Changes

*[[Michel Foucault]] frequently told his students to go out and take risks on a limb, with neither questions nor answers. In addition, he frequently did [[LSD]], [[drugs]], various forms of sadomasochism, and [[homosexuality]], the latter of which landed him with [[AIDS]], and his infecting countless others during the final years of his life.<ref name=Kimball/>

*[[Michel Foucault]] frequently told his students to go out and take risks on a limb, with neither questions nor answers. In addition, he frequently did [[LSD]], [[drugs]], various forms of sadomasochism, and [[homosexuality]], the latter of which landed him with [[AIDS]], and his infecting countless others during the final years of his life.<ref name=Kimball/>

*Nicholas de Genova, an assistant professor of anthropology and Latina/o studies at Columbia University, made comments denouncing the American military and American patriotism in 2003. After being given negative responses from various people, Genova reiterated his statements, and has even implied he advocated in the name of self-determination having "a million more Mogadishus" regarding the then-recently occurring Iraq War, and has considered Vietnam a "victory for human self-determination," and has also implied that he's for "America" as in the continents, not the actual USA.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030605124701/https://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/03/31/3e881bf8297f2 "Letters to the editor:  professor qualifies quotation in article and addresses criticism"]<br />To the Editor:

*Nicholas de Genova, an assistant professor of anthropology and Latina/o studies at Columbia University, made comments denouncing the American military and American patriotism in 2003. After being given negative responses from various people, Genova reiterated his statements, and has even implied he advocated in the name of self-determination having "a million more Mogadishus" regarding the then-recently occurring Iraq War, and has considered Vietnam a "victory for human self-determination," and has also implied that he's for "America" as in the continents, not the actual USA.<ref>De Genova, Nicholas (March 21, 2003).

  Spectator, now for the second time in less than a year, has succeeded to quote me in a remarkably decontextualized and inflammatory manner. In Margaret Hunt Gram's report on the faculty teach-in against the war in Iraq (March 27, 2003), I am quoted as wishing for a million Mogadishus but with no indication whatsoever of the perspective that framed that remark. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that your Staff Editorial in the same issue, denouncing the teach-in for "dogmatism," situates me in particular as the premier example of an academic "launching tirades against anything and everything American."<br><br>

[https://web.archive.org/web/20030605124701/https://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/03/31/3e881bf8297f2 "Letters to the editor:  professor qualifies quotation in article and addresses criticism"]<br />To the Editor:<br>

  ''Spectator'', now for the second time in less than a year, has succeeded to quote me in a remarkably decontextualized and inflammatory manner. In Margaret Hunt Gram's report on the faculty teach-in against the war in Iraq (March 27, 2003), I am quoted as wishing for a million Mogadishus but with no indication whatsoever of the perspective that framed that remark. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that your Staff Editorial in the same issue, denouncing the teach-in for "dogmatism," situates me in particular as the premier example of an academic "launching tirades against anything and everything American."<br><br>

In my brief presentation, I outlined a long history of U.S. invasions, wars of conquest, military occupations, and colonization in order to establish that imperialism and white supremacy have been constitutive of U.S. nation-state formation and U.S. nationalism. In that context, I stressed the necessity of repudiating all forms of U.S. patriotism. I also emphasized that the disproportionate majority of U.S. troops come from racially subordinated and working-class backgrounds and are in the military largely as a consequence of a treacherous lack of prospects for a decent life. Nonetheless, I emphasized that U.S. troops are indeed confronted with a choice--to perpetrate this war against the Iraqi people or to refuse to fight and contribute toward the defeat of the U.S. war machine.<br><br>

In my brief presentation, I outlined a long history of U.S. invasions, wars of conquest, military occupations, and colonization in order to establish that imperialism and white supremacy have been constitutive of U.S. nation-state formation and U.S. nationalism. In that context, I stressed the necessity of repudiating all forms of U.S. patriotism. I also emphasized that the disproportionate majority of U.S. troops come from racially subordinated and working-class backgrounds and are in the military largely as a consequence of a treacherous lack of prospects for a decent life. Nonetheless, I emphasized that U.S. troops are indeed confronted with a choice--to perpetrate this war against the Iraqi people or to refuse to fight and contribute toward the defeat of the U.S. war machine.<br><br>

I also affirmed that Iraqi liberation can only be effected by the Iraqi people themselves, both by resisting and defeating the U.S. invasion as well as overthrowing a regime whose brutality was long sustained by none other than the U.S. Such an anti-colonial struggle for self-determination might involve a million Mogadishus now but would ultimately have to become something more like another Vietnam. Vietnam was a stunning defeat for U.S. imperialism; as such, it was also a victory for the cause of human self-determination.<br><br>

I also affirmed that Iraqi liberation can only be effected by the Iraqi people themselves, both by resisting and defeating the U.S. invasion as well as overthrowing a regime whose brutality was long sustained by none other than the U.S. Such an anti-colonial struggle for self-determination might involve a million Mogadishus now but would ultimately have to become something more like another Vietnam. Vietnam was a stunning defeat for U.S. imperialism; as such, it was also a victory for the cause of human self-determination.<br><br>

Is this a tirade against "anything and everything American"? Far from it. First, I hasten to remind you that "American" refers to all of the Americas, not merely to the United States, as U.S. imperial [[chauvinism]] would have it. More importantly, my rejection of U.S. nationalism is an appeal to liberate our own political imaginations such that we might usher in a radically different world in which we will not remain the prisoners of U.S. global domination.  

Is this a tirade against "anything and everything American"? Far from it. First, I hasten to remind you that "American" refers to all of the Americas, not merely to the United States, as U.S. imperial [[chauvinism]] would have it. More importantly, my rejection of U.S. nationalism is an appeal to liberate our own political imaginations such that we might usher in a radically different world in which we will not remain the prisoners of U.S. global domination.<br><br>

 

Nicholas De Genova<br>

 

March 21, 2003<br>

Nicholas De Genova  

March 21, 2003  

The author is an assistant professor of anthropology and latina/o studies.</ref>

The author is an assistant professor of anthropology and latina/o studies.</ref>