[Marxism] A more potent Opiate

[<i.lagardien-alumni@xxxxxxxxx>]

The issue of football as "the opium of the masses" was raised earlier... In all 
seriousness, I tend to conceive of national anthems as something that numbs the 
sense and stupifies the mind - based on a basic understanding of the effects of 
opium.

I have seen people cry (British football and rugby players), others entering 
into a trance when national anthems are sung (here I refer to my favourite 
rugby team, the NZ All Blacks, when, ironically, the Haka is much more fun)and 
in other places condemn those who will not bow to the flag, or bend to the 
national anthem. Stupification occurs once the pride, triumphalism, hubris and 
general self-righteousness overwhelms any sober thought.

I am speaking to the converted, I guess, but one of the greatest values I have 
derived from being a Marxist is the ability to recognise that issues like 
Justice or Equality (and of course, exploitation, oppression and domination), 
are not the preserve of any country - no flag, or national symbol has 
exclusivity, or a monopoly on righteousness, fairness, justice OR FREEDOM! In 
the same way, no social group, has a monopoly on oppression or persecution.

I (just) remembered a something. In a conversation with a South African cabinet 
deputy minister nine years ago, or so she argued that "the woman in Transkei" 
(code for indigenous African), was of greater concern to the Government than 
"the woman in Mitchell's Plain" (code for a woman classified 'coloured' during 
apartheid). A fair point in a general way. But then I asked, "do you mean the 
woman in Transkei who drives a Mercedes Benz, owns a petrol station and a 
supermarket" and the woman in Mitchell's Plain who works 10 hours a day as a 
domestic servant or on a shopfloor to feed five hungry children and an 
unemployed husband". 

She made some reference to my being disloyal to the ANC government's 
objectives, or being racist or some such inanity...

 

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