Thoughts on Cuba, cultural ethnocentrism, "democraa acy", traditional Life Chiefs
"'Hunter Gray'
[email protected] [marxist]" <
[email protected]>
Thu, 18 Dec 2014 17:36:58 +0000
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Very interesting discussion on RBB.
My own feeling has always been thatthe homegrown Cuban Revolution has creat=
ed an essentially socialist system thathas met the basic needs of the great=
majority of its people =E2=80=93 and continues toreach ever further on tha=
t trail. It obviously has broad popular backing. Ifthat weren=E2=80=99t the=
case, it could not have survived through the many vicissitudesthrust upon =
it from a consistently hostile U.S.I was pleasantly surprised to hear someo=
ne on CNN yesterday discuss theBay of Pigs fiasco and then mention that non=
e other than the principalarchitect of that debacle, JFK, had seriously con=
sidered ways of poisoningFidel.
As I=E2=80=99ve commented, and most of usknow, revolutions are not erector =
set creations.They can be messy.Despite the shining portrayals of theAmeric=
an Revolution, nationalistic in appearance but with powerful economicmotiva=
tions, many of us have eventually learned that only a small proportion ofth=
e colonists supported it.Domesticopponents were occasionally lynched,their =
property was almost always seized without recompense, and a great manywere =
forced into the Maritime Provinces.
American ethnocentrism, seen evenfrom my Native perspective, never ceases t=
o surprise me.It is, of course, less often concerned about =E2=80=9Cdemocra=
cy=E2=80=9Dthan fulfilling motives that are economically self-serving.=E2=
=80=9CFree elections=E2=80=9D is a favoriteterm for those Americans and oth=
ers who aresharply critical of Cuba =E2=80=93 but decisional mechanisms can=
take many forms,including large gatherings of grassroots people and quiet =
consensus-developmentapproaches. (=E2=80=9CFree elections=E2=80=9D may fit =
this country -- though it=E2=80=99s increasingly questionable justhow =E2=
=80=9Cfree=E2=80=9D they are, and just how =E2=80=9Cdemocratic=E2=80=9D is =
this country. Still, many ofus keep trying, keep fighting.
A couple of collateral thoughts:Venezuela=E2=80=99s Chavez was elected via =
freeelections a number of times but continued to be vilified by much of the=
U.S.government.And then there is thatwonderful line in the fine flick, Red=
s, where one of the old Communistwitnesses recalls that in the chaos of thi=
s country=E2=80=99s involvement in the War toSave Democracy, John Reed comm=
ented, =E2=80=9CWhere is the God -damned democracy?=E2=80=9D
The traditional and still verywidespread Native concept and practice of the=
Life Chiefs has rarely beenunderstood by non-Indians.To these outsiders,th=
is may appear monarchial.But actually, the Life Chiefs are selected byconse=
nsus of clan leaders, are expected =E2=80=93 and almost always do =E2=80=93=
serve their communities rather than servethemselves, and govern by consens=
us.They can be quickly removed for cause and replaced.Despite the impositio=
n, for presumably goodreasons and otherwise, of the =E2=80=9Cwestern-style=
=E2=80=9D tribal and band councils intoreservations and reserves, many of t=
he traditional Life Chief systems remainviable =E2=80=93 and vital.
Terms like =E2=80=9Ccivilized=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cprimitive=E2=80=9D,=E2=
=80=9Cdeveloped=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cdeveloping=E2=80=9D and all their lik=
e are classically ethnocentricand should never be used.The only wayany huma=
n society can be assessed is to spend a great deal of time within it =E2=80=
=93eventually measuring its own realitiesagainst its own ideals.
