A Letter to the American Left

[JeffR]

by Bernard-Henri Levy, who recently published a 21st-Century sequel to de Tocqueville's observations about America.

And I'm not even talking about Bush. I won't even mention Bush's gross lies about the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, except for the sake of assembling the conclusive evidence. I know, of course, that you denounce him--but mechanically, I am almost tempted to say ritualistically. And yet the United States nearly impeached Nixon because he had spied on his enemies and lied. They impeached Clinton for a venial lie about inappropriate conduct. How is it, then, that it took so long to draw a parallel between those lies and a lie about which the least you can say is that its consequences were anything but venial? How is it that so few "public intellectuals" have been found, within the confines of this formidable, impetuous American democracy, who can bring up the idea of impeaching George Bush for lying?

From The Nation, and republished on Common Dreams, here:

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0210-36.htm

He has an interesting take, though I disagree with some of his contentions. It's worth reading in full.

[LiberalPartisan]

1. Read Garrison Keillor's review of this for the NYT

Keillor shred's Levy pretty good in his review.
I've excerpted the first paragraph of Keillor's review in the 29 January NYT Book Review

Any American with a big urge to write a book explaining France to the French should read this book first, to get a sense of the hazards involved. Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French writer with a spatter-paint prose style and the grandiosity of a college sophomore; he rambled around this country at the behest of The Atlantic Monthly and now has worked up his notes into a sort of book. It is the classic Freaks, Fatties, Fanatics & Faux Culture Excursion beloved of European journalists for the past 50 years, with stops at Las Vegas to visit a lap-dancing club and a brothel; Beverly Hills; Dealey Plaza in Dallas; Bourbon Street in New Orleans; Graceland; a gun show in Fort Worth; a "partner-swapping club" in San Francisco with a drag queen with mammoth silicone breasts; the Iowa State Fair ("a festival of American kitsch"); Sun City ("gilded apartheid for the old");a stock car race; the Mall of America; Mount Rushmore; a couple of evangelical megachurches; the Mormons of Salt Lake; some Amish; the 2004 national political conventions; Alcatraz - you get the idea. (For some reason he missed the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the adult video awards, the grave site of Warren G. Harding and the World's Largest Ball of Twine.) You meet Sharon Stone and John Kerry and a woman who once weighed 488 pounds and an obese couple carrying rifles, but there's nobody here whom you recognize. In more than 300 pages, nobody tells a joke. Nobody does much work. Nobody sits and eats and enjoys their food. You've lived all your life in America, never attended a megachurch or a brothel, don't own guns, are non-Amish, and it dawns on you that this is a book about the French. There's no reason for it to exist in English, except as evidence that travel need not be broadening and one should be wary of books with Tocqueville in the title.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/books/review/29keillor.html?ex=1139720400&en=0e7324ac49d032dc&ei=5070

[JeffR]

2. Thanks, good review

I've seen similar misgivings about the book in other reviews, but this one was succinct.

I'm still mulling over some of Levy's comments about the American Left. It's interesting to get a European's take on things here, but I suspect he's talking through his beret a bit.

[ChiciB1]

4. Beret Or Not... The So Called LEFT Including Keillor Ain't Out

out there getting it done either! And I happen to like Harrison, except the last time I saw him on Bill Maher he seemed a bit out in La La Land or something.

[ChiciB1]

3. The Letter Is A KEEPER... I Would Also Like To Ask

besides those people that were mentioned who should be shouting from the roof-tops, WHERE is Hollywood and the Music Industry??

Now, this may seem trite but it's been my experience from the past that not only does MUSIC resonate, forms a theme to march from, but actors can use their enormous power to speak out against this INSANITY!!

I watch LINK TV, FSTV and get a great deal of information that far too many don't even KNOW exists, but still it's such a small voice! While in D.C. for the Peace March I was privileged to get a tour of NPR and even those there seemed "toned" DOWN! I asked why and the best answer I got was "management" who run the show! NPR leaning RW is what I said to them, I NEVER thought it would pass my lips. Of course those with whom I was speaking certainly agreed with me, but I guess if you have a good job, it's best to keep it. Eating does come before speaking out, I guess!

