Bulletin N° 746
Subject
:
La classe dominée; la classe dominante: Which side are
you on ?
April 8, 2017
Grenoble, France
Dear
Colleagues and Friends of CEIMSA,
In the memorable words of Yogi Berra, the legendary American baseball catcher, manager, and
coach for the New York Yankees :
“It ain’t
over till it’s over.”
The US permanent war economy is having
devastating effects over the entire planet, far beyond the scope of its helpless
targets. For a theoretical grasp of what is going on and of what must be done,
some are turning to earlier sketches of political theory produced in the 19th
and 20th centuries. Such concepts as “the iron law of oligarchy,”
“the iron law of wages,” and "class war" are being revived. Political distinctions between state
and government --the former
defined as the “permanent executive committee of the ruling class” and the latter
as “temporary representatives” elected to introduce policies to accommodate
specific needs of society, in light of ruling class interests and society’s essential
needs-- are being re-evaluated. Working together, the state and the government, according to early political
theories, serve to stabilize the social system of labor exploitation while at
the same time securing new investment opportunities for capital. Today, with billionaires
and multimillionaires at the helm of the US government, we see, more than ever,
members of the ruling class in their full “splendor” --inarticulate but nonetheless impressive, like CEOs presiding over a board meeting, communicating in a
mathematical shorthand of profitability, "the bottom line"; with no need to argue, to convince or
legitimize their actions by use of verbal skills which might employ nuance and subtle
connotations. The capitalist inspiration lies elsewhere . . .
During the Anti-Vietnam War period of the 1960s, classic political theories from the past were resuscitated and widely discussed on campuses across the United States. Marxist-Leninist concepts were frequently found to
be lacking due to the “reductive” nature of their descriptive power :“Yes, it
is true; but what else . . . ?” Thus the conclusion was often drawn that the capitalist class is more than just a
profit-hunting machine, and students and workers are
more than simply atomized “commodities”
and “consumers”.
Another element of this former political culture was the active search for structural contradictions; we were encouraged to think through the logic of capitalist development and to identify untenable situations which were likely to occur. Again, the reduction of the complex dynamics of social life to one-dimensional logical types was repulsive to many. In this “marketplace of ideas”, which thrived on some university campuses when the Anti-War movement was at its peak, no self-appointed revolutionary vanguard could assume permanent leadership . There was a general atmosphere of curiosity and tolerance which subverted any inclination towards authoritarian control of the movement.
One early innovation was the organization of “Teach-ins”, which were
occasions to break with the cultural hegemony in capitalist society and to
exchange new information and actively question fundamental assumptions. There
were those with questions and those with answers, but the answers were always
questioned; the questions not always answered. It was considered desirable
that such a dialogical culture should
prevail among an educated proletariat in an advanced industrial society, a population which
is always agitated, constantly looking for an explanation for what went wrong, why reality does not
measure up to their expectations. This open-mindedness was the terrain for
discussing new ideas and questioning convention.
The 25 items below should offer CEIMSA readers an opportunity to
think outside the box, to become acquainted with new facts and arguments, which
might become talking points in the cultural milieu we wish to generate,
wherever we find ourselves together on this shrinking planet that we call home.
Sincerely,
Francis Feeley
Professor emeritus of American Studies
University Grenoble-Alpes
Director of Research
University of Paris-Nanterre
Center for the Advanced Study of American Institutions and
Social Movements
The University of California-San Diego
a.
The Trump
Administration Goes Neocon-crazy
http://thesaker.is/the-trump-administration-goes-neocon-crazy/
by The Saker
Oh boy, that did not take long. As I wrote in February, the Neocons
and
the US deep state have completely neutered Trump. Just look at these two
headlines from RT (and read the articles):
‘It crossed a lot of lines’: Trump on alleged
chemical gas attack in Syria.
‘We are compelled to take own action’ if UN fails in
Syria – US envoy.
Frankly, I feel like saying “QED – I rest my case”
and stop writing here. But I won’t –
this is too serious.
==========
b.
Is Trump Going to
Commit
the Next Great American
Catastrophe in Syria?
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=18834
by
Vijay Prashad
==========
c.
It's WMD All
Over Again. Why Don't You See It?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46812.htm
by Peter Hitchens
Actually
knowing something, remembering history or having experience of the world is
becoming a disadvantage. How much easier it would be to join in with the flow
of opinion about Syria, to listen happily to, and read contentedly, media
reports on the subject. As it is, I feel something close a physical pain as I
do this.
===========
d.
From: "If
Americans Knew Team" contact@ifamericansknew.org
Subject: Don't
let Tom Hurndall's heroism be forgotten.
