C. Heartfield wrote:
>At a time when the elite stakes its claim to rule on the basis of
>generalised equality, I think it is right to expose the limitations of
>that slogan.
>
>However, in more recent times the ruling class has put ever more stress
>on the virtues of diversity. In the context of social polarisation
>generated through capitalism, the argument for diversity becomes an
>apology for social inequality.
>
>So, in a final reductio ad absurdem, prime minister Tony Blair announced
>his plan to abolish comprehensive education with the demand:
>
>'diversity must become the norm, not the exception'
Hear, hear. When a Republican (Dubya) has selected the most diverse administration in history, American politics (which leads the world of course) will have to change. It might still be okay for Britons of color to complain that they can never look as "British" as their filthy Queen and are therefore subject to an overtly racist ruling class (after all, they live in an essentially medieval society) but what will we liberal, modern Americans to say when President Colin Powell and Vice-President Linda Chavez rule the nation? It'll be difficult to call Powell an Uncle Tom when he's in a position to say to anyone in the world: "Who's your Daddy?"
Obviously it hasn't happened yet, but we will soon see the concept of the "meritocracy" lay bear the underlying form that is pure capitalist oppression. So long as America was an apartheid society it was impossible to say that the rich were rich because they were just better (although they tried). Now they say it unabashedly and even Yoshie seems to buy it with that "different abilities" crap. The only different ability that counts is the different ability to access money, credit, and resources. Once that's made equal, any statistically representative group of people will do about as well as any other.
Then maybe we'll realize that while "hell is other people" so is the closest thing to paradise we'll ever know.
peace
boddi
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