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This is an apology, and a book review (or perhaps, an apologetic book review). The apology, first off, because it comes now, when it can have little real impact on the world in which we live and struggle for life, for love, and for our communal well-being.
The review is of the brief, yet excellently heartfelt book by journalism professor Robert Jensen, entitled Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim our Humanity (San Francisco: City Lights Books, 2004).
Jensen writes, with passion and clarity, as if the world is on fire, and admits to a deep, pervasive feeling that men rarely admit to: fear.
His is not the voice of the academic, stiff, stilted, and removed from one's audience. He writes as if it is his duty to awaken others to the unleashing of 'the dogs of war' from the neocons in the White House:
...[B]ut I fear they have unleashed something far worse than any war we have ever seen ...
But this feels different. This feels far worse. This doesn't feel like a war. Let us name what has happened: Not just a war, but a new insanity has been unleashed upon the world. An unlimited war that our leaders counsel could go on indefinitely. A war against enemies in the "shadowy networks", which means we will never know when the shadowy enemy is vanquished. This is quite possibly the policy makers' shot at the final, and permanent, militarization of U.S. society. Add to that the possibility of more terrorist attacks from the fringe of the Arab and Muslim population even more convinced of the depravity of Americans, and the possibility of entire countries destabilized. Are you scared? How can you not be? [p.xxi]
Jensen skillfully confronts many of the easy, facile lies which are used to stifle public debate, and enforce conformity on millions of Americans to accept, unquestionably, the State's assertions about this eternal war. He warns of the many traps that lie ahead of people who wanted to oppose the war, but didn't want to seem, well -- unpatriotic:
I am against nationalism, and I am against patriotism. They are both the dark side. It is time not simply to redefine a kinder-and-gentler patriotism, but to sweep away the notion and acknowledge it as morally, politically, and intellectually bankrupt. It is time to scrap patriotism.
More specifically, it is crucial to scrap patriotism in today's empire, the United States, where patriotism is not only a bad idea but literally a threat to the survival of the planet. We should abandon patriotism and strive to become more fully developed human beings not with shallow allegiances to a nation but rich and deep ties to humanity. [p. 39]
This is hard stuff. I apologize for not sharing it with you earlier. Jensen's is a rare, and often unsung voice in what passes for public discourse in America. He cites a rare quote from the great labor leader and Socialist presidential candidate (while in prison for opposing World War I), Eugene Debs for a kind of internationalism that he clearly shares. Debs, in 1915, proclaimed: "I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world." [p. 51] Jensen criticizes the loss of democracy and the failure of the nation's universities to serve as places where important social questions (like war and peace) could truly be argued. He is also critical of the state's use of the media machine, which issues, in his words, a form of "corporate propaganda."
He is both critical and surprisingly hopeful, for the mass demonstrations of February and March, 2003, revealed a broad base of anti-war spirit in the nation. Yet he is almost stunned by the reported response of President Bush, who belittled the demonstrations of millions of people as a mere "focus group."
Jensen, in his preface, replies:
A focus group? Perhaps the leader of the free world was not aware that a focus group is a small number of people who are brought together (and typically paid) to evaluate a concept or a product. Focus groups are primarily a tool of businesses, which uses them to figure out how to sell things more effectively. Politicians also occasionally use them, for the same purpose. That's a bit different from a coordinated gathering of millions of people who took to the streets because they felt passionately about an issue of life and death. As is so often the case, Bush's comment demonstrated his ignorance and condescension, the narrowness of his intellect and his lack of respect for the people he allegedly serves. [p. xxi]
From the book: Citizens of the Empire, by Robert Jensen.
Better late than never.
Copyright 2004 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal is a Pennsylvania death row prisoner who is a frequent writer and radio commentator. He was convicted in 1982 of killing a police officer in a trial which was rife with police, prosecutorial and judicial misconduct. Those involved in the trial and keeping him in prison include Ed Rendell, Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, and former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge.
For further information about the case, see the
update article in
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