Existe-t-il un Vide Intellectuel Négatif ?

Is There such a Thing as a Negatve Intellectual Void ?... Mais pourquoi, si les fonctionnaires du Wisconsin l’ont si bonne, pourquoi alors la queue est-elle bien plus longue pour avoir sa place à Wall Street, plutôt que son bureau à Madison? Et pourquoi, si la situation est si catastrophique, le congrès du Wisconsin a-il donné en réduction d’impôts aux fortunés et entreprises, ce qu’il cherche maintenant à prendre aux fonctionnaires? L’un des problèmes de Scott Walker, est qu’il est dans son genre aussi dogmatique que le Mullah Omar dans le sien, et du coup n’impose pas les mêmes efforts aux fonctionnaires réputés Républicains, comme les policiers et les pompiers. Il nous explique que c’est parce que l’Etat ne peut pas se passer d’eux, sous-entendu: si l’on n’a par contre, plus que des bras cassés pour enseigner vos enfants, ce n’est pas grave, tout est question de priorités. Se passe alors ce que clairement Scott Walker et ses amis, trop convaincus qu’ils sont de leur mission salvatrice, n’avaient pas prévu: les Sénateurs Démocrates du Wisconsin s’enfuient, tout de bon. ... Pendant 24 heures on ne sait pas où ils sont. ils sont réfugiés en Illinois, l’Etat, incidemment, dont l’étoile est Barack Obama. Sans eux, la législature du Wisconsin n’a pas le quorum pour passer la loi du Gouverneur. Des milliers de manifestants campent dans le Capitol, l’Amérique découvre qu’elle peut être, elle aussi, sujette à des mouvements populaires, oubliés depuis 1972, et ici sans aucun doutes en émulation avec ceux récents du Moyen Orient. Cela d’ailleurs n’échappent pas aux “révolutionnaires” Arabes, et des photos sur le net témoignent de la confraternité qu’ils ressentent pour leur frères Américains (voir photo dans le billet "The Cairo-Madison Express" plus bas, ou dans la catégorie archive "U.S. ...Les Sénateurs démocrates de l'Indiana sont eux aussi en fuite dans l’Illinois, décidément le refuge de tous les desperados progressistes en ce début 2011. En Caroline du Nord par contre, où le droit de grève a été supprimé en 1959, les manifestants réclament qu’il soit réinstauré. ... en Français, cela fait plus révolutionnaire, avant d’exhorter les Américains à retrouver l’Egyptien qui sommeille en eux (voir photo en haut de ce billet). Mais les réactionnaires sont à cœur perdu dans un catch pour lequel ils n’ont peut–être pas la carrure. Une interview téléphonique de Scott Walker a surgit, par un journaliste se faisant passer pour David Koch, l’un des milliardaires qui contribue généreusement aux campagnes et au programme du Tea Party. ... Mieux encore que dans l’incident de micro ouvert de Gordon Brown en Angleterre, l’on découvre un être glacial, méprisant, calculateur, déloyal, prêt à tout. C’est le parfait antidote, car cet entretien montre comment les grands financiers tels que David Koch, propriétaire de la plus riche entreprise sans capitalisation boursière des Etas Unis, tirent les ficelles, et achètent les conditions politiques de leur enrichissement perpétuel. ...Le Tea Party est porté par la rancœur des perdants du jeu de dupes Américain, et c’est beaucoup demander que d’espérer de la clairvoyance des passagers d’un ascenseur en chute libre. Sans même parler d’équité, il est pourtant indéniable que les employés du secteur public pourraient établir des standards, remparts pour tous aux Etats Unis. Mais lorsque l’argent de la confrérie des magnats est déterminé à détourner le plus grand nombre de leur propre intérêt, il n’est pas certain que les Américains sachent émuler profondément les révoltés du Moyen Orient qui ont tant envie d’être leur inspiration. ...Assuming that President Obama is only a reactive actor in this, he at least, understood immediately that it was the chance for America to step out of the military logic it is addicted to. Without doubt, Barack Obama understands that if after nine years in Afghanistan, the most powerful army in the world of the richest country in the world has neither managed to tame the Taliban, nor convinced Afghans that the U.S. has better offerings for them than the Islamists, then it is time to get out of the reptilian logic. In any case the attitude of the U.S. president in light of the revolts in the Middle East, proves that he is convinced that the U.S. image in Muslim land is now more strategic than its intercontinental missiles, and it is therefore vital that its administration defends in the Arab world the values which America claims so loudly. All this fascinates Americans, obsessed with everything related to Islam since September 11, an obsession that manifests itself either by hate or by the need for understanding, whether one is reactionary or not. ... Since the end of the Clinton era, the standard of living has been falling for the middle class, a consequence of globalization, of the hegemony of the military at the expense of public investment, while powerful lobbies at the service of those privileged by the Status Quo, pound the battle of ideas to deliver the election of officials acquired, it is the word, to their needs. ...It is the nation of the western world where social inequality is greatest, Sweden being the most egalitarian one, fairly close to a perfect mathematical equality, which shows that it is possible. It is in this America that in late 2010, Barack Obama had to concede to the Republicans, a