The 4th of July is obviously a nationalistic holiday and the imagery that surrounds it is pretty conservative — its not a celebration of revolution or Thomas Paine. Obviously a day like the 26th of July in Cuba or other celebrations of the sort in the third world are nationalist too, but nationalism takes on a different character in nations that aren’t Empires.
Too often we let the right wing own American images. I think this is a classic case: a leftist being surprised that another progressive said a holiday with a revolutionary heritage is worth celebrating. Even the Black Panthers used parts of the Declaration of Independence in the 10th point in their program.
I guess I know why Ben would be surprised — but the Saints of Old said lots of heretical things you would never hear at a USAS conference, let alone read in ISR.
Adrian I know you’re not a fan, but Platypus members involved in USAS have been some of the sole voices stating the obvious about USAS’ brand of politics.
“It was as a socialist, and because I was a socialist, that I fell in love with America. In saying that I am not indulging in romantic nostalgia about youthful days on the road but rather underlining a crucial political truth. If the Left wants to change this country because it hates it, then the people will never listen to the Left and the people will be right. To be a socialist–to be a Marxist–is to make an act of faith, of love even, toward this land. It is to sense the seed beneath the snow; to see, beneath the veneer of corruption and meanness and the commercialization of human relationships, men and women capable of controlling their own destinies. To be a radical is, in the best and only decent sense of the word, patriotic.”
“I like the Forth of July– it breathes euphoria and barbecue followed by sleepiness and a hangover.”
~ Bhaskar Sunkara
I’m actually surprised that Debs said that, in a way. Not sure if he would still say the same today….
Why surprised?
I’ll take a stab:
The 4th of July is obviously a nationalistic holiday and the imagery that surrounds it is pretty conservative — its not a celebration of revolution or Thomas Paine. Obviously a day like the 26th of July in Cuba or other celebrations of the sort in the third world are nationalist too, but nationalism takes on a different character in nations that aren’t Empires.
Too often we let the right wing own American images. I think this is a classic case: a leftist being surprised that another progressive said a holiday with a revolutionary heritage is worth celebrating. Even the Black Panthers used parts of the Declaration of Independence in the 10th point in their program.
I guess I know why Ben would be surprised — but the Saints of Old said lots of heretical things you would never hear at a USAS conference, let alone read in ISR.
Adrian I know you’re not a fan, but Platypus members involved in USAS have been some of the sole voices stating the obvious about USAS’ brand of politics.
“It was as a socialist, and because I was a socialist, that I fell in love with America. In saying that I am not indulging in romantic nostalgia about youthful days on the road but rather underlining a crucial political truth. If the Left wants to change this country because it hates it, then the people will never listen to the Left and the people will be right. To be a socialist–to be a Marxist–is to make an act of faith, of love even, toward this land. It is to sense the seed beneath the snow; to see, beneath the veneer of corruption and meanness and the commercialization of human relationships, men and women capable of controlling their own destinies. To be a radical is, in the best and only decent sense of the word, patriotic.”
– Michael Harrington, Fragments of the Century
I come to your site because it keeps me entertained and aware of new things.