Subject: Re: AUT: Re: A friend under attack
From: chris wright <cwright.21stcentury-AT-rcn.com>
Date: 03 Apr 2003 22:47:17 -0600


Aside from the fact that this comment was taken woefully out of context,
I largely agree on the point about a 'million Mogaishus'.  I know his
intent because he is a friend.  He is not calling for the defense of the
Ba'ath regime, nor for support of Aidid.  In his speech, he defended the
turning of Iraqi guns on the Ba'ath regime in the same breath he
supported the same for US soldiers, which of course the press does not
touch on.

I don't think that the Mogadishu reference however has much resonance
for anyone, prolly including most Somalis.  IMO, he has not yet gotten
beyond our common Leninist heritage on some matters, a point which I
have no desire to belabor him with as he tries to stay physically safe,
but which he and I will be talking about, but preferably face-to-face,
not over e-mail, which is a highly unsuitable medium for that discussion
between old friends in a time of crisis.

I am more worried that many people who have a left critique of that
point will refuse to defend him and leave him looking for comfort and
aid among the ISO and Sparts.

Cheers,
Chris

On Thu, 2003-04-03 at 21:42, Harald Beyer-Arnesen wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "chris wright" <cwright.21stcentury-AT-rcn.com>
> Sent: 3. april 2003 04.51
> Subject: AUT: A friend under attack
> 
> 
> << For those who have not heard, a Columbia anthro professor has become the
> center of much attention in the last few days, after he called for a
> "million Mogadishus" at a teach in at Columbia.
>        [...]
>        Aside from any support for him I would welcome, I would also like any
> feedback on what he said.  Until I have seen the full text I am not sure
> how I feel about it, but I am basically supportive, with some criticisms
> around other things he and I have talked about that relate to this. >>
> 
> 
> Who would want a "million Mogadishus"? That comes over as an
> extremely US-centric perspective.
>         Mogadishu in this context may be a symbol for many things,
> except any kind of liberation. That the U.S. government also
> contibuted with their butcheres, does not alter this.
> 
> Harald
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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