Politics in life, and life as politics.

A friend of mine gave me this book, and I'm on my second read through it. It's a really fantastic piece of work. But, in reading it I have noticed that the author makes some reference to politics, and he's clearly not in line with me there at all. At ALL.

The thing is, he's a fantastic music critic, with some really insightful things to say. Yet I know many have, or would, dismiss him outright because he is... right.

In polarized left/right politics, many don't leave any room for deviation from the blue vs red mentality. I think that, for some, it's just easier that way. Not only can you break things up into two easy to handle categories (yours and theirs), but you can also then avoid any real issues with a person or issue. They/it is camp y, and you're camp x. But it seems to me that too often we're drawing battle lines in imaginary sand over issues that don't need to be politicized.

The danger in painting things one of two colours is that we simplify things to the point of becoming simple. 'They' do it, too. While I'm hardly likely to listen to a white power band because the lyrics would have me enraged to the point of not even noticing the music, I'm not going to refuse chance to a band who's lead singer is, say, a Randian libertarian. I don't think that I have ever met anyone I couldn't find at least one thing to agree on with. Now, if it's something in which politics is a big thing, I may make my judgment then. But since when is the political belief of the woman who pumps my gas, or the guy who hires me to code for him an issue? Since when are we a difference species because he votes right and I left?

Politics are a large part of my life, and I care about them very deeply. But I don't need to politicize every aspect of my life. It's narrow, damaging, simple, and fanatical. Not only is the two camp myth just that, a myth, but I think it's stifling discussion that brings us further as human beings. And it closes you off to parts of life that have no business being politicized.

It's like a drug, sitting around trading congratulations for only ever reading/listening/eating/talking/spending time with 'us' in 'our camp'. It's about as satisfying as kissing your own image in a mirror.

While that does go on to an extent, we are way beyond simple ideological differences. We are facing the destruction of our democracy, our country and perhaps even our world at the hand of this administration. Any who continue to support this administration in light of its actions are part of the problem, whether they understand this yet or not. The republican party current supports this administration and its policies. Those who support the republican party, through membership or contribution, are in turn supporting this administration and its policies, regardless of any halfway decent qualities they may have in spite of their active destruction of America. At this point, supporting this administration is entirely unacceptable, just as it is always unacceptable to stab babies in the eye. The people you seem irritated at are making a token gesture of defiance against those who choose, knowing or unknowingly, to support traitors in our White House. No one's saying you have to follow suit, but don't hold it against people for doing something. It's more than most of our "representatives" in Congress have been doing for the last five years.

I don't think people taking a stand against dinner at Aunt Mabels, reading Joe Carducci, or a million more 'stands' against people who disagree with them on one thing are doing anything but being intellectual wankers.

Equating republicanism to stabbing babies is exactly what I'm talking about. Simplifying a viewpoint, and then diametrically opposing not only the view point but the PERSON is just wrong. Taking political issues to the extreme in which you oppose everyone who believes differently than you isn't doing anything. In fact, it's painting over the real issues and paths to understanding, its divisive and encourages ignorance.

'Us' vs. 'Them' hasn't been working from what I've seen. And giving up parts of life you enjoy to hate a whole group of people over some things just strikes a sour note with me.

I'm not suggesting everyone go out an embrace their local racist bigot, but I am suggesting that shutting off cultural paths, as well as interaction or communication with good, upstanding, or otherwise interesting people who happen to be politically different from you is just sad.

As my good friend once said to me, "Aly, you may be a godless commie but DAMN can you cook a fine meal". I wouldn't give that friend up for all the liberal friends in the world.

Don't expect everyone to agree with it, though.

I'm used to people like you.

You certainly think you know enough to classify me.

As, you were condescending.

implied I was a freeper. But I meant you were condescending previous.

I'm not responsible for your inability to understand what I've written clearly. I disagreed with your rant and gave a cogent argument for it. You came back with a nasty attitude disregarding my post. My reply, which you falsely interpret as condescending, was my civil response to your attack. I guess people like me shouldn't dare disagree with people like you.

Please tell me how her rebuttal to you was in any way a nasty attack.

I didn't attack you. If you think that was an attack, you must not spend a lot of time discussing politics around here. Disagreeing with you isn't a nasty attitude, it's just that, disagreeing.

"Bohemia has fallen back to Woody Guthrie's two dimensional schema, "Which Side Are You On?" which allows for zero richness in terms of life, heroism, character, existentialism, psychology, humanity, culture, or politics. I hope I'm on the other side, toady."

Carducci-pp. 128

:loveya:

Oh yeah, edit:
:hug: :P

"Who made Irony, Distance, Political Responsibilty, and Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously desirable qualities? Think about Jerry Lee Lewis and then try to tell me that it was friends of Rock music that made them desirable."

Carducci, pp. 221

It's doing funny things to me :P


But seriously, that first quote sums it the fuck up, and it's raw brilliance. I can't even add to it.

I TOTALLY DO NOT AGREE WITH THE POLITICS. THere's passages in "Rock and the Pop Narcotic" that make me want to beat the shit out of Carducci. But the point is, he makes me think, he takes me out of my box and into a different box, which you need to lead a rich life.

HOWEVER (again) it IS true that the political climate, at least in America, has shifted dangerously in the time between the book's second edition and 6/6/06. There's more polarization than ever, and people don't seem to recognize their own extremism, on either side (I'm just as guilty - I certainly don't think of myslef as extreme, but some freeper reading this probably does, and vice versa) What seemed refeshingly confrontational to me back in the 90's sometimes gets on my nerves these days. I KNOW where I stand politically, but everyone could stand to check out other philosophies, other views, if only to gather debating tips. It's guys like Carducci that help in this, even if he pisses me off.

Does this make any sense? I need to leave now.

or trying to say, but with different language and a slightly different perspective :D

I'm wary of even saying more, because it'll turn into a meme love fest of mutual idea mongering.