I have not seen this much overt (political) racism - aided and abetted by the news media - since the Reagan Administration. William Bennett (the gambling czar) takes to the airwaves and opines as to how if we just had more abortions performed on blacks "the crime rate would go down." Not to be overshadowed, the "Uncle Tom" who heads HUD states that New Orleans "will not be as black as it was." With all of this implied lynching rhetoric flowing from Washington and over the airwaves one cannot help but wonder when the literal lynching begins; though it has never stopped, has it?
A photo - one among many - has been circulating on the web and the theme has to do with the ubiquitous looting bullshit the media had been giving much credence to recently. This photo ostensibly comes from Texas (where else) and it shows thirteen Neanderthals standing, and grinning in back of a sheet of plywood on which is painted the words "drunks with guns, u loot we shoot." Now every one of these rejects from the gene pool are standing proudly displaying their various weapons from handguns, to semi-automatics, to a shotgun or two, as well as the requisite cans of beer. The rather macabre scene was enhanced by the fact that they were standing by a utility pole with a downed wire very prominent in the photo looking much like a hanging rope waiting to be utilized. The very least one could have hoped for would have been a sudden surge of power through the downed line and we would have had "crispy drunks with guns."
These types of images, along with the racist tenor of the rhetoric which now seems to be such a more pronounced part of the national discourse these days illustrate two very succinct points which we progressives need to view and discuss; with an end towards changing the discourse and taking this country back from the bastards who took it.
I suppose one might say that Machiavelli gave us the perfect treatise on the "framing" concept, the Nazi's honed it to a fine edge. Bush and his cabal are refining it even more as they inflict death and destruction - literally and figuratively - domestically and internationally.
There are those incidents - beyond the control of the despot - such as the recent events in the Gulf Coast when the despot is exposed, for just what he is, and it is at just such times when he is at his weakest. The events in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas overshadow the controlled dialogue and allow reality to shine forth, revealing the lies and allowing the world to see that indeed the emperor has no clothes.
Because a despot is inherently weak and events such as those which just happened expose - for all to see - such weakness, the recourse for the autocrat is to attack those who have been harmed. So we now see the mouthpieces rushing forth to condemn, and by so doing they give unstated approval for the slime such as those thirteen "drunks with guns" and others to voice their filth.
This "blame the victim" tactic of course is a favored approach used whenever the frustrated tyrant is exposed for just what he is. It is a phenomenon that also rises to the forefront during economic upheaval such as that we now find ourselves in thanks to the policies of Bush and Company. Don't blame the corporate bloodsuckers for eliminating jobs, blame the migrants. Don't blame the health care industry for increasing the ranks of the uninsured, blame the sick or the elderly. Don't blame Bush because you can't make your mortgage, or find and affordable place to rent, blame the blacks, gays, women, liberals, or abortion.
Those thirteen "drunks with guns" will never blame Bush because they might have to buy a generic case of beer rather than a 'top shelf' brand, they would rather brandish their weapons and blame so-called black looters.
The twin disasters of Katrina and Rita reminded the world, and the sycophants of the media that there are indeed poor people in America. Over 37 million of them according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and that number has steadily risen since Bush has expropriated the office of the President.
We could run out all of the numbers here but that is not the purpose of this piece.
It is now, at this precise time that progressives - and radicals - should be on the attack. The so-called "opposition party" known as Democrats have been on the defensive - and firmly entrenched in the same corporate pockets - for so long they haven't got a clue, much less a plan. I for one, am sick and tired of the milquetoasts who call themselves Democrats. Christ, they just allowed John Roberts to become Chief Justice why would any free thinking individual believe these weak kneed aristocrats are our salvation?
I'm sure that many of you recall that old poster from the 60's - the one with the two vultures perched on a limb? You remember what the one buzzard is saying - rather emphatically - to the other? "Patience my ass, I want (I won't use the whole quote lest some blue suit show up on my door to question my motives). But you get the idea. My patience with the so-called opposition party is stretched thin, they are neither in opposition or a party.
The real looting is about to begin in the Gulf Coast and unless we take to the streets with a real "people's movement" Bush and Company will weather this crisis and move on without another thought for the disenfranchised. I feel strongly enough about this to get in the streets, I feel strongly enough about this to go to jail, we need to make the change ourselves folks. Enough of this sh*t about Move-on, Move out, meet up or whatever, it ain't working! There are enough of us progressives/radicals out here in this wonderful world of cyberspace, and we need to support more efforts such as this Online Journal and get folks in the street and make change. Remember, we did it once - seems like so much ancient history - before we all became concerned with bottom lines. If we allow Bush and company to continue their rape and pillage of America, we will not even have a plot of ground for a bottom line "Patience my ass!"
To my editor, and any blue suits, I'm not calling for insurrection here; I'm asking for radical, non-violent change. We have seen enough of violence, and we have seen enough of Bush.
Take care out there,
Frank
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