Comments on: “Ethical Spectacles”? http://www.lunaticleft.com/2007/04/03/ethical-spectacles/ Yes, this is where we live. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:05:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: KAF http://www.lunaticleft.com/2007/04/03/ethical-spectacles/#comment-1211 KAF Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:12:07 +0000 http://www.lunaticleft.com/2007/04/03/ethical-spectacles/#comment-1211 I disagree with Steve's assertion that all centrists are politically naive or indifferent. There are a lot of very intelligent, informed people who understand that political problems, and their solutions, are not as simple as the vocal extremes make them out to be. Which is not to say that there are not a lot of people who don't give a shit; I've had similar experiences knocking on doors in Vancouver. But don't assume that only progressives are outraged by trends in poverty, civil liberties, and environmental impact. We just don't all agree on what the solutions to those problems are. As the original post, I think what is meant by "ethical spectacle" is something like the Montgomery Bus Boycott or the Salt Satyagraha. It's about making a statement with actions rather than words -- by just doing what needs to be done rather than appealing to someone else to do something. Perhaps the best contemporary example is Howard Dean's campaign for President. I disagree with Steve’s assertion that all centrists are politically naive or indifferent. There are a lot of very intelligent, informed people who understand that political problems, and their solutions, are not as simple as the vocal extremes make them out to be. Which is not to say that there are not a lot of people who don’t give a shit; I’ve had similar experiences knocking on doors in Vancouver. But don’t assume that only progressives are outraged by trends in poverty, civil liberties, and environmental impact. We just don’t all agree on what the solutions to those problems are.

As the original post, I think what is meant by “ethical spectacle” is something like the Montgomery Bus Boycott or the Salt Satyagraha. It’s about making a statement with actions rather than words — by just doing what needs to be done rather than appealing to someone else to do something. Perhaps the best contemporary example is Howard Dean’s campaign for President.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.lunaticleft.com/2007/04/03/ethical-spectacles/#comment-1209 Stephen Wed, 04 Apr 2007 03:56:08 +0000 http://www.lunaticleft.com/2007/04/03/ethical-spectacles/#comment-1209 I have read a lot of "process" stuff since 2001. Progressives should do this or that. Aside from the implementation problems of these kinds of articles (progressives are a loosely associated group with no central leadership and no ability to change they way they do things) I think that discussing what we should do to inspire people or convince people to come around to our "right" misses a key part of that plan: the people. I have canvassed in the poorest neighborhoods in Denver, Elise teaches in the poorest neighborhood in the bay area. I have also knocked on doors in the richest neighborhood in Denver. That experience (and I was knocking on democratic, likely voter doors) taught me that most people just don't care much about the grand progressive dream. I may be wrong, and Eli's vision of the ethical spectacle is nice, but it will always just be a dream because politics rarely inspires but a tiny minority of people. That's why politics will always be an ugly, dirty fight between activist extremes. And that's why "centrist" visions are absurd because no one is a centrist. Centrists are actually people who aren't paying attention. In the end when it comes to social change, elections and the rest I tend to think that those of us who care may just have to drag everyone else along with us. I have read a lot of “process” stuff since 2001. Progressives should do this or that. Aside from the implementation problems of these kinds of articles (progressives are a loosely associated group with no central leadership and no ability to change they way they do things) I think that discussing what we should do to inspire people or convince people to come around to our “right” misses a key part of that plan: the people. I have canvassed in the poorest neighborhoods in Denver, Elise teaches in the poorest neighborhood in the bay area. I have also knocked on doors in the richest neighborhood in Denver. That experience (and I was knocking on democratic, likely voter doors) taught me that most people just don’t care much about the grand progressive dream.

I may be wrong, and Eli’s vision of the ethical spectacle is nice, but it will always just be a dream because politics rarely inspires but a tiny minority of people. That’s why politics will always be an ugly, dirty fight between activist extremes. And that’s why “centrist” visions are absurd because no one is a centrist. Centrists are actually people who aren’t paying attention. In the end when it comes to social change, elections and the rest I tend to think that those of us who care may just have to drag everyone else along with us.

]]> By: jecca http://www.lunaticleft.com/2007/04/03/ethical-spectacles/#comment-1208 jecca Wed, 04 Apr 2007 03:00:25 +0000 http://www.lunaticleft.com/2007/04/03/ethical-spectacles/#comment-1208 and I thought you were just watching the baseball game. and I thought you were just watching the baseball game.

]]>