two-year extension of tax cuts for billionaires and millionaires, while their deficit cloud the U.S. prospect for a viable financial future. ...One of their most implacable soldiers, Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin carried by the Tea Party wave, and who, as any governor could very well see himself President, decides that it is also necessary to abolish collective bargaining rights for State Employees. Because of course, were it not for those bastards who take it easy in the public service, and are paid so handsomely, Wisconsin finances would be perfectly healthy, no doubt. But why, if Wisconsin officials have it so good, why is the line is so much longer for a spot on Wall Street, rather than for an office in Madison? And why, if the situation is so catastrophic, did Wisconsin Congress give in tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations, what it now seeks to take away from State Employees? One of the problems of Scott Walker, is that he is in his way, as dogmatic as the Mullah Omar in his, and does not ask the same efforts from presumed Republican State Employees such as police and firefighters. He explains that that’s because the state can not do without them, understand: if on another hand we have half baked folks to teach your children that is not a serious problem, it's all a matter of priorities. Happens then what Scott Walker and his friends, clearly too convinced that they are of their God given mission, had not expected: the Democratic senators from Wisconsin run away, without notice--A new variation on Professor Laborit "In Praise of Flight (to flee)" which is touched on in “Mon Oncle D’Amérique” a too little known gem of a movie by famed French director Alain Resnais--For 24 hours we do not know where they are. they fled to Illinois, the state incidentally, whose star is Barack Obama. ... Thousands of protesters camp in the Capitol, America discovers that she too, may be subject to popular movements forgotten since 1972, and here no doubt in emulation with those of the Middle East. This does not escape the "revolutionary" Arabs, and photos on the net show the brotherhood they feel for their Americans brothers (see photo in the "The Cairo-Madison Express" below, or in the "U.S. ...Ohio is moving to pass a similar law, Oklahoma would already have done so, Michigan, New Jersey and Florida are aspiring to do the same. ... The fight is reminiscent of the pension reform in France, and the weekly "The Nation" exhorts “Take Offense” "In French on its cover (“Indignez-Vous”) as that might sound more revolutionary, before urging Americans to wake up the Egyptian sleeping in them (see photo at top of this entry). ...A telephone interview of Scott Walker has come up, by a journalist posing as David Koch, a billionaire who contributes generously to the campaigns and program of the Tea Party. ... It is the perfect antidote, for this interview shows how great financiers such as David Koch, owner of the United States largest privately held corporation, pull the strings and buy the political conditions for their perpetual enrichment. ...The Tea Party is carried by the resentment felt by the losers of the American dupes game, and it is asking a lot to expect foresightedness from the passengers of an elevator in free fall. ... But when the money of the Brotherhood of tycoons is determined to divert the many from their own best interest, it is not clear that Americans will emulate the insurgents in the Middle East who yearn to be their inspiration. ]]>jeanius@artmessengers.comU.S. PoliticsRadio Le Mouv2011-02-21T10:14:36-05:00http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/RevolutionWisconsin.php#unique-entry-id-13http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/RevolutionWisconsin.php#unique-entry-id-13jeanius@artmessengers.comRadio Le MouvU.S.CultureNews & Observer2011-01-02T11:21:50-05:00http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/ForumMouv_10-12-31.php#unique-entry-id-12http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/ForumMouv_10-12-31.php#unique-entry-id-12Jean-Christian On Radio France Broadcast "Le Forum du Mouv, December 31, 2010 ...ERIC LANGE : And this is Jean-Christian who is with us, Good evening Jean-Christian. J-C : Good evening Eric, how are you? ERIC LANGE : Very well thanks, still in Durham in the United States ? J-C : Oh yes, yes, we don't move from here, when one arrives to Durham you know, not only does one always come back, but also sometimes, one never leaves, like. ERIC LANGE : Jean-Christian is one of those French, installed in the United States, since what ? ...ERIC LANGE : Here it is, and nevertheless, you never really integrated in America, did you, you keep an extremely critical eye ? J-C : oh yes, yes, no, yes, I don't know, you know, when I immigrated here, I was full of good intentions, and then I had to face reality, and this is how I became the gesture, the one who says what the others often don't dare to utter, or even sometimes don't even see, because they are too Americans or too complacent. There is a lot of French who actually give me strange looks, I mean French folks from here, because I say .., I don't know, because I don't behave in a good, well disciplined immigrant fashion, but hey, that's life, one cannot change nature. ERIC LANGE : But it seems to me that in the U.S. it is