Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 12:27:43 -0400
From: james m blaut <70671.2032-AT-CompuServe.COM>
Subject: M-I: multicultural bourgeoisie


James H:  

You're basically right about the adaptability of the big bourgeoisie about
language and also -- within strict limits -- publc ideology. However,
consider these two points of clarification:

1. Overtly racist language has been frowned upon by the boodgies, in books,
newspaper articles, etc., for 150 years or so. "One simply does not call
the blackfellows niggers." But during most of this period REAL racism was
rampant. Again: in the US academic fields, during about a decade there has
been a successful campaighn to eliminate sexist language. Almost every
mainstream academic now automaticaly says "him and her" instead of just
"him." But has this done MUCH -- it certainly has done something -- to
eliminate sexism in the academy? I think not.

2. you can't discuss the political and social meanings of the word
"multicultural" without specifying the context. In the US it is often
anti-racist and used as such by progressives. We say "defend multicultural
education," meaning, basically, "don't dismantle affirmative action
programs." In the Thatcherreagan era and thereafter, the majority of the
white public at large had been conned into believing that affirmative
action is undemocratic, so you use "multicultural."

En lucha 

Jim Blaut  


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