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Wherever in the World We Find Ourselves ..., Bread and Butter ..., The Deal of the Century -- The Damned Herb ..., Media's Excuses ...
William Markiewicz wrote a short piece entitled “Savage Capitalism"
This is a reply with a few shared ideas.
The French in Algeria, English in Kenya, Belgians in The Congo, represent episodes, quite recent historical events, of European colonisation. The colonised territories were never intended to be prime beneficiaries in the process of colonisation. No broad based industrialisation and/or manufacturing enterprises were going to compete from the colony with the “mother country”; the raison d’etre of colonialism was contrary to native development. Hence, unemployment, under-development, a need for migration to places of employment – the former colonies in Europe – is the sine qua non of post-colonialism ( i.e. a term that begs reconsideration since the invasion of Iraq). Cheap labour does have its benefits for a modern industrialised country, and a historical explanation.
You are correct – How does one create jobs where there are no jobs? That’s a problem appearing at the national level, but the issue is really global:-
How does one assist capital in positioning itself without accountability and/or responsibility anywhere in the world ,then when adverse consequences of this process of ‘globalisation’ impact, it is the dislocated and dispossessed who are most viciously criticised, and not the designers of the policies, or the main beneficiaries of the capital so invested?
Expelling immigrants back to their countries of impoverishment, or ignoring the need for pursuit of “common good”, or “public benefit”, or “ a new deal” does not serve well to address admitted problems.
The answer – it seems – is a rapid acceptance that the world does need functional policies for the majority of humankind. This implies that decisions made in Brussels will be discerned as having an impact on commodity prices in Lusaka, or Beijing’s foreign policy towards Darfur will be noted for its designs on oil, or Washington’s decision professed to be for “democracy” in Iraq will be condemned as no more or less than a barbaric invasion in pursuit of the conquest of Iraqi oil. Somehow investments in bomb factories will have to be redirected into butter factories. Trade would have to become free and fair. The US would have to end its lop-sided support for Israel. And, fairness with those “others” we deal with in the world would have to be the order of the times, but this may all sound Utopian, and we might consider the alternative script:-
1) Blame “them” (the Muslims, Africans, Asians etc.) for their “unacceptable” cultural practices and religions. Invert history, make them the ‘scapegoats’ of the unequal practices that dominate the world economy, while the West continues to dominate the World.
2) Apply draconian measures to encircle “them” and keep them in their ghettoes or on the West Bank.
3) Glorify ruthless private greed ( out of Europe and/or Euro-America as major global investors) – then blame “them” (in Africa, Asia, the Middle East)for the prevailing state of the world.
It does seem that when the French pass a law that bans Muslim young women wearing head scarves, it might be contrasted with the idea of Scotland passing a law that any man entering Scotland and/or settling there must by law be dressed in a kilt.
Conclusion: we are all in this world together, and narrow national prejudices “out of Europe” , Africa or elsewhere do not signal a way forward. There are black French men (women), as there are white Americans, and there is no going back for the majority who have migrated to or chosen to live in those national boundaries. The choices facing us in a savage world? – “capitalisme sauvage” - will simply have to be the taming of the sources of such savagery. And, this remains a really big challenge when the “Bushmen” of the American administration come brandishing weapons in the global village – start raiding into the next man’s turf to steal his oil – and setting out to convert the world into the political deity of “democracy” ( not Haiti however, and Chavez would be ousted if the Bushies could find a way).. But, “Bushmen” aside, the civilized way forward does appear to be that of cultural tolerance and respect for the international rule of law.
Courtenay Barnett
(a lawyer who has argued human rights and public interest cases. His web
site is www.globaljusticeonline.com)
"The Damned Herb"
London. Anno: 1585
Sir Walter Raleigh prepares for an expedition.
Goal:To establish a New Colony.
Location: Virginia - New World.
Along with the expedition goes Thomas Harriot, historian.
His detailed report is the first English chronicle of the New World.
In one of the chapters Harriot describes "A Miraculous Herb"
The name of the herb: Uppowoc.
Peculiar virtues: Universal Remedy.
For everything!!
It"openeth all pores and passages" -- writes Harriot -- Natives are healthy and strong.
Many common English diseases are unknown. -
The Colonists are intrigued.
-Let's try it!-
-What a beauty! What a delight! Fantastic!!-
-We must send it to London! Right away!-
On the shores of the Thames River -- euphoria.
The leaves of Uppowoc are priceless.
The Sensation is long lasting.
Up till today.
Better known by its Spanish name: Tobacco.
M. Kaniewski
mkaniewski@aol.com
William, you were right again. When the vast majority enjoyed smashing Saddam for Weapons of Mass Destruction, you were among the minority which from the beginning called it a fake just for grabbing oil. Now you emerge in front, and the media, off their pedestal, excuse themselves for fooling the public.
Bigner Brown
bignerbr@yahoo.ca
Those who fooled the public about Yugoslavia -- now it's their turn to roll on their bellies with their noses in the mud where they belong, and make excuses. I wrote "Disinformation as a War Crime" (See "Disinformation as a War Crime" in Vagabond) because in that period, disinformation triumphed. The politicians and the media presented any testimony as ironclad evidence and it was called 'Advocacy Journalism'. They count on the public's short memory to pass over their shame for manipulating the situation in Yugoslavia. WM
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William Markiewicz