File spoon-archives/bhaskar.archive/bhaskar_2001/bhaskar.0109, message 33


From: "Erik Weissengruber" <epweissengruber-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: BHA: Stop the rush to war
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 12:41:40 -0400


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<DIV></DIV>>From: viren viven murthy <VVMURTHY-AT-MIDWAY.UCHICAGO.EDU>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu 
<DIV></DIV>>To: bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu 
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: BHA: Stop the rush to war 
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 14:21:02 -0500 (CDT) 
<DIV></DIV>> 
<DIV></DIV>>Of course in some sense, "the murder of thousands of innocent people 
<DIV></DIV>>'justifies' the reaction we have seen so far." However, given that this 
<DIV></DIV>>is a list about critical realism, I think that it is important for us to 
<DIV></DIV>>reflect on the way in which the media's coverage of the event has been 
<DIV></DIV>>superficial, totally overlooking the structural problems that give rise to 
<DIV></DIV>
<P>>terrorism. </P>
<P>- thank you, this is what I was trying to hint at obliquely</P>
<P> </P>
<P>The various articles that Jan sent made this point well.( I </P>
<DIV></DIV>>think I finally am beginning to understand Zizek.) 
<DIV></DIV>> 
<DIV></DIV>>Anyway there is another sense in which we can easily say that the reaction 
<DIV></DIV>>has been disproportionate, that is when compared to the millions of 
<DIV></DIV>>murders committed by the U.S government. We rarely hear much about the 
<DIV></DIV>>people who die in Iraq, but the people who died in the Twin Towers are 
<DIV></DIV>>given names, faces and a narrative. While I am not against this, I 
<DIV></DIV>>believe 
<DIV></DIV>>that similar consideration should be given to those that are killed in 
<DIV></DIV>>other parts of the world. 
<DIV></DIV>> 
<DIV></DIV>>Clearly, we now hit upon the question of nationalism, and I am not quite 
<DIV></DIV>>sure what critical realism has to contribute the study of nationalism, but 
<DIV></DIV>>I am 
<DIV></DIV>>interested in hearing responses. I think that CR theorists 
<DIV></DIV>>can develop Zizek's analysis of the ideological construction of the 
<DIV></DIV>>terrorists as pure evil, cowards who are not afraid to die, primitive and 
<DIV></DIV>>extremely deceptive. I think a CR approach to this event would be to link 
<DIV></DIV>> symbolic production to the material relations that sustain it. The 
<DIV></DIV>>terrorists ruptured a symbol of capitalism, and as the plight of the 
<DIV></DIV>>airline companies shows, their actions will have serious economic 
<DIV></DIV>>repercussions. 
<DIV></DIV>> 
<DIV></DIV>> 
<DIV></DIV>>Viren 
<DIV></DIV>>On Sun, 16 Sep 2001, Erik Weissengruber wrote: 
<DIV></DIV>> 
<DIV></DIV>> > > 
<DIV></DIV>> > >The reaction to the terror action against USA has been totally out of 
<DIV></DIV>> > 
<DIV></DIV>> > >proportion. 
<DIV></DIV>> > 
<DIV></DIV>> > I think the murder of thousands of innocent people justifies the reaction 
<DIV></DIV>> > we have seen so far 
<DIV></DIV>> > 
<DIV></DIV>> > 
<DIV></DIV>> > 
<DIV></DIV>> > The media hardly report on anything else and there are mourning 
<DIV></DIV>> > 
<DIV></DIV>> > >ceremonies all over Europe and no doubt elsewhere. I have never seen 
<DIV></DIV>> > such 
<DIV></DIV>> > >strong worldwide emotional reaction to any conflict, war or disaster 
<DIV></DIV>> > anywhere. 
<DIV></DIV>> > > 
<DIV></DIV>> > >Anti-islamic sentiments are rising and it seems like the clash between 
<DIV></DIV>> > >christians and muslims is reaching dangerous heights. 
<DIV></DIV>> > > 
<DIV></DIV>> > > 
<DIV></DIV>> > > --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- 
<DIV></DIV>> > 
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