Reality and fantasy in New Orleans{{BSZ}}
<p>According to a well-known anecdote, anthropologists studying “primitives” who supposedly held certain superstitious beliefs (that they descend from a fish or from a bird, for example) asked them directly whether they “really” believed such things. They answered: “Of course not—we ‘re not stupid! But I was told that some of our ancestors actually did believe that.” In short, they transferred their belief onto another. </p>=Reality and fantasy in New Orleans=
<p>We do the same thing with our children by going through the ritual of Santa Claus. Since our children (are supposed According to) believe in him and we do not want to disappoint thema well-known anecdote, they pretend to believe so as not to disappoint us by puncturing our [[anthropology|anthropologists]] studying "[[primitive]]s" who supposedly held certain [[superstition|superstitious]] [[belief in their naivety ]]s (and to get the presents, of course). Isn’t this also the usual excuse of the mythical crooked politician who turns honest? “I cannot disappoint the ordinary people who believe in me.” Furthermore, this need to find another who “really believes” is also what propels us to stigmatize the Other as that they descend from a (religious fish or ethnic) “fundamentalist.” In an uncanny wayfrom a bird, some beliefs always seem to function “at a distance.” In order for the belief to function, there <i>has to be</i> some ultimate guarantor of it, and yet this guarantor is always deferred, displaced, never present <i>in persona</i>example) asked [[them]] directly whether they "really" believed such things. The point, of They answered: "Of course, is not — we're not stupid! But I was told that this other subject who directly believes does not need to some of our ancestors actually exist for the belief to be operative: It is enough precisely to <i>presuppose</i> his existence, idid believe that.e. to <i>believe</i> in it" In short, either in the guise of the primitive Other or in the guise of the impersonal “one” (“one believes…”)they transferred their [[belief]] onto [[another]].</p>
<p>The events We do the same [[thing]] with our [[children]] by going through the [[ritual]] of Santa Claus. Since our children (are supposed to) believe in him and we do not [[want]] to disappoint them, they pretend to believe so as not to disappoint us by puncturing our belief in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck their naivety (and to get the city provide presents, of course). Isn't this also the usual excuse of the [[mythical]] crooked politician who turns honest? "I cannot disappoint the ordinary [[people]] who believe in me." Furthermore, this [[need]] to find another who "really believes" is also what propels us to stigmatize the [[Other]] as a new addition ([[religion|religious]] or [[ethicity|ethnic]]) "[[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]]." In an uncanny way, some beliefs always seem to this series of “subjects supposed to…”—function "at a [[distance]]." In order for the [[belief]] to function, there <i>the subject supposed has to loot and rapebe</i>. We all remember the reports on the disintegration some ultimate [[guarantee|guarantor]] of public orderit, the explosion of black violence, rape and looting. Howeveryet this [[guarantor]] is always deferred, later inquiries demonstrated that[[displaced]], in the large majority of cases, these alleged orgies of violence never [[present]] <i>did not occurin persona</i>: Non-verified rumors were simply reported as facts by the media. For example The point, on September 3of course, is that this other subject who directly believes does not need to actually [[exist]] for the Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department told the belief to be operative: It is enough precisely to <i>New York Timespresuppose</i> about conditions at the Convention Center: “The tourists are walking around therehis [[existence]], and as soon as these individuals see them, they ‘re being preyed uponi.e. They are beatingto <i>believe</i> in it, they are raping them either in the guise of the [[primitive]] [[Other]] or in the streetsguise of the impersonal "one" ("one believes..” In an interview just weeks later, he conceded that some of his most shocking statements turned out to be untrue: “We have no official reports to document any murder. Not one official report of rape or sexual assault").” </p>
The events in New Orleans after [[Katrina|Hurricane Katrina]] struck the city provide a new addition to this series of "[[subject supposed to know|subjects supposed to...]]"— <pi>The reality of poor blacks, abandoned [[subject supposed to loot and left without means rape|the subject supposed to surviveloot and rape]]</i>. We all [[remember]] the reports on the [[disintegration]] of [[public]] [[order]], was thus transformed into the specter explosion of blacks exploding violentlyblack violence, of tourists robbed rape and killed on streets looting. However, later inquiries demonstrated that had slid into anarchy, in the large majority of cases, these alleged orgies of violence <i>did not occur</i>: Non-verified rumors were simply reported as facts by the Superdome ruled by gangs that were raping women and children[[media]]. These reports were not merely words For example, on September 3, they were words that had precise the Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department told the <i>material effectsNew York [[Times]]</i>[[about]] [[conditions]] at the Convention Center: They generated fears that caused some police officers to quit "The tourists are [[walking]] around there, and led the authorities to change troop deploymentsas soon as these individuals see them, delay medical evacuations and ground helicoptersthey're [[being]] preyed upon. Acadian Ambulance Company They are beating, for examplethey are raping them in the streets." In an interview just weeks later, locked down its cars after word came he conceded that armed robbers had looted all some of the water from a firehouse in Covington—a his most shocking statements turned out to be untrue: "We have no [[official]] reports to document any [[murder]]. Not one official report that proved totally untrueof rape or [[sexual]] assault.</p>"
