Ursula LE FUCKING GUIN is coming here to speak at a literary festival on May 2, two days after I leave the country! I found out 10 minutes ago that she will be here, and 5 minutes ago that it will be when I won't. Goddammit. Apparently she hardly ever makes public appearances. The Dispossessed is my holy book.
Not all University of Oxford researchers are uptight and humorless, "irregardless" of what you might think. In fact, a bunch of them compiled a list of the Top 10 Most Irritating Expressions in the English language -- just because we needed one.
Though maybe "you could care less," the scholars in question keep track of linguistic mangling and overused buzzwords in a database called the Oxford University Corpus. The voluminous record keeps track of books, magazines, broadcast, online media and other sources, watching for new overused, tiresome phrases and retiring those that fade from use (or misuse).
The great hierarchy of verbal fatigue includes:
1 - At the end of the day 2 - Fairly unique 3 - I personally 4 - At this moment in time 5 - With all due respect 6 - Absolutely 7 - It's a nightmare 8 - Shouldn't of 9 - 24/7 10 - It's not rocket science
Yay Barack! A lot of people I know are slightly cynical about him (after loving him to death at first) which I understand, but damn just look at them. And listen to him speak. He's the anti-George Bush in almost everything.
I made my most recent entry before this private. Sorry for the pussyfooting (ETA: double pussyfooting! Unlocked it again in attempt to figure out what boundaries beyond 'absolute' I could possibly have). Instead I will write only about films.
If anyone hasn't seen 'The Wrestler' - seriously, you should. I don't like sports films and this was incredible. Very very sympathetic and affecting. Sigh. I also just saw 'Let the Right One In' (amazingly menacing Swedish vampire flick) and loved it but totally misinterpreted it because I'm too sentimental: ( spoiler )
I also recommend 'Towelhead' a lot. It's about a half-Lebanese 13-year old who goes to live with her strict father in Texas maybe? It's very sweet and real. Plus Toni Collette is in it. Aaron Eckhart plays this creepy child abuser - doubly creepy because he's really quite hot. Ha ha.
Hmm. 'Milk' & 'Slumdog Millionaire' were good, but I wasn't that excited about them. It might just be because I'm in the mood for escapism nowadays. And embracing my melodramatic side. I can't deny it all the time.
I love this song right now; it has changed my life. Thanks to DJ Biko for turning me on to Mr. Nice! I like Mr. Nice for his name alone, it's so East African. Anyway, he's from Tanzania and the song is called Fagilia Bongo, which means 'Sweep up [your] brain'! It's pretty absurd - my favourite line is about a chicken getting on a bicycle (Kuku kapanda baisikeli).
Fagilia Bongo by Mr. Nice: (skip the first minute, it's just him talking)
Wow. I'm watching (on www.cpac.ca) the run-up to the Prime Minister making what will be an 'apology' to victims of the Indian residential school system (at least 150,000 children were forcibly taken away from their families for over a century, to 'kill the Indian' in them). Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, looks like a human being walking in next to a pillar of gray (Stephen Harper).
The oldest and youngest survivors of the residential schools came into parliament and I just started bawling (luckily, I'm alone). Why? I don't know. It's not as if there is any way to reverse what has happened, to say 'sorry' for genocide (especially not coming from this government) - but the idea that this woman, who looks over 90, is sitting in front of Harper while he presumably will say 'sorry' to her -- it's a lot of conflicting emotions.
Edits while watching it: his statement was as lukewarm as could have been expected, though it was enough of an apology to qualify as a real one. He never acknowledged that it was racism that motivated what happened, but that the treatment of the children was "wrong" - but at least he acknowledged the generational effects and that the assimilation policy was misguided -- insincerely enough, though.
The leader of the opposition was much better, acknowledging that the intention of the residential school system was to "destroy" First Nations, Métis, and Inuit identity culture; spoke a few words in Indigenous languages; thoughts on what the new Truth & Reconciliation commission should accomplish.
Ha! And the leader of the Bloc Quebecois just got a standing ovation for saying that the government's apology isn't worth much if they continue to refuse to sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (only Canada, New Zealand and the US have continued to oppose it).
Finally. Jack Layton (head of the lefty NDP) has just been the first in this whole apology session to call the policies "racist", and is making the connections to current racism, paternalism (rather than 'nation-to-nation' relationships), and the lack of rights and the terrible conditions afflicting indigenous people now.
This is really interesting. The reactions of the Indigenous representatives at first (only at the last minute were they allowed to give their reactions directly from the Floor of Parliament rather than from outside) were good, pretty safe, although progressively more critical: Phil Fontaine; Patrick Brazeau [Um, who is beautiful: http://brazman.blogspot.com - although he has very odd ideas], leader of the Aboriginal Peoples' Congress; Mary May Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Clément Chartier, president of National Métis Council. It would have been nice if some Elders had got a chance to say something.
