|
Comment on this article |
Email this Article
|
|
News :: Miscellaneous |
|
A Response To the So-Called Objectivists: The differences between us and them |
Current rating: 0 |
by Scott Weber
(No verified email address) |
15 Sep 2001
|
|
The so-called "Objectivist Club" at the University of Illinois promulgated a letter that was published in Friday's Daily Illini. It tried to create a moral equivalence between terrorism and opposition to the globalization polices that have made the world safe for US corporations, while making the world unsafe for US citizens. I don't agree with everything in this commentary, but it's a damn sight better than the lame and ridiculous libel that the Objectivists have created. ML |
Many of us are concerned about the future of the anti-globalization movement in the wake of the WTC tragedy. But fighting against globalization is not the same as supporting violent terrorism. Here's why:
Many of us are now rightfully concerned about the future of the anti-globalization movement and the fear of backlash in the wake of Tuesday's horrific events. I would like to summarize some important differences between those responsible for Tuesday, and those who share their philosophy, and the current anti-globalization movement. We need to emphasize these differences to those who would malign us and put us in the same camp as those who committed Tuesday's mass murder. I do not assume I speak for every person who shares a commitment to the anti-globalization movement, we are such a diverse group, but I'd like to believe many might generally agree with the following observations.
One, we are not violent. We do not wish to die for the glory of some eye in the sky. We do not wish to kill for our cause either. We wish to change certain key aspects of a blind system which destructively puts profits before people.
Two, the terrorists who committed these acts do not disagree with American foreign policy on any kind of intellectual level which can be debated. They are brought up to want to kill Americans, because we are Americans. We, while realizing that our country consumes 25% of the world's natural resources with 5% of the planet's population, and are primary culprits in ozone depletion, oil pollution, greenhouse gas emission, and sweatshop labor, points which, by the way, terrorists could give a shit less about, believe we must put pressure on organizations, governments, and corporations to change, to adopt better more humane and balanced policies regarding global commerce. We parade around with puppets and block traffic with bicycles, for God's sake, we don't use a plane full of innocent people as a battering ram!
Three, we do not want war. At least, the classic definition of it. Terrorists, and many of the "America love it or leave it" crowd, DO. They want blood, they want revenge. Hell, I live in New York City! I know of many who died! Sometimes I feel I want revenge, too! It's hard not to let your anger get the best of you when you see buildings collapsing and thousands dying before your eyes! Here, it has been a nightmare of Hollywood proportions. I know, personally, I will never be the same again. But, in terms of what our movement is working for, we want change.
We wish to work peacefully and decisively for a world where people of all nations need not suffer at the hands of uncaring multinationals. We wish to see people leading real, vital, fulfilling lives away from their televisions, shopping malls, and factory floors.
Terrorists want to die. And they want to take as many people with them as possible. These, I believe, are some of the fundamental differences between the anti-globalists and the murderers. We're not fighting for the same ideals or world, here. Perhaps now our movement just needs to be very explicit as to what we are fighting against, and focus on presenting ourselves as articulate, rational, intelligent, loving human beings.
For the letter that the Objectivists, actually the followers of the misguided and selfish politics of Ayn Rand, wrote and was published in the DI, go to:
http://www.dailyillini.com/sep01/sep14/opinions/stories/letter14.shtml
For the original IMC article and comments:
http://urbana.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2060&group=webcast |
See also:
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=64207&group=webcast
|
