kelley <oudies at flash.net> on 07/20/99 03:40:47 PM
Please respond to lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
cc: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
Subject: Re: John-John, RIP
alexlocascio at juno.com wrote:
>Christ, all the fawning makes one wonder if people truly want to be free.
> It's no wonder that for the past quarter century or so Leftists have
>been looking to the Third World for liberation struggles. Apart from a
>few brave labor and black liberation fighters, this country is full of
>snivellers.
and crap like this is why joe sixpack and suzy winecooler aren't going to join on the leftist wagon any time soon. the contempt that people on this list express for joe and suzy is what altogether too often is our own worst enemy. if you want to view everyone as a bunch of mindless sheep kewl, but don't be surprised when they appear to act that way.
I'm new to the list, but let me say bravo to Kelley for the statement above. We leftists can get very hypocritical very quickly as we claim to fight for the people, then denigrate them as "snivellers" who will never understand why issues leftists address are important.
Let us not forget (especially for those who came from a conservative family such as myself) before we knew about LBO, Z Mag, or any other leftist media outlet, how difficult it was to know about issues outside of what is covered by the mainstream. The hegemony created by mainstream media is phenomenal, and it literally does "Manufacture the Consent" of the people who have no other sources. So, yes I think many Americans do care to a certain extent about JFK Jr., simply b/c most Americans don't like to hear about people dying at such a young age. Why do they care about this "tragedy," and not about the local kid who was nearly beat to death (or maybe was beat to death) by an overzealous cop? Probably b/c they never knew about scenario number two, even though it happens more frequently. Until you are aware about non-mainstream news sources, after working 40-50 hours a day, they aren't the easiest things to just happen upon in a book store, on the internet, etc.
Stuart