Power

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I am not sure how old I was when I learned that quote, and understood it.  Early high school I think.  (In my neighbourhood, elementary was grade 1-6, and high school was 7-11.)

The ruling class, the privileged, the citizens of the Capitol if you like (Hunger Games) ride on the coat-tails of the power – and if they so choose – exploit and judge the underclass with freedom from social responsibility or consequence.

In Animal Farm the egalitarian animal dream breaks down and the pigs co-opt the puppies to raise them into a bloodthirsty obedient policing force. Once insulated from retaliation (the side with the teeth/guns wins), those who hold the leash choose the target.

“Selma” deserves the Glory

“Our society has distorted who we are, from slavery to the reconstruction, to the precipice at which we now stand. We have seen powerful white men rule the world while offering poor white men a vicious lie as placation” –  The fictionalized Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 Movie “Selma”

“And when the poor white man’s children wail with a hunger that cannot be satisfied, he feeds them that same vicious lie. A lie whispering to them that regardless of their lot in life, they can at least be triumphant in the knowledge that their whiteness makes them superior to blackness.”

A mockingjay can mimic whatever they need you to hear

Go see Mockingjay, especially if you are young and so far non-political.

I saw Mockingjay at the theater.  I love the lessons in politics embedded as propo’s in the film.  Young people may not watch or care about the news, or history.  If they do, it may be to repeat or forward a story that sounds cool or outrageous, but they may have never researched it to understand if it is true, and if so, in what context?  Context is everything.

©2001 Marion Pennell

In Mockingjay, President Snow is seen crafting his side’s propo.  “Not rebels, use radicals.”

In Ferguson, the press conference was held at night.  As I watched, I sensed the backroom crafting of the evidence.  How to present your case, use the right vocabulary.  Rhetoric, I believe it is called.

August 9, 2014, Ferguson, Mo.

The date and place of Michael Brown’s death.

I call it murder. I am not on a jury except in the court of public opinion, accordingly no-one should worry about any legal ramifications if I declare it so.  I’m not going to list my links, although I have many.  I have read so many articles (and comments) from so many sources, especially independent media who were on the ground there as events unfolded. You can write a blog of your own on this very topic if you feel the need to express yourself, as I do.

Have you seen the photos of Ferguson in the daylight on a regular day?  Very normal place.  Not a slum or a ghetto.  A place where two older teens walking down the middle of the street would happen any day.