kind of tough to have political discussions, no ? Because folks don't want to argue with each others, they want to stay on the "enjoy" level, they don't want to fight. ...And you know, where I am it is the South, that is even worse. I fell that you did not really often went in the South, that your experience of the U.S. might be more North East or California bound, but here in the south, there is a culture of absolute complacency, never make any wave, it is an extremely conservative environment, as a matter of fact, it shows politically. The South which historically was Democrat, in fact because it went back to civil rights fights (Note to reader : yes sorry, got that wrong in the spur of the moment, I meant "Civil War"), when around 1968, Blacks got their more or less final emancipation, then the whites who had become Democrats, I don't even remember why... (Note to reader : "well yeah J-C, you can't remember because you were confusing historical facts) but there was a reason, although in fact they were "sunny days" Democrats, not real ones, hyper conservative Democrats, and now they have decided to be Republicans once in for all, which at least has the merit of being honest. So, yes, the South, that is very very conservative, and one tries to never say anything that would remotely be controversial. ERIC LANGE : And that is quite astonishing, in an America where people are quite free speaking in the media, in books, in movies, conversely, between individuals there is much more difficulty to approach challenging topics. J-C : But even in the media, there is never ... I don't know, I sometimes feel that in France we are freer in our tone, if you want. If one compares Radio France, France Inter and NPR, , the former are freer in their tone than on NPR ! For instance there is never any instance of sexual talk in the U.S., any. For instance I remember hearing Guillon rather recently on France iNter, and apparently that did not bring him luck, he was talking of "Dicks" "Balls, and so on. Never, never, will you hear that here, it is an absolutely taboo. ERIC LANGE : You can't say "Fuck" in America. J-C : Or even a language that may be remotely little crass, or a little Gaelic, oh no, absolutely not. ERIC LANGE : In two words Jean-Christian, this year was important for you, you were featured in Le Mode, the newspaper Le Monde ? J-C : Yes, yes, that was a high note. ... I am not absolutely sure of that, I don't know the statistics, but I assume that there is quite few people that have been published in Le Monde, both in writing and photography. Because most of time photographers don't write, and I am primarily a photographer. So yes, I was extremely flattered by this, yes. ERIC LANGE : Jean-Christian, thanks a lot, Happy New Year, you are partying tonight ? ...I just wanted to add that what stands out for me in 2010, is Wikileaks. I heard the fellow earlier, who started his summary with Wikileaks, I think that was an important part of 2010, as a materialization of the fracture between the establishment on one side, and the people on the other, which found that Wikileaks in the end that was not that bad, they like it when the powerful get hit and their crap gets revealed. And it was also very revealing to see that fracture, even among journalists ... ...I don't know what you got in the U.S., in France all the so called pundits, you know, all the journalism establishment, all of a sudden when they saw Wikileaks arrive, all the syndicated columnists,everybody well installed in journalism in France were saying "oh but no, but that is not good, they have invented a new dictatorship of transparency ..." and when I saw all these guys, these well tinkling fellows, all those well established editorialists plus all the politics around, all undermining Wikileaks, of course I automatically thought that was something wonderful ... J-C : I don't know if we are allowed to talk of ... ... But on France inter there was a debate, either the day of, or the following one, they had invited in the morning show, Hubert Védrines, who as a start is not ... I was kind of disappointed by him, because here is one I used to have more respect for, So here he was, offended by ... or more exactly as the incarnation of the establishment offended by, saying that "Wikileaks.., where was the big deal ... They did not reveal anything that everybody did not already know etc ..." Which was not really true, as a matter off act, because it is not quite the same thing as hearing rumors, and all of a sudden seeing the cables from the U.S. Department of State verifying that all the suspicions we may have had were founded. And around the table, and that is what was most marvelous about it, on one hand you had Bernard Guetta, posing as the chief pundit, clearly associated with Védrines, those two seem to be very good friends, and across you had Thomas Legrand, whom I like very much, I love his writing style ... and they just got into it. ... But between Bernard Guetta and Thomas Legrand, I though that was an extraordinary radio moment. ERIC LANGE : I am very much with you, Wikilaks, that was a great event this year, it it will change the landscape. Thank you my dear Jean-Christian, we keep in touch ? J-C : My pleasure, of course Eric, talk to you soon. ...ERIC LANGE : All right, talk to you very soon, in a moment you come back on the air. ...