The only plus here is that OTHER countries are taking notice. Other than simply stating their displeasure with "the corrupt ones" it seems now THEY are finding a voice that far too many influential people here in America are too AFRAID to use! I've been trying for YEARS to get this message out, some have begun to see "my reality" and know that it IS NOW "their reality" but we have a long way to go!

REVOLUTION, REVOLUTION, REVOLUTION! I used to say KARMA, KARMA, KARM... that don't cut the mustard anymore!

[JeffR]

6. Where indeed?

While the Fright Wing gets itself twisted into phony outrage about gay cowboy movies or the lyrics to some forgettable rap song, I keep waiting for some music or movie that nails how things are these days.

On the advice of a DUer some weeks back, I checked out Immortal Technique. Rap's not really my thing, but this stuff is sharp and blunt at the same time. Of course, it's never gonna get mass exposure.

[ChiciB1]

11. Emnem's MOSH Was Great Before The Election But Way

too late!! I may be a Boomer and we had some Radical times, but I can still relate to Rap! I have a grandson who enjoys this type of music. I asked him one day "do you realize just how much CULTURE has been created by people who AREN'T white?" It made him stop and think for a while and then he said, "yeah and they get the message across!"

That from a white 17 year old... so you see it IS a place to capture those coming behind us. I think we need them desperately, white or otherwise!!

[JeffR]

12. Mosh was great

And your grandson gives us hope.
:toast:

[ChiciB1]

16. Well, He Gets An Earful Of My Politics All The Time!

He's a GREAT kid (of course I would say that) but he IS beginning to take my preaching much more seriously. I talk to him and his friends and remind them on a regular basis that NOW is the time to think about what YOU will be doing in the future!

He likes driving my car... it still has bumper stickers on it and he used to say "Oh it's my grandmother's car", but now he likes the attention.

I also have a grand daughter who is 10, she's gonna be my best pupil! She loved going to the Rallies during the Election!

[LiberalPartisan]

7. I was thinking the same thing recently

The 60's we had such fantasatic political music. There is no equivalent I have found today.

[ShortnFiery]

13. There's a great deal of GOOD protest music ...

available for download on the internet by notables like David Rovics "Bomb Ourselves"; The Happy Tones "I hate Republicans"; Billy Brag; The Capitol Steps, et. al.

It takes a little time to find but well worth the effort.

Here's one of many sites to get you started:

http://www.benfrank.net/nuke/Free_Peace_mp3s.html

-----------

George wears his faith in his money belt
But I'll pray for Thomas Jefferson instead
Please send back Tom to save us from King George AGAIN!
And all his nasty neo-con friends! ... :P

-----------

Yes there's some diamonds in the ruff ...

One of my Favorites is "Uncle Sam's Gonna Say Goodbye to you and I" :hi:

[JeffR]

14. Thanks for the link!

[LiberalPartisan]

17. Yes, many thanks. n/t

[Mythsaje]

5. Call me dense,

but I can't see what point he's trying to make.

Is it that we're fractured?

Is it that we're not REALLY "the left" at all? That's not news. We're the radical center, calling for a return to the values of old, in fairness, equality, and hope.

I'm confuzzled.

[ChiciB1]

8. I Gather He's Stating The Obvious...

No SHIT IS HITTING THE FAN, when it has so much shit to throw!

[JeffR]

10. It seems, though

That he's missing the complicity of the mainstream media and the corporatocracy in this.

Lots of shit to throw, and no fan to be seen?

[ChiciB1]

15. That Much Is Evident... But Then You Aren't Agreeing With

everything that was written, nor am I. I'm simply saying he points out critical apathy and wonders why it isn't being addressed. Aren't most of us here wondering the same thing?

We here know that it's damned hard to get a "squeak" of our message out because of MSM, and corporatocracy, but I feel he might think that America for it's so called greatness has basically dropped the ball.

Revolution by the people is probably what he's aiming at. Me too!

[JeffR]

9. I hear ya

I'm not sure what he's getting at either. Maybe that America has no institutional Left in the sense that the French do?

[BookemDano]

18. Rap

I have a cd full of rap music talking about shrub they are really political informed the ones that I have.I am 26 so I do luv rap it's good to dance too..lol..Enough joking though the music and culture that does come out of there albums is the good thing it wakes up children to realize what great culture comes from the music but,also the message!