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Thank you all who attended the first episode of Finkelstein’s new podcast TOVARISCH! this past Sunday. Norman began by devoting a short segment to answering questions from the audience related to current events before leading a discussion on our readings from Frederick Douglass (available here), and then a discussion on affirmative action.
Here is the full video. We will have an audio-only version available shortly. We will also be announcing next month’s episode very soon.
TOVARISCH! with Norman Finkelstein
Please share the video on YouTube, or make it downloadable. Increasing the speed of playback would be very beneficial for me.
How can we make a donation for the helpers? I see the subscription options but not a "one time" gift.
Since Norman says he's all set with his casket and its accoutrements, this is only for "the help". And thank you all for an entertaining episode.
Comment re: identity politics' framing-
I think that all of us agree that everybody is equal. I also think that is a majority opinion in the US. Even where I live, in the deep south.
What grates the nerves about identity politics is the agenda which it serves. Politicians who speak in identity politics terms are serving the agenda of their donors- these politicans speak for minority rights yet deny minorities money, thereby making their words utterly meaningless.
Ordinary people who speak in terms of identity politics are often honest, decent people. Their agenda isn't to deny economic resources to the entire population- that is the polticians' objective. I think a lot of ordinary people who embrace identity politics do not realize that it is a tool for oppression.
Caitlin Johnstone has suggested that identity politics is a psyop. There is a possibility that these "identity-colored glasses" were manufactured and distributed from the highest rungs of power.
There's no doubt it is a tactic used by the ruling class to preclude unity of the commoners. However, I would like to delve into real life applications of Federick Douglass' speech. How do we orient people to class issues? How do we show well-intentioned people that their identity-colored glasses are hurting the most needy?
These questions remind me of my daydreams. In them I see myself going door to door in my 70% Trump voter county, and I talk about class and class struggle. It's remarkable that I feel more comfortable talking to Trump voters about class struggle than I do talking to Biden voters about it. Because I don't know how to explain identity politics manipulation to people who are unaware they're being manipulated. Heck, how do you explain manipulation to people who are CONVINCED they're not being manipulated?!!