I wrote my reflection on Netroots UK, saying I would be using the delete button more, on Saturday afternoon, although I waited to Sunday to publish it.
At the time I wrote it I did not know of the Arizona shootings.
I have waited to reflect on them too, but having done so I am glad I made the decision I did. I remain shocked at the commentary tolerated on much of the right wing blogosphere, which is crude, offensive, violent, often incoherent and yet is obviously acceptable to some of those who seek to comment here, and whose commentary is blocked for that very good reason.
I think it is everyone’s duty to stand up against this culture of abuse, from which, as Congresswoman Gifford said, consequences flow. And if other’s don’t agree, I don’t mind because I will be taking action, if only by hitting the delete button on those from either side of the debate (but almost always, I regret to say, the right) who promote such abuse.
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I think one consequence of the Arizona shooting should be to make us question more closely the underlying assumption that many seem to have that Britain has a special relationship with America. I think it may be true that the British have a lot in common with some of the more urbane Americans (New Yorkers, Californians, a few others), but there are huge swathes of the US which have values and concerns that are almost incomprehensible to us. While continental Europeans are different, I have no doubt that deep down British values are much closer to those of France or Germany than they are to those of the mid-West.
As ever, I blame the media for a lot of this. If we paid more attention to Europe and less to the US it might help us to reach a deeper understanding of how people that share our common values attempt to solve the problems that we all face. Anyone who has spent any time watching US TV will be shocked by the anger, polarisation and obsession with the “right” to have guns, cause environmental damage and fight (often violently) against anyone who opposes those “rights”.
Which is part of the reason, by the way, that I don’t like your use of the term “neoliberal” to describe those who disagree with you. Because I don’t think we have anyone as crackpot as the US “neoliberals” on this side of the Atlantic.
On a more upbeat note concerning language, it was nice to see Bob Diamond put the ‘bank’ into ‘bankruptcy’ – both financial and intellectual! There is an also, if anyone wants to read it, an excellent piece on the language of New Labour by Stefan Collini written in April 2010 and available without subscription on the London Review of Books site, called ‘Blahspeak’. It assesses attitudes of the last 30 years to ‘social mobility’ in the UK, and is, as always, of unparalleled quality. Enjoy.
@mad foetus
Not as crack pot
But just go to almost any UK university economics department and I assure you the disconnect between reality and belief that characterises neoliberal behaviour will be on view
And that’s as dangerous as the Palin prescription
Has ‘mad foetus’ any actual experience of France or Germany. Having lived there I wouldn’t get between a Frenchman & what he perceives as his rights. That’s a country where they don’t shout at trespassers, they shoot at them.
Richard,
With due respect, I don’t think any of us on this side of pond can speak knowledgeably about what caused Arizona shootings. Even Jon Stewart of the Daily Show doesn’t believe right-wing rhetoric was the reason. He puts it down to Jared Loughner being crazy and that the best the US can do is to try to identify people like him as early as possible
@Ralph
Please don’t get me wrong
I’m not saying there’s a proven link – because there isn’t
But I can say, and do say, the language used by many on the right is offensive, inappropriate and has consequences
That’s something a little different, I hope you will agree