[A-List] Sanitizing War: What would "Memorial Day"BeWithout The Memories?

Tue Jun 1 11:00:19 MDT 2010

" Bottomline: imperialism works pretty well for most Americans and
they know it."

I think we've come at this before...and again I find it debatable. In truth, 
imperialism is the very thing that has lead, and is continuing to lead, to 
the dramatic polarization of wealth in America (and around the world). Were 
the material forces of US militarism (and corporatism) re-directed into 
massive public works programs, social infrastructure and the retooling of 
manufacturing etc, then American citizens would be 'infinitely' better off.

The key point is that the majority of Americans are unaware of this basic 
truth, and they are unwares not because imperialism 'works', but for the 
simple fact of *propaganda*. They are indoctrinated to believe that theirs 
is the best of all possible worlds...increasingly mean and nasty as it is 
for many of them (though 'mean and nasty' becomes merely the norm, the ocean 
in which they ideologically swim, and so are, more or less, unconscious of).

As for prisoners supporting imperialism because it somehow benefits them. 
(Do the inmates at Angola State really believe that they are beneficiaries?) 
No. I would maintain that they support it out of ignorance (and especially 
w.r.t prisoners, from lack of education..even admitting that 'education' is 
hardly some sure-fire defense against brain-washing)..and out of sheer 
submission to American imperial indoctrination.

The latter, of course, feeds into the 'needs of the propagandee' (to 
reference Jacque Elull) through the helplessness that lack of social power 
breeds. Thus, martial masculinity, and unbridled, mindless patriotism follow 
immediately; these as projections of those without any social power onto an 
all powerful State that can 'kick ass' abroad. These transference functions, 
naturally, play out in the population at large....The humdrum, insect-like 
existence of homo-normalis is then projected onto the grand stage of 
Imperial Concern..[the 'loud American' is undoubtedly reflective of this 
process].

As I say, these and many other functions of propaganda are what I would 
argue  largely win acquiescence to imperialism.... I would not, however, 
raise this principle or argument to some sort of 'universal law'. As you 
say, Paul, material benefits to the imperial state's middle class (and 
obviously to the upper class and ruling elite) is likely more of an 
ideological factor at certain times and eras..and clearly would 
interpenetrate with propaganda factors.

Tony

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Wright" <pwright at prisonlegalnews.org>
To: "'The A-List'" <a-list at lists.econ.utah.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 10:26 AM
Subject: Re: [A-List] Sanitizing War: What would "Memorial Day"BeWithout The 
Memories?

