Oh... THIS... Is Tough Love...

[WillyT]

Mods:



Arundhati Roy: Occupy Wall Street is "So Important Because It is in the Heart of Empire"
Renowned Indian writer and global justice activist Arundhati Roy is preparing to address Occupy Wall Street on Wednesday. She recently joined us in the studio to talk about the Occupy movement. "What they are doing becomes so important because it is in the heart of empire, or what used to be empire," Roy said. "And to criticize and to protest against the model that the rest of the world is aspiring to is a very important and a very serious business. So...it makes me very, very hopeful that after a long time you’re seeing some nascent political, real political anger here." She also discussed her new book, "Walking with the Comrades," a chronicle of her time in the forests of India alongside rebel guerrillas who are resisting a brutal military campaign by the Indian government.
Amy Goodman - Democracy Now
Nov 15,2011

<snip>

AMY GOODMAN: I asked you about the Occupy Wall Street movement. What is your assessment of President Obama?

ARUNDHATI ROY: Well, I think, you know, when—I was never one of those people who was, you know, throwing my hat in the air when he won, even though—even though the memory of, you know, old black people, you know, feeling so happy to have a black man in the White House was something you just couldn’t ignore. But to see how he has—I mean, it’s almost reprehensible. You see—what has he done? He’s expanded the war in Afghanistan into Pakistan. Those drone attacks are killing people every day. You know, it’s—I don’t think he has any idea what he’s doing in that subcontinent. You know, no idea whatsoever. It is just devolving into a completely unmanageable, horrendous situation.

In America now, I just feel—I just feel a bit upset every time I hear that smooth, silver-tongued, you know, kind of delivery, which actually means nothing most of the time. And so, if—I keep thinking that if George Bush had done what Obama does, everybody would be saying he’s a fascist, you know, but we really step back and make so much space for what’s going on here, that—you know, it’s an old dilemma, of course, that somebody can do by day what the other person does at night. And, you know, people are so caught up in this view that the only choice you have is between the Democrats and the Republicans or between the Congress and the BJP. Our imaginations have been locked into this kind of electoral politics, so we feel like we have to say nice things about him. But I don’t feel like saying nice things about him.

<snip>

More: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/15/arundhati_roy_occupy_wall_street_is

:kick:

[msongs]

1. evidently she has no shrine to the glib president in HER home lol nt

[FirstLight]

2. Ouch...but i have to say

"Our imaginations have been locked into this kind of electoral politics, so we feel like we have to say nice things about him. But I don’t feel like saying nice things about him."

<snip>

it does resonate with me these days, and not just afgani/pakistan...but yea, i'd say war and corporate rule are at the top of my list. You realize, the OWS movement is not about Obama either, it's recognizing that ALL politicians are bought and paid for...and we are the chattel...

[Bonobo]

3. Mr. Obama, when Arundhati Roy says you are a fascist, you need to listen and rethink.

Seriously. You need to check yourself, Mr. Obama.

[hifiguy]

15. +1 Ain't it the truth. nt

[Zorra]

4. "But I don’t feel like saying nice things about him"

It's certainly tough, but I'm not feeling any of the love.

I wish that I could disagree with her.

[stillrockin]

5. yep.

[piratefish08]

6. mmmmm hmm. nothing to disagree with here.

not one thing.

[BillyJack]

7. Our "imaginations" re not locked into these choices......many people

IMAGINE much, much better things/choices. However, this SYSTEM currently only ALLOWS for a choice between two EQUALLY STINKY CHOICES.

I don't want to "hold my nose to vote" anymore.

I want to WHOLE-HEARTEDLY CHOOSE MY REPRESENTATIVE

[WillyT]

8. + 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!!

:bounce:

:hi:

:kick:

[tomp]

9. no, Ms. Roy, i don't feel like it either. nt

[hootinholler]

10. Willy, what is the graphic after "mods:"?

I don't recognize it.

[WillyT]

16. Sites Are Starting To Use This When They Want Their Works Spread Around...

In this case. It's Amy Goodman's Democracy Now.

If you click on the link in the OP, it takes you to the article. If you scroll to the bottom, you see this...

The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org. Some of the work(s) that this program incorporates, however, may be separately licensed. For further information or additional permissions, contact us.

If you click on that... it takes you to this: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/

:hi:

[hootinholler]

17. First time I saw the icon.

I haven't been to the CC site in a long time.

[WillyT]

18. I Used To Spell Out The Whole Thing Every Time I Used An Article In Total...

or more than a few paragraphs...

This was the first time I just used the graphic.

:hi:

[Tatiana]

11. Why do so many people feel this way?

"I keep thinking that if George Bush had done what Obama does, everybody would be saying he’s a fascist..."

Hmmmm.....

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. Wow. I like what she has to say!

It's time to break out of the same ol' same ol' -- the future of our country (and planet) depends on it. :applause:

[gratuitous]

13. Somebody can do by day what the other person does at night

"Those drone attacks are killing people every day." I'm so old, I remember a time when the United States at least gave lip service to its Constitution and treaty obligations. Now I'm a horrible person just for bringing it up, lectured earnestly and endlessly about how it's all "different" depending on who's occupying the Oval Office and "idealistic" to expect the U.S. to obey its own laws. I was called "naive" back in 2003 for other reasons, and I'm sure that's coming back into vogue soon, too.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Wise words. n/t