Hitting Foul Balls On College Street

Author: Ben Gore

On the far fringe of human thought, all divisions are meaningless. When you move beyond Democrats and Republicans, socialism and capitalism, punk rock and boy bands, you move into a realm where all facets of existence are simply about existence. Music is about life. Economics is about life. Politics is about life.

A man and a woman meet in a desert. There are no other people in the world. Every thing they do with each other is politics. Every time they eat it is economics. Every moment of their existence is art. So what?

The purpose of this column: Move beyond the boring "politics" of Washington (my hometown). Washington is only relevant because of its police and army. Its thoughts are old and stale. This is quickly becoming obvious in a world embroiled in deepening crisis.

Nota bene: The U.S. is a great country filled with great people (and a few grizzly bears). Our government is silly. The status quo is un-American. So what?

The purpose of this column: Stop playing the game because the rules are killing us. Walk out of bounds and into the woods. Come back and try to convince everyone else that the game is dumb and that they should take off their clothes and roll in the leaves.

Protest has many uses and exists everywhere and at all times. It is inherently political because everything is inherently political. Protest is not necessarily rational; it can be a visceral reaction to wrong. Rational is not always good. Conventional politics are not rational: Trent Lott argues that he needs an SUV to see his grandkids. So what?

All politics is conflict. All conflicts contain some degree of polarization. Each side demonizes the other out of necessity. They do battle and the stronger side wins. This is not bad; this is the way things are supposed to be. Polite discussion of politics is only possible when both sides are equal. The only way people can oppose amassed power is with anger. Polite discussion is an excuse by apologists of the status quo.

To say that civil disobedience, and protest generally, is theoretically and practically weak is the position of authority. The 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed because of massive PROTEST across the country and for no other reason. Protest is a direct manifestation of people's will, as opposed to the manipulated, mediated manifestation of representative government. Laws are meant to promote good. If they don't do that, they are useless. The world can and has existed without laws or governments and probably will again. The nation-state is withering under the dual attack of corporate globalization and regionalism. This is not necessarily bad. We would do well to think of what comes next. So what?

The purpose of this column: To provoke discussion about what comes next.

Seattle was not a particularly violent protest. A few windows broken; a few heads broken (by cops). It was not mindless. Any civil disobedience or destruction was well thought out and executed with discipline. You don't have to agree with it. November 30, 1999 destroyed the Washington Consensus that had prevailed for 50 years.

The anti-globalization movement is a response to the mental and physical alienation of corporate capitalism and its manipulation of our desires through advertising. Since corporations and their messages pervade all of life, everything the movement does — eating, sleeping, making love, shutting down cities, lobbying — is political. The movement is suggesting, by its existence and in writing, solutions. If you don't know that, you aren't listening. All protests offer solutions; if they don't they aren't protests, they're art and they are their own solution. Think about that when you look at our campus.

The purpose of my last column: To discuss the nature of our government and what we can do to make it better. Energy policy was an example. I could argue it as well as anyone if I chose, but that's boring, that's not the point (I've already done it).

Speaking of me: Who am I that I can make such ridiculous statements? I'm a writer and an activist. I've been involved in politics since I was 13. I've stopped highways and subdivisions, protected forests, and implemented recycling at most of the schools in my county (138). I've lobbied in my city, state and in Congress. I've blocked roads and I've been to jail. I know how conventional politics works because I've made it work. I know the President of the Sierra Club. So what?

People like to talk about the activists here alienating or marginalizing them. It's funny how the bourgeoisie co-opts the language of the revolution. What's not funny is that, everyone, Middlebury included, is now part of the alienated and marginalized class. Watch "The Matrix." It's true. Watch "Fight Club." That's true, too. Easy to laugh at, though, because they're movies.

Activists here don't alienate people; we couldn't possibly push you any farther that direction than you've already been pushed. When we're not being cute and cuddly (painting yellow bikes, making biodiesel, doing energy audits), we offend a good portion of the people here. Two reasons for that: Our silly button pushing brings you too close to your alienation for comfort. Or, you actually become less alienated, come closer to the real root of things and it makes you scared or angry. Pretty presumptuous, huh? So what?

I came to Middlebury for the mountains and stayed for the English department. I like it here. But we, the future ruling elite, talk too softly and play too safe. The world is dangerous, violent and exciting. Getting things done means stepping on toes, shouting in ears and maybe even tearing down some fencing. Having fun means taking risks.

Suggestion: If the 'activism' that happens on campus, the posters that go up and the columns that get written still make you uncomfortable or angry, do something positive. Don't write thousand word essays about how other people are stupid. Do something daring in support of something you like or against something you hate. Telling other people the right way to act is an existential dead end (Sartre was avant-garde).

Suggestion: If you're not getting all this, try the following: Go for a walk in the woods. Have sex in a public place. Think about something in your room, or Proctor, that really pisses you off and break it. Don't write that paper that's due tomorrow if you'd rather go jogging. Act as if the police didn't exist for a day. If that doesn't do it then there's nothing you can do but wait and see what the world can dish up.

Conclusions: Stepping out of bounds might be insanity. So what?