From our Mailbag 01/08/03 - 01/19/03



by YOU

THE WORLD - From Lionel Rolfe, Los Angeles, CA, USA:

SUBJECT: ok, already, i owe you

but rod, i thought that you ran a few "ads" about my activities simply because i don't get paid when i write for you.

but i much appreciate it. i'm not sure how exactly i can repay you. it won't be money at this point. i certainly will write something about bulgaria when i get back and offer it to you. if i don't have a beautiful female domesticus, i can always offer you my spare bed for a bit.

if i'm editing something, i'd love to use your stuff. it's good. your whole publication is good.

wish me luck.
Lionel


ROD RESPONDS: Lionel,

Good luck! Glad you can take a joke. I hear Bulgarian women are the best! Bring we one back with long legs and two nice personalities.

RA

mind theatre

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From jmw, Cupertino, CA, USA:

SUBJECT: FWIW -- follow-up to 'Vox Populi, "1/05/02 to 1/20/02"

yes, i know it's a year late. i just happened to find this page today while looking for something else. on the subject page, a "David B., Dublin, IRELAND" asked about Sergio Mendes, Brazil '88. here's the scoop (yes, i have the LP. no, it isn't for sale):

Brazil '88, Sergio Mendes
Electra 6E-134
1978 Electra/Asylum Records
962 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069

Side 1
Bridges
Waters of March
That's Enough for Me
Misturada

Side 2
One More Lie
Midnight Lovers
Harley
Tiro Cruzado
Life Goes On

--
jmw
Cupertino, CA


From Ric W., Austin, TX, USA:

SUBJECT: worst of

Yep, that's me hanging my sloppiness out all over the world. Yes, I meant Tony Blair. Teach me to zip something off the top of me head without checking myself in the morning. Caught me in a slip but maybe the unconscious knows more than my ego does. Blair/Major. Same thing. Gulf Wars look so much alike. Both kiss American Bush too readily. Conservative/Liberal. Like the political parties in America. The differences are so subtle that sometimes it's impossible to tell there's any difference.

Catholic Church? Blame the Pope. Individuals make the difference. Media. Automakers. Oil. We buy the stuff. (Don't you just love Ariana Huffington's new ads? A personal guilty pleasure of mine. Guilt tripping won't work, but it's fun to watch on occasion--see below.) America in general has become a source of anti-democratic and unhealthy ethical behavior. But generics doesn't help. Naming names ala Rigas, Lay, etc. is the way to go. Pointdexter of the surveillance squad. Find out how he likes the world to read his mail, read his thoughts, let him hang out for the public's ridicule.

A quibble:
Kim Jong Il is only dangerous to the world because the U.S. is bullying him. Yes, he's dangerous to his own people and is a beast of the classical Oriental Despot variety as opposed to the Middle Eastern Despot stereotype Saddam represents and there is a long history of despot types, some being more dangerous to the world than others and only technology has changed as far as their dangerousness but their basic behavioral patterns are remarkably predictable and history is rife with examples. Bush has activated the Kim problem. And he's apparently leaving it to the Chinese and Russians to deal with it since Korea's in their back yard and doesn't have any oil for us to exploit. The cynical nature of the Bush administration is the most egregious of any U.S. presidency. Neither Nixon nor Reagan were as nakedly imperial as these frat boy fascists. I wish I were being hyperbolic but it isn't the case. And just because Bush is intellectually and morally vapid doesn't mean he's doomed to failure. He can do a lot of damage and as long as he's feeding the electorate this diet of fear he can gorge on our civil liberties and put economic, social, and environmental justice on the back burner. And his lack of real moral character allows Sharon to do as he does. Blaming the attack dog for what the leash owner allows is too easy. Yes, America doesn't absolutely control Israel. No one can control events absolutely. That is a paranoid's fantasy. Comes from the same mother complex that gives us fascists. But we can do more. Bush just doesn't have any interest because he can't do anything that entails actual leadership. He is a reactionary. Again, a perfect foil for the reactionary Korean fop boy. Remember, both of them grew up as privileged momma's boys who never had to account for their public behavior. Frankly, I like that he's being a thorn in Bush's side. I don't think he'll do anything. But putting a stumbling block in the way of the boy who would be dictator--and the only president I ever heard publicly claim, not once but at least twice, that he'd rather be a dictator--is okay by me.

