[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Now Obama's in, is anti-war anti-racism activism out?

Sat Nov 8 18:16:29 CST 2008

Friends,
Speaking for myself (and maybe others?): MY concerns were not that there were criticisms of Obama then nor now, but rather first, the disproportionate amount of criticism against Obama, with virtually none against McCain (the word "vendetta" comes to mind), and second, the way in which the criticisms were levied (the phrase "smear tactics" comes to mind). 

If you don't see the difference between the Chomsky/Zinn/Klein and the Limbaugh/O'Reilly/Coulter approaches (other than the politics involved), I don't think I can  say anything on the subject that will enlighten you.
 --Jenifer   

--- On Fri, 11/7/08, Neil Parthun <lennybrucefan at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Neil Parthun <lennybrucefan at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Fwd: Now Obama's in, is anti-war anti-racism activism out?
To: "Morton K. Brussel" <brussel at illinois.edu>
Cc: "Peace-discuss" <peace-discuss at anti-war.net>, "C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at uiuc.edu>
Date: Friday, November 7, 2008, 6:01 AM

The very essence of puerility was not allowing criticism of Obama in the buildup to the election by saying those who held a consistent anti-war ethic somehow wanted McCain/Palin to win the election.  It was intellectually lazy and the sticking of one's head in the proverbial sand.

Now that Obama's elected, may we start saying the uncomfortable facts about He Who Shall Not Be Criticized?  Your lesser evil argument is now negated, so what else do you have to prevent our criticisms of Obama's bellicose rhetoric and acts (i.e. FISA) outside of ad hominem attacks on Carl, me and others?

May we begin our work to light a fire under his ass to ensure that he ends the wars and actually does some things to assist the working class?

In a similar fashion, many "anti-Bush" Democrats in the 1990's defended Clinton's bombing and genocide of Iraqis, defended his ending "welfare was we know it", expanding the use of capital punishment, the Defense of Marriage Act etc. for many of the same reasons people have used to defend Obama -- the idea of if Clinton/Obama didn't do or say X, he would be slimed by the Republicans/it would assist the right wing in winning the next election/as bad as that was, the Republicans could be worse.

Well, with so many of the anti-progressive acts taken by Clinton and the increasingly bellicose rhetoric of Obama along with his surrounding himself with the Clinton-era hawks -- with friends like that, who the Hell needs enemies?

Smile and keep fighting,

     Neil

 We absolutely have to refuse to attribute any kind of permanency to that which is simply because it is.
[angela v. davis, 1944-]

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
[ralph waldo emerson, 1803-1882]_______________________________________________
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