Wednesday, January 24, 2007

THE RISE OF THE NEW[ER] LEFT

If there is, after all, an upside to 12 years of increasing Repiglican fascism, I guess it would be the ressurection of activism by the political left on college campuses. Finally.
For those of us who remember and long for the days when college-aged people took an active interest in politics, you may be heartened by the fact that the SDS, Students for a Democratic Society, has reformed and is organizing at some colleges, universities, and even high schools. There's a highschool chapter in Middletown, MD. And there are 45 more chapters around the nation, along with 138 university chapters.... the political pendulum has reached its apex and has finally started to swing the other way.

34 comments:

swampcritter2 said...

Mark Rudd. A back-handed compliment would be, "He was never a Pinko commie." This dude was a full-blown Marxist! He teaches math at a school somewhere in the Soutwest these days.

Historical Wit said...

damn swampcritter your fast on the draw with that picture id. Hold your friends close, enemies closer...

swampcritter2 said...

Wit, Your statement is of interest. I was there and could tell some tales. 'Nuff said.

Historical Wit said...

Bein a lot younger than you and being the history scholar I am, I'm all ears. Let er rip...

RAT said...

well, the hint I gave you was nearly a telegraph

RAT said...

he was also one of the founding members of the weather underground

Historical Wit said...

more more more, give me some details folks. you 60's boomers need to spill those thoughts and feelings.

Anonymous said...

Smile,
You've probably just placed yourself on the FBI watch list.
Haaaaaaaaaaa

swampcritter2 said...

If I'm not mistaken Rudd founded Weather Underground/Weatherman following the so called "Days of Rage" a series of violent riots that came in the wake of the verdicts in the Chicago 7 trials. Wit, I've got to tell you, those days are not to be longed for except by a bunch of old aging lefties.(like Ratturd maybe?)Oh sure they were heady times, today's Lefties would like to see this country that polarized again. I for one would not. I'm getting tired of Order ab Chao. Not a hell of a lot of good came out of that era, so I frankly don't bother talking about it that much. Radical chic was all the rage then, but thinking people could see through it easily today. Also you're not gonna gain any converts RT by calling Republicans "pigs" and fascists. But this is your blog so have at it. I find it mildly amusing, besides I believe you know better, and if you don't you should.

RAT said...

"Radical chic was all the rage then.." It still is, but now it's the neocon(poops) that believe their radicalism is so groovy..." but thinking people could see through it easily today" ...and that's true enough, seeing as it's only the so-called liberals who are opposing the move to fascism.

swampcritter2 said...

Hugh Romney, more commmonly called "Wavy Gravy". He has teeth these days, (paid for by a Republican) I have houseplants with higher IQ's.

swampcritter2 said...

Ratturd, What the hell is this, "Stump the Neo-Con?"

RAT said...

yup

swampcritter2 said...

Say Ratturd, Let's put politics aside for a spell. I note on your profile you have somewhat eclectic musical taste. Do yourself a favor. Go over to YouTube and check out some Laurence Juber.

RAT said...

Interesting term there, Dick... care to define it, relative to the group of people who were posted?

Historical Wit said...

Well since I dont know any of you personallly, its harder to assimilate the hows and whys of the feelins, but since there is a basic understanding of political philosophy behind each of you I can see where all of you arrive at your opinions.

It is interesting to compare the radicals of the 60' to the radicals of the 00's. I believe we just passed the peak of fundamental conservatism. Too many people are turned off by it. 60's rads were lib and these new rads are all bible thumpers. Its radicalism from the opposite end of the scale. You will see democratic clubs rise again now. People need something to believe in and they aint gettin it from these repubs. Very exciting times we live in.

As for the hurray for Big Brother watching us, I don't like it, but what can you do? They are going to watch anyway and there is nothing you can do about it. Thats why your starting to see the power shift back to the left. People, on a whole, don't think the government should be watching what your doing in the bedroom. I know some disagree, but there will always be disent.

Thanks for the info and sorry I wasn't in on the idscussion after 5, my baby girl is under the weather right now.

Historical Wit said...

Well to your nit pick, considering that its the bible thumpin wannabes controling and doing the watching, they are looking in our bedrooms. How else can you exlain the obsession with homosexuality?

truthiness said...

"The Thumpers, to my knowledge, do not participate in or advocate illegal acts.

Gee, I wonder who is behind the bombing of abortion clinics?

The radical bible thumpers, that's who.

ShoreNative said...

I can't post on Fertlizer For Our Bay's blog. Will someone please tell him??? Did he block me???

RAT said...

.... and what about Pat Robertson calling for the assassination of Hugo Chavez.... and how about those right-to-lifers supporting the death penalty.... sanctimonious dimwits.... but that's how right-wingers are...they know how to work their jaws, but can't find the operator's manual for their brains.

truthiness said...

