Thursday, November 29, 2007

 

New Look

If you haven't been to the Public Good Project website in a while, take a look. The rebuild is nearly complete, and we've added several new items. Many thanks to Mark Gould of Photosynthesis Studio in San Francisco for this pro bono contribution!

Saturday, November 24, 2007

 

Political Illiteracy

In his December 1990 report Right Woos Left, Chip Berlet of Political Research Associates examined neo-fascist overtures to antiwar activists, and the need to confront rightist ideologies and bigotry by discussing the dilemmas posed by the transfusion of right-wing theories and research into progressive circles. Based on these discussions, Mr. Berlet wrote the book Right-Wing Populism in America, which focuses on the roots of scapegoating conspiracism in the U.S. and how it is used to mobilize social and political movements. In November of 1993, he developed an analysis of the relationship between various forms of populism and fascism and the relevance of these movements to the candidacies of Buchanan, Perot & Le Pen.

A decade later, these same problems resurfaced in American antiwar circles whose academic discussions had been penetrated by poisonous ideas promulgated by LaRouchians and other anti-Jewish groups. More recently, organizations like Sierra Club went through soul-searching shakedowns as a result of White Christian Nationalist infiltration attempting to subvert their board into supporting anti-immigrant legislation. All of which points up the need for greater academic rigor and integrity in the face of the ongoing onslaught of fascist propositions promoted by nativists such as Pat Buchanan and the bastions of pseudo scholars that support him.

As author Sara Diamond observed, “After years of living as an anti-administration anti-establishment subculture, many in the progressive movement know what they are against, but have lost sight of what they stand for. This leaves persons susceptible to allying with anyone else that attacks the government. This happened against a backdrop of political illiteracy."

By exposing irrationalist philosophies, racialist aesthetics, and anti-capitalist demagogy, writers like Berlet and Diamond assert we can have this discussion without uncritically circulating the conspiratorial scapegoating fantasies of the far right. As Monique Doryland of the Bay Area Pledge of Resistance noted, “We have to be clear as progressive people that fascists, no matter what their camouflage, are not our friends."

“The dilemma for left activists,” says Berlet, “is to sort out the various strains of fascist ideology circulating in the United States and the world. It is a dangerous folly to ignore the threat to democracy posed by critics of the current administration who also promote fascism.”


Thursday, November 22, 2007

 

Warming Hearts

Warming Hearts makes it easy to do something good this season. 100% of donations go directly to purchasing winter coats and shoes for Lakota children that would otherwise go through the Northern Plains winter without. Find out how you can help.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

 

Gift of Fellowship

In this dialogue with the people of the land, participants, seeking a second chance for laying a foundation of healing between the Wabanaki and dominant society, were transformed by meeting in a traditional way.

Friday, November 16, 2007

 

Winter Soldier

Iraq Veterans Against the War plan a truth-telling symposium for March in DC. Winter Soldier is an opportunity for these veterans to come clean about the atrocities committed in our name, as well as a chance to hold those who sent them to murder for money accountable.

For those who wish to help these young people heal from these horrible psychic wounds, Winter Soldier is an occasion for us all to support.

Monday, November 12, 2007

 

Act Two

It's been two years since the opening salvos in The Brutal Battle for the Soul of Professor Perry Mills, but what one year ago seemed like the end of the line for the illustrious instructor was in fact merely an interlude in the conflict.

As we wrote in our initial coverage of this dramatic enactment on the corrupt campus of Western Washington University, Professor Mills would come out firing with both barrels. On November 21, 2007, the renowned professor will have his day in court. We expect the trial to be every bit as interesting as the administrative procedures that led there.

Supporters of Perry Mills' triumphant return and fight for truth, justice, and the American way have established this blog for those wishing to follow along. We certainly will be.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

 

Revolution and Revelation

For more than five hundred years we have lived discordantly between ideas and beliefs, philosophy and tradition, science and faith. Our time is one of split consciousness, and of being conscious of the split.

-- Itinerary by Octavio Paz

Monday, November 05, 2007

 

Process of Governance

While we have significantly more freedom in the US than in, say, Pakistan, we should be careful not to conflate the trappings of our oligarchy with that of a genuine democracy. As American voters go to the polls tomorrow, they would do well to remember that many autocracies and theocracies also hold elections.

As such, voting is neither good nor bad; it all depends on the process of governance that determines who gets what and how we participate. Given that criteria, we're slightly more democratic than Russia, which isn't saying much.

Saturday, November 03, 2007

 

Ventilation

Mona writes at dawn from her apartment overlooking the Mediterranean.

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