#i mean minus the death and genocide and other atrocities

[khawajagis4680-blog]

The Inequality of Human Races This chapter talks about many concepts that I am learning about in my social theory class. Gobineau begins with describing the concept of scientific racism by stating that it is not undeveloped intellect that restrained the Huron Indian from inventing things. Instead, it was because of the "predominating influence of environment." This reminds me of the Enlightenment Era and how the Western Europeans introduced the idea of a democratic society in which all men were equal. While the Europeans continued the Transatlantic Slave Trade on the side and the justification that they gave at that time was scientific: the superior race and the inferior race. Later in the article, the author discusses how institutions no matter how damaged always look good on paper, which seems to be a perfect example of a camera obscure. Marx defined the capitalist society as a camera obscura. In other words, what we see a capitalist society to be things are the exact opposite, which is very similar to the point that Gobineau made.  Johann Gottfried Fichte Addresses to the German Nation (1808) Fichte discusses how unequal distribution of power is the reason behind the oppression of one state by the other. But is it not power that is the culprit in this situation? Also, Fichte talks a lot about the interference of foreign countries and how that leads to the destruction of one's nation. Does he think that each country should be on its own?  Adolf Hitler's first letter on the Jewry Hitler's letter to Gemlich mainly discusses how the Jews were strategic with preserving their race by the use of wealth, material possessions and power. What I don't understand is that he could've just exiled them from Germany, just like the Zionist partially did to the Palestinians. Why did he have to commit an ethnic cleansing of Jews? Program of the NSDAp, 24 Feb 1920 If someone read this without knowing that these are Hitler's words -minus the no Jew is a German part- he/she would think of it to be a plan that works for the people of their country. For others this a right nationalist movement just like the one that is going on in France at present where they want to cleanse France of any minorities. Also, many Americans would perceive them to be the words of Pres. Donald Trump.  Goebbels at Nuremberg- 1934 I cannot believe that Goebbels is using what happened to Germany as an excuse for what Germany did to the Jews. On a more contemporary level, if Israel uses the Holocaust to justify what it is doing to Palestine that would not make any sense. It makes them no better than the Germans. Also, I like when he discusses how propaganda can work as a tool for social change but it is a gradual process and it will take its time.  Benito Mussolini: What is Fascism, 1932 It is a little surprising that Mussolini converted from being a passionate socialist to becoming a fascist dictator. I cannot grasp this paradigm shift that took place in his life. In class, we learned that the end game of capitalism is fascism but how can it become the end game of socialism? Mussolini, Doctrine of Fascism (1932) Mussolini's explanation of fascism is in close relation to nationalism. Similarly, Hitler used the same grounds for the creation of a Nationalist Republic, and he used the nation- which is in our heart- to emotionally get people involved in the genocide of Jews. Also, this article describes all the things that are used to support fascist administration; religion, ethno nationalism, lack of individualism. The best part about these readings is that they make way more sense because of their relation to today's world.  From Caligari to Hitler This was an impressive montage to watch but as is mentioned that it is a psychological history of the German Film makes me think about the psychological explanation behind the sense of nationalism or is it the process of hypnotizing that drives people to be dictated by an individual?  M The beginning of this movie was tragic. The fact that kids would be singing songs like these were standard makes me think of all the atrocities that happen in Syria, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan and how they darken the lives of the kids in those countries. Also, in one shot "M" was captured in the camera with a circle of knives surrounding him, and it seemed as if he fear his weapons of destruction. If we try and fix this into today's world, we can see that people that are involved in the creation of a capitalist society are very much scared of the end game of this economic system. Just like Malcolm X said in response to the assassination of President Kennedy: "chickens coming home to roost." That is what I felt that M was experiencing at that moment.  Rome, Open City Pt 1 & 2 This movie is a perfect example of what we call resistance. In a carceral state, we are aware that whoever tries to challenge the Social Dominant Paradigm he/she are either murdered or are held as political prisoners. But in Rome, Open City each character symbolizes the unity that comes with the resistance. Also, Marina should have never been trusted! Karl Polanyi- The Great Transformation In the introduction, on page 38 Polanyi mentions that "that human should use instruments of democratic governance to control and direct the economy to meet our individual and collective needs." Does this mean that Polanyi has somewhat similar views to Bernie Sanders? Gramsci on Fascism Gramsci makes an excellent point in his article, Sovietize. He states that the peasants and the working people need to make sure that if and when they combine with the liberal bourgeoisie to bring down the fascist they should step away and take hold of the government before the bourgeoisie. But this confuses me when I try to identify him with any one of the Social-Political Theories.

Our Marx Gramsci understands the importance of history in the life of Marx. Also, the fact that we are all are a bit Marxist does not make sense to me because you cannot be a Marxist and talk about the oppression and not do anything about it. His theory was about working as a collective to benefit each other, but if you're a Marxist who realizes his privilege but fails to speak up about the oppression of others, then I refuse to believe that you are a Marxist.   At one point in the Conquest of State, Gramsci mentions that "the existence of private property places the social minority in a privileged position and makes the struggle uneven." But is that the case? By social minority does he mean white individuals? Ezra Pounds Canto In XLV, it seems like Pounds had a difficult time accepting "usury" in the modern world. In this part, he focuses on comparing the past with the contemporary world, which highlights the fact that he realizes the impact of capital on peoples' lives. He gives an example of an artist and mentions how he would never have been able to survive in a world that valued money more than the beauty of art. This poem evidently depicts Pounds fascination with history. 

The Futurist Manifesto After this, I was just angry. I understand that technological progress has been beneficial for us, but if this progress is to happen at the expense of the lives of others and the Earth then that is not progress! I was disgusted by what they mentioned in point 9, " We want to glorify war - the only cure for the world - militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of the anarchists, the beautiful ideas which kill, and contempt for woman." This will not get Marinetti a future. Instead, he will end up destroying his chance at an actual life.

Cultural Criticism and Society Theodor Adorno did an impressive job with explaining the concept of critical theory. The criticism styles; transcendent and immanent as he describes are styles critiquing culture from within and outside. Adorno also discusses how "professional critics were first of all "reporters": they oriented people in the market for intellectual products." This to me seemed fascinating because it appears that such exposure led the critics to have insights on society in a different manner.

Paul Celan As mentioned in class, Celan's work is difficult to understand because of the deep symbolic value of each and every word that he has used to describe the conditions in which the Jews were living. Death Fugue gave me goosebumps. He describes drinking "black milk," which at first I thought symbolized the lives of the mothers that had been murdered and who could no longer feed their children milk but then it also made me think he might be talking about the un-nourishing life that he lived in the concentration camps. Celan's work has torn me, and it brings back the feelings that one gets when they see Chemical Bombs thrown at Syrian civilians.

The Beach Beneath the Street Wark's work was refreshing to read. In other words, this book was more like a biography of people, but the one thing that connected them all was the Situational Internationalist Movement.