I just heard Beverley Jacobs get the last word in, and it was amazing. She's Mohawk, and President of Native Women's Association of Canada. She gave a fabulously equivocal thanks to the government for being the first government to apologise, then said, "BUT in return, the Native Womens' Association wants respect". I liked how she said that her organisation isn't just about women's issues, but about the entirety of nation building. She talked about how her ancestors, seven generations ago, "tried very hard to fight against you", and that they're still fighting against the same -- and she challenged the government on how to move forward in a way that demonstrates respect. She said it best: "we're dealing with colonisation".
The news makes me feel sick these days. I have to approach it all indirectly and speak about it as little as possible. PMSing and unable to think about it much for the past 2 days for fear of crying in public.
Today I saw a documentary called WarDance, about 3 war-traumatised children from a refugee camp in Northern Uganda, whose school gets to compete in the National Music/Dance competition; it's about their experiences, about the role of music and dance in that context, and their going to the capital for the competition. It's really fantastic. Got nominated for an Academy Award, and for good reason. The kind of devastation war crimes can bring to children - and people in general - well - any sort of 'therapy' or 'rehabilitation' seems weak and pointless but people's lives have to go on and do, some in tragic ways and some in less tragic ways. The thought that a 14-year old, who has seen and lived more than most of the world's population ever will, can find some sort of happiness through art -- what's more human than that?
Here's a trailer (yeah, me and my youtube links. I know):
Tonight I'm pulling my first all-nighter of the year to finish writing something. And so, since I have nothing to do: have I pimped out (should I be using that term?) my favourite 'new' (to me) music love, The Coup to you all yet? They're damn commies. Pro-revolutionary hip hop. So funny (how else would you react to a song called "5 million ways to kill a C.E.O.?)
I've just been reading people in anarchistsarguing about discussing whether they vote (most either don't, or think it's contradictory to vote above the local level). I disagree, and have disagreed for a while mostly because the mainstream anarchist view is based on a European & north American experience, and doesn't have much relevance elsewhere (especially not in recent post-co. states). The events of the past week and a half in Kenya have only cemented my belief.
People have been struggling for decades in Kenya for at least some sort of representative and accountable democracy, and that's too important to dismiss. At least 600 people have died, and not for nothing.
People can say that this type of political system was imposed on Kenya and isn't appropriate. That might be true. Also that even if the legitimate win of Raila Odinga's party (Orange Democratic Movement/ODM) had not been suppressed by the current regime, the ODM would not do a much better job of serving the interests of the poor. This may be true. Kenya's one of the most unequal countries in the world, with a nauseatingly rich elite and well over half the population living on less than $1 per day. All that considered, if things had gone right, it would have put some fear into the hearts of the old guard of politicians who think that they can get away with anything. Before the election people were talking about the coming 'revolution', that would kick Kibaki out of State House. That would have been an amazing leap in Kenya's political evolution. Even if the crisis is resolved tomorrow, it will take many years for people to recover.
The world is going crazy.
I just remembered the sweet sense of vindication I had a few weeks ago here at an event where Cindy Milstein came to speak. She totally shot down this guy (who's a really big shot Indymedia dude locally, but nowhere near her caliber) who said that anarchists should not vote in federal elections, with the implication that if you do, you're not an anarchist. After she was done he looked quite chastised. I completely agreed with her. Voting does not make a democracy, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't vote, or that there aren't circumstances in which voting can be vital. I wish I had the guts to speak up more often when confronted with a manarchist.
--- So, who's been watching the L WORD? Anyone? It's ... interesting, so far. I think Jane Lynch (who plays Joyce the lawyer) is hot. Ya, I said it! Because she's really funny. Also hot: Helena's cell-mate, with the amazing muscles and the mean look.
When I talked to my parents earlier they said that people they spoke to in Kenya think that Raila will be arrested before he can hold his rally/alternate inauguration at Uhuru Park at 2 pm Monday - which is soon. I feel so disconnected and weird being here and hoping everyone's safe...
I can't describe how disgusted I was when I saw saw an article yesterday from the New York Times that used the word "tribal" as many times as they could squeeze it in possibly, and even, triumphantly, "tribal war". Tribal war, I swear. It's so disrespectful. It doesn't take much for most western journalists to switch off their brains and research skills and to start declaring "tribal war" whenever there's an African face on politics. Because it couldn't possibly be more than that. It makes much more sense that complicated political situations should be rewritten to confirm their own prejudices.
The word "tribal" needs to be banned for all those except people who can use the word accurately. Even "ethnicity" would be a marginal improvement.
On top of that, outside observers have clearly stated that the elections were problematic, but the US and the UK have already started congratulating Kibaki and telling people to accept the results. I don't see what business of theirs it is.
-- The last elections in '02 were so much more positive - this wacky song by gidigidi majimaji became the semi-'official' anthem of the opposition coalition. The only version I could find was filmed at the big brother africa finale, so, click with ( caution. )
I have severe writer's block, even for livejournal.
Here are some more pictures from Zanele Muholi's new South African photo exhibition: Being.
"Being is an exploration of both our existence and our resistance as lesbians/women loving women, as black women living our intersecting identities in a country that claims equality for all within the LGBTI community, and beyond.
