Bear with my forwarding a bit as
"Crash" is causing much soul searching among the left and it's well that it does.
/R
-----Original Message-----
From: laamn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:laamn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
John
Johnson
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 9:37 AM
To:
change-links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: actionla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
laamn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [LAAMN] "Crash"
There has recently
been much discussion about the movie "Crash" on
these list
serves.
Since I help moderate some of these list, I usually do not want a
lot
of discussion type posts, since these list are mainly
for
announcements and breaking news stories. A lot of people do not
want
a lot of discussions to crowd their in boxes.
But I thought this was
an important discussion
It started by a forwarded post by Prof. Robert
Jensen from Texas. I
know him a bit and have run an article by him in
Change Links.
His point is the film did not deal with wide spread
institution
racism and while focusing in on more individual incidents
that
"might" be occurring in LA. Some others have criticized the
film
saying it over emphasized racism in LA, saying people general
get
along much better than it suggested..
Some critics of Jensen came
in saying that he is being abstract (to
use just one term) and that the film
does raise valuable issues.
I have NOT seen the film so can't comment on
it directly.
From the reviews, clips, etc. it did seem to me that it
was dealing
with more with individual prejudices rather than dealing with
the
more destructive wide spread institutionalized forms.
As political
activists it is very difficult to change or deal with
the individual
forms. We can't grab folks by the collar and insist
they become better
people and love everyone. ***What we should try
to
do, is find issues that we can unite on.
Through out history,
dominate cultures, religions, races and ethnic
groups have used prejudices
against other groups, smaller one at
times, to basically to divide and
conquer to secure their power and
wealth. It is certainly not a white
European phenomena . Its
occurring around the world today.
BUT,
the film does seem raise real issues occurring today in LA. On
the
streets, in schools, and ever where else you have a lot of
prejudices
occurring. Not only Whites, Latinos and African Americans
at each
other. Mexicans against Central Americas. Mexicans,
African
Americas, Armenians fighting amongst themselves. Blacks,
Jews, Koreans
at times at each other. (the famous quote by "Football"
Williams, "get
the white boys and Buddha heads")
The fights in local jails
between Mexican and Black gangs. The
reaction by some members of the
Black community towards the recent
massive immigrant marches.
It is
quite real and I see nothing wrong with raising the issues. I
imagine
the film in a dramatic sense tried to get people to look at
these issues and
how many people do live.
***To begin to fight
against institutional forms of racism, we have to
start working
together. We cannot let ruling circles divide us. We
might not
rid each other of all our personal quirks but we can try to
raise above them
(which will led to getting rid of them all together).
***I do agree with the critics of Jensen, that the answers
are not
bringing out the heavy hammers of "politically correct" slogans to
be
helpful. Lecturing people who are trying to deal with real
issues
with long winded politically analysis not always
productive.
And yes one thing that has hurt the progressive/left
movements over
previous decades has been this holier than thou position some
have
taken to "prove" themselves correct and belittle others. Not
only
about race but a wide range of issues.
Like the self
appointed saviors of women who always like to hammer
other men about
paternalism and male chauvinism.
As long time activists we are use to
narrow agendas but I have seen
many others flee rather than to put up with
them. In organizing one
of the first things you learn is first relate
to others *** where they
are at, not
where you are at.
One reason the Sixties were successful was that along
with being
aggressively radical at times, people also had fun. People
had sex,
smoked dope, listen to rock and roll music, danced, produced
avant
garde art, etc. (and yes ***later learn from
some mistakes that were
made). Its no mistake that one of the first
things the ruling
classes went after was this alternative culture that was
forming.
Some leftist at times sound like religious zealots and instead
of
calling people sinners and quoting from the bible, they quote
from
the latest indicts from the Central Committee.
John
Johnson
Change-Links Progressive Newspaper
change@xxxxxxxxxxx or
change-links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.change-links.org
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