Hey everyone, I wanted to give you all a heads up. The great film maker, Michael Moore, has a great interview today on Democracynow.org. It's also on a couple channels like 35 and Drexel TV this evening.
Ricky raised the issue of "optimism" in his criticism of my recent satirical portrayal of FOCP leaders and their research. (haven't had a chance to respond) This great interview comes at a good time for our discussion of optimism. First, I am so glad to see someone like Moore courageous enough to speak truth to power. I found myself in almost complete agreement with his insights and applaud his courage to speak the unpopular truth. I also find his comedy very inspirational and it elicits true optimism. Moore, the film maker, reminds activists and middle class observers that fighting for the underdogs is not depressing. I would submit, that whatever trials and tribulations activists experience at the hands of an oppressive system and its believers; they can always find strong satisfaction from their courage to stand up to the dark force and the military empire. I think too many people have believed the corporate anti-democracy spin. I saw that in Ricky's beliefs about my personality characteristics. It's hard to be called lots of names, etc. But doing what you know is right, even if you need to speak truth to power; is not something that only depressed lonely crazies do. (To me, the corporate anti-democratic message plays on people the same way as the need to stay "in style" to be happy. It's a big lie.) That's the message the corporations force down our throats as they infantilize us and turn us into addicted consumers. In my response that I started to Ricky, I want to draw out the difference between true optimism which comes from a deep space inside, and forced optimism, sometimes called "wishul thinking," which is dangerous to the individual and creates a sense of learned helplessness in a consumer society. (I like social workers and this is an important topic that Ricky raised.) Check out the interview-Moore is very inspiring. Glenn ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
