I, myself, can't seem to fathom that in any way. I tend to find myself at a loss for words at times due simply to the fact that Americans are becoming less and less lax on vocalizing their critical issues, but, deeper within that dynamic, so-called 'African Americans' and those associated with such are becoming more and more lax on the issues that they choose to critique.
Going through the BBC today, I found an article written about a man named Simon Schama, a historian from Europe.
The distinguished historian Simon Schama argues that Barack Obama's emergence as presidential candidate represents a profound change in the American psyche.
I had to laugh. Loudly.
I continued.
The new attitude to race is the result of a generational shift that began with the civil rights movement, and has now affected not only the "baby boomer generation" born in the 1950s but their children as well, he says.
Forgive me for being a bit cynical, but that sounds like a bit of malarkey to me.
For a long time, it has been accepted that the progression made in the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s came as a direct result of the efforts of Black individuals who thought more of their people and their situation rather than their selves. Hundreds have been lynched, sprayed, and all that other good marketable stuff for the simple enjoyment of the first 'humane' (if they so happened to consider us humans on their own level on all planes) right - the right to do anything within moralistic bounds.
There are many of us that are aware of the fact that this is not so - it is not entirely the efforts of our predecessors, but more so a sacrifice on the part of the imperialists to ensure their shadow's reach into the nations of the East. At the time, Africa was forming Westernized structure and began to have a stake in the international arena. Africa and her allies would never have thought twice about anything that came from the U.S. if their policies towards the African descendants changed. Imperialist concern was not the advancement of Africans, Africa, or African Americans. Imperialist concern was of imperialist nature.
Manifest Destiny 3000, if you will.
Ensuring proper treatment of Africans within the system (of America) emitted a facade of understanding towards Africans and Africa. However, this was never the case - the ultimate goal is the progression of the imperialist state and its constituents. Therefore, America allowed the Civil Rights Movement to go on and be recognized.
Even more despicable, the most influential and culturally beneficial individuals were, as a result of not being a necessity to the imperialist state and being a detriment in the least, removed fromthe public arena permantently.
All of this to ensure that imperialism thrives.
And so, upon reading the words of Schama, I find myself laughing. The mentality of Americans change? No. Never that.
The mentality of imperialist adjusting to fit the new time and state of things? Yes. I can believe that.
America's main priority is to cease Middle Eastern Oil dependency. Oil is the result of millions and billions of years of compression and heating of organic material - Africa is the one of the oldest, and virtually untapped resources left in the world. Imperialist nations have been saving her for their dessert - to quench the thirst of the evil doers and to be lackey to the beast, seemingly helpless and without a spot of sense in the world.
AfriCom's initiative is beyond intelligent, it's almost ingenious, within an imperialist context, of course. Stealing the oil and other natural resources from a continent (not a third world country, or a nation, but a CONTINENT) for the betterment of a few individuals' pocket is not on my list of things to be remotely a part of.
However, whilst this is the move for the day, Barak Obama is attempting to win over the hearts and minds of the American nation as well as the respect of the international community.
It's basically like this: Woo Hoo - let's make sure we have a Black face on this white plan (that Bush began) so that we can effectively dastardize everything that African descendants could possible make at this point (after we've drained the world of almost all of its resources).
Barak signaling a change in American mentality? Not a chance.
Barak signaling a new era imperialist endeavors and methodology? Seems more like it.
Not to say that he isn't truthful, positive, or honestly progressive, I just don't feel that they imperialist nation cares.
2 comments:
I think that the reality of the United States is such that it is virtually impossible to expect a shift towards a more progressive framework. Like I told an American friend yesterday, "I dream of a day when such a person as Dennis Kucinich will be a viable option for the U.S. presidential election." Now, I'm not saying "win," but just hoping for more than the 5-percent threshold.
The U.S. is a deeply conservative country, and if and when (which is more likely at this point in time) Barack Obama wins, he will not win because the country has leaped forward, away from its conservatism, waspian Radicalism and a sort of modern isolationism -- it will happen because Americans are fearful of the devastated economy and its impact. So, in a sense, this is not so much a win for progressive v. conservative. Nevertheless, I also believe that Obama is, fundamentally, a progressive. I believe he is a competent, able and honest man. And I put a lot of faith in him, but also keep up high expectations. I think it's a pity that his presidency will be spent on fixing the damage Bush has caused the country instead of advancing it. So I hope he won't just be a one-term president, although I think that might be the most realistic projection.
I think Obama's strength, charisma and attitudes might, however, influence the American society and give it the impetus it needs to move forward, to slowly change internally while, at the same time, changing externally (i.e. foreign-policy-wise).
There is hope yet, and even though the society is yet to be changed, Obama can be the driving force America needs. With a little support.
--Mirz
I do agree. After reading up on Kucinich, I see that he is the individual responsible for the proposed impeachment of Dick Cheney, among other things. People like him are few and far in between in the political arena. Obama, for example, is progressive and liberal, yes, but I doubt that he would go as far as to want to legalize medicinal marijuana and decriminalizing non-medicinal possession. He is (and this could also be due to his length of time in the political arena) a bit cautious in his endeavors and his requests, and, honestly, I do fear that he is but a puppet in many ways.
From what I understand, he did vote conflictingly in terms of the war in Iraq, and although that was a trying situation, steadfastness is appreciated more so than a wavering gaze. If he were to waver on any of the promises that he has made to the American people, that would further invalidate not only Black people, but also the hope of the poor and downtrodden of America - i.e. the people who built this country up on their backs and the blood of their children.
Someone like Kucinich, although necessary, will more than likely never be able to get into the media spotlight of the running for the simple fact that those who rule this political class will never allow that to happen, but only in the most discreet way. He, being of Croatian and Irish descent, will never accomplish feats on the American agenda like that of Obama for the simple fact that, as I have mentioned before, that Obama is Black. Even further than that, he is a first-generation Kenyan living with the African-American experience. This speaks towards the international community in scores beyond comprehension to some, but to others, a reinforcement of the notion that America will swindle, lie, steal, and deal with certain things outside of their spectrum of comfortability in order to obtain a greater purpose (i.e. Civil Rights era, etc).
I said that to say that I don't think that good men like Kucinich will ever be able to be in the limelight unless the ruling class's issues are resolved or eradicated. I believe that before that will happen, America will fall. She will fall on her own sword and there will be not a soul left to hold her back. The masses may or may not be in that hole, I just hope that I'm not.
Post a Comment