tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425513675510613266.post1131683171847979789..comments2023-11-03T01:47:00.715-07:00Comments on Neil Altman's blog: What I'm still worrying aboutNeil Altman's bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03027955126786885762noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425513675510613266.post-76765240030283297592008-11-11T23:24:00.000-08:002008-11-11T23:24:00.000-08:00Neil,I agree with your comments! this 'Obamania' c...Neil,<BR/>I agree with your comments! this 'Obamania' could itself be symptomatic of the problem of acknowledging reality. I also think there are limits to what Obama administration can really do. The question of race has again become a sore creating isolation, distrust and triggering aggression amongst some section of white people. Poverty as you describe becomes even more problematic and whether Obama can deliver and realistically look at how his aggrandized self image only further creates split-objects and projections of sorts, is yet to be seen. <BR/>I am posting a recent blog post that came to via the Lacan Society in London. its an interesting post.<BR/>see, http://www.lacan.com/symptom/?page_id=43Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05306181154102137673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425513675510613266.post-39827147098886727002008-11-07T18:47:00.000-08:002008-11-07T18:47:00.000-08:00From my friend Larry SiegelRE: Obama's election a...From my friend Larry Siegel<BR/>RE: Obama's election and Prop 8 in California. This is a most complicated matter; how to retain realism about our history, the depth and consequence of racism but also be open to the change that appears to be genuine and deeper than we could have ever hoped for. Yes of course Obama's profile probably made some whites more "comfortable" but to the extent that "we" would not have voted for a non-mixed man or woman or someone more "radical" is another question which speaks to both our racism, but also our inherent American conservatism. I believe that many whites would not vote for an Al Sharpton while they would vote for Obama and in that is racism but also this adversion to a more "radical/progressive" mentality. I believe that how ever we analyze this election, we cannot lose the forest for the trees - the psychological and racial shift is staggering and it is that momumental shift that we have to enjoy and build on.<BR/>As to Prop 8:<BR/>1. People still don't understand that one can maintain with vigor their cultural or religious viewpoint but putting that into law is another thing. It is the law that must be a bullwark against cultural, religious attitudes.<BR/>2. The whole point of our constitution is to ensure that majority notions do not endanger minority communities.<BR/>3. It is precisely the people who make us the most uncomfortable that we should be fighting for their constitutional right to "equal protection." To wit; I detest the speech of racists and American Nazis, skinheads et al, but I must understand the difference between my abhorance of their viewpoint and their right to express it. Those who are uncomfortable with and even abhor gay or lesbian people must understand this analogy.<BR/>4. An uncomfortable truth: apparently a large majority of the African-American community(70%+) in California voted "yes" on 8. I feel about that as I do about my fellow Jews who have racist attitudes about Palestinians: we of all people should know better, should understand the stain of bigotry. I am therefore very troubled by the homophobia in the A-Am. community and we should not be adverse to tackling this matter, just as we must tackle it in all communities.Neil Altman's bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03027955126786885762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425513675510613266.post-56005506912988504402008-11-07T16:29:00.000-08:002008-11-07T16:29:00.000-08:00Neil,Your points are good ones! I knew that if Ob...Neil,<BR/>Your points are good ones! I knew that if Obama got elected I would be happy, but I could not have predicted how it would *feel*. This feeling - a very particular kind of hope, love of country, etc for which I do not even have words yet - is brand new to me. There is an element of validation to it that I feel as a social worker, as someone who has understood her life as being about working towards common good. This election - his election - has a direct impact on the cause of the poor and marginalized in that it somehow legitimizes the efforts and stances of those of us who do worry about these issues all the time. There's a kind of collective recognition, I guess, maybe not in his policies but just in the reality of his election, that feels emboldening to me. Am I just desperate to hold onto this high? Probably. But its a really good one! <BR/>Bethquit wicked companyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908876233191879666noreply@blogger.com