Really a great first podcast, Mickey Z! Your comments on Noam Chomsky were right on , and I loved the Alicen Grey and Uncle Butch interviews. (But in the interest of full disclosure it must noted that I am Uncle Butch).
Alicen Grey sounds interesting. One of the problems we face is that in social gatherings in "polite" Seattle, honest discussion of important issues tends to be avoided in order to maintain an atmosphere of conviviality. Somehow, honest disagreement is thought somewhat antisocial rather than as important communication. This, in and of itself, contributes to a dynamic of going along to get along.
There is a deeper issue here. Most folks are what I would describe as faithful followers. They are less concerned with obtaining factual information for informed decision making than with receiving elite instructions with how they are expected to behave. Their main concern is with being secure within their special group(s) and within society as a whole. This is particularly true when power is concentrated and the options for dissent limited. And then there is the question of social cohesion created by a unifying mythology/ideology. Alas, I fear that verbal discussion is ill suited to fully explore this important issue and other important issues of the political economy and power structure.
Alicen here! Thanks for the compliment. And funny enough, I lived in Seattle for 8 months and got the exact vibe you're describing. It was almost like, in their attempt to be "polite," Seattleites ironically felt even more hostile than they would've been if open, challenging discourse had been normalized. There were so many things I felt like I couldn't casually say. And as the only brown woman in the room on a number of occasions, I could literally feel people tensing up around me out of fear of saying something "racist" (which wouldn't have bothered me in the slightest - but they were well-trained by their culture to not even take that risk). It's tough out there. Power to you!
It is interesting that you identify as left, because today’s right thinks along the same lines as what I am hearing on this pod cast. It will be interesting to see the direction Post-Woke takes.
Diane, we live in strange times. What once was the somewhat progressive Left has now mostly abandoned their one time working class constituency. They have become an upper middle class cosmopolitan party competing with the Republicans for fat-cat patronage. They have enthusiastically jumped on board the pandemic diktats and the Great Reset restructuring. The only ones resisting this restructuring is the (Libertarian?) Right, for whatever reason. Under these circumstances, what even qualifies as "Left?" Right and Left have become little more than labels used to divide "us" from "them," and in the case of the restructuring juggernaut, "Right" (particularly "extreme right") is used as a pejorative label to shut down discussion. Also, divide and rule. I sense that one of the goals of Post-Woke is to get beyond the labels and the "us" versus "them" mentality to discuss the issues on their own merit. I certainly hope so.
Jul 25, 2022·edited Jul 25, 2022Liked by Mickey Z.
Hi Mickey! I was about to listen to your recent podcast with Alicen Grey but wanted to know more about her and went back to Day One of Post-Woke. A great beginning to your podcast! Glad to hear Naom Chomsky being called out for his jaw-dropping take on things these days, and I loved the complimentary and contrasting combo of Alicen and Uncle Butch.
On another note entirely, I wish I had an Uncle Butch myself!
It was well worth doing, Mickey! I'm looking forward to going step by step through your podcasts, and hearing more from Alicen and Uncle Butch, and from everyone else. Your conversations are thought-provoking, informative and encouraging. I relate so much to what you and your guests think and feel about all that's going down as well as where people are coming from.
Really a great first podcast, Mickey Z! Your comments on Noam Chomsky were right on , and I loved the Alicen Grey and Uncle Butch interviews. (But in the interest of full disclosure it must noted that I am Uncle Butch).
🙂
Alicen Grey sounds interesting. One of the problems we face is that in social gatherings in "polite" Seattle, honest discussion of important issues tends to be avoided in order to maintain an atmosphere of conviviality. Somehow, honest disagreement is thought somewhat antisocial rather than as important communication. This, in and of itself, contributes to a dynamic of going along to get along.
There is a deeper issue here. Most folks are what I would describe as faithful followers. They are less concerned with obtaining factual information for informed decision making than with receiving elite instructions with how they are expected to behave. Their main concern is with being secure within their special group(s) and within society as a whole. This is particularly true when power is concentrated and the options for dissent limited. And then there is the question of social cohesion created by a unifying mythology/ideology. Alas, I fear that verbal discussion is ill suited to fully explore this important issue and other important issues of the political economy and power structure.
Alicen here! Thanks for the compliment. And funny enough, I lived in Seattle for 8 months and got the exact vibe you're describing. It was almost like, in their attempt to be "polite," Seattleites ironically felt even more hostile than they would've been if open, challenging discourse had been normalized. There were so many things I felt like I couldn't casually say. And as the only brown woman in the room on a number of occasions, I could literally feel people tensing up around me out of fear of saying something "racist" (which wouldn't have bothered me in the slightest - but they were well-trained by their culture to not even take that risk). It's tough out there. Power to you!
It is interesting that you identify as left, because today’s right thinks along the same lines as what I am hearing on this pod cast. It will be interesting to see the direction Post-Woke takes.
Thanks, Diane...but I do my best to identify as neither left nor right.
Ok
Diane, we live in strange times. What once was the somewhat progressive Left has now mostly abandoned their one time working class constituency. They have become an upper middle class cosmopolitan party competing with the Republicans for fat-cat patronage. They have enthusiastically jumped on board the pandemic diktats and the Great Reset restructuring. The only ones resisting this restructuring is the (Libertarian?) Right, for whatever reason. Under these circumstances, what even qualifies as "Left?" Right and Left have become little more than labels used to divide "us" from "them," and in the case of the restructuring juggernaut, "Right" (particularly "extreme right") is used as a pejorative label to shut down discussion. Also, divide and rule. I sense that one of the goals of Post-Woke is to get beyond the labels and the "us" versus "them" mentality to discuss the issues on their own merit. I certainly hope so.
I hope so too.
Thanks
Hi Mickey! I was about to listen to your recent podcast with Alicen Grey but wanted to know more about her and went back to Day One of Post-Woke. A great beginning to your podcast! Glad to hear Naom Chomsky being called out for his jaw-dropping take on things these days, and I loved the complimentary and contrasting combo of Alicen and Uncle Butch.
On another note entirely, I wish I had an Uncle Butch myself!
Oh, Anne...thanks so much for going back to listen. I truly appreciate that. And thanks, as always, for your kind words.
And yes, Uncle Butch is the best. He's appeared on a couple more episodes, btw. He and I have a long phone chat every two weeks! 🙂
It was well worth doing, Mickey! I'm looking forward to going step by step through your podcasts, and hearing more from Alicen and Uncle Butch, and from everyone else. Your conversations are thought-provoking, informative and encouraging. I relate so much to what you and your guests think and feel about all that's going down as well as where people are coming from.
Thank you, yet again, Anne. Your support means a whole lot to me! 💕