Jean-Christian dans le Forum du Mouv, 31 Décembre 2010

...Dans le podcast inclus au bas de ce post, vous entendrez ma conversation avec Eric Lange dans l'émission de clôture de l'année 2010 qui récapitulait les temps forts des 12 mois écoulés. Nous y parlons notamment de comment Wikileaks secoua l'establishment et mis à jour la fracture entre d'un côté l'establishment et ses laquais, notamment ceux de la presse, les barons qui sont en charge de faire l'opinion, et de l'autre la masse de ceux qui en ont assez de la suffisance de l'establishment et de ses privilèges, et se régalent de voir les seigneurs révélés dans leurs duplicité. ]]>jeanius@artmessengers.comU.S. PoliticsU.S.CultureRadio France Inter2010-06-20T10:39:00-04:00http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/UnionSquareParadox.php#unique-entry-id-11http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/UnionSquareParadox.php#unique-entry-id-11The Union Square Paradox We are on Union Square, Manhattan. You wouldn't know, it looks like a scene out of Brave New World. There are lads in the foreground, busy handing political flyers, it is Union Square after all. In the background is a very sleek, metal and glass building and on it some numbers keep changing as if it were a counter. ... How many cars go by, what the production has been today, how much is left to do until the end of the month? Is it Brave New World or not? I asked the folks in the photograph if they knew what those numbers were about. They did not, were not wondering either, I guess as long as it does not affect the taste of coffee... In fact I had already asked my wife before, and she had said that it was the national debt. I just wanted to be sure, because that was too much. Come on, a counter measuring the national debt on a Best Buy building? It is not Aldious Huxley now, rather Peter Sellers. But everybody was adamant, my wife, Mario who has been living in NY for 30 years, and several older folks who have been around enough to pay attention. As a matter of fact, Google "Union Square Numbers" and you will find several docs who indeed acknowledge the urban legend: ...In fact this has nothing to do with the national debt, it is modern art, like me. This is part of an art installation, a tribute to time done by artists Kristen Jones and Andrew Ginzel called The Metronome: ...Yes but then why is everybody convinced that this is the national debt figure? Because Americans know that they are in deep debt, and consequently a number with more digits than the brain can assimilate, has to be the debt, especially if displayed so conspicuously. ... Americans are in fact pretty much as much in debt as Europeans, except that at that price, they don't have the same common wealth in infrastructure, physical and social. Yet it is the Euro that goes down against the Dollar and the European economies which are presumably in such bad shape! This is the God father of all paradoxes. PODCAST : I have appeared on the French NPR (France Inter) in Eric Lange's show "Allo La Planéte" on June17, 2010 to speak about this photograh, the podcast is below. ...

