tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15275986.post2292158737066130994..comments2023-10-18T09:23:13.050-05:00Comments on QueerToday.com: The Shirley Q. Liquor Saga: What a Racist Minstrel Show Says About Queer Politics (Long)Mark D. Snyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12508873047127283895noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15275986.post-83475543682557438432007-03-02T17:07:00.000-05:002007-03-02T17:07:00.000-05:00Brian - I interpret your statement as calling for ...Brian - I interpret your statement as calling for a higher level of resistance to oppression, something that takes on the structural engines of oppression.<BR/>For me this is the capitalist social-ecoonomic system and the way it decrees multidimensional oppressions of racism, sexism, homophobia etc. But capitalism is a class system and it requires a class struggle response. It must be overturned and replaced. <BR/><BR/>Racism grew largely out of the slavery system that enriched the plantation-owning class and the cotten factory owning class. All this was meant to exact superprofits for those that didn't work but just owned.<BR/><BR/>Today corporate owners, through their bosses, managers, the police, the State (as in Lenin) and the politicians, own our labor power and are keen to divide us, workers, by race, sex, and sexual oriatnation, so as to weaken us.The more we are united, the more scared the owners are, as can be observed across a barganinng table during union contract negotiations.<BR/><BR/>Today Imperialism (the BIG owning class)is losing becasue it can no longer dominate the wealth, resources and people of Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Iran, Syria, Palestine and elsewhere <BR/><BR/>Gay activism cannot supplant ant--racist organizing - the very thought is offensive. Racism is central, period. By believing this I do not diminish or prioritize other oppressions (including my own as a a gay man). It's just that no liberation for anyone can really happen until Black liberation happens. Gay white men, for instance, should not have to wait until a gay racism issue happens to fight racism, gay white men are white and should be about fighting all forms of racism,<BR/><BR/>Over twenty years ago in Murfreesboro, Tennessee I organized a group of gay white men who marched against the Klan who were going through one of their periodic hate eruptions. We held up proud gay banners that day and when the Klan went away (they were outnumbered 600-20)our little gay group was invited back to the local Black church with everone else and singled out for what we did. What a wonderful moment. True solidarity conquers all. We just need the vehicle and there are a few: IAC Boston.org, workers wprld party 9WWW.workers.org) are the groups I work within.<BR/><BR/>Let's put our queer shoulders to the wheel, Alan Ginsberg declared 50 years ago - I think it works today<BR/><BR/>Gerry Scoppettuolo<BR/>gerryred@yahoo,comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15275986.post-57394191247958290902007-02-26T10:44:00.000-05:002007-02-26T10:44:00.000-05:00I agree with all of your points Brian, and excelle...I agree with all of your points Brian, and excellent post indeed. <BR/><BR/>Some ways QueerToday has and will continue to tackle the core systems of oppression are by first forming relationships and building our reputation with other social justice oriented groups/organizations such as the Rosa Parks Coalition, MTPC, and the various anti-war groups we've marched with and collaborated with. <BR/><BR/>It's super easy to form a quick protest or blogpost around something like Macy's or Snickers and so I don't see a problem in continuing to do so - it takes lots of time and hardwork to form coalitions and make long meaningful societal change - and we (queertoday members, with the tmie we have) are working on that too. <BR/><BR/>You're point abuot RuPaul is spot on, I should have thought more before I pointed her out in the way that I did. I am a fan of her music and fun drag performances, and she was quoted in many of the articles about Shirley.Mark D. Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12508873047127283895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15275986.post-81152982067110027412007-02-24T00:06:00.000-05:002007-02-24T00:06:00.000-05:00I think the important thing that Brian touches on ...I think the important thing that Brian touches on in this article is our need for a strategy that cuts into the systems of oppression. Small victories involving cultural expression are useful but only so much as they contribute to a larger strategy. For example, marches are great but if you are asking 'what next?' at the end of the march, then I question whether we utilized that tactic as efficiently as possible. In most cases, it should be used in conjunction with another tactic towards a specific goal.Carlo Bacahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696921686371869498noreply@blogger.com