dissent

In the state of California in the US,the Hollywood’s product, Arnold Schwarzenegger, influenced the course of state politics and became its Governor.

While swearing in as California’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger remarked: “To those who have no power...to those who've dropped out - too weary or disappointed with politics as usual - I took this oath to serve YOU.”

But, for those living in Tamilnadu, particularly those in their forties, this remark sounds familiar.

Read these lines and you will feel the similarities:

" If I were to declare an order-
And if it were to be implemented,
The poor would no longer suffer..."

These lyrics are from a film by the legendary actor-cum-politician M.G.Ramachandran, popularly called MGR.

Yes, changing the old cultural ideas to propagate the new ones may belong to the category of cultural dissent.

Perhaps the new ones might contribute a little for the development of the progressive culture of the majority in the society.

Anyway, changes in this direction are notable and can be termed as dissent.

Here is the story of my state, my birthplace, Tamilnadu, southern state of India. It gave a very unique phenomena of cultural dissent used as the political instrument through the skilful use of the medium of cinema.

I will write it as a series.

Regional initiatives to develop alternative TV channels and media networks are now necessary. Corporate controlled media is increasingly denying the rights of the people to know the truth. So what are the options?

Those who are interested in the welfare of the global majority of the common people must seriously ponder over this problem.

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked US Congress $75 million in emergency funding.

Do you know you why?
For any charity mission?

No. To destabilize the Iranian government by conducting a big propaganda through radio and television broadcasts inside Iran.

And, of course, to promote internal opposition against the rulers in Iran.

I’m sure they won’t allow any foreign government to do such undemocratic destabilizing conspiracies inside their country.

No government would allow such activities inside their territory.

In the present day world, democratic values are under the risk of extinction along many biological species.

The British government has no other way but to order an investigation. The controversial video showed British soldiers brutally beating Iraqi youths.

Chancellor Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Tony Blair's designated successor,is talking about the reputation of the British army worldwide and the necessary action to be taken to defend it.

But how can it be done without giving up the evil habit of occupying other countries?

Who can forget the long history of brutality during colonial times? The acts of abuse and brutality could never be prevented unless the US and UK stop invasions and occupations.

But the news about the US preparations to attack Iran are pouring in.

So the act of abuse and brutality would continue as ever, in the name of democracy.
So dissent is the answer.

Now my thoughts go on thinking about the nature of the present-day capitalism.

The word, Capitalism, in its proper sense can not be attributable to the present capitalist powers. because traditional capitalist society ,contrary to the earlier autocratic feudal state would consider welfare of the people whose labor they can exploit and profit from it and seek the welfare of the planets resources which they can base their exploitation

But now the most brutal sense prevails. They concern only how to loot of the resources.
They pay attention to maximize the financial profitability of their capital in the short term. They are not hesitant to put their military means to achieve their predatory aims. They don’t have anything, called, human values.
Take for example, the American state. More vulgar economics had been prevailing than the earlier European state, from the days of the genocide against the North American Indians and the enslavement of the blacks. Although the political management had been shared by the two parties, only one party, that is, the party of capital exists in real sense.

So the present day capitalism has nothing to do with humanism.

Let me give a recent example for the growing anti-Americanism
George Bush's visit to Argentina was greeted with the massive protests and general strike by one of the main national unions,CTO.From mainstream public figures including the soccer hero Diego Maradona to the common people participated in the anti-Bush activities.
Maradona declared, "Bush makes me sick".

together with important leftwing activists, an "anti-FTAA train" started its journey to Mar del Plata - a city on the Atlantic, some 400 kilometers far from Buenos Aires. They all marched together before rallying in a soccer stadium to listen to Hugo Chavez's speech.

Two hours-long speech of the charismatic president of Venezuela before 40.000 people,was transmitted live on.

He announced "imperialism", "neoliberalism", "capitalism", and US domination.His slogan “The FTAA is dead and buried!", delighted the audience.