I had a rather interesting reaction to the recent pio article about Whitman’s liberal culture. I too feel like a political outsider at Whitman. To be quite frank, I, along with the vast majority of Argentines, think liberals are rather right-wing, la derecha. My ideology is considered center-left because it is not communism or guerilla warfare.
Last weekend, I was on the phone with my Dad, telling him that I feel equally alienated by liberal and conservative ideologies. He insisted that there was a difference, “What are you going to talk about with someone who likes Michelle Bachman? That person is so far gone.” I fired back, “What are you going to talk about with someone who likes Obama?”
I stand by this statement. Trying to talk someone out of believing in Obama is like trying to talk someone out of believing in God.
Correction, this statement is unfair. It paints religion in an unfair light. Religion does not necessarily mean putting all your faith in God; many view God as an inspiration to act. While Obama supporters may work for change at the micro-level (charity, volunteering, my mom at Innocence Project Northwest), they seem to have this bizarre idea that Obama is our solution to all problems which exist at the macro-level, all problems which involve broad, national political/social change. They put all their faith in Obama; he´s our only hope. They pray, or rather, they gather e-petitions, call him, protest with dogmatic pacifism, hope. That person is so far gone.
I do not believe in God, but I am willing to acknowledge the possibility that maybe, just maybe, there is some someone listening. However, I know that Obama is not listening to you, he is listening to the people who are underwriting his re-election campaign, underwriting it to the tune of billions of dollars. He will not listen to you as long as you refuse to break the rules, refuse to fuck shit up (literally and metaphorically). We desperately need powerful, autonomous alternatives that threaten the false legitimacy of this ridiculous two-party system (a shout-out to the Spanish Indignantes and the NYC General Assembly*).
I have always found this liberal-conservative debate to be quite petty, and find the alienation present at Whitman to be darkly humorous. The debate reminds me of a bourgeois version of the 19th century debates over the moral way to treat slaves. Slavery was a human-rights crisis of the feudal era. Fifty million people without access to healthcare is a human-rights crisis of the present day. Healthcare is a human right. Yet, the Republicans and Democrats did not debate it as such, they argued it as an issue of efficient and effective management. Over the past years, the past decades, the crisis has worsened no thanks to either party.
Equally discouraging is this absurd alienation that exists within Whitman’s liberal culture. For God sakes, the Democratic and Republican parties share some pretty fundamental agreements: neoliberal capitalism, imperialism, class inequality, private health-care, the illegality of immigration. I disagree with all of these things, but I’m not about to turn it into some personal issue where I socially alienate people or refuse to let people voice their opinion.
Sure, as an anarchist, I can sympathize with the idea that a ridiculously ineffectual government isn’t the solution to our problems. And sure, as a leftist, I can sympathize with the idea that the Democrats are good; I myself prefer center-right rule to right-wing rule. Having said that, I vehemently disagree with both ideological stances and have a violent hatred of both parties.
Liberals, Obama supporters, I’m writing to you from Argentina, and I can assure you that almost everyone here dislikes your politics. The vast majority of people hate your politics, because your politics do nothing to end the ridiculous imperialism that permeates every page of Latin American history, the ridiculous neoliberal paternalism that destroyed their economy in 2001. Nonetheless, on an individual level, they treat US exchange-students with friendliness and respect.
Cut the superiority complex and be nice to people. Talk politics and be critical (as I did), but don’ be a dick and turn it into a personal issue where you socially alienate people and refuse to let people express their opinion. I’m sure most of you aren’t doing this, but to those who are, cut that shit out.
Peace,
Enrique Gales
*nycga.cc
