Colonies Still?
[col. writ. 11/13/09] (c) '09 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Peter, a slave who has been whipped by his overseer, taken April 2, 1863. Photo credit unknown.
One of the greatest theorists, analysts and critics of colonialism was the late Martinican psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, but Dr. Fanon's work dwelled on the crises of colonialism in Africa.
We like to think that colonialism was a problem of yesteryear -- the '60's, '70's and early '80's. It's history -- right?
Well, what really matters isn't what we think, but what others in those countries think. We should also note that things change; sometimes in form but not in essence.
Earlier this year, a group of Pakistani intellectuals, activists, lawyers and political leaders produced a brief but collective report detailing the problems facing the nation. The 12-=page report, entitled Making Pakistan a Tenable State, lists 185 points of concern. Among them is the following, pt. 14 which states:
Today, Pakistan finds itself fully trapped in the whirl of liberalization,
globalization, privatization and the so-called war on terror. The
economic agreements and covenants bind Pakistan to follow policies
dictated from the outside. Similarly, the strategies and covenants bind
Pakistan to defend itself against foreign aggression are hugely dependent
upon the defense related agreements signed with the United States.
Frequent visits to Pakistan of the officials of the departments of state
and defense are indicative of the advices of the superpower we are
obliged to follow. Small wonder, Pakistan is recognized all over the
world as a client state of the United States. [22-3]
Client state. It's like the 21st century version of colony.
For if a nation can't freely make its own foreign policy, and must abide by the will of another, client is but a polite term.
The report covers Pakistan's colonial history, when it was part of India, when it was once known as East and West Pakistan divided by a vast expanse of Indian territory, and the control of the political elites by the moneyed classes.
When we speak of such states as "democracies" we are hardly being honest.
They are democracies in name only' client-states of the superpower.
--(c) '09 maj
[Sources: Independent Planning Commission of Pakistan, Making Pakistan a Tenable State. (Lahore, Pakistan: Ferozsons Ltd., 2009). ]
=============
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
URGENT Need for Petition Signatures at: http://www.iacenter.org/mumiapetition/
Audio of most of Mumia's essays are at: http://www.prisonradio.org
http://mumiapodcast.libsyn.com/
Mumia's got a podcast! Mumia Abu-Jamal's Radio Essays - Subscribe at the website or on iTunes and get Mumia's radio commentaries online.
Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING PRISONERS V. THE USA, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- has been released! It is available from City Lights Books: http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100448090
If you are planning to organize an event or would like to order in bulk, you can also receive a 45% discount on any bulk orders of 20 copies or more. The book retails for $16.95, for orders of 20 copies or more the discounted price would be $9.32 per book, plus shipping and handling. Prepayment would be required and books are nonreturnable. If you or your organization would like to place a bulk order, please contact Stacey Lewis at 415.362.1901 or stacey@citylights.com
Let's use the opportunity of the publication of this brilliant, moving, vintage Mumia book to build the momentum for his case, to raise the money we desperately need in these challenging economic times, to get the word out – to produce literature, flyers, posters, videos, DVD's; to send organizers out to help build new chapters and strengthen old ones, TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREETS … all the work that we must do in order to FREE MUMIA as he faces LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE OR EXECUTION!
Please make a contribution to help free Mumia. Donations to the grassroots work will go to both INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL and the FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL COALITION (NYC).
WWW.FREEMUMIA.COM
Please mail donations/ checks to:
FREE MUMIA ABU JAMAL COALITION
PO BOX 16, NEW YORK,
NY 10030
(CHECKS FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PAYABLE TO: FMAJC/IFCO)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
215 476-8812
212-330-8029
Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at:
Mumia Abu-Jamal
AM 8335
SCI-Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!!
Subscribe: mumiacolumns-subscribe@topica.com
Read: http://topica.com/lists/mumiacolumns/read
Subscribe ICFFMAJ email updates list by e-mailing
icffmaj@aol.com!
