what would foucault do

"It seems to me that the real political task in a society such as ours is to criticize the workings of institutions, that appear to be both neutral and independent; to criticize and attack them in such a manner that political violence has always exercised itself obscurely through them will be unmasked, so that one can fight against them." Foucault from a discussion between Foucault and Chomsky.

a scrap

i'm sitting by a cat that is attacking a pen which seems evenly matched in a battle of sharpness. i offered him my hand but he had a very mean glint in his eye--his name is baby--so i withdrew it quickly.

woah woah woah - mccain's chief of staff outed!

http://www.blogactive.com/2008/09/john-mccains-chief-of-staff-wins-roy.html

http://signorile2003.blogspot.com/2008/09/hypocrisy-bombshell-antigay-john-mccain.html

the chief of staff of John McCain, whose running mate's ascension to the presidential throne would be herald the most homophobic reign since homophobia was okay, was outed today. apparently Mark Buse was in a "glass closet"--open to his friends and close family, so McCain probably knew since they have been friends/worked together/made shady monetary deals together since Buse was in his 20s. a former partner of Buse's came forward after McCain's shift to the right and VP choice to shine some holy light on the tangled affair and the blatant hypocrisy...it must have been painful to watch it happen for so many years without saying a word, but now the camel's back has been seriously broken. in fact, the camel may just be dead.

Buse was awarded the Roy Cohn award for "working against the interests of the lesbian and gay community while living as a gay man" (blogactive post, link above). Mike Rogers and others went to McCain's office to deliver (and film) the award-giving.

as great as it is to have McCain's hypocritical choices, absurd political compromises and sacrifices, and Buse's own masochistic, stupid martyrdom "exposed," i can't help but shake my head and think that once again, the Republicans will twist this saddening spectacle into a shiny show of diversity. McCain is wrong to be homophobic and intentionally further campaigns and programs that oppress and damage people that are citizens of the country/world he wants to run (to say the very least). Buse shouldn't have participated or passively accepted McCain's antigay actions and I disagree with his decision to conceal his homosexuality but recognize that as his right...so I think that it wasn't entirely right for his former partner to come forward and it's too bad that he was outed as he is but on the other hand through his passivity he was helping to destroy peoples' lives.

"our campaign welcomes teenage mothers (as long as they DON'T choose abortion) and gay men (as long as they DON'T ask for rights or be too gay) and women (as long as they hate other women)."

i feel so, so sad. why is this so fucked up? everyone is getting hurt and the good guys never win. i think if mccain wins i might have to move...i hate this shit.

kudos to surgeon

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oberlin, ohio

dear oberlin,
thank you for being so green and so sunny. i came from berlin where it was already getting cold and you have filled my days with sun, weed, pbr, and hot girls and i appreciate it. i went to one of your classes -- "love, lust, and desire in renaissance and baroque art" -- and the people were down to earth and engaged and interested and smart. you do not wear a thick veil over your knowledge; it is given freely. your alternative newspaper, the grape, is reasonably funny but i disagreed with the survey column "what does pussy smell like?" you mentioned lemon chicken and cheeses and seafood and burgers and rusty screws but i think you're full of shit.

but i also love your dog festival and the tiny tiny baby kittens that you keep in the back of the gingko gallery. they were smaller than my hand. i melted and was reminded of how easily i fall in love with tiny furry things. you are dangerous but so so soft and you gave me a cute attack.

your people are interesting...interesting looking and they seem really nice and open. your women are beautiful and your trans/genderqueer community rocks. your music is ubiquitous, clever, unique, and good. thank you for david greenberg and jordan and maya's band, la loup, that sings in chinese about love bicycles, white guys in chinese bars, and rain. thanks for the cat and the stage and i'm so glad you have spaces for student performers and a freestore and the necessities of life in like 5 square blocks surrounded by ohio nothing. but i like your rural bent and your suppressed urban desire. it's cute.

thanks for your dining hall and the 50 state trees planted in that big square in the center. and i love your womb chairs! i spun around until i was dizzy.

i feel very comfortable around you...it's good to be here. soon i will return to chicago but beforehand i will definitely get drunk with you and stoned with you and wander around your green areas, your sunny sidewalks, and your fucking freezing ass student houses. maybe i will not play more twister (perhaps once was enough).

see you tomorrow (and today and the day after until tuesday),

a