Le Paradoxe de Union Square

“Union Square” parce que c’est là que cela se passe, à Manhattan. “Paradox” parce que ce qui s’y passe est paradoxal. Biensur il s’agit d’un univers comme si inspiré du Meilleur des Mondes, celui d’Aldious Huxley. On y voit des quidams qui s’agitent, dans tous les sens, et il y a un bâtiment, bien moderne, qui fait sérieux, comme celui du patron, avec tout un tas de chiffres qui défilent. Ca doit être un compteur, mais pour compter quoi? Les gens qui passent, combien ils produisent, ce qu’il reste à emmagasiner d'ici la fin du mois? J’ai demandé aux gars dans l’image, si ils savaient à quelle sauce ils étaient comptés? Ils savaient pas, s’étaient pas posés la question. ... En fait on dit que ces chiffres, ce sont ceux de la dette. ... Ce qu’on doit, tous, enfin... eux, les Américains. C’est ce que la rumeur dit, si on demande à des ceusses qui ont une idée, ils disent tous, c’est la dette, pas d’exception, en fait c’est documenté, sur Google. ...Ben non, c’est pas incroyable, les ricains doivent un paquet au reste du monde, surtout les Chinois, alors, non, c’est pas incroyable. Je veux dire que ce qui est incroyable c’est qu’on ait pu trouver un farceur qui soit aller placer le compteur de la dette sur le mur d’un magasin “Best Buy,” l'équivalent de Darty ou la FNAC. ... Du genre “allez, voyons voir si on peut s’endetter un peu plus aujourd’hui? En s’y mettant tous au doit pouvoir alléger les chintoks d’un milliard de plus...” ...En fait, le problème, c’est que le compteur ne mesure absolument pas le dette. En fait c’est de l’art moderne, comme moi. Mais là c’est une sculpture, qui mesure le temps qui passe, qui est passé et qui reste d'ici à Minuit. ...Un peu dure à suivre, mais rien d’autre qu’un hommage au temps, nous sommes dans la quatrième dimension. Oui mais alors, pourquoi tout le monde croit-il que c’est la dette? Parce que les Américains sont aussi endettés que les Européens, et qu'un numéro avec plus de chiffres que le cerveau ne peut enregistrer, ce ne peut être que la dette, surtout si affiché sur un mur, comme un avertissement. ... Surtout que à ce prix là, les Américains n'ont pas la moitié du patrimoine des Européens en terme d’infrastructure, tant matérielle que sociale. Mais c’est l’Euro qui baisse contre le Dollar, et les économies Européennes qui seraient au bord de la banqueroute. Le pére de tous les Paradoxes! PODCAST : j'ai été invité le 17 Juin 2010 dans "Allo la Planéte" l'émission d'Eric Lange sur France Inter pour parler de cette photo, et j'y fais aussi un appel du 18 Juin 2010 (l'émission commence à 23:00, mais continue le 18 Juin jusqu'à 1:00), pour offrir une vraie solution pour les retraites. ]]>jeanius@artmessengers.comCubaMusic2010-12-08T10:51:07-05:00http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/johnlennonisalive.php#unique-entry-id-10http://jean-christian.net/Blog/files/johnlennonisalive.php#unique-entry-id-10 Chat with John Lennon Havana, July 2003 Conversation avec John Lennon La Havanne, Juillet 2003

John Lennon is Alive !

John Lennon is alive! Thirty years ago today he had to withdraw from the public eye, but he is still around. The proof is that I was able to chat with him in July 2003 in Havana where he resides. The photograph above should leave no doubt to the most demanding skeptics. I met him in a park that bares his name in a quiet part of the town. It is said that Fidel as well lives nearby. On the day we spoke, there were some kind of local Gypsy Kings, playing Beatles tunes, serenading John (see photographs in right column), and I guarantee you, these guys were good. They offered me some rum, it mellows the voice. They are still available for contract should there be any enterprising music industry fellow listening. Listening, I can assure you that John knows how to listen. Nobody bothers John in Havana, he is happy there, maybe you want to visit him. How cool is that huh? If you do, please tell him I miss him. Here are a few scenes of Cuba : Havana Waking Up/La Havane se Réveille Cuba Contra la Guerra Dulce Vida Habanera What Kind of Victor ?

This Appeared in the Raleigh, North Carolina News & Observer on November 12, 2010 and illustrates the cult for the wealthy in the U.S, see focus on text below

Ceci est apparu dans le News & Observer de Raleigh, Caroline du Nord, et montre le culte pour les grandes fortunes aux Etats Unis, voir vue du texte ci-dessous