<p>Of courseThe reality of poor blacks, the sense of menace had been ignited by genuine disorder abandoned and violence: Looting[[left]] without means to survive, ranging from base thievery to foraging for was thus transformed into the necessities specter of lifeblacks exploding violently, <i>did</i> occur after the storm passed over New Orleans. Howeverof tourists robbed and killed on streets that had slid into [[anarchy]], the (limited) reality of crimes in no way exonerates “reports” on the total breakdown of law Superdome ruled by gangs that were raping [[women]] and order—not because these children. These reports were “exaggeratednot merely [[words]],” but for a much more radical reason. Jacques Lacan claimed they were words that, even if the patient’s wife is really sleeping around with other men, the patient ‘s jealousy is still to be treated as a pathological condition. In a homologous way, even if rich Jews in early 1930s Germany “really” had precise <i>had[[material]] effects</i> exploited German workers: They generated fears that caused some police officers to quit and led the authorities to [[change]] troop deployments, seduced their daughters delay medical evacuations and dominated the popular pressground helicopters. Acadian Ambulance Company, the Nazis ’ anti-Semitism would still have been an emphatically “untruefor example,” pathological ideological condition. Why? Because the causes locked down its cars after [[word]] came that armed robbers had looted all of all social antagonisms were projected onto the “Jew”—an object of perverted love-hatred, water from a spectral figure of mixed fascination and disgustfirehouse in Covington—a report that proved totally untrue. </p>
<p>And exactly Of course, the same goes [[sense]] of menace had been ignited by genuine [[disorder]] and [[violence]]: Looting, ranging from base thievery to foraging for the looting in New Orleans: Even if necessities of [[life]], <i>alldid</i> occur after the storm passed over New Orleans. However, the (limited) reality of crimes in no way exonerates "reports " on violence and rapes had proven to be factually true, the stories circulating about them would still be “pathological” [[total]] breakdown of law and racist, since what motivated order — not because these stories reports were not facts"exaggerated, " but racist prejudicesfor a much more radical [[reason]]. [[Jacques Lacan]] claimed that, even if the satisfaction felt by those who would be able to say: “You see, Blacks [[patient]]'s wife is really are like thatsleeping around with other men, violent barbarians under the thin layer of civilization!” patient's [[jealousy]] is still to be treated as a [[pathology|pathological condition]]. In other wordsa homologous way, we would be dealing with what could be called even if rich [[Jew]]s in early 1930s [[Germany]] "really" <i>lying in the guise of truthhad</i>: Even if what I am saying is factually trueexploited [[German]] [[workers]], seduced their daughters and dominated the popular press, the [[Nazi]]s' [[anti-Semitism]] would still have been an emphatically "untrue, " pathological [[ideology|ideological]] condition. Why? Because the motives that make me say it are falsecauses of all [[social antagonism]]s were projected onto the "Jew" — an [[object]] of [[perversion|perverted]] [[love]]-[[hate|hatred]], a [[spectral]] [[figure]] of mixed [[fascination]] and disgust. </p>
<p>Of course, we never openly admit these motives. But from time to time, they nonetheless pop up in our public space in a censored form, And exactly the same goes for the looting in the guise of denegationNew Orleans: Once evoked as an option, they are then immediately discarded. Recall the recent comments by William Bennett, the compulsive gambler and author of Even if <i>The Book of Virtuesall</i>, the reports on his call-in program “Morning in America”: “But I do know that it ‘s violence and rapes had proven to be factually [[true that if you wanted to reduce crime]], you couldthe stories circulating about them would still be "[[pathology|pathological]]" and [[racism|racist]], if that since what motivated these stories were your sole purposenot facts, you could abort every black baby in this countrybut racist prejudices, and your crime rate would go down. That the [[satisfaction]] felt by those who would be an impossibly ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing able to do, but your crime rate would go down.” The White House spokesman immediately reactedsay: “The president believes the comments were not appropriate.” Two days later"You see, Bennett qualified his statement: “I was putting a hypothetical proposition … and then said about itBlacks really are like that, it was morally reprehensible to recommend abortion violent barbarians under the thin layer of an entire group of people. But this is [[civilization]]!" In other words, we would be dealing with what happens when you argue that ends can justify the means.” This is could be called <i>exactly[[lying in the guise of truth]]</i> : Even if what Freud meant when he wrote that the Unconscious knows no negation: The official (Christian, democratic … ) discourse I am saying is accompanied and sustained by a whole nest of obscenefactually true, brutal racist and sexist fantasies, which can only be admitted in a censored formthe motives that make me say it are [[false]].</p>
