ms_xeno: Never Comin' Home, b/w Stolen Moments

It's a brand-new dance/We're bringin' it back (

ms_xeno) wrote,
@ 2008-01-12 07:48:00

Entry tags:

eat the duopoly, electoral reform, isms galore, music, war is a racket

Never Comin' Home, b/w Stolen Moments
Loyalty oaths are a crock of shit. Almost as bad as the kind you have to consciously sign are the ones you find you'd unconsciously signed. You think you've found a friendly lodging where at least a few people will share your quirks and then just like that, you realize that you can't live there any more.

I've bailed on debunkingwhite. I've learned a lot from the space and made what I think are some valuable connections. Maybe you folks who I've connected with will now be done with me, too. Well, that's your right. But frankly I can't abide all the pro-Obama hype over there and the subliminal fine print that seems to say that nobody can be a committed anti-racist unless they want to genuflect before the glory of Obama. I don't genuflect before Democrats. I think the party is a loathsome pile of shit that more or less gave Bush a blank check to do whatever the fuck he wanted. Which includes continuing to wage both a global and domestic race war that's plenty vicious even if it doesn't quite measure up in clarity to the baroque fantasies of villain-du-jour, Ron Paul. I don't sign loyalty oaths to any Democrat, in the name of any cause, anywhere. For that reason and many, many others.

You are good people doing important work. In some ways I wish I was more like you, but not in this way. It infuriates and grieves me to see you falling for a charlatan from a party teeming with charlatans. I just don't, in my heart of hearts, believe that he gives a damn about the things you give a damn about. I think he's a user running with other users. More anger and more grief is something I don't need to seek out deliberately, as it finds me on its own most of the time. I've been through this before. I've been the "bad feminist," the "bad Unionist," the "bad Jew," etc. because I left the DP and refuse to come back. Life goes on.

...If people ask me why I have to roam
I say that 90% of all accidents occur in the home...
-- Peter Case

...Just put the damned ballot boxes on an altar while we’re at it. It’s a mystery what’s happening in them already, might as well go the rest of the way with it. Let’s just hold elections on sanctified ground. Anoint voters’ foreheads with holy water or ashes or the blood of a virgin or something as they are welcomed into the sacred offering of their futures to another pious fraud...

From Prey: Our Souls, 1/09/08 Liberal Street Fighter

...[I have] no patience for the cozy lies and the careful obfuscations anymore. I would like to believe that this was really a country of diversity, that we really were willing and able to confront and reconcile our centuries of enslavement and debasement and theft and genocide. Part of me smiles to see a black man building such momentum in a country as benighted as this one. I’m a sap. I want to believe all of the hallmarkian drivel of the “promise” of America. I want to believe that WE really believed in cooperation and openness and we’re not really a nation of greedy, warmongering racists eager to expand our hegemony over the globe.

The Invisible Man may very well be the Democratic (sic) party’s nominee for President. He is willing to practice the right sorts of misdirection to keep our eyes away from the real problems we face, willing to parade his beautiful assistant/wife to captivate and enthrall. He is willing to disappear behind a fog of beautiful words and high-flown promises, encased in the cozy nostrums of faith and family and a “new generation” of “change”.

I wish I could believe, but I just can’t fill in that blank anymore. I can’t allow another corporate lawyer to coax me into seeing in him what I wish he was. The exploited lower classes in this country will not find a champion in the Invisible Man anymore than they did in Bubba Clinton...

From Fill In The Blank, 1/6/08, Liberal Street Fighter.

[Cross-posted, w/minor alterations, to Mo Betta Meta]

(Post a new comment)

imfallingup
2008-01-12 05:02 pm UTC (link)

My impression is that people tend to think the president has a lot more power than in reality. This is the flaw in their voting: they look for who's making the most promises.

I feel like within our current very broken political system that the best we can hope for as president is this mythical 'leader' that folks are talking about, because this is a system constructed around leaders and myths. As such, the best 'leader' we can hope to have is one pushing ideas that we want people to rally behind. Whether they'll rally behind them is one part charisma and one part who the hell knows. That social power seems to be the biggest power they actually have (unless they abuse their power a la Bush, and this isn't necessarily saying they'll take this power either). And yes, I know the president has power of vetos, bringing in Sup Ct justices, and so on. Also important things.

I mean, I don't know. It's a way broken system, and not voting or voting for someone else alone isn't going to change it. I want to work on ways of reconstructing our social mythos to include ideas for a more competent system, one that grows with people instead of preveting us from exceeding what it knows how to handle. And Obama's got ideas on how to make this a better system in many ways, but still capitalist, still borders based on who 'deserves' to be where. And I do still think he's the best of the mainstream candidates, and I'm still torn on the voting for mainstream versus third party thing when there reelly is this much potential difference between the candidates, even knowing that they're the left and right hands of the same body.

And perhaps the answer is that he will get elected, and people will see that even a dream could still be a problematic president because it's a problematic system. But I'm still really excited just seeing so many people so inspired and actually proud to be going out to vote that haven't been before. Maybe these are more of those baby steps, while those of us fed up with this crap are figuring out how to make the next level good for go?

