A Commentary on the Passing Scene by
Robert Paul Wolff
rwolff@afroam.umass.edu
Monday, June 1, 2020
BRIEF OBSERVATION ON THE UPRISINGS
It feels different. The crowds are multiracial. The mayors and governors are supportive. The president is isolated, blustering, impotent. ["ominous weapons" indeed.] I don't know, it feels different.
Dr. Wolff - It does feel different for the reasons you mention. I would add that another partially new aspect is the anarchist, far right white supremacists and militias, and libertarians confluence around the desirability of a "boogaloo", i.e., a civil war. Here in Albuquerque peaceful demonstrations the past few nights have been followed by what appear to be a different group of destructive protesters. Of course, what aren't different are the fascist tropes that Trump is deploying.
After Trump drove into an outburst tonight saying in effect that 'you have to dominate, not be weak, use heavily armed military force'... I'm genuinely horrified. Who the hell will stop this sociopath buffoon? Will the US generals actually obey his orders even if he orders Tianamen square style crackdowns across America?
What I'm concerned about, is the crackdown being in name targeted at looters, while in reality it is expanded to anyone who disobeys the corporate fascist state.
I think we might be on the verge of the official end of Liberty, freedom and democracy in the US-- the birth of brutal totalitarianism. I am just stunned it happened so fast.
A counterpoint to my above comment are these two white women, who are using the protests as an excuse to get a thrill, by vandalizing a Starbucks (with "BLM"), while a black woman protestor films them as she asks them to please not, as such things will be/usually are blamed on black protesters. As Jesse Singal put it, "We have hit peak 2020."
I hope you are right. I am far from the US, and do my best to not watch TV or follow the news that closely, for mental health reasons. I have seen very sad things happening in my former "home" town of Philadelphia (*), and that is making me sad and worried. Most worrisome is groups of white gangs apparently roaming the streets in some neighborhoods with bats and other clubs, beating people - especially, it seems, but perhaps not only African-Americans. The story I saw suggested that this was, at least, not being addressed by the police, and perhaps somewhat worse than that. It makes me fear not just for my friends there, but for the city itself. I hope it's an isolated thing, and won't spread, and will be addressed. (*) before moving to Australia, I lived in Philadelphia for 13 out of 16 years, from 2001-2017, and it still seems more like "home" to me in the US than anywhere else now.
Yes, I think you're on to something. I don't remember who it was...one of the knuckle draggers - maybe Mitch McConnell - but he was condemning the policeman who murder Floyd. No small thing. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that not a small portion of the looters are white nationalist groups, even some from Europe. And even the police. Do you notice the various rather large piles of brand new bricks that were distributed to various protest locations. So before the election, I suspect some of this will come out.
One difference is that in the mid to late '60's the New Deal coalition was falling apart, and as Marcuse described it, the counter -revolution was building momentum. Today, the conservative coalition is falling apart. Historical tendencies might just be on our side this time.
Dr. Wolff -
ReplyDeleteIt does feel different for the reasons you mention. I would add that another partially new aspect is the anarchist, far right white supremacists and militias, and libertarians confluence around the desirability of a "boogaloo", i.e., a civil war. Here in Albuquerque peaceful demonstrations the past few nights have been followed by what appear to be a different group of destructive protesters. Of course, what aren't different are the fascist tropes that Trump is deploying.
After Trump drove into an outburst tonight saying in effect that 'you have to dominate, not be weak, use heavily armed military force'... I'm genuinely horrified. Who the hell will stop this sociopath buffoon? Will the US generals actually obey his orders even if he orders Tianamen square style crackdowns across America?
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm concerned about, is the crackdown being in name targeted at looters, while in reality it is expanded to anyone who disobeys the corporate fascist state.
I think we might be on the verge of the official end of Liberty, freedom and democracy in the US-- the birth of brutal totalitarianism. I am just stunned it happened so fast.
As Colbert pointed out in the clip that I just watched, in Minneapolis, Mennonites - "Mennonites think America's too racist, and they live in 1840!" - came out to protest the death of George Floyd.
ReplyDeleteA counterpoint to my above comment are these two white women, who are using the protests as an excuse to get a thrill, by vandalizing a Starbucks (with "BLM"), while a black woman protestor films them as she asks them to please not, as such things will be/usually are blamed on black protesters. As Jesse Singal put it, "We have hit peak 2020."
DeleteI hope you are right. I am far from the US, and do my best to not watch TV or follow the news that closely, for mental health reasons. I have seen very sad things happening in my former "home" town of Philadelphia (*), and that is making me sad and worried. Most worrisome is groups of white gangs apparently roaming the streets in some neighborhoods with bats and other clubs, beating people - especially, it seems, but perhaps not only African-Americans. The story I saw suggested that this was, at least, not being addressed by the police, and perhaps somewhat worse than that. It makes me fear not just for my friends there, but for the city itself. I hope it's an isolated thing, and won't spread, and will be addressed.
ReplyDelete(*) before moving to Australia, I lived in Philadelphia for 13 out of 16 years, from 2001-2017, and it still seems more like "home" to me in the US than anywhere else now.
Yes, I think you're on to something. I don't remember who it was...one of the knuckle draggers - maybe Mitch McConnell - but he was condemning the policeman who murder Floyd. No small thing. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that not a small portion of the looters are white nationalist groups, even some from Europe. And even the police. Do you notice the various rather large piles of brand new bricks that were distributed to various protest locations. So before the election, I suspect some of this will come out.
ReplyDeleteOne difference is that in the mid to late '60's the New Deal coalition was falling apart, and as Marcuse described it, the counter -revolution was building momentum. Today, the conservative coalition is falling apart. Historical tendencies might just be on our side this time.
ReplyDelete