Rat, right to lifers supporting the death penalty (that's just hypocritical) and even the dope Pat Robertson stupid statement against Chavez isn't against the law.

Dick, who do you think is bombing abortion clinics and killing abortion doctors if not the radical bible thumpers? They are the radical fringe of the Christian movement, but by no means do I mean to lump them in with all Christians. Most Christians would never condone that behavior, but there is a fringe element that supports and even actively encourages it.

Dick, I finally agree with you on something! I support the death penalty. If there is no doubt about the murderers guilt, I say they should fry.

swampcritter2 said...

Indrid, Let's see if I can recall all this properly. Eric Rudolph (abortion clinic and olympic bomber)apprehended and incarcerated for life, Paul Hill (kills abortionist) executed, Michael Weaver (kills abortionist doctor David Gunn) incarcerated for life. I see three nuts, two in jail who should be executed, hardly a trend. I see your point, but I don't see a nascency of domestic terrorism over the abortion issue. Most church-going people that oppose abortion are quick to dissown and disavow this bunch. Pat Robertson needs to examine geriatric care, or be tested for "hoof in mouth disease." A nap might help.

truthiness said...

Swamp, this is what I said:

"They are the radical fringe of the Christian movement, but by no means do I mean to lump them in with all Christians. Most Christians would never condone that behavior, but there is a fringe element that supports and even actively encourages it."

I was responding to Dick's assertion that radical bible thumpers didn't commit illegal acts. I never said it was a trend, in fact I specifically said "fringe element".

I think you and I are on the same page on this, so I'm not sure why you are taking offense to my statement. And I also agree that Pat Robertson is a whackjob, but he is powerful nonetheless with many, many followers who are easily led to dangerous things.

The men you mentioned are indeed nuts as you rightfully assert, but they are also terrorists.

Historical Wit said...

One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

RAT said...

Historical:
Your last comment was what I would call "bumper-sticker thinking." It sounds good and logical, at first glance. But the fact is that you cannot reasonable expect us to believe the men who flew planes into the WTC were freedom fighters. Neither are those who detonate bombs on a crowded bus or spread serin gas in a subway, or kill non-combatants in a market place simply because they belong to a different religious sect. Those places are not legitimate military or infrastructure targets, and the victims are often women and children.

swampcritter2 said...

Indrid, I took no offense. You're correct that we're closer on this issue at least. You clarified everything perfectly. I only wanted to know how you defined the term "fringe element." I may be guilty of reading too much between the lines. Sorry, if I caused consternation.

truthiness said...

Swamp, no consternation caused. We are defintely in agreement on that issue.

And Dick, you do indeed appear to be less Albero like now.

Historical Wit said...

That bumper sticker thinking is how the radical fringe right of the religion of Islam thinks. It may be "bumper sticker" thinking but its true. I am not saying I agree with it, support it, condone it. Its just the way it is. For every person in this country that thinks 911 was a tragedy and a terrorist attack, there is a person somewhere between Turkey and Bangledesh that thinks it was a victory and a triumph.

Historical Wit said...

Its better to die on your feet than to live on your knees

RAT said...

Political Science
by Randy Newman

No one likes us
I don't know why.
We may not be perfect
But heaven knows we try.
But all around even our old friends put us down.
Let's drop the big one and see what happens.

We give them money
But are they grateful?
No they're spiteful
And they're hateful.
They don't respect us so let's surprise them;
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them.

Now Asia's crowded
And Europe's too old.
Africa's far too hot,
And Canada's too cold.
And South America stole our name.
Let's drop the big one; there'll be no one left to blame us.

Bridge:
We'll save Australia;
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo.
We'll build an all-American amusement park there;
They've got surfing, too.

Well, boom goes London,
And boom Paris.
More room for you
And more room for me.
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town.
Oh, how peaceful it'll be;
We'll set everybody free;
You'll have Japanese kimonos, baby,
There'll be Italian shoes for me.
They all hate us anyhow,
So let's drop the big one now.
Let's drop the big one now.

RAT said...

Boy, Historical Wit is just full of bumper-sticker wisdom, isn't he?

Dick:
There's one big difference between the decision by Truman's decision to use atomic weapons to end the Second World War and now: The US was the only nation that had the technology. Now it's available to everyone.... you see the implications here, right?

swampcritter2 said...

Ratturd, By the time Truman dropped Fatman and Littleboy the Russkies were already in posession of the know-how and may have had their program underway by then. What is certain, is that they had observers on the ground within hours after the drops on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to measure the extent of the damages. They may not have had the technology just then but they sure didn't waste any time. The implications are what then?

RAT said...

Swampy: That's interesting, but it doesn't address Dick's point.

swampcritter2 said...

The last thing that Dick said that seemed decipherable to me was the mention of the liquor.I'm a wine-drinker. I guess I'll never get it.