turmoil

A short week after everything seemed to go so right on the streets of Egypt, the seem to be going wrong everywhere else. Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and Iran are all in different states of turmoil and violent repression.

As with the events of the last few weeks, I have been haphazardly following what is known about what is happening here.

DD is also pointing sensibly and compassionately at the news.

here comes everybody

the lp: 'the most astounding thing ever'

the uprising

Taken in Tahrir Square, earlier this week.

I have not really weighed in much here from a sociological perspective (and am not about to) but this Zizek article helped me make some more sense of what is happening (in terms of the sociological imagination) on the ground in Egypt. And, harking back to my own work on social movements, this statement from Zizek rings very true: Either the entire Mubarak power edifice falls down, or the uprising is co-opted and betrayed.

Now is clearly the moment when the individuals and the movement either determine a changed direction for their country (at least in the short term) or head back to the status quo. Right now it very much looks as though they are choosing the former of the two options, and peacefully.

courage imagination

After a hopeful day everything seems to be up in the air in Egypt again. Altogether heartbreaking. The courage and imagination of everyone in Tahrir Square is deeply moving and encouraging, whatever the immediate and long term outcomes.

As much as I can, I have been following what is up here and here.

anonymous, tuol seng

I drew and then posted the page that this wee girl appeared on in my notebook to the blog a couple of weeks ago. When I opened the page of the magazine on which the book she is featured in was advertized her image immediately stood out. She looks very self-possessed, almost defiant - I immediately reached for my pen. Even though I knew the book was about photography and political violence, I imagined that she was a refugee and wondered what she might be doing now. To my gut-sickened horror, I found out this past week that her fate was much more immediate and awful.

the rest of the page

Half a week's thoughts. I want to communicate something here on the blog but don't seem to have the inclination to sit and write so it is on with my cryptic parenthetical ways. The must read article of the week is an NYRB discussion of a couple of Dylan books. Great reflections on his changes over the years - and Dylan comes out sounding like someone who continues to think and engage his art, faith, life, and the world in general in impressive ways. The article is definitely worth a read.

Big Issue: “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you sure deliver that song like a true believer.
Bob Dylan: Well, I am a true believer.

And Lincoln's ability to change his mind articulately is deeply impressive. He only articulated full emancipation for slaves towards the end of his life. How did he remain passionately alert to the changes in his own mind and heart as well as to what was happening in the nation? I had not thought about (or maybe even been aware of this) before reading the NYRB review.

I think this looks like John Howard Yoder - trying to get our attention in a week in which a nation shrugs off torture as no big deal once again.

fare thee well

The British election has reached its conclusion and Gordon Brown left office this afternoon. He spoke movingly in his farewell speeches and I think he'll be missed a lot more than people realise right now. I have to confess that I hope he gets to have a good rest and to be with his family in a way that I don't imagine is possible when one is leading a country. He certainly looked more relaxed today than he has for years. The queasy feelings about what is to come in British politics remain.



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