Dear Koray,
I am touched by your desire to communicate this tragedy to the list of
readers of Foucault. I, too, have a number of hopes for the Turkish
protesters. And, given Foucault's own commitments, I think you are
correct in reaching out to this list as a preliminary source of support
and solidarity.
Your plea, and the apparent lack of response from myself and my fellow
list members does make a few things quite apparent, though.
I mention this only because you and this plea have hit a particularly
sensitive nerve of my own, owing to recent events. It is that while
academics/intellectuals do owe something in the way of sensitivity,
caring, concern, etc., we/they cannot be expected to bear the brunt of
all inequities and injustices. Please, give us this, at least. Many of
us really do have tremendous concern for many and/or all of those who
face such injustices and inequities. Yes, we all ought to do more. But
let us not suppose that what we do is confined to this medium. The mere
fact that there was not an outpouring of sadness and/or outrage at the
injustices does not translate into a lack of concern.
Yet at the same time, I know that you were not suggesting this is the
case.
We are all doing what we can, I guess. This is one medium, and, truth
be told, not a very effective medium for effecting action. Perhaps the
fact that postings seething with our collective and individual outrage
did not materialize ought not to be taken merely as an indication of our
collective and individual apathy -- which is not to say that doesn't
exist -- but perhaps it points to the inefficacious clout of this medium
as an institution of its own, despite the claims of those who would try
to convince us all of its vast and insipid power.
I know that you were trying to do what you felt you could. But a few
hacks and a few less intellectuals are not going to stop a hunger strike
with our/their hollow-warning words. I have no doubt about the eventual
importance of this medium, but I do doubt its imminent relevance to such
things as hunger strikes. Those who recently died needed far more than
some distant threats about the illicit use of institutional/governmental
power.
Yet, never the less, I encourage you to continue to make such postings.
Also, while I have said the above, all the same, shame on us all for not
taking a stand.
Peace,
Blaine Rehkopf
Dept of Philosophy
York University
Canada
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