To what extremes, O vegan? (part 3)

In part 1 I explored the historical backdrop to veganism in the West, in the case of the world’s premier vegan faith, Jainism.  In part 2 I explored some of the logical problems potentially inherent to the “necessary extremism” of veganism, particularly the idea of the absolute equality between the species.

In the epilogue of part 2 I promised to address the question of whether veganism, for all its logical conundrums, is nevertheless necessary in contemporary capitalist America.  Alas, I will be breaking the promise and belaying my answer until the next and final post, part 4.

The reason is because I feel there is another issue that needs to be addressed during the intermission: since vegans are by definition radicals, the riddle they face is not one of how far they desire to go, but how far they are willing to accomodate the rest of us.  I also wish to explore the larger philosophical implications of their economic endeavors.

Is the shoe mightier than the pen (or postcolonial theory)?

Bush's image has been associated with shoes throughout the Arabic Middle East (photo: BBC)

There’s been a lot of debate in the blogosphere whether it is “racist,” “anti-Arab,” or “Orientalist” to claim that shoe-throwing is a distinctly Arab way of flipping a person the bird.  Consider the following exchange between readers on the Foreign Policy blog:

TheScudStud88: Er, Orientalist cliches aside, is it not an insult in the West to throw a shoe at someone?

Blake Hounshell: That one’s really not an Orientalist cliche; It really is an insult. Sure, it’s not exactly a friendly thing in the United States, but it’s not the default option.

TheScudStud88: So you agree then that [the characterization] is a taaaaaaad misleading/ wrong categorization? I mean who wouldn’t consider it an insult to have a shoe thrown at them?

kidzib: i don’t think arabs devote nearly as much symbolic value to foot-oriented insults as, say, thais. maybe there was some symbolism to it all, but it was probably the only projectile object available for him to hurl at bush. what else would he have thrown? it’s not like he could’ve smuggled in anything heavier and more dangerous…

then again, a common arabic insult translates as “may a shoe land on your head!” but do you really think the guy thought all that out before he went ballistic (literally!)?

And so on. Part of the problem is that people are confusing their particularist apples with generalist oranges.  Think about it: when was the last time you saw an American, European, African, or Asian lobbing their shoes at a political leader?  Speaking for Americans, we prefer pies.

Funnily enough, a blogger is at the center of the debate:  Asa’ad Abu Khalil, a.k.a., the Angry Arab News Service.  In 2007, Khalil wrote,

Don’t you love it when Western reporters explain to their readers differences between their culture and Arab culture?  I don’t know about you, but I really love it.  Here is from the New York Times:   “During the argument, heated words were exchanged and shoes were thrown, a severe insult in the Arab world.”

So throwing a shoe at somebody is a “severe insult in the Arab world” but not anywhere else?  How exotic.  Tell me more, o culture experts of the New York Times.

A successful lecture, a new LinkedIn group, and a new look

I’m pleased to report that my lecture, “Log on, tune in, blog out: citizen-journalism, New Media, and subversive activity,” presented at Saint Joseph’s University, was well-received.  I’ve made it available for download in four parts (click on the thumbnail to the left).  I invite academics and journalists, as well as friends and readers, to make use of it and pass it around!

The lecture is a general survey of the darker side of Web 2.0-enabled New Media.  In particular, I explore some of its frightfully hilarious/hilariously frightful uses by subversive and revolutionary groups on the fringes of contemporary global society.  My case studies:

• the French National Front on Second Life;
• the Stormfront White Nationalist Community;
• the global anticapitalism movement (specifically, the IndyMedia Network);
• radical Islamism (specifically, AqsaTube);
• and the Second Life Liberation Army.

I lightly get into some of the theoretical issues, in particular the nature of New Media and today’s internet, and the role culture plays in determining the extent to which a subversive or revolutionary organization goes “high tech.”

The lecture is decidely “low tech,” intended for non-specialists and all-around end-users.  However, it may also be of value to those with technical or journalistic backgrounds who may not be aware of the various fringe subcultures forming around the new technology.

Preparing a lecture

I’m pleased to announce that I will be presenting a lecture to Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia on the happy topic of revolutionaries and online new media (click on the photo of the school to see a copy of the advertisement).  I owe the honor to Dr. Sabrina DeTurk, Associate Dean of Graduate Arts and Sciences Studies at SJU, and to the university’s Graduate Criminal Justice Program.

R.I.P. Mr. Grady: interview, “The Scope and Nature of University Education”

It is with a bemused pen that I report the passing of John Grady, the director of La Salle University’s Honors Program. Rightfully considered a pioneer of honors programs among small liberal arts colleges, for 34 years Mr. Grady was a major influence on the careers and lives of hundreds of La Salle graduates — myself (proudly) included. As with the passing of Dr. Michael Kerlin, a professor whom I deeply loved, Mr. Grady’s abscence will take some time to fathom.

Other weblogs covering Mr. Grady’s passing:

• Chevron Says… (and a memorial, “The Devout Educator,” available here)
  
• Perpetual Priest
• The Expatriate