Soldier, Your Eyes
"No soldier ever won a war by dying for his country." -- attributed to General George Patton
While I'm not entirely pleased by yesterday's events in Wisconsin, I'm also not entirely disappointed. I refuse to accept the mainstream definitions, presented by the media, of what constitutes "victory" or "defeat." A number of times, over my years on this forum, I've quoted from Sean Wilentz's 2005 classic, "The Rise of American Democracy: From Jefferson to Lincoln," which I will paraphrase from again -- because it is important. At least, I think it is very important."
On the first page of the book's preface, the author provides accurate definitions of two dynamics, which have been closely associated with socio-political struggle since the days of our Founding Fathers. The word "republic" comes from "res publica," meaning "public thing"; it means government by the elite. And "democracy," coming from "demos krateo," or "rule of the people," means just that: socio-political power to the people.
In this context, I view events in Wisconsin as largely positive. It would have been huge to beat this fellow Walker, and the lose is significant. Still, the effort by the grass roots -- including unions and school teachers -- laid a large rock for a foundation-stone for us to build upon. These people caught the public's eye and imagination ..... and I dare say, the eye of the 1& that rules the political and economic system of the nation. ( Those that rule in politics and economics have a disproportionate influence on all sociological dynamics as well.)
As a registered democrat who has long worked for the party at the grass roots' level, and who also inhabits the Democratic Left (which is not limited to the left-wing of the Democratic Party), I'm actually encouraged by Wisconsin. One of the major influences on my socio-political thinking was Minister Malcolm X. And, before connecting Malcolm and Wisconsin, let me again note that besides reading almost every book written by or specifically about Malcolm, and many others that include him, I've also had the extreme pleasure of a 40-year friendship with a man who was good friends with both Malcolm and Martin Luther King, Jr. And that friendship allows me to place certain things in a unique context.
In his years in the Nation of Islam, Malcolm generally avoided "politics." That was NOI policy, and for most of his career in the group, he believed it to be correct. Malcolm notably spoke of state and national politicians as "foxes and wolves" (democrats and republicans) that played a game to control and exploit the public. He spoke of them as being "in cahoots" with the other party, and always working to enrich -- often violently -- the common person.
By the time he would become separated with the NOI, he often blurred the lines on things political. And after the NOI divorced him, Malcolm became very political, indeed, although always as a black, Islamic victim of the American socio-political ruling class. Thus, for example, he had a close association with Rep. Adam Clayton Powell. He was also friends with Percy Sutton and Charlie Rangel. And he was an important supporter of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party -- and any DUer not familiar with the MFDP should take the time to learn about it. The MFDP didn't "win" in 1964, by the news media's definition. But, like the grass roots in Wisconsin, they laid a powerful foundation stone.
Malcolm, of course, did not limit either his friendships with, or support for, those in politics that were registered in the Democratic Party. He had ties to many others in the Democratic Left in this country, and "leftists" abroad. This, of course, was why Malcolm was viewed as much more dangerous to the powers-that-be after he left the NOI. But that's another topic, to discuss at another time.
Now, because I have never believed in sitting back to admire what was accomplished in the past for too long, I think that there is no good reason to waste any opportunity that the Wisconsin events create for us today and tomorrow. Because any time we allow an opportunity to pass by, we do lose .... we lose that opportunity, and every potential it holds. And while we may encounter some future opportunity that looks, feels, sounds, smells, and/or tastes the same, it really ain't the same opportunity, at all. This brings us to -- to borrow a book title from Rev. King -- "where do we go from here?"
Grass roots organizing is essential. This includes building and strengthening linkages with other groups in our community, our local area, and state- and nation-wide. That's a given: we have the opportunity to grow the movement towards democracy.
In the context of those groups that I am currently working in/with -- which include a few pro-environment/ anti-hydrofracking organizations, the county Democratic Party, a regional bi-partison socio-political group, and a congressional campaign -- I continue to put emphasis on "doing." Too frequently, in my opinion, people who I am associated with are taking extended breaks: some are advocating the "not now" approach, choosing to have little parties to celebrate past efforts; some don't want to "make waves"; etc, etc. Now, I don't want people to "burn out" -- although I fail to see how or why people do, at this point in time. I suspect that subscribing to the mainstream definitions or "winning and losing" plays a big part, and that my not accepting those very definitions from being imposed on my thinking helps me to prevent ever "burning out." I believe that "burning out" causes us to lose valuable opportunities, just as fear and self-doubt do.
I will add that I do believe in making social/political activism "fun." Hence, I'm getting ready to -- what else? -- walk out to my pond with dogs, and with a spiral notebook and pen. On Friday, my oldest son and I are getting out a number of letters-to-the-editors of local and regional newspapers. Hardly a huge task or contribution to the democratic movement, but a sincere effort to make people think ..... for LTTE can actual make people think. And we must change the way people think, before we can expect them to change the way they act. Both Martin and Malcolm understood this to be true.
A final note: I have learned not to wear a brightly-colored bandana out at the pond. My son had loaned me one, and a humming bird thought my decorated skull was a promising flower.
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From the beginning of the recalls there was progress made in Wisconsin as some of the Republicans paid the price for Walker's abusive politics and policies, with the result being Walker losing some measure of power at least for this term.
I also believe these efforts laid a foundation for more Democratic success in November.
Even if the Democrats in Wisconsin didn't get Walker some of those flowers had nectar.
Thanks for the thread, H2OMan.
