? Bohren & der Club of Gore: Constant Fear | Main | Cassandra should take her own advice ?
March 20, 2009
Violence & the Left in Dark Times
Loving Zizek's entrance to the Bond them in this New York Public Library debate with Bernard-Henri Lévy. As ever with both gentlemen there is much of interest to disagree with. I am particularly taken with Zizek's dismissal of sociological claims to the effect that today's Dark Ages barbarisms - and here Islam is at issue whether Zizek likes it or not - are an expression of unease with today's culture of choice; a yearning for simpler times.
On the contrary, argues Zizek. Men who romanticize the past do so because they find today's society too restrictive. "No," they told him, "Are you crazy? No, it is modern democratic society which is for us oppressive, over-regulated. As a man you are not free. You see a beautiful woman, you cannot rape her. You cannot beat your wife. You cannot steal. You cannot kill an enemy."
Zizek is correct to distinguish the views of Martin Luther King from those of today's "left". Racism is not a problem of insufficient tolerance. Racism is a problem of failing to demand universal values.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at March 20, 2009 07:22 AM
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in. Now you can comment. (sign out)
(This comment system is not reliable. Half the time it won't let me comment on my own blog. Please don't take it personally if it does not work for you. Alternative suggestions would be welcome but best remember I am technologically incompetent. Thanks for your patience.)
