2004-10-29 - 2:39 a.m.
I finally read this article closely:
http://www.duncankennedy.net/docs/Legal%20Education%20as%20Training%20for%20Hierarchy_Politics%20of%20Law.pdf
it is both empowering and frustrating- empowering because it articulates the miseries of law school, frustrating because open resistance is largely futile
--
tonight was an emotional night- I went to the Somerville Alderman meeting- there were close to 100 people supporting the resolution on divestment from Israel, most residents, some from as far away as Cape Cod- three beautiful people gave impassioned testimonials about the importance of supporting Palestinian rights-
then the Alderman spoke- the first two came out strong in favor of the resolution- the third came out in support but was obviously a spineless politician going with the flow- the fourth seemed swayed but stayed silent thereafer- the next two were virulently anti-resolution, citing the need to "hear the other side" and wanted to send it to a committee, as if they couldn't make up their mind through their own research- the spineless politician caved in- the first speaker was silent- the fourth alderman was silent- only the second alderman stayed strong-
the resolution had 9 co-sponsors- there were only 11 alderman- it was incredible, how spineless the alderman were- IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE THE ASSU, TRYING TO GET THE SENATORS TO PASS A RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION (or to do anything else, for that matter)
the energy and the emotion in the room was palpable- we were moments away from becoming the first city in the united states to pass a resolution divesting from israel (and companies contracted by israel to develop instruments of war crimes)- DAMN SPINELESS POLITICIANS
i know this resolution can pass- i think this group can reorganize into a political force in somerville after it passes- it is highly organized!!
on a peculiar and disturbing note- a woman asked me after the meeting and asked if i wanted to hear the dirt on some of the alderman- she said the alderman firmly supporting the resolution is a prison guard at an extreme high-security prison!!! very disturbing...