<p>But Of course, we are not dealing here only with good old racismnever openly admit these motives. Something more is at stake But from [[time]] to time, they nonetheless pop up in our public [[space]] in a fundamental feature of the emerging “global” society. On September 11, 2001censored [[form]], in the Twin Towers were hit. Twelve years earlierguise of [[denegation]]: Once evoked as an option, on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fellthey are then immediately discarded. November 9 announced [[Recall]] the “happy ’90s[[recent]] comments by [[William Bennett]],” the Francis Fukuyama dream compulsive gambler and [[author]] of the “end <i>[[The Book of history”: the belief that liberal democracy hadVirtues]]</i>, on his call-in program "Morning in principle, won, America": "But I do [[know]] that the search is over, it's true that the advent of a globalif you wanted to reduce crime, liberal world community lurks just around the corneryou could, if that the obstacles to were your sole [[purpose]], you could abort every black [[baby]] in this ultra-Hollywood happy ending are merely empirical country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossibly ridiculous and contingent (local pockets of resistance where morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down." The White House spokesman immediately reacted: "The president believes the leaders did comments were not yet grasp that their time is over)appropriate." Two days later, Bennett qualified his [[statement]]: "I was putting a hypothetical proposition ... In contrastand then said about it, 9/11 is the main symbol it was morally reprehensible to recommend abortion of the end an entire group of people. But this is what happens when you argue that ends can justify the Clintonite happy ’90s, of means." This is <i>exactly</i> what [[Freud]] meant when he wrote that the forthcoming era in which new walls are emerging everywhere[[Unconscious]] [[knows]] no [[negation]]: The official ([[Christianity|Christian]], between Israel and the West Bank, around the European Union, on the U[[democracy|democratic]].S.-Mexico border. The rise of the populist New Right ) [[discourse]] is just the most prominent example accompanied and sustained by a [[whole]] nest of the urge to raise new walls[[obscene]], brutal [[racism|racist]] and [[sexism|sexist]] [[fantasy|fantasies]], which can only be admitted in a [[censorship|censored]] form.</p>
<p>A couple But we are not dealing here only with [[good]] old [[racism]]. Something more is at stake, a fundamental feature of the emerging "[[global]]" [[society]]. On [[September 11, 2001]], the Twin Towers were hit. Twelve years agoearlier, an ominous decision on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. November 9 announced the "happy '90s," the [[Francis Fukuyama]] dream of the European Union passed almost unnoticed"[[end of history]]": a plan to establish an all-European border police force to secure the isolation [[belief]] that [[liberal democracy]] had, in [[principle]], won, that the [[search]] is over, that the advent of a global, liberal [[world]] [[community]] lurks just around the Union territorycorner, so as that the obstacles to prevent the influx this ultra-Hollywood happy ending are merely [[empiricism|empirical]] and [[contingency|contingent]] (local pockets of [[resistance]] where the immigrantsleaders did not yet grasp that their time is over). <i>This< In contrast, [[9/i> 11]] is the truth main [[symbol]] of globalization: the construction end of <i>new</i> walls safeguarding the prosperous Europe from a flood [[Clinton]]ite happy '90s, of immigrants. One is tempted to resuscitate here the old Marxist “humanist” opposition of “relations forthcoming era in which new walls are emerging everywhere, between things” [[Israel]] and “relations between persons”: In the much celebrated free circulation opened up by [[Palestine|West Bank]], around the global capitalism[[European Union]], it is “things” (commodities) which freely circulate, while on the circulation of “persons” is more and more controlled[[United States|U.S. We are thus not dealing with “globalization as an unfinished project,” but with a true “dialectics of globalization]]-[[Mexico]] border.” The segregation rise of the people [[populism|populist]] [[New Right]] is just the reality most prominent example of economic globalization. This new racism of the developed world is in a way much more brutal than the previous one: Its implicit legitimization is neither naturalist (the “natural” superiority of the developed West) nor culturalist (we in the West also want urge to preserve our cultural identity). Rather, it ‘s an unabashed economic egotism—the fundamental divide is the one between those included into the sphere of (relative) economic prosperity and those excluded from itraise new walls.</p>