Hunter Bear
HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / St. Francis Abenaki / =
St. Regis Mohawk=20
Protected by Na=C2=B4shdo=C2=B4i=C2=B4ba=C2=B4i=C2=B4=20
and Ohkwari' . Check out our massive social justice website:=20
www.hunterbear.org
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO=20
Core dimensions of my Community Organizing course:
http://www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbear.htm
My expanded/updated "Organizer's Book,"=20
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new 10,000=20
word introduction by me. Covers much of my=20
confrontational social justice organizing life to=20
date. Contains much how-to grassroots organizing=20
methodology: http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm
See this for mini-bio, efforts to prevent JM=E2=80=99s appearance in
Mississippi, a wide range of its many reviews, and some
photos: http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001KMEHWY/ref=3Dntt_dp_epwb=
k_0
The Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:=20
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
(Photos)=20
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<html><body bgcolor=3D"#ffffff">
<div><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"></font></div>
<div><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"> </font></div><div><font size=
=3D"2"><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></font></div><font size=3D"2"><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b s=
tyle=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; fo=
nt-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"Calibri">Very interesting discussion on RBB.<=
/font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">My own feeling has always been that
the homegrown Cuban Revolution has created an essentially socialist system =
that
has met the basic needs of the great majority of its people =E2=80=93 and c=
ontinues to
reach ever further on that trail. It obviously has broad popular backing. I=
f
that weren=E2=80=99t the case, it could not have survived through the many =
vicissitudes
thrust upon it from a consistently hostile U.S.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
yes;">
</span>I was pleasantly surprised to hear someone on CNN yesterday discuss =
the
Bay of Pigs fiasco and then mention that none other than the principal
architect of that debacle, JFK, had seriously considered ways of poisoning
Fidel.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">As I=E2=80=99ve commented, and most of us
know, revolutions are not erector set creations.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun=
: yes;"> </span>They can be messy.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">=
</span>Despite the shining portrayals of the
American Revolution, nationalistic in appearance but with powerful economic
motivations, many of us have eventually learned that only a small proportio=
n of
the colonists supported it.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span=
>Domestic
opponents <span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were occasionally=
lynched,
their property was almost always seized without recompense, and a great man=
y
were forced into the Maritime Provinces.</font></span></b></p><div><font fa=
ce=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">American ethnocentrism, seen even
from my Native perspective, never ceases to surprise me.<span style=3D"mso-=
spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, of course, less often concerned about =
=E2=80=9Cdemocracy=E2=80=9D
than fulfilling motives that are economically self-serving.<span style=3D"m=
so-spacerun: yes;"> </span>=E2=80=9CFree elections=E2=80=9D is a favo=
rite<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>term for those America=
ns and others who are
sharply critical of Cuba =E2=80=93 but decisional mechanisms can take many =
forms,
including large gatherings of grassroots people and quiet consensus-develop=
ment
approaches. (=E2=80=9CFree elections=E2=80=9D may fit this country <span st=
yle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- though it=E2=80=99s increasingly=
questionable just
how =E2=80=9Cfree=E2=80=9D they are, and just how =E2=80=9Cdemocratic=E2=80=
=9D is this country. Still, many of
us keep trying, keep fighting.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Time=
s New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">A couple of collateral thoughts:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
yes;"> </span>Venezuela=E2=80=99s Chavez was elected via free
elections a number of times but continued to be vilified by much of the U.S=
.
government.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there =
is that
wonderful line in the fine flick, Reds, where one of the old Communist
witnesses recalls that in the chaos of this country=E2=80=99s involvement i=
n the War to
Save Democracy, John Reed commented, =E2=80=9CWhere is the God -damned demo=
cracy?=E2=80=9D</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" si=
ze=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">The traditional and still very
widespread Native concept and practice of the Life Chiefs has rarely been
understood by non-Indians.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>=
To these outsiders,<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this ma=
y appear monarchial.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But ac=
tually, the Life Chiefs are selected by
consensus of clan leaders, are expected =E2=80=93 and almost always <span s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do =E2=80=93 <span style=3D"mso-sp=
acerun: yes;"> </span>serve their communities rather than serve
themselves, and govern by consensus.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbs=
p;
</span>They can be quickly removed for cause and replaced.<span style=3D"ms=
o-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the imposition, for presumably good
reasons and otherwise, of the =E2=80=9Cwestern-style=E2=80=9D tribal and ba=
nd councils into
reservations and reserves, many of the traditional Life Chief systems remai=
n
viable =E2=80=93 and vital.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times N=
ew Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Terms like =E2=80=9Ccivilized=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cprimitiv=
e=E2=80=9D,
=E2=80=9Cdeveloped=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Cdeveloping=E2=80=9D and all their =
like are classically ethnocentric
and should never be used.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>T=
he only way
any human society can be assessed is to spend a great deal of time within i=
t =E2=80=93
eventually <span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>measuring its ow=
n realities
against its own ideals.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Hunter Bear</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times Ne=
w Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri"><br></font></span></b></p></font><div><font size=3D"2"><font=
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></font>HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / St. Fran=
cis Abenaki / St. Regis Mohawk=20
<br>
Protected by Na=C2=B4shdo=C2=B4i=C2=B4ba=C2=B4i=C2=B4=20
<br>
and Ohkwari' . Check out our massive social justice website:=20
<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.hunterbear.org" mce_href=3D"http://www.hunterbear.org=
">www.hunterbear.org</a> =20
<br>
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO=20
<br>
<br>
Core dimensions of my Community Organizing course:
<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbear.htm" mce_href=3D"http://=
www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbear.htm">http://www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbe=
ar.htm</a></div><div>
<br>
<br>
My expanded/updated "Organizer's Book,"=20
<br>
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new 10,000=20
<br>
word introduction by me. Covers much of my=20
<br>
confrontational social justice organizing life to=20
<br>
date. Contains much how-to grassroots organizing=20
<br>
methodology: <a href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm" mce_href=3D"http=
://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm">http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm</a></div><=
div>
<br>
<br>
See this for mini-bio, efforts to prevent JM=E2=80=99s appearance in
<br>
Mississippi, a wide range of its many reviews, and some
<br>
photos: <a href=3D"http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001KMEHWY/ref=
=3Dntt_dp_epwbk_0" mce_href=3D"http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001K=
MEHWY/ref=3Dntt_dp_epwbk_0">http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001KMEH=
WY/ref=3Dntt_dp_epwbk_0</a></div><div>
<br>
<br>
The Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:=20
<br>
<a href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm" mce_=
href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm">http://=
hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm</a></div><div> =20
<br>
(Photos)=20
<br></div>
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od and dirt."<BR>
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