One of the things I least like and most distrust about the Anglo-American centre is their notion of seriousness or sensibleness. It is persistently disastrous, a form of class snobbery and arrogance masquerading as wisdom. So I think it is that itself which needs challenging.
@lastpositivist How is this relevant to this context? Do you think that the QT diminishes the importance of “radical” positions and thus aligns itself with the centre? Is it a more general commentary on the thread? That the sensible centre betrayed us by promoting war?
@lastpositivist I disagree with his characterization. 156 US legislators voted ‘no’ on authorizing military force. They were some serious folks. Esp cuz voting ‘no’ was hard given the levels of jingoism.
@lastpositivist That they wield that sensibleness as a weapon is annoying. But I think they're right. So much of protest (Occupy, neo-nazi, enviro tree-stand, etc) comes across as kids playing dress up.
@lastpositivist So what is better? Russian authoritarianism? German idealism? Chinese mandarism? I prefer the German personally, but it's easy to dislike something relative to a non-existent alternative.
@lastpositivist Well, the anti-war movement did fail completely, and in many ways the left has had a terrible two decades since then, so I dunno maybe it might be worth listening to some criticism occasionally?
@lastpositivist In academia, used to knock people out to get more space for yourself. Generally, by people of a certain background to knock people out of the ring. The only way to avoid the problem is not to speak around them. The real problem is that OTHER people fall for it & help them.
@lastpositivist One thing I remember when the drums were beating loud was a sudden threat from North Korea, which was answered by the US navy being *instantly* present off its coast. Nothing like that when Saddam beat his chest. Was it enough to convince my hip NYC artist friends? No.
@lastpositivist 💯. Nothing was treated as more adolescent or unserious as the idea that maybe, just maybe, the whole WMD case was a fraud. And by the by, for UK peeps, I wish I had a dollar for every person that told me "maybe if it was just GWB saying so, but c'mon: Tony Blair is v. serious.