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ms_xeno
2008-01-12 10:29 pm UTC (link)

The symbolism is just it.

I could start a huge flamewar and give a hundred complete strangers a huge headache, and over what ?

A figurehead.

Personally I think a lot of people go in knowing the system is problematic. But it's more attractive to make the whole thing about a personality and not the system. I've sunk into that trap so many times and find myself exceedingly reluctant to do it again. I prefer being a coward, which at least helps conserve strength for when the whole thing is FINALLY over.

:/

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imfallingup
2008-01-13 12:47 am UTC (link)

"Figurehead" much better term than "leader", yes. Typing "leader" and thinking about Bush saying how "this country needs a leader" made me make little gagging sounds.

I guess I'm just really used to seeing how people can listen to anything enough times and I'm willing to put in the work to help people decide who's going to drive them for a few years. And If I change some minds and teach some folks about stuff they didn't know or learn things myself in the process, then everyone involved is actually achieving something further. It's sure as hell not worth a flamewar, but then that's why sometimes I just snark right back or don't respond.

And you're damn right some non-exhausted people will be necessary when this is all over.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ms_xeno
2008-01-13 10:58 pm UTC (link)

I was thinking of building an underground bunker, but then everyone would mistake me for a Paul supporter. :p

Incidentally, I was surprised to read your comments in

damnportlanders that there's a huge Paul groundswell in town. I've seen exactly one Paul sign (not far from the Taco Bell on MLK) so far and that's all. Wherever the rampaging hordes of Paul faithful are, it isn't N/NE Portland, or downtown Vancouver. :/

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	imfallingup 2008-01-14 01:23 am UTC (link)
	I've seen a few in N/NE and heard a fair amount of verbal support. Also seen a number of pro-RP icons from Portlanders. I'm kinda scared of gettinginto SE these days just for what RP support I'd see out there. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	As a Bad American (Anonymous) 2008-01-12 05:02 pm UTC (link)
	I'll be the first to comment. HCfM (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: As a Bad American ms_xeno 2008-01-12 10:21 pm UTC (link)
	Almost. But intentions are everything. Your reward appears below: BTW, am I allowed to plug your site here, or are you strictly undercover ? Edited at 2008-01-12 10:25 pm UTC (Reply to this)(Parent)

seaya
2008-01-12 07:03 pm UTC (link)

I think that your impression that people in DBW (not at all monolithic by any means, mind you) are sitting around sucking Obama's cock is a rather false one.

Sure, some have said they support him, some have said they think he might be the best strategic choice so as not to get someone really awful in the office, but the posts have really been about the racist way people have been talking about him both for and against.

The president shouldn't have as much power as he does, but he now has much more than he did, maybe by doing so many awful things that it's too many to fight. (I'm speaking of Bush here)

Really for me it's a choice between an imperfect person who will not power grab, and a host of absolute monsters. Now and after the election, we can of course be working on other things.

This is kind of a stupid thing to give up on anti-racist discussion over, really. But, of course, there are other places to do it.

Cheers!

(Reply to this)(Thread)

ms_xeno
2008-01-12 10:14 pm UTC (link)

First things first:

I never accused anyone of "sitting around." Frankly sitting around wouldn't bother me so much as does promoting Obama as if he was some great symbol of all that is or could be good and wonderful in the U.S. I tend to agree with Madman: He's exactly the opposite. A guy who started out wanting to do good and transformed with very little prompting into just another pandering asshole, willing to game the system for whatever he can personally get out of it.

I didn't "give up." I just know better than to try discussing my issues about the man in an anti-racist forum. Obviously no good can come of it. Frankly, my head is still reeling from the curt dismissal of Cynthia McKinney as "the new Nader." I could spend a month unpacking that one if I were so inclined, but frankly I don't need the agita and that space doesn't need my rotten temper. End of story on that.

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martemom
2008-01-12 07:34 pm UTC (link)

I still think you're cool, I'm still on the fence about Obama. I don't think that voting for him has anything to do with race/being racist/anti-racist, other than that he is half-African. Associating the 2 is ridiculous. So if you dont' like Hillary you're not a feminist then? WTF. I am glad that I don't list debunkingwhite on my FP because I would be irritated with all that too and might have left. I just go there when I need to read or chat it up with likeminded ppl about racism, especially when I was working in snobby whiteyville. I'm so happy that I'm back in a diverse urban teaching environment. Anyway.... I'm not hating on you for this. :)