____________________________________
Dear
Francis,
Fourteen
years ago this month, Tom Hurndall,
22, was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper as he tried to rescue small girls
from Israeli gunfire.
Tom
was a student and photographer who traveled to Gaza in 2003. On April 11, he
watched as children playing nearby suddenly came under Israeli rifle fire.
Most
of the children fled, but three of them, aged four to seven, froze with fear.
Tom rushed one to safety. When he returned for two little girls, an Israeli
sniper shot him in the head.
Despite
the urgency, Israeli officials delayed his transport to specialized medical
care for over two and a half hours. Tom remained in a vegetative state until
his death 9 months later.
How
you can help
Please
commemorate Tom and inform your community about his story by ordering Tom Hurndall cards to distribute.
We
cannot let his courage and compassion be forgotten – or the facts he was
working to expose through his photography. The text on the back of our card
educates readers about the current situation in Israel-Palestine.
We also encourage you to view and share this powerful documentary
filmed in Gaza that covers the shooting of Tom Hurndall,
the killing of filmmaker James Miller, and the events that took place after
Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli
bulldozer.
Thank
you for helping us inform Americans about this tragic
violence.
The If Americans Knew Team
QUICK LINKS
Order or downloadTom Hurndall cards on our site.
Israel-Palestine Timeline: A list of all Palestinians and
Israelis killed since 2000, with photos and information.
If Americans Knew Blog: A compendium of news and analysis
about Palestine, Israel, and related topics.
_________
ABOUT US If Americans Knew
is a nonpartisan educational organization. We are happy to provide information
on Israel-Palestine to individuals and groups of all religious, ethnic, racial,
and political backgrounds. We support justice, truth, equal rights and respect
for all human beings, and we oppose racism, supremacism,
and discrimination of all forms. Mission Statement
CONTACT US To invite Alison Weir to give a
presentation on Israel-Palestine, or to learn more about putting up a billboard
in your city, write here. For general comments or questions, write here. Order educational materials
to distribute from our website. Mailing address: If Americans Knew, 5694
Mission Center Rd, Suite 602-710, San Diego, CA 92108. Phone: 202-631-4060
==========
e.
The Laura Flanders Show: Cheat, Lie, and Steal
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=18800
Laura speaks with Michael Hudson about
the manipulation of economic terminology and how this process serves economic
elites. Countering the narrative that privatization is better, Hudson asks:
"Better for whom?"
===========
Politics and the English Language
http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit/
by George Orwell
==========
From: mkroopkin
Sent: Wednesday, 5 April, 2017
Subject: May 1 leaflet from SD Labor Council for General Strike.
Fellow Workers, Friends,
Representing more than
100 local unions in our region, the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council http://www.unionyes.org/ has
endorsed the calls for a General Strike on May 1st, 2017. This
is truly an historic moment! The same migrant and immigrant constituency that
struck eleven years ago on May 1, 2006 will mobilize this year, joined by the
Black Lives Matter movement, native sovereignty rights groups, and
organizations Voces de La Frontera
and Movimiento Cosecha.
Some links to articles
giving background on the strike call are below. Attached is the Labor Council’s
leaflet (please distribute) and a recruitment sheet (please use it).
Shut It Down! No work,
no school, don’t buy anything!
Monty Kroopkin
IWW San Diego branch
https://popularresistance.org/hundreds-of-thousands-of-workers-will-strike-may-1/
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/40020-may-day-mass-action-will-be-a-historic-strike-from-below
May Day General Strike -
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Workers In "Day Without
The People" Resistance
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/03/day-without-immigrants-strike-be-announced
https://bsolid.org/cause/MayDayGeneralStrike
==========
h.
“TEN MythS
ABOUT Israel”
(video-Part 1)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=767&Itemid=74&jumival=18783
by Ilan Pappe, with Max Blumenthal
&
(video-Part 2)
https://zcomm.org/zvideo/the-myth-of-israel/
by Ilan Pappe, with Max Blumenthal
==========
i.
ISIS is Obama's Legacy: Strip Him of His Nobel
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46792.htm
by Scott
Stockdale
It's
time for Barack Obama, the American President, January 20, 2009 - January 20,
2017, to return the Nobel Peace Prize
==========
j.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/04/04/the-real-russiagate/
by Paul Craig Roberts & Michael Hudson
==========
k.
Al Qaeda
Is Attacking Syrian Cities with US Weapons — but You Wouldn't Know That from
the Media
http://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/tahrir-al-sham-al-qaeda-syria-hama-damascus-media#.WOBAVIYjLWQ.twitter
by Ben Norton
Rebranded
Syrian al-Qaeda, Tahrir al-Sham, has been leading
offensives in Hama and Damascus while mainstream media whitewash it
==========
l.
