Contemplating the Political

  

Contemplating the Political

Peter Schultz

 

A couple of emails, one quoting Caitlin Johnstone and my response.

 

On Sep 5, 2026, at 7:34 AM, MB wrote:

 

"Under the individualism of our capitalist society, we are indoctrinated with the belief that the most important and interesting things about us are the personal characteristics which distinguish us from other people: our likes and dislikes, our lifestyle, our interpersonal relationships, our sense of fashion, how successful we are professionally, academically and romantically, etc.  

"But when you live under the most murderous and tyrannical power structure on the planet, your individual little quirks and facets are a lot less significant than the extent to which you oppose the abuses that your rulers are inflicting upon human beings around the world.  If you met a German in 1940, you would probably be a lot less curious about his taste in music and fondness for dapper suits than you would be about his level of support for Adolf Hitler.  
"That’s you right now.  You’re the German in 1940" (https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/for-a-westerner-opposing-the-empire

 

And here is my response:

 

Interesting stuff. “The most important and interesting things about us are [our] personal characteristics.” This is an “indoctrinated belief.” But doesn’t that imply that this belief is, actually, a political phenomenon, just as much - and maybe more so - than the “level of support” people give to, say, Hitler. And, maybe, seeing our basic beliefs as political is more important than how much or how little support you give to politicians. 

 

That is, giving support to “liberals” or “conservatives,” being liberal or conservative isn’t as significant as it is made to seem. April in Definitely Maybe: “Why do I have to be liberal or conservative?” Will calls her apathetic. But maybe she knows something that Will has yet to learn. [Jennifer Flowers’ press conference is playing on TV and April wisecracks that Will is right about one thing, “He (Clinton) certainly gets women!” April “got” Clinton long before Will did. She also “got” Will long before Will “got” her.] 

 

Ironically, the “political show” makes the political disappear. Being preoccupied with that show blinds us to “real reality.” Supporting or not supporting Hitler is not nearly as important as understanding, contemplating Hitler (or Trump) as a manifestation of the political. Carl Schmidt affirmed Hitler, i.e., the political, while Strauss contemplated Hitler and even the Holocaust. Contemplation should not be confused with apathy.  

 

p.s. N. G. is disappointing not simply because he supports Trump but, more importantly, because he fails to try to understand Trump and the political. The same criticism may be made against the Trump resisters, the Trump haters. Those engaged in the political show are not apathetic. But perhaps they are something worse: Blind. 

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