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	Thanks. ms_xeno 2008-01-12 10:18 pm UTC (link)
	I was expelled from the Feminist Monolith when I registered as a Green. It's a secret. :p Yeah, I should have made it clear that I will continue to read the site. But if I'm a member the temptation to go off on somebody over the election when I'm having a rotten day in general is just too great. Everyone will be safer with me wayyyyy in the back. :/ (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Thanks. martemom 2008-01-12 11:33 pm UTC (link)
	I totallyl know what you mean. It's hard to keep your trap shut in there, and if you say anything "wrong" you'll be totally berated & attacked. It's a nice community when you agree. haha Some of my best friends are Greens, one is on the board for our state. :) I'm an independent that way I can vote whatever I want and everyone can STFU. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Thanks. ms_xeno 2008-01-13 10:54 pm UTC (link)
	...It's a nice community when you agree... I think that might be the story of every community. :p And I wish we had a bigger Green presence here. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Thanks. (Anonymous) 2008-01-20 07:30 pm UTC (link)
	I wish we had more Greens in my neck of the woods too. I've got a couple weeks to decide on the Democrat primary but I don't really warm to any of them. Republican and Republican lite. And you have to support Obama to be anti-racist? How so? Keep the faith, Ms_Xeno, it's good to be bad. ---Radfem (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Thanks. ms_xeno 2008-01-20 09:47 pm UTC (link)
	Hey, there !! I keep meaning to ask you if you're at all familiar w/these folks. They have some interesting things to say. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Thanks.
(Anonymous)
2008-01-25 11:39 pm UTC (link)

Thanks for the link! :)

I've given up on the Democratic Party...again.

I was reading about Portland's Independent Police Office and how Eileen Luna-Firebaugh did an audit of it with recommendations. I know Eileen through some meetings she attended with us when we were first researching civilian review. She was very helpful.

I'm reading her report which was on the mayor's Web site and Portland CopWatch's response to it.

My city's doing a report on the civilian review mechanism and I think the guy who is doing the report is a friend of your mayor, Tom Potter. If there's good stuff in it, the city will just act like it's the greatest thing then promptly ignore it so it's hard to get too excited. It's kind of sad with the commission now and it's getting harder to care because it's stacked with people who have too much political ambition to actually do anything to endanger their plans. The police labor union told me that they were upset with it again and planning action and I just said, "that's nice".

--Radfem

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Re: Thanks.
(Anonymous)
2008-02-04 05:59 am UTC (link)

Two more people said that the Democrat local party leadership committee tried to get them to sign loyalty oaths because they were supporting Republican Party members in local races. Then some fight broke out and the restaurant owners hosting the meeting called the police on the Democrat Party people. No arrests.

There's more pressure on independents because of the virtual dead heat in the polls between the two remaining democratic candidates.

I've been blogging on Luna-Firebaugh's report on Portland's IPR and comparing it with the sad situation in my town. Our city's doing like with our weakening form of civilian review but I don't think I really want to read another report. Once again, the communities were left out of the process.

---Radfem

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Thanks.

ms_xeno
2008-02-04 04:34 pm UTC (link)

Hey. Sorry I haven't been around lately for a visit. Ironically given this thread, I think your (mis)adventures with law enforcement would get a really receptive audience at debunkingwhite. After all you're pretty much in the trenches of anti-racism whereas I'm more peering in from the sidelines. Maybe they'd take your misgivings about people like Obama more seriously than they'd take mine.

I've been spending a lot of time at Marisacat's blog, and I know I've seen you there a time or two. Feel free to stop by and say hello. Mcat's not Green but I feel safe saying that she has no love in her heart for our alleged two parties-- or most cops. :p

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Thanks.
(Anonymous)
2008-02-11 05:42 am UTC (link)

Thanks, I'll drop by there.

I've not paid enough attention to what's going on nationally and am fairly irresponsible. I was looking for some good photos of pork rinds because someone who doesn't like the blog said at a local politics site that I was sitting on the couch eating them or I was what I ate and I was a pork rind. I did find a good site for pork rind cartoons which included a pig made out of pork rinds. :)

---Radfem

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	Re: Thanks. ms_xeno 2008-02-11 11:22 pm UTC (link)
	You should tell them that plain pork rinds are for amateurs. The only proper way to eat 'em is heaped over a big scoop of rocky road ice cream. :p (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Thanks.
(Anonymous)
2008-02-15 06:18 pm UTC (link)

LOL.

Well, did you hear the SEIU is going with Obama? I knew this. I talk to the heads of the locals here and they were among those who went to D.C. to talk to candidates.

It's been one of those weeks. I've been writing locally and blogging about the fatal shooting of a Black mentally ill man and this week, I attended a luncheon. And who was sitting next to me? The officer who killed the guy. He seemed a bit nervous but he introduced himself and he said it was nice to finally meet me.

Anyway, after the lunch he wanted me to step aside to talk for a minute and he said he had read some of my stuff and he wanted me to get to know him for all the good he did and not just for his "unpleasant incidents" (which I guess are the two shootings)and he was going to be in police work for a long time and I would be writing for a long time and all that. Really strange.

Then a friend of mine and I attended a police commission meeting and like Portland, there's been a report done on it. But in our report, I think the city and the commissioners are good and the community is just misinformed and we all have agendas or something. I was puzzled and so are many community members as the report is circulating around.

I'm working on a rebuttal. I did email CopWatch in Portland to tell them they wrote a good response to the IPR report.

The blog's quiet. I think a lot of my readers are at the police funeral in L.A.

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