And thanx very much, oh kindly and avuncular editor, for the head's up on my faux pas. Next time you think I misspoke, kindly inquire. I know you personally thanked me via email for submitting so don't give me the I don't have the time bs. This is, after all, not live TV. I am known to be excitable and what with senility just around the corner I may need the correcting nudge.


ROD RESPONDS: Rico,

Thanks for the commentary, though The Voice from Mount Olympus would quibble with your analysis of the Bush/Sharon dynamic. Obviously, G21 is in the business of naming names. Glad you appreciate that. We do represent a "stumbling block" of sorts in that we give people the world over their opportunity to vent their spleens and speak truth to power. As with last week's "Bottom Ten" article and "Tabloid Hart" I think you'll see us being a lot more outspoken about the abusive behavior we see taking hold.

One bit of heart-warming news, from our perspective, is that this has been a weekend/week of peace marches -- I heard from a friend about one in San Francisco that filled Market Street this weekend and know that there will be one here in New Orleans on Martin Luther King Day -- around the world. So the brainwash has not been as successful as the Mouthpiece Media and the Bush junta would like to believe.

Rod


From Lou H-S., Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND:

SUBJECT: Democrats Finance Bush

Good Morning Rod,

This'll stir up a few Democrats. (g)

Bush's Middle East sabre rattling raises oil prices and profits to American oil companies. Democrats buy American oil company products, American oil companies contribute to Bush re-election campaign. Democrats finance their archrival into power!

Kind Regards,
Lou


From Per A., Stockholm, SWEDEN:

SUBJECT: Wainaina

Rod,

Can you please tell me if the text from Wainaina, "Discovering Home" that you published on your website in 2001 is the full text which made him the winner of the Caine Prize for African writing?

Thank you in advance for your kind help.

Per A


ROD RESPONDS: Per,

Thanks for visiting G21 and for writing.

In answer to your question, yes, that is the full text. This was the first Caine ever awarded to a Web-only writer.

Cheers,
Rod


From David H., (No City Provided,) USA:

SUBJECT: Shelby Steele and the Last Black Individual

Mr. Raheem,

I found your essay on Steele's Age of White Guilt piece to be very interesting. I was looking for a copy of Steele's essay to send to someone when I ran across your article on G21.net. I hadn't looked at what he was saying in that light.

Of course, when it comes to special priveleges, Black Americans can't compete with numerous other constituencies. Still, isn't the problem the exisitence of privelege itself rather than the relative amount apportioned out? Is meritocracy a goal worth working toward, or should we just accept that is it all about power politics?

I am interested on your take on the White House position on the University of Michigan's use of race as a factor in admissions. Does being Black itself necessarily constitute a limitation of opportunity? Some things do handicap kids from succeding in this country, things like poverty, broken homes and poor schools, but I can't believe that one's ethnicity can reliably and legitimately be used to infer one's life experience. How likely is someone to succeed in college if they are not adequately prepared to be there? If you still don't have any boots to pull on, it doesn't matter if you get in the front door or not. The issue should be getting these kids some boots.

Steele has a point about affirmative action programs being as much about making white people feel better as they are about helping black people get in the game. Real affirmative action would take on the interests that impede real changes in how poorly so many kids in this country are educated in our public schools. Instead, minority applicants are given preference in order to add some decorative color to the student body. This is a rather patronizing vision of diversity

As far the issue of race is being acknowleged as the central problem of our century, who is arguing about that? It's been the central issue of the past two centuries. America's orginal sin, and ongoing neurosis. I can't see a solution other than a commitment to a color blind society, a society of individuals.

Anyway, I enjoyed your writing and will look for it in the future.

Regards,
Dave H


RAHEEM RESPONDS: David, glad you liked my little screed. To answer your question about the position of the White House, I could joke that, well, it's the "white" house.

Seriously, it would seem to me at least that one's ethnicity apparently had a lot to do with whether one was automatically assumed to be a possible felon in the state of Florida during the non-election that put the current occupant in the White House. Why were only Black precincts and potential Black voters targetted to be vetted? Answer that question for yourself, sir, and I think you'll see life through a different prism.


From Misty C., (No City Provided,) USA:

SUBJECT: Last Living Widow of Civil War

It brings great sorrow to inform you that Gertrude (Grubb) Janaway , the last living widow of the civil war passed away this friday morning. She passed away in her sleep in her cabin in Indian Ridge , Tn.

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