I, too, am a new-ish subscriber to this list, and I was also a bit
disappointed that there wasn't more discussion of current events on this
list. However, I am reluctant to blame anyone for this lack of
discussion. I am very skeptical of explanations that invoke the old saw
about "tenured radicals" merely being careerist and not being
"real" activists. Mightn't the explanation be just the opposite: that many
critical geographers haven't had time to post messages to this list
precisely because they're currently busy engaging in activities and
struggles of all kinds at this historical juncture? Many folks I know on
the left have been caught up in numerous actions, meetings, discussions,
etc. trying to respond to and deal with current political realities at
many scales. Many people are engaged in real, everyday struggles that are
directly linked to the Sept. 11 aftermath, the "war on terror," and the
assault on civil liberties. Just because they may fail to immediately stop
the Bush-Blair juggernaut does not render them irrelevant or meaningless.
Rich Heyman
Geography
University of Minnesota, Morris
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