Not quite sure of what I mean. The idea of a revolution is to transcend the
miserable state a people are in and to create a much better and more
egalitarian world. But does it really ever happen? The Enlightenment led to
the French Revolution, huge head choppings, and the Napoleonic Wars. The
Russian revolution resulted in the hugely repressive Stalinist state. The
American Revolution has resulted in the 99% vs. the 1%. The ideals of Chairman
Mao have led to repressive state capitalism. What I'm trying to say is what
John Gray said far better than I could in his "Black Mass" -- revolutionary
ideals never turn out the way they were supposed to, and do be careful what you
wish for.
What, for example, should the 99% vs. the 1% result in? Even if major reforms
were instituted, it would probably not go much further than 98% vs. 2%. A
happy 100% egalitarian world is a complete fantasy. The reason I used a quote
from the 1970's and one from this year is to demonstrate that things haven't
really changed very much. It was hippies then, occupiers now.
Yours from the dark side,
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: Arthur Cordell
To: 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION' ;
[email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 1:09 PM
Subject: [Ottawadissenters] RE: [Futurework] Will it ever happen?
Not to be too trite, but what do you mean by "will anything ever really
happen?"
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ed Weick
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 12:43 PM
To: 'RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION';
[email protected]
Subject: [Futurework] Will it ever happen?
A couple of quotes:
THE REVOLUTION of the twentieth century will take place in the United States.
It is only there that it can happen. And it has already begun. 'Whether or not
that revolution spreads to the rest of the world depends on whether or not it
succeeds first in America.
I am not unaware of the shock and incredulity such statements may cause at
every level of the European Left and among the nations of the Third World. I
know it is difficult to believe that America-the fatherland of imperialism, the
power responsible for the war in Vietnam, the nation of Joe McCarthy's witch
hunts, the exploiter of the world's natural resources-is, or could become, the
cradle of revolution. (Jean Francois Revel, Without Marx or Jesus, the new
American revolution has begun, 1970)
The Occupy movements are the physical embodiment of hope. They returned us to
a world where empathy is a primary attribute. They defied the profit-driven
hierarchical structures of corporate capitalism. They know hope has a cost,
that it is not easy or comfortable, that it requires self-sacrifice and
discomfort and finally faith. In Zuccotti Park and throughout the they slept on
concrete every night. Their clothes were soiled. They ate more bagels and
peanut butter than they ever thought possible. They tasted fear, were beaten,
went to jail, were blinded by pepper spray, cried, hugged each laughed, sung,
talked too long in general assemblies, saw their chants drift upward to the
office towers above them, wondered if it is worth it, if anyone cared if they
would win. (Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco, Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt,
2012)
A question:
Hope does seem to spring eternal in the revolutionary breast, but will
anything ever really happen?
Ed
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