Public Power in the Age of Empire
Arundhati Roy: Public Power in the Age of Empire
Here’s a transcript of the already-famous speech by Arundhati Roy in San Francisco on August 16, 2004. The alternative to terrorism? How about justice?
Just a couple of pithy statements from it:
"In the United States, you have the USA PATRIOT Act, which has become a blueprint for antiterrorism laws passed by governments across the world. Freedoms are being curbed in the name of protecting freedom. And once we surrender our freedoms, to win them back will take a revolution."
"In this restive, despairing time, if governments do not do all they can to honor nonviolent resistance, then by default they privilege those who turn to violence. No government’s condemnation of terrorism is credible if it cannot show itself to be open to change by to nonviolent dissent."
One thought on “Public Power in the Age of Empire”
Somehow I missed this speech. I am very glad that you posted a link to it. I wish there was someway to put it out on the media, the billboards (like those wonderful people did with the Apocolypse in CA), get it out front where all those deadhead Americans could see it and, maybe, get the message. We are really losing it all, in the country, thanks to schrub & co. How is it that his “followers” cannot see this? Or are they all rapturites?
Makes me ill. 🙁