical Tradition Conference
I was fortunate to attend the Black Women in the Radical Tradition conference here in New York yesterday. And it's not just because my heart flutters every time I see Angela Davis. I have to say she's as brilliant as she ever was and wanted to convene it because she wants to pull anonymous Black women who have been committed to progressive causes out of anonymity, both in the U.S. and all over the world. Kudos to her!
I heard a wonderful presentation about Catholic Nuns organizing other Black sisters to provide education and a radical perspective on race to Black Catholics in their communities. This was a challenge because the South didn't support this work and the Vatican was less than warm to the idea themselves.
I learned about women such as Flo Kennedy who had a commitment not only to Black liberation, but also to the Women's Liberation movement. The scholar who presented on her pointed out that radical feminism began as a nexus of women's rights, Black liberation, and ooooooh, I forget what, but I was certainly thrilled to learn about this.
I also heard a presentation concerning home care workers here in New York City and the organizing they did before SEIU stepped in. It's amazing how the city government and the private agencies bounced them about in order not to bargain a contract! Yet, they continued on and they have been organized here for about 20 years.
Speakers were upfront about both being ecstatic about the change in the U.S. that electing Barack Obama represented; yet, questioning how we can move things further to a radical tradition and completely change what is going on in the U.S. It was refreshing to hear people say, outright, that capitalism is failing. I think that we see that with the banking crisis etc. We all need to think about what that means. Can we really continue societies based on a motive on unending greed and much for few?
Ultimately, I feel that it confirms my hopes for my own work - history from below and moving beyond, in all places and times, the regular titular heads. Many, particularly women, women of color, work hard to bring about important changes in their societies and hopefully many forums like this will be held to laud their work. Bravo Angela and Thank you!!
I heard a wonderful presentation about Catholic Nuns organizing other Black sisters to provide education and a radical perspective on race to Black Catholics in their communities. This was a challenge because the South didn't support this work and the Vatican was less than warm to the idea themselves.
I learned about women such as Flo Kennedy who had a commitment not only to Black liberation, but also to the Women's Liberation movement. The scholar who presented on her pointed out that radical feminism began as a nexus of women's rights, Black liberation, and ooooooh, I forget what, but I was certainly thrilled to learn about this.
I also heard a presentation concerning home care workers here in New York City and the organizing they did before SEIU stepped in. It's amazing how the city government and the private agencies bounced them about in order not to bargain a contract! Yet, they continued on and they have been organized here for about 20 years.
Speakers were upfront about both being ecstatic about the change in the U.S. that electing Barack Obama represented; yet, questioning how we can move things further to a radical tradition and completely change what is going on in the U.S. It was refreshing to hear people say, outright, that capitalism is failing. I think that we see that with the banking crisis etc. We all need to think about what that means. Can we really continue societies based on a motive on unending greed and much for few?
Ultimately, I feel that it confirms my hopes for my own work - history from below and moving beyond, in all places and times, the regular titular heads. Many, particularly women, women of color, work hard to bring about important changes in their societies and hopefully many forums like this will be held to laud their work. Bravo Angela and Thank you!!
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