78uuu lumière des étoiles

Dusty:Starlight:Culture



I didn't know you were a SOCIALIST!!
2005-05-04   4:37 p.m.

There is something just so disturbingly, uniquely American about the now-stalled plans for the building of the "Freedom Tower" - the structure that is going up to replace the fallen WTC buildings. Grand idea, idealistic exuberance, but then too much acrimony, in-fighting, passing the buck and a severe lack of focus deflating it all. Yep, that's us all right.

Something else that was uniquely American, but perhaps in a more interesting - or certainly more surrealistic and phantasmagoric - way, was my Saturday night. I went to a lovely party thrown in celebration of May Day by one of my activist/political affiliations. We don't readily celebrate an International Workers' Day in this country - "Labor Day" was created in lieu of MD, specifically to avoid any of the communist/socialist implications or ideology "May Day" might carry with it. No siree, we cannot have anyone championing the worker, or thinking about who made their jeans, couch, or car - and how much they did or didn't get paid for their labor.

The usual psycho/extremely rational balance was in place, which is what I love about radical, far-left groups. Aside from speeches and "reports from the front", there was much singing, dancing, and eating. I heard some lovely gospel singing by a group from the Riverside Church, moving anti-war poetry by two very young vets of this latest war, great speeches by a Latino student union, and some not so great speeches by a bunch of glammed-out NYU acting students who were so self-congratulatory that Steve, our friend Holly and myself wanted to throw our mashed potatoes at them. Ah, youth. They'll learn, or something will humble them soon.

We met and talked to a really interesting man named Sammy at the party. He sat down at our table and just started talking to everyone, which is exactly why I love going to these events. This is either going to sound horribly pretentious or like I am lying, but I recognized the pattern of his Kente as Ashanti, and so I asked him if he was from Ghana or Nigeria. Turns out he's from Western Ghana, and was notably impressed that I picked up on the design. I undid that and embarrassed myself though when I butchered the Ewe and Twi words for "nice to meet you", especially since in Western Ghana they speak Ga. Oops. I shouldn't try so hard.

Regardless, he was nice and a bit strange - he told us that he simultaneously idolizes and has much contempt for Castro, which somehow bled into his admittance that he's not allowed back into Ghana since he was part of the socialist organization that attempted a military coup to take power from a rather ruthless president about fifteen years ago. He told us the next time, their "methods must change". And what does one say to that? "I'll say they do!"? I'm not real big on violent revolution, or violence period, but we were able to find some common ground talking about Kumasi, Cape Coast and the Volta Region, where Steve and I had done most of our traveling while in Ghana. We also talked about teaching, since before getting involved in politics, Sammy was a teacher. I did get his email address - one never knows when their path will cross with another someday.

After a few hours of this sort of smashing the state and fighting the man, Steve and I went uptown to the Soho area for another party. And boy, was it another party altogether. This one was being given in honor of my ex-boyfriend, who recently got sworn in for NY state after working his little patooty off to become a lawyer and pass the Bar exam. We were really happy to go and congratulate Myke and to celebrate with he and his friends, it was just beyond funny to go from a party full of intentionally non-traditional (and oft-punky) activists in the basement cafeteria of an elementary school to a party full of lawyers at a swank Soho bar. Gotta love this city - gotta love this country.

I get to engage in one of my favorite past-times soon: watching seemingly nice Americans become "The Ugly American" whilst traveling in a foreign country. It really shouldn't be my favorite past-time, and I suppose after all it isn't; it's just like one of those surgery shows or a train accident. You don't want to look, but you feel so darn compelled. Anyway, this time it takes the form of an episode of America's Next Top Model, which a friend called me excitedly about last week, informing me they were taking the girls to South Africa.

After I laughed and laughed picturing a bunch of skinny-jeaned white girls running around the central business district of downtown Johannesburg with modeling portfolios and pointy, spikey high heeled shoes, I called my friend,
who shall remain nameless lest I weaken her street-cred, and asked her if she'd want to watch the episode with me when it aired.

Well since I have things to do that are a bit more pressing that plopping down in front of the telly for long periods of time, I missed the episode, but will soon watch the tape with her. Hopefully, we can watch it before part II airs next (or this?) week. I did find out that the girls are working in Cape Town, NOT Johannesburg, which at least makes a bit more sense; it's just so unwise to go walking around down town, no matter how fabulous looking you might be. Gavin told me once that a German TV channel trying to do a documentary on the "upswing" of the central business district in Jo'burg had to stop after they were robbed. Apparently, a bunch of guys beat up the talent and stole the three camera guys' stuff. Yeah, it can be that bad in places.

This is also why despite repeated warnings about Lima, I am not afraid. NOTHING can be worse than Johannesburg...besides, I was nearly mugged once in Florence. FLORENCE! I had to thwart the grabby hands by being creative and using my elbows - can't quite remember what it was I was trying to yell in Italian. Either way, just goes to show you it can all happen anywhere - my dearest letaboo just sent me this: "How do I stop being afraid? Know that there is no safety anywhere. There never was and there never will be. Stop looking for it. Live with a fierce intent to waste nothing of yourself or life." - Ann Shulgin

I thought it was odd this summer when I saw tons of ads for "Fashion Week: South Africa" coming in September, but I guess they're trying to build Cape Town up as a new Milan, Tokyo, Berlin, or Paris. Well good for them: whatever helps them out. Tyra Banks, you're OK in my book.

Well I shouldn't speak so soon - I have yet to watch the episode. Think I'll do that with some friends and popcorn tonight.

xo