The work is aimed at erasing the very stigmatisation of our sexualities as 'unAfrican', even as our very existence disrupts dominant (hetero)sexualities, patriarchies and oppressions that were not of our own making. Since slavery and colonialism, images of us African women have been used to reproduce heterosexuality and white patriarchy, and these systems of power have so organised our everyday lives that it is difficult to visualise ourselves as we actually are in our respective communities. Moreover, the images we see rely on binaries that were long prescribed for us (hetero/homo, male/female, African/unAfrican). From birth on, we are taught to internalise their existences, sometimes forgetting that if bodies are connected, connecting, the sensuousness goes beyond simplistic understandings of gender and sexuality."
I feel bad for the "rioters". I doubt they care too much though that outside of the region all of this is being shown as their HQ being destroyed as if they are some form of terrorists and as if their squat has not been established for decades. Ungdomshuset is/was a free space with performance spaces, infoshop, a site of organising and with a political history that should not have been erased like this. It should not have been erased at all. Also interesting that the squat was bought by a right-wing Christian group for the purpose of destroying it.
"The building was completed on 12 November 1897, with the name "Folkets Hus" (The People's House). The house functioned as one of the resorts for the then-incipient labour movement of Copenhagen. Seeing that labour organisations were not very popular in the eyes of the authorities, and reprisals often were carried out against them, the organisations had to build their own headquarters — Folkets Hus was the fourth of these to be built.[3] The roots of several demonstrations and meetings were planted in Folkets Hus, and as a result it enjoyed a significant connection to the great demonstration against unemployment in 1918 when workers stormed the Danish Stock Exchange (Børsen). In 1910, The Second International held an International Women's conference at the house, declaring 8 March as International Women's Day.
[...]In 1982 Folkets H us was assigned to a group of young people — the original founders of Ungdomshuset — although the municipality of Copenhagen still owned the building. It was at this time that the building was given its current name: Ungdomshuset".
I haven't seen much more on the Nigeria situation in the mainstream news recently, but Sokari at blacklooks.org is covering it really well. Here's an article she posted:
afrol News, 1 March - Human rights and gay activists until now have kept a low profile regarding the attempt by Nigerian lawmakers to promote Africa's most draconic bill limiting the rights of sexual minorities. They did not want to give the promoters publicity. But now, as lawmakers are getting serious on the bill, a wave of protests is reaching Nigeria.
The controversial bill, entitled the "Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act", would imprison anyone who speaks out or forms a group supporting lesbian and gay people's rights, and would silence virtually any public discussion or visibility around lesbian and gay lives in Nigeria.
In its last published version, the draconian bill would impose a five-year prison sentence on anyone who "goes through the ceremony of marriage with a person of the same sex." Anyone, including a priest or cleric, who "performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage," would face the same sentence.
But the bill goes even beyond that to punish any positive representation of or advocacy for the rights of Nigeria's lesbians and gays. Anyone "involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private," would be subject to the same sentence.
For anyone who's been following this news - Nigeria: Gays Banned From Existence - about the proposed new bill in Nigeria that would impose severe penalties on any expression of or support for gay people (including provision of safer sex advice!) - LGBTI activists all over Africa signed onto this petition urging international campaigners to stop writing letters and putting pressure on the government, as has been urged by Outrage!:
"As African LGBTI Human Rights Defenders, we are working toward the recognition of our rights by our governments in Africa. We do not appreciate or accept the efforts of Western-based individuals or organisations who try to make our work for liberation into an ego-boosting publicity campaign for themselves [...] We fear that Peter Tatchell's sudden call for a campaign to pressure the Nigerian government regarding the proposed same-sex marriage prohibition might backfire and cause the oppressive homophobic bill's passage."
The reasoning is much like the case of Amina Lawal in Nigeria, where local human rights activists were worried that international campaigns for the stoning decision to be reversed would cause the opposite reaction, while also undermining the hard work of local groups. Ayesha Imam, a Nigerian women's rights activist who campaigned against the implementation of Sharia law, came here last year and Jet saw her. Her message about the lessons from that case - paraphrased - was: Get over yourselves, find out what local activists are doing, and figure out how to be supportive.
PRESS RELEASE: African LGBTI Human Rights Defenders Warn Public Against Participation in Campaigns Concerning LGBTI Issues in Africa Led by Peter Tatchell and Outrage!
But most importantly, really - get tested. It's good to know your status, to be sure. (It takes approximately 3 months after any kind of exposure to a new risk for the results of a test to be reliable, by the way). If you're in Ontario, call 563-AIDS (563-2437) or 1-800-267-7342 to find the place nearest to you that offers free, anonymous and confidential testing.
They are Bongo Maffin, from South Africa. "The Way Kungakhona".
In non news; J has been using a Thai hair wax that makes her hair look like Wolverine. It's so cool. So I tried to do something to my hair and ended up with a massive chemical burn on my scalp and now I have to shroud my head in twisty scarves like Frida Kahlo every day because I *have* to, not because I want to :(
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
andika's journal![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/growf/pengies/sad.gif){kind=small}
sad![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}