<p>In the beginning A couple of October 2005years ago, an ominous decision of the Spanish [[European Union]] passed almost unnoticed: a plan to establish an all-European border [[police, who have dealt with ]] force to secure the problem [[isolation]] of desperate African migrants trying to penetrate the small Spanish Union territory across Gibraltar with lethal force, displayed their plans so as to build a wall between prevent the influx of the Spanish and Moroccan border[[immigration|immigrants]]. The images presented—a complex structure with all <i>This</i> is the latest electronic equipment—bore an uncanny resemblance to those [[truth]] of [[globalization]]: the Berlin Wall, only with [[construction]] of <i>new</i> walls safeguarding the opposite motive, designed to prevent people prosperous [[Europe]] from coming in, not getting outa flood of immigrants. The cruel irony One is that tempted to resuscitate here the old [[Marxism|Marxist]] "[[humanism|humanist]]" opposition of "[[relations between things]]" and "[[relations between persons]]": In the much celebrated free [[circulation]] opened up by the [[global capitalism]], it is "things" ([[commodity|commodities]]) which freely circulate, while the government circulation of Zapatero, arguably the most anti-racist "persons" is more and tolerant in Europemore controlled. We are thus not dealing with "globalization as an unfinished [[project]], that is forced to adopt these measures " but with a true "[[dialectics of segregation—a clear sign globalization]]." The segregation of the limits of people is the multiculturalist “tolerant” approach which preaches open borders and acceptance [[reality]] of Others[[economy|economic]] [[globalization]]. It This new [[racism]] of the developed world is thus becoming clear that in a way much more brutal than the solution previous one: Its implicit legitimization is not “tear down neither [[naturalism|naturalist]] (the "[[natural]]" superiority of the walls and let them all developed West) nor [[culturalism|culturalist]] (we in,” the easy, empty demand often put forth by soft-hearted liberal “radicals[[West]] also want to preserve our [[culture|cultural]] [[identity]]).” Rather, it's an unabashed [[economic]] [[egotism]] — the real solution fundamental [[divide]] is to tear down the <i>true</i> wall, not the police one, but between those included into the social-sphere of (relative) economic one: To change society so that people will no longer desperately try to escape their own worldprosperity and those excluded from it.</p>
<p>This brings us back In the beginning of October 2005, the [[Spain|Spanish]] [[police]], who have dealt with the problem of desperate [[Africa]]n migrants trying to penetrate the small Spanish territory across Gibraltar with lethal force, displayed their plans to rumours build a wall between the Spanish and “reports” about “subjects supposed Moroccan border. The [[images]] presented — a [[complex]] [[structure]] with all the latest electronic equipment — bore an [[uncanny]] resemblance to loot and rape:” New Orleans is one those of those cities within the United States most heavily marked by [[Berlin Wall]], only with the internal wall that separates the affluent opposite motive, designed to prevent people from ghettoized blackscoming in, not getting out. And The cruel irony is that it is about those on the other side [[government]] of [[Zapatero]], arguably the wall that we fantasize: More most [[anti-racism|anti-racist]] and more, they live [[tolerance|tolerant]] in another world[[Europe]], in a blank zone that offers itself as is [[forced]] to adopt these measures of [[segregation]] — a screen for clear [[sign]] of the projection limits of our fears, anxieties the [[multiculturalism|multiculturalist]] "[[tolerance|tolerant]]" approach which preaches open borders and secret desiresacceptance of [[Other]]s. <i>The “subject supposed to loot and rape” It is on the other side of thus becoming clear that the Wall</i>—this solution is not "tear down the subject about whom Bennett can afford to make his slips of the tongue walls and confess let them all in a censored mode his murderous dreams," the easy, empty [[demand]] often put forth by soft-hearted [[liberal]] "[[radical]]s. More than anything else" Rather, the rumors and fake reports from [[real]] solution is to tear down the <i>true</i> wall, not the aftermath of Katrina bear witness to police one, but the deep class division of American [[social]]-economic one: To change societyso that people will no longer desperately try to escape their own world.
This brings us back to rumours and "reports" about "[[subject supposed to loot and rape|subjects supposed to loot and rape]]:" New Orleans is one of those cities within the [[United States]] most heavily marked by the [[internal]] wall that separates the affluent from ghettoized blacks. And it is about those on the other side of the wall that we fantasize: More and more, they live in another world, in a blank zone that offers itself as a [[screen]] for the [[projection]] of our [[fear]]s, [[anxiety|anxieties]] and [[secrecy|secret]] [[desire]]s. <i>The "[[subject supposed to loot and rape]]" is on the other side of the Wall</i> — this is the [[subject]] about whom [[Bennett]] can afford to make his [[slips of the tongue]] and [[confession|confess]] in a [[censorship|censored]] mode his murderous [[dream]]s. More than anything else, the rumors and fake reports from the aftermath of [[Katrina]] bear [[witness]] to the deep [[class]] [[antagonism|division]] of American society.
==See Also==
* [[Subject supposed to know]]
* [[multiculturalism]]
* [[fundamentalism]]
* [[fantasy]]
* [[racism]]
* [[belief]]
==Source==
* [[The Subject Supposed to Loot and Rape]]. ''[[In These Times]]''. October 20, 2005. <http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2361/>. Also listed on ''[[Lacan]].com''. <http://www.lacan.com/zizneworleans.htm>.
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