Date: Wed, 3 Sep 1997 11:36:00 +0000
Subject: Re: M-G: The heart of a heartless world


Date:          Tue, 2 Sep 1997 14:21:26 -0400
To:            marxism-general-AT-jefferson.village.Virginia.EDU
From:          malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject:       Re: M-G: The heart of a heartless world
Reply-to:      marxism-general-AT-jefferson.village.Virginia.EDU


No Bob I'm not cut up about Di. I'm sharp about pontificating psuedo 
marxists like Godena debasing a  marxism list by suggesting that 
homosexuality causes colonisation and that British racial 
characteristics explain the reaction to Di's death. 
I'm surprised your not sharp on this too. If you dont think Godena's 
a raving homophobic  US chauvinist by now your missing something.

I don't see Di's death as raising anything new but if we
want to explain the role of Di in life and death we should use 
at least a little marxism. I see that Living Marxism can't bring 
itself to even mention the word "alienation" which predates by about 
100 years all the modern psycho  babble about projecting 
ones hopes and fears onto some public figure. I agree with your 
points on Burford. Unfortunately what he idealises as the "democratic 
impulse of the people" is its opposite.
Dave

Buford wrote this tear dripping garbage:

>My favourite opponent, Hugh, has expected me to gush. And he was right that
>I have wanted to post something since Sunday, but was trying to prepare
>something for marxism-psych.
>
>Anyway Hugh has not been too continent himself. and the gush of witty and
>cynical remarks are partly a commentary on the reaction to Diana's death
>and partly it seems to me an expression of a sense of anger.
>
>Where Hugh is wrong is in putting himself outside the range of public
>opinion in the name of marxism. True, here is much hype, much hypcrisy and
>not a little kitsch, in the public responses. And the rapidly amplifying
>effects of instant media reporting have created an avalanche of reaction
>which is a new stage in global culture. But it is not all kitsch and hype.
>
>Diana Spencer was a complicated individual psychologically and socially,
>but she played a role instinctively that shifted something in global
>culture because of her intuitive response to modern communications
>technology. Starting off as a fairy tale it ended as a Greek tragedy, said
>one commentator. Judging from the reports about the photographers at the
>scene of her death, it ended as a Fellini film. (How many film versions of
>her life can we expect? And by which directors?) 
>
>She flew too close to the sun. She felt driven to meet too many projections
>from too many people, and did it too well. Starting off as a callow Sloane
>ranger, she became a patient of a modern, anglo-american psychotherapist,
>Susie Orbach, and had the psychological strength to cap Charles's tv
>interview, take on the Royal Family fighting, and win.
>
>Yesterday telephone calls obliged Windsor Castle to lower its flag to half
>mast in honour for someone who had left the Royal Family. On Saturday
>Charles will have to go through the most humiliating experience of his
>life, because of public opinion, because Blair insisted on a state funeral
>for "the people's princess".
>
>Diana was both Diana and Actaeon, the Goddess of Hunting and the hunted.
>Her seductiveness was in her vulnerability. And here she was subtly
>difference from Lady Bountiful: rich, privileged and self indulgent, the
>message nevertheless was not that the people should graciously accept
>charity, but that we are all vulnerable. She had suffered from a disgusting
>and humiliating mental disorder; she had tried to kill herself; she needed
>to be touched, like she argued that HIV victims needed to be touched. 
>
>Whom the gods love, die young, and she has all the makings of an icon. We
>can smirk. We can use our marxism to sneer. Or we can use our marxism to
>understand and to describe what is happening underneath so that we can
>unite with the democratic impulse of the people.
>
>Diana is becoming an icon in a pluralist theology. It transcends formal
>religions. It has been created by the conditions of late 20th century
>capitalism. She made links across five continents. Her role in global civil
>society is good in campaigning against landmines, and may still have a good
>role to play in challenging the capitalist ownership and control of
>communications. Most subversively she died at the moment she was
>contemplating marrying a muslim, despite being the mother of the future
>king of England.
>
>She is a sort of divinity in a new secular religion. That divinity to the
>extent that it has validity is a reflection of the divinity of the people
>who saw something of themselves in her. As marxists we do not have to
>respect for idealist reasons a flawed, confused and spoiled 36 year old,
>whose life could hardly have gone out at a higher moment. We should respect
>the responses of ordinary people. They are our god. 
>
>Every one knows it is futile to leave flowers. They will die too. They will
>be buried under other flowers. But they have been left not just in London
>but in many other places. A feature of the mourners is their quietness and
>dignity, as well as their determination. It is an eidectic display. 
>
>The sigh of the oppressed is being heard. It is a warning. 
>
>"In London last night mourners waiting to sign a book of condolence at St
>James's Palace were told that they might have to wait until 4am to add
>their name to the list, but even those who had a six-hour wait ahead were
>undeterred."
>
>Have I gushed enough, Hugh? 
>
>By all means bring back the allusions to classical polytheism, but without
>the cynicism of the patrician, or would be patrician, commentators.
>
>Chris Burford
>
>London.

I honestly must say that I never thought that somebody on a "marxist" list 
could come with such garbage. Are you Tony Blairs speech writer Buford?

Anyhow I think of the time about 30 years ago when I and and Irish sailor 
walked into a bar on Gibralter. We were both piss drunk. Anyhow the Irishman 
ordered drinks around the house then stood up on the bar with his beer and 
pointing the glass at the picture of the Queen on the wall made an Irish 
toast and ended up with 
the infamous words "Piss on the Queen" which led to the both of us getting 
the shit kicked out of us by the English sailors in the bar. 

But despite getting our asses kicked which was painful He from his position 
was certainly right! He new what British royality and the whole fucking 
circus around Di represented in a very basic way. I bet if he is alive today 
he certainly has a big smile on his face and I doubt that he is running to 
the nearest flower store. And he wasn't even a Marxist.

It will be extremely interesting to see how the left in Britain handles this 
stuff. Naturally the only serious line is "No tears for Lady Di" connected 
to "Down with the Monarchy"... Any "Socialist" who like Buford and Blair are 
tying the masses to this cirkus under the guise of her being a "princess" of 
the people spit in the faces of the great French Revolution who showed there 
undying support of the Monarchy by marching them in droves to the guiotine. 

Perhaps in Paris a monument could be set up at the tunnel of a big guiotine 
with a placard. If the "Parozotti" or drunk drivering security cheifs don't 
get you the children of the "San Clotes" will!

Unlike Buford Communists remember the Monarchy for the blood of millions it 
has on its hands.Not in the least in places like India. Can't wait to see if 
there is a silent moment for Di at the uppcoming "peace" talks with the IRA 
and Sinn Fein..

Buford please send this letter to M-I. I am just dying to cross-post it but 
know you will set me up for and expulsion. 

P.S. Dave do you really think that Godena wrote this stuff on the basis of 
American chauvinism? I think the stuff on the last Viceroy of India was just 
great!Your sharp answer almost makes me believe you head has been affected 
by the "tragic" death of the little lamb cutlett who on the way out tried to 
wrip off the monarchy for as much bread as possible to carry on her jetset 
lifestyle with her new Arab playboy in the more fashionable areas of London 
and Paris.

Off with their heads!

Bob Malecki
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Dave Bedggood


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