Re: [Marxism] Re: Saddam

["David Quarter" <davidquarter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:                   "Tom O'Lincoln" <suarsos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
T
> I've followed this debate to the point where I've accumulated a few things
> perhaps worth saying:
>
> 1. We have to distinguish between calling Saddam "mentally disturbed" as an
> individual and the "megalomania" of his regime. We can make no serious
> judgements about what's in his head based on the media reports so far. But
> the regime's megalomania in the political sense was undeniable.

 I agree with with most of what you wrote.  All I would ask is that
you refrain from using the pejorative term, 'mentally disturbed' to
describe Hussein and the Bathist. Mentally disturbed is another
way of saying:mentally ill, insane. It is not only a very de-
humanizing term as anyone unfortunate enough to be labeled with
it would know, but it presupposes an abnormality in the brain that
causes individuals to engage in "irrational" behaviours. There has
never been conclusive  evidence presented to prove this argument.

Despite this fact, being labeled mentally disturbed/ill  comes with
all sorts of consequences for a person.  In the past in the U.S. ,
you would have been subject to sterilization -- policies that started
in the 20s in the heyday of eugenics and that continued right into
the 60s. The "Mentally disturbed" were also the first to go to the
gas chamber in Germany. Someone considered  "mentally
disturbed"  in the U.S. today can be forced to take medication
against their will or admistered Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy
[sic]. If they refuse the take these  "treatments" voluntarily, they
can be locked up in mental institution indefinitely. .  Jail inmates at
least have the basic right to refuse being fed mind-altering drugs or
ECT.

People who are physically sick also have the right to refuse
treatment. People who are "mentally ill"  in many parts of the world
will received such treatment whether they refuse it or not.

Junaid claims there is no comparison with being called a nigger (I
would add, and black) and being called mentally ill. Perhaps, in a
context of the U.S. today, he is correct. For example, I would
imagine that strapping a black person to a bed in a  "hospital" and
then injecting the person with mind-altering chemicals, just for the
sake of the person being black, woudl cause a national uproar. On
the other hand, this is an everyday occurance for people in contact
with the psychiatric system.  if you are labeled as "mentally ill" in
the U.S today, there is a great chance you have been on the
receiving end of some pretty horrendous abuse and violations of
your "rights" as a U.S. citzen and there are basically no measures
in law that allow you seek redress or compensation.

Also, for most people labeled as mentally ill, divulging this
"diagnosis" to others leads to all sorts of negative consequences --
loss of job, difficulty finding work, loss of friends, inability to
socialize with people as people refuse to, etc.

Whatever Hussein and his regime have done should not be credited
to their "sanity" or "insanity" (whatever the f*ck that means).

 Of course, I'm sure psychiatrists will eventually come up with a
diagnosis for people who don't bow down to the dictates of
imperialism (e.g. "Opposition to Democracy Syndrome"), as they
had with black slaves who ran away from their masters
("Dreptomania"), and gay people who refused to turn "straight", and
so on.

DOQ






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