> I'm not joking, I'm stating the obvious.
>
> Is it easy? Of course not. The ruling class never gives up power 
> willingly,
> that's why they are the ruling class.
>
> But that said it isn't as if we don't have examples to follow. The bottom
> line is that the people in imperialist countries generally benefit from 
> the
> status quo. The most oppressed segment of the US population, literally and
> figuratively, are prisoners yet their existence is objectively better than
> that of say the average Bengali peasant. This is reflected by their almost
> uniform wholehearted support for the very system that imprisons and abuses
> them.
>
> People don't rise up until they have no other alternative. American
> individualism also plays a part in it but I think materialism is the 
> primary
> reason. Bottomline: imperialism works pretty well for most Americans and
> they know it.
>
> Paul Wright, Editor
> Prison Legal News
> P.O. Box 2420
> West Brattleboro, VT 05303
> Phone: 802 579-1309
> Fax: 866 735-7136
> pwright at prisonlegalnews.org
> www.prisonlegalnews.org
>
> Effective March 5, 2010 our Seattle office is closed. All mail and calls
> should go to the above address.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: a-list-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu
> [mailto:a-list-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Nadja Tesich
> Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 09:06
> To: a-list at lists.econ.utah.edu
> Subject: Re: [A-List] Sanitizing War: What would "Memorial Day" BeWithout
> The Memories?
>
>
> Paul,
> Yes sure it sounds great but let's be realistic-before you have people's
> army-you have to have the people.It's a big country,isolated from the 
> world
> on ideas.It's not like Russia before October.
> It would have to happen state by state with a central nucleus
> that would stay in touch with everyone,could never be found or
> infiltrated.What about media?
> the best state to start with is Vermont for differnt reasons.
> I took you seriously and you were probably just Joking.
> Nadja
> ----------------------------------------
>> From: pwright at prisonlegalnews.org
>> To: a-list at lists.econ.utah.edu
>> Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 22:24:29 -0400
>> Subject: Re: [A-List] Sanitizing War: What would "Memorial Day" Be 
>> Without
> The Memories?
>>
>> Form a people's army and seize power. Everyone knows that.
>>
>> Paul Wright, Editor
>> Prison Legal News
>> P.O. Box 2420
>> West Brattleboro, VT 05303
>> Phone: 802 579-1309
>> Fax: 866 735-7136
>> pwright at prisonlegalnews.org
>> www.prisonlegalnews.org
>>
>> Effective March 5, 2010 our Seattle office is closed. All mail and calls
>> should go to the above address.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: a-list-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu
>> [mailto:a-list-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Nadja Tesich
>> Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 22:14
>> To: a-list at lists.econ.utah.edu
>> Subject: Re: [A-List] Sanitizing War: What would "Memorial Day" Be 
>> Without
>> The Memories?
>>
>>
>> Razer and everyone,
>> I must be boring by now.I know all the horrors and disasters and I keep
>> repeating the same fucking question --yes, we know it but WHAT DO WE DO
> AND
>> HOW?
>> Nadja
>> ----------------------------------------
>>> Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 12:33:45 -0700
>>> From: auntieimperial at gmail.com
>>> To: a-list at lists.econ.utah.edu; rad-green at lists.econ.utah.edu
>>> Subject: [A-List] Sanitizing War: What would "Memorial Day" Be Without
> The
>> Memories?
>>>
>>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>>> Hash: SHA1
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This seems like a good juncture in history, as we head into Memorial
>>> Day 2010... because it's not JUST Memorial Day this weekend, it's also
>>> Trillion Dollar Day... That's what the AfPakIraq war has cost us (The
>>> direct cost of occupying Iraq and Afghanistan)... so far, with no real
>>> end in sight, just troops moved from theatre (Iraq) to theatre
>>> (Afghanistan) to theatre (See here for a list of them)
>>>
>>> I think we should all ruminate on what we're getting for that money.
>>>
>>> Corrupt colonial governments?
>>>
>>> Yes.
>>>
>>> Peace?
>>>
>>> No.
>>>
>>> Security?
>>>
>>> NOT!
>>>
>>> Dead soldiers?
>>>
>>> Absofuckinglutely!
>>>
>>> But the Pentagon, and the other interested parties who want you to
>>> just simply play along with their murderous imperial wars like "Good
>>> Americans-cum-Germans" don't want you to think about... *REALLY* think
>>> about, those Absofuckinglutely dead soldiers.
>>>
>>> In full, with soundtrack AND video:
>>>
>>
> http://razedbywolves.blogspot.com/2010/05/crosspost-sanitizing-war-what-woul
>> d.html
>>>
>>>
>>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
>>> Version: GnuPG v1.4.8 (MingW32)
>>> Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/
>>>
>>> iQEcBAEBAgAGBQJMBA8YAAoJELFMxl7HGmnl++EH/2o0WRWy5/nlA3g9sNncU7wD
>>> nQaHPBS0GOsKgta2+4VRoi8QubmMihAXGzjr+/5O7T/6qBcEwLK8GJIiflyhFW7s
>>> DBZPRxL4+vWbCm+1ZhNjBr26tEsskHNAU7lpvFBBnbONmXK8xZwg95Cj2eGAiPri
>>> sRPUjHn5o0zOe2BuZGAwqvbRfQwf0/PKGjhprcOvJtGpUnyG3yqo8dtJMVZGVzWu
>>> 4OFM+rBj7rIdBujiItJDepVyg8xJMD4uYi8WUhzTydjhlMGdyLxJBfhI/2hO4tmB
>>> aSNTkKb1iaQQ+Kln4NGYjyM2k/hXn5mBWvIvrBBUrGa86KBHYcowRO7RIjrIPbc=
>>> =kjsU
>>> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
>>>
>>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with
>> Hotmail.
>>
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID283
>> 26::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
>>
>>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your
> inbox.
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:W
> L:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_2
>
>
> 