I have said several times in these pages that I do not find change difficult. I did, however, find the change asked of me in Reeducation difficult. This task involved changing my focus in life from joy and pleasure to suffering and pain. I did not want to take this plunge and it was very … More Pinch and Reversal
Normally the search terms which lead people to this weblog are quite innocuous and predictable – even the perennial “lacy underwear.” Today, however, we have some rather scary ones, including “Jena Six niggers” (several times) and “why academic freedom is a bane.” I am not pleased with the presuppositions underlying these phrases. Axé.
Ravensraving’s Post It is always very interesting to see who is supposed to “let go” and “forgive” for what, and who is supposed to remain angry. If you are the white relative of a white murder victim, it may be “cold” not to be ever angry and vengeful. But if you are a Black person … More On Cassandra. On Letting Go
Today is a very important day to think about ways to act on the cases of the Jena 6 and of Megan Williams. On the OJ debacle, my favorite blog comment is by Ravensravings, at the Field Negro: “Suggestion: Respond to white people’s O.J. hard-on should by reciting what whites say to our complaints about … More On and Off the OJ Book(ing)
It appears that many people linked to WoC PhD’s post “On Shame” but few linked to her second post, on a certain “I Have a Black Friend” moment – so I will. While I am at it, I will also link to Ridwan’s post about a colleague who has clearly never had any Black friends … More “I Have a Black Friend…”
I do not normally teach foreign language courses but I am teaching one now and it is very, very difficult, primarily because of the materials, which involve: 1. Boring vocabulary themes and conversation topics. 2. No connection whatsoever between vocabulary themes and grammar topics. 3. Thin cultural readings which resemble television commercials. 4. No connection … More In Which I Am Very Frustrated
I Buey que vi en mi niñez echando vaho un día bajo el nicaragüense sol de encendidos oros, en la hacienda fecunda, plena de armonía del trópico; paloma de los bosques sonoros del viento, de las hachas, de pájaros y toros salvajes, yo os saludo, pues sois la vida mía. Pesado buey, tú evocas la … More “Buey que vi en mi niñez…”
Whiteman of Reeducation: Z, you must realize you are not a god! Reeducand Z: Gracious. It appears I believe I am a god! The worst of it is, I do not realize that I believe this! I must learn to see that I believe this, and then discard the belief! Savage Z: Whiteman of Reeducation, … More Assertiveness Training
We now quote from Antonio Núñez’ Amazon.com review of Paul Fussell’s Class: A Guide Through the American Status System (Touchstone, 1983). It is true that the traditional lower (rather than the underclass) and the higher classes have many things in common, among them a deeply ingrained conservatism and a fierce pride in their way of … More Paul Fussell on Class
HYPOTHESIS Another difference I have with Reeducation, as well as with popular psychology generally and also much standard advice on how to “strategize” and hedge your bets so as to “succeed,” is that all of these modes of thought involve so much convolution. Simplicity and directness are not allowed, because it is assumed people are … More On Convolution
coldhearted scientist وداد 