design by Storm Bear
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Empire's folly:
copyright paul kane 2007 all rights reserved
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Although I do find inspiration in religious imagery, I don't think of this as specifically a religious image, despite its obvious Christian Crucifixion association. One of the interesting things about most Christian images of the Crucifixion is that they are above all hierarchical. I wanted to show the crucified one surrounded by fellow human beings, separated from him only by their uniform dress, possibly armor.
Take away claims of Godhood and the crucifixion image so central to western culture has much in common with Billie Holiday's song, Strange Fruit:
http://www.youtube.com/...
To me, it represents the strange fruit of Empire, the fact that expansion and maintenance of Empire requires control and intimidation through fear and dehumanization and that the resulting tactics of empire lead to disloyalty, disharmony and ultimately dissolution.
And I see those same tactics at work in the American Empire today. We don't think we live in an Empire. It's invisible to us. I like this quote from Brian Holmes:
At stake here is society itself: the really existing forms of social cooperation. The Argentinean activist, Ezequiel Adamovsky, writes about exactly that: “Today, the division of labor is so deep, that each minute, even without realizing it, each of us is relying on the labor of millions of people from all over the world.” (1) This text, the words, the images, my voice through the microphone or over the Internet, is literally brought to you by the labors of Asia, the Americas, Africa and Europe combined. The question is, what guides the dynamics of our worldwide cooperation? How is order maintained?
http://info.interactivist.net/...
The PNAC, so influenctial under W, provided (I would submit) an answer to Holmes' question a decade ago, with another question:
Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests?
http://www.newamericancentury.org/...
I find the following statement from the PNAC particularly charming for the way it directly and unapologetically conflates World Peace (and order) with US interests; how very Roman! Shades of Pax Romana:
America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/...
PNAC is brazen enough to call such conflation:
moral clarity
Is it surprising to find that today, in this PNAC dominated 'administration', 'moral clarity' also means providing - if not crucifixions - stress positions and waterboarding to those we declare our enemies? And while we are not so barbaric as to unleash hungry lions on helpless prisoners, we seem to consider attack dogs somewhat Geneva-ish.
copyright paul kane 2007 all rights reserved
According to the PNAC, the United States must:
... build on the successes of this past century and ... ensure our security and our greatness in the next.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/...
Ah, the Glories of Rome, I mean, of the New American Century! So much better than the quaint ambitions of our founders:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
http://www.house.gov/...