One of the greatest theorists, analysts and critics of colonialism was the late Martinican psychiatrist Frantz Fanon, but Dr. Fanon's work dwelled on the crises of colonialism in Africa.
We like to think that colonialism was a problem of yesteryear -- the '60's, '70's and early '80's. It's history -- right?
Well, what really matters isn't what we think, but what others in those countries think. We should also note that things change; sometimes in form but not in essence.
Earlier this year, a group of Pakistani intellectuals, activists, lawyers and political leaders produced a brief but collective report detailing the problems facing the nation. The 12-=page report, entitled Making Pakistan a Tenable State, lists 185 points of concern. Among them is the following, pt. 14 which states:
Today, Pakistan finds itself fully trapped in the whirl of liberalization,
globalization, privatization and the so-called war on terror. The
economic agreements and covenants bind Pakistan to follow policies
dictated from the outside. Similarly, the strategies and covenants bind
Pakistan to defend itself against foreign aggression are hugely dependent
upon the defense related agreements signed with the United States.
Frequent visits to Pakistan of the officials of the departments of state
and defense are indicative of the advices of the superpower we are
obliged to follow. Small wonder, Pakistan is recognized all over the
world as a client state of the United States. [22-3]
Client state. It's like the 21st century version of colony.
For if a nation can't freely make its own foreign policy, and must abide by the will of another, client is but a polite term.
The report covers Pakistan's colonial history, when it was part of India, when it was once known as East and West Pakistan divided by a vast expanse of Indian territory, and the control of the political elites by the moneyed classes.
When we speak of such states as "democracies" we are hardly being honest.
They are democracies in name only' client-states of the superpower.
--(c) '09 maj
[Sources: Independent Planning Commission of Pakistan, Making Pakistan a Tenable State. (Lahore, Pakistan: Ferozsons Ltd., 2009). ]
=============
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
URGENT Need for Petition Signatures at: http://www.iacenter.org/mumiapetition/
Audio of most of Mumia's essays are at: http://www.prisonradio.org
http://mumiapodcast.libsyn.com/
Mumia's got a podcast! Mumia Abu-Jamal's Radio Essays - Subscribe at the website or on iTunes and get Mumia's radio commentaries online.
Mumia Abu-Jamal's new book -- JAILHOUSE LAWYERS: PRISONERS DEFENDING PRISONERS V. THE USA, featuring an introduction by Angela Y. Davis -- has been released! It is available from City Lights Books: http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100448090
If you are planning to organize an event or would like to order in bulk, you can also receive a 45% discount on any bulk orders of 20 copies or more. The book retails for $16.95, for orders of 20 copies or more the discounted price would be $9.32 per book, plus shipping and handling. Prepayment would be required and books are nonreturnable. If you or your organization would like to place a bulk order, please contact Stacey Lewis at 415.362.1901 or stacey@citylights.com
Let's use the opportunity of the publication of this brilliant, moving, vintage Mumia book to build the momentum for his case, to raise the money we desperately need in these challenging economic times, to get the word out – to produce literature, flyers, posters, videos, DVD's; to send organizers out to help build new chapters and strengthen old ones, TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREETS … all the work that we must do in order to FREE MUMIA as he faces LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE OR EXECUTION!
Please make a contribution to help free Mumia. Donations to the grassroots work will go to both INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL and the FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL COALITION (NYC).
WWW.FREEMUMIA.COM
Please mail donations/ checks to:
FREE MUMIA ABU JAMAL COALITION
PO BOX 16, NEW YORK,
NY 10030
(CHECKS FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PAYABLE TO: FMAJC/IFCO)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
215 476-8812
212-330-8029
Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at:
Mumia Abu-Jamal
AM 8335
SCI-Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!!
Subscribe: mumiacolumns-subscribe@topica.com
Read: http://topica.com/lists/mumiacolumns/read
Subscribe ICFFMAJ email updates list by e-mailing
icffmaj@aol.com!
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