In your writing and in the Blue Cities podcast you have shared so many ideas and perspectives— it’s refreshing and inspiring. Please keep sharing. In my opinion there is not a need for others to agree with everything or anything one says — it’s good enough that one’s speech is authentic, thoughtful, and provocative if the occasion calls for it.
With that said I just have a few comments about the podcast: Your views on decolonization could benefit from more contextualization, more political history of the international decolonization movement since WW2. That movement has seen a huge part of the world go through a formal United Nations decolonization process that has resulted in the retreat of European nations from many places they formerly invaded and declared to be their domain. The lovely thing about the decolonization movement is that Indigenous nations and activists in the USA have earnestly participated in the UN scene in an attempt to support decolonization and the realization of self determination rights for Indigenous nations too. It would be great if you were to appear at one of the international UN meetings and check out the scene and write about it with your keen perception skills and gift of wit. It’s exciting to be in some picturesque setting, say, in Vienna Austria, at an international conference of bonafide international human rights activists and leaders along with nation-state delegations, haggling over the nuances of an emerging document that is supposed to help us resolve our human rights or environmental issues.
There is a lot going on in the international human rights political arena and a whole tv series could be developed around it that focuses upon the activists and their dramatic and humorous adventures and their quasi covert intelligence antics (sometimes all too serious). Maybe you have already explored the international arena and have advocated for freedom of speech of authors at various UN meetings that addresses that topic? I don’t know? It just seemed to me that in the Blue Cities podcast you didn’t treat “decolonization“ with the sophistication that it deserves, with regard for the creative potential that it has for Indigenous writers.
I really enjoyed your interview. I do have a question though about a comment you made toward the end.
You referenced a BIPOC person criticizing white supremacy and yet in a relationship with someone white, stating that it is contradictory and harmful to the mixed race children of that relationship. I am a white person who criticizes racism and white supremacy, have since childhood, as I experience and see a difference between a person being white and a white person being a white supremacist/racist. Isn't it possible for a BIPOC person and their children to see the difference between a white person who is not racist or a white supremacist and one who is racist/ a white supremacist?
This is so excellent. I thank you a million and agree one gazillion per cent. Way to go speaking sense to partisan nonsense. ( "Mao" is just "Dog" spelled backwards in Queer Theory.)
This turned out to be a very fun conversation, and a great Blue City Blues episode. We've been getting very positive feedback from our listeners about it, which is gratifying and cool. Thx, Sherman, for taking the time to jibber jabber with us about the rise of "minor league Maoism" within the urban left and various other recent turns in the cosmopolitan cultural commitments of blue city educated elites!
Do I remember right that this is yours? Given to me 20 years ago by an old character everyone called Cadillac because he always drove one. It was when I moved from Napa to southwest Oregon to chase salmon. “ The salmon run so thick in this river that Grandmother walks across on a bridge made of their spines.”
Critical thinking and truth telling are gifts to those who are willing to participate. Love that podcast!
In your writing and in the Blue Cities podcast you have shared so many ideas and perspectives— it’s refreshing and inspiring. Please keep sharing. In my opinion there is not a need for others to agree with everything or anything one says — it’s good enough that one’s speech is authentic, thoughtful, and provocative if the occasion calls for it.
With that said I just have a few comments about the podcast: Your views on decolonization could benefit from more contextualization, more political history of the international decolonization movement since WW2. That movement has seen a huge part of the world go through a formal United Nations decolonization process that has resulted in the retreat of European nations from many places they formerly invaded and declared to be their domain. The lovely thing about the decolonization movement is that Indigenous nations and activists in the USA have earnestly participated in the UN scene in an attempt to support decolonization and the realization of self determination rights for Indigenous nations too. It would be great if you were to appear at one of the international UN meetings and check out the scene and write about it with your keen perception skills and gift of wit. It’s exciting to be in some picturesque setting, say, in Vienna Austria, at an international conference of bonafide international human rights activists and leaders along with nation-state delegations, haggling over the nuances of an emerging document that is supposed to help us resolve our human rights or environmental issues.
There is a lot going on in the international human rights political arena and a whole tv series could be developed around it that focuses upon the activists and their dramatic and humorous adventures and their quasi covert intelligence antics (sometimes all too serious). Maybe you have already explored the international arena and have advocated for freedom of speech of authors at various UN meetings that addresses that topic? I don’t know? It just seemed to me that in the Blue Cities podcast you didn’t treat “decolonization“ with the sophistication that it deserves, with regard for the creative potential that it has for Indigenous writers.
I really enjoyed your interview. I do have a question though about a comment you made toward the end.
You referenced a BIPOC person criticizing white supremacy and yet in a relationship with someone white, stating that it is contradictory and harmful to the mixed race children of that relationship. I am a white person who criticizes racism and white supremacy, have since childhood, as I experience and see a difference between a person being white and a white person being a white supremacist/racist. Isn't it possible for a BIPOC person and their children to see the difference between a white person who is not racist or a white supremacist and one who is racist/ a white supremacist?
Cultural libertarian for writers-that was a really interesting idea. Glad you raised it. The Warren/Trump joke was funny too-
I really enjoyed listening to this and could have listed for at least another hour! So interesting.
Fabulous interview.
This is so excellent. I thank you a million and agree one gazillion per cent. Way to go speaking sense to partisan nonsense. ( "Mao" is just "Dog" spelled backwards in Queer Theory.)
Wow without the bow.
This turned out to be a very fun conversation, and a great Blue City Blues episode. We've been getting very positive feedback from our listeners about it, which is gratifying and cool. Thx, Sherman, for taking the time to jibber jabber with us about the rise of "minor league Maoism" within the urban left and various other recent turns in the cosmopolitan cultural commitments of blue city educated elites!
--Sandeep
Thank you, Sandeep, I had a great time. And I've only caught a little bit of trouble!
What a happy surprise to hear you on the podcast. Great conversation too.
I had fun.
This looks like a pod that will keep me busy for a while…
Do I remember right that this is yours? Given to me 20 years ago by an old character everyone called Cadillac because he always drove one. It was when I moved from Napa to southwest Oregon to chase salmon. “ The salmon run so thick in this river that Grandmother walks across on a bridge made of their spines.”
The salmon running thick is my line.
Hopefully we'll be catching you on another podcast soon!