This Fishy Smell of Sarin,
or Was It Chlorine?
http://www.unz.com/akarlin/this-fishy-smell-of-sarin-or-was-it-chlorine/
by Anatoly Karlin
==========
m.
Pentagon and Daesh
– Target Iran
https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201703311052129206-pentagon-daesh-war-iran/
by Pepe Escobar
CENTCOM commander Army Gen. Joseph Votel
channeled his full Dr. Strangelove in front of the US House Armed Services
Committee this past Wednesday. "We need to look at opportunities where we
can disrupt [Iran] through military means or other means." As Orwellian as our times may be, this
still ranks as a declaration of war. With the inbuilt consequence
of smashing to bits the UN nuclear deal struck with Iran
in the summer of 2015.
==========
n.
Something is Not Adding Up In Idlib
Chemical Weapons Attack
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46801.htm
by Paul Antonopoulos
==========
o.
Media Goes Quiet as Russia Exposes US Lies at Security Council
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46811.htm
by Richard Brandt
Russia just called out the West for
using the UN to promote regime change — but no one reported it
==========
p.
At Least 9 Killed At St. Petersburg Metro
Blast
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46791.htm
Live
Video Report by RT
A spokesman
for St Petersburg's governor said at least 10 people had been killed and 50
injured. But minutes later, Russian National Anti-Terrorist Committee said the
death toll was nine, with 20 hurt.
==========
q.
US to Balkanize Syria Under
Kurdish Pretext
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46798.htm
by Marwa Osman
As
early as 2013, Western powers have been rooting for the balkanization of Syria
as the best possible outcome of the war tearing apart the country since 2011.
==========
r.
Israel Steps
up Dirty Tricks Against Boycott Leaders
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/04/04/israel-steps-up-dirty-tricks-against-boycott-leaders/
by Jonathan Cook
==========
s.
Putin Derangement Syndrome Arrives
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/taibbi-putin-derangement-syndrome-arrives-w474771
by Matt Taibbi
Whatever the truth about Trump and Russia, the
speculation surrounding it has become a dangerous case of mass hysteria.
==========
t.
|
Chomsky: Outrage Over
Russian Hacking Claims is Laughable
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46802.htm Video and Transcript
by Democracy Now! |
==========
u.
How Israel Lobby Manufactured UK Labour
Party’s anti-Semitism Crisis
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46804.htm
by Asa Winstanley
Last year, socialist stalwart Jeremy Corbyn won the leadership of the UK’s Labour
Party by a landslide. Since then, there has been a steady
flow of claims by Israel’s supporters that Corbyn has
not done enough to combat anti-Semitism. This has only accelerated in the
lead-up to a major test for Corbyn, the UK local
elections on 5 May.Even as this story was in
preparation, two more victims were claimed in the war
against his leadership. Lawmaker Naz Shah and the
former mayor of London, long-time Palestine campaigner Ken Livingstone, were
also suspended from the party – within hours of being
accused of anti-Semitism.
But an investigation by The Electronic Intifada has found that some of
the most prominent stories about anti-Semitism in the party are falsified. The Electronic Intifada can reveal that a key player in Labour’s “anti-Semitism crisis” covered up his involvement
in the Israel lobby. Most Labour members so accused are in reality
being attacked for expressing opinions in favor of Palestinian human rights and
particularly for supporting the boycott of Israel. Labour
activists, many of them Jews, have told The Electronic Intifada that false
accusations of anti-Semitism are being used as
a weapon against Corbyn by the party’s right-wing.
==========
v.
By Jingo, an
"Act of War!"
http://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/by-jingo-an-act-of-war/
by
Philip Giraldi
More
chickenhawks on parade for war with Russia
==========
w.
Just Wait Until I Get Tenure
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/04/04/just-wait-until-i-get-tenure/
A Facebook friend, Steven Salaita,
recently wrote a post about academe arguing that tenure-track professors are
kidding themselves if they say they will become more radical once they get
tenure. Given Steven’s vicious treatment by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, whatever he writes about
higher education is worth reading. I agreed with his post, and I made a
long reply. Here, I incorporate what I said into a more coherent commentary.
==========
x.
Steve Bannon on
the Crisis of Capitalism
and the Divine Right of Billionaires
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=767&Itemid=74&jumival=18819
Mathew Fox
and Paul Jay discuss Bannon's alliance with the
far-right Catholic Opus Dei, and his vision of the Judeo-Christian West