Re: [xmca] LPGA to GOP

I'd be very interested to hear more from our expers on
communication on this list about what exactly it is that
those speakers are doing. Is it "emotions rather than
substance"? or "ethno-symbolism using cultural memory"?

I was taught in my in very many ways problematic trotskyist
political education *not* to whip up that kind of warlike
feeling, and that clapping and cheering at rallies was wrong
and that speakers should not speak so as to encourage it.
Even as a union organiser, I *mostly* discouraged that kind
of war-footing, though I admit, it is was always difficult
to launch a strike without something of the kind, *after*
the vote had been taken. But never as part of a
decision-making process.

It is something about moving what someone called the "frame"
into a war footing, with only friends and enemies, no
nuances, no doubts, no need for thinking or hesitation or
indecision. I find it quite chilling to watch. At any moment
you feel they could start tar-and-feathering or lynching
someone, and it is hard to see what Guiliani or someone
would say if that happened. How would he change to say:
"Hold on a minute, I didn't actually mean that we should
start stringing the Democrats up"?

Andy

Elinami Swai wrote:
> David wrote, "In today's american politics decisions are not
> made based on finances but rather emotions." Very true, they are doing
> what Anthony D. Smith has described, 'ethno-symbolism,' trying to get
> voters through cultural memory and symbolic practices --9/11; Iraq and
> Republican prison experience, as if war and killings are virtues...
>
> Elinami.
>
> On Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 12:18 PM, <ERIC.RAMBERG@spps.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hello David:
>>
>> I believe it is a sad statement of american politics that the republicans
>> are committed to emotional talking points rather then substance. In fact
>> it is the reason I shudder at any political ideas. Politics by nature is a
>> dividing force in human relations. History shows this time and time again.
>> These emotional talking points have a foundation in real life events but
>> unfortunately the various levels of talking and public meetings stretch
>> reality into the ethereal talking points heard in political speeches,
>> unfortunately this will never change. This has long been my main argument
>> against marxist ideas. As an explanatory theory of human relations it
>> provides a good lens, but as a methodology for bringing about societal
>> change it falls short. Quite frankly it is Marx's separation from man's
>> soul that is the cell of his shortcomings. Well. . . . perhaps we can
>> discuss this at another point, perhaps not.
>>
>> Back to the topic at hand; obviously the LPGA saw their language policy as
>> a bad business decision. In today's american politics decisions are not
>> made based on finances but rather emotions. If one reads tacitus's annuls
>> about the government of rome it is riddled with emotions. Hmmmmm, makes
>> you wonder who will be fiddling when D.C burns?
>>
>> To: xmca <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
>> cc:
>> bcc:
>> Subject: [xmca] LPGA to GOP
>> David Kellogg <vaughndogblack@yahoo.com>
>> Sent by: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu
>> 09/05/2008 08:49 PM MST
>> Please respond to vaughndogblack <font size=-1></font>
>>
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>> eric:
>>
>> The Ladies' Professional Golf Association has apparently dropped its
>> English language requirement, originally designed to block Korean players
>> from competing.
>>
>> But the Republican Party, rootling through the rubbish bins of the LPGA
>> , have apparently retrieved it and affixed it to their party platform.
>>
>> "We support English as the official language in our nation, while welcoming
>> the
>> ethnic diversity in the United States and the territories, including
>> language (sic). Immigrants should be encouraged to learn English."
>>
>> Hey, in a pinch, they could get jobs teaching it to Republicans.
>>
>> David Kellogg
>> Seoul National University of Education
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>
>
>

-- 
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Andy Blunden http://home.mira.net/~andy/ +61 3 9380 9435 
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