Well, where do I start? First, not familiar with this person’s organization. Though I did read a little of his writings and, with all due respect, I got more of the ‘unicorn and fairytale’ notions of what reality is
supposed to be.
Example: “You’d likely call this situation a fascist state, and you’d likely be right. Well that’s the state of archives in the US. We are entrenched within power. We are trained and prepared in our graduate programs
to see no other options. We are told this is the way of doing archives. But I’m asking you this Labor Day weekend to imagine a field of archivists without archives. Imagine owning your labor. Imagine making archives about freedom. Imagine distributing these
freedom-driven archives to the public to access free of charge. Imagine a liberated archive. Imagine a liberated future.
Give your imagination a Chance.”
A fascist state? Really? Do you really think if you were in any number of “true” fascist states (countries) that you would have a right to express your opinion or even vote, much
less the privilege of being an archivist and speaking your mind. And I’m sorry, but without “evil” capitalism, I doubt if there would be an SAA. Have you heard of corporate sponsors, etc.? And let me guess, you’re probably have all of your social media
devices which without capitalism, they either would not exist, or would be too expensive for the average person to purchase them. Please explain that discrepancy to me. I am open to all ideas.
That said, if they are doing good to protect rights of ALL Americans, no matter race, creed or color. I am fine with it and support it. But, please don’t play us “lone” Conservatives as the rubes and idiots you think
we are.
Black Livers Matter is a hate group. The most recent quote from a member was something along the lines of all white people are sub human. It even got so bad during the election that saying “all lives matter” was considered
racist. Please, anyone defend that insane statement. But are they called out for this foul, racist language? Not hardly. The group also began on a false narrative (lie) of hands up don’t shoot. They continued the smearing of any cop, no matter their race
or if they were convicted or suspected of anything. They chanted in the streets for their deaths. Many cops lost their lives, two in NYC, one Asian and the other Hispanic, shot in the back of the head while eating their lunch. Explain to their children
why they had to die when they were totally innocent and actually trying to protect citizens, putting their life on the line.
UC Berkley-I’d love to hear if any of you support the suppression of free speech by Left Wing radicals who cost 100K dollar of damage that they will not have to pay back the cost. You and I will fit the bill for that, just so they could
have their little tantrums, or else they were paid to protest and brought in to wreak havoc, after all, they pretty much all wore masks if I recall, and I don’t believe anyone was even punished. Take a look at this from NYU. You want fascists? Here you
go. A prime example trying to shut down free speech because she does not agree with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6qRbADZOt4
I also saw the gentleman mentioned Angela Davis as some “romantic” hero. Well, not what I’ve heard. She’s a cop killer and has been rewarded with a classy teaching job at an “Ivory Tower” university just like Bill Ayers and his wife who
are both responsible for the deaths of innocent people because they wanted to use the Alinsky mantra of “By all mean necessary.” Well, law-abiding, free speech advocates are getting fed up with this whiny, childish (yet dangerous) behavior from the Left.
I won’t even go into the whole Sanctuary City mess where felons have been allowed to be let out only to kill innocent people, many of which are Hispanics themselves. Talk to the family of Kate Steinle about your “cool and hip” revolution. This is not the
60s, and there are not any major social issues on the scale of those days to fight except the ones that Liberals create by wreaking havoc upon this nation every day.
I have left SAA because I communicated as much to the upper leadership that (at least this list) and probably much of the organization but perhaps not all, have become nothing more than a Left Wing Radical arm to further their made up social
injustices that they claim are occurring at the same rates as USA 1960s and back. (which by the way, many of us were either not even around or were so young, we had no say in the social decisions and practices of those times, so are we supposed to carry around
a burden of guilt for something we have nothing to do with in the past?) Do we want to work to make sure true injustice never occurs again? Sure, we should, but don’t fool ourselves that we can eradicate all evil from this country, much less the whole world.
If we could, I’d be very happy and do my best to try and call out any of this in the present day. However, no, it will never be perfect, but as Americans, we owe it to our country and citizens (particularly those that fought the battle to make the changes
in a peaceful and non-violent way) to acknowledge that we have made amazing strides in correcting past horrific policies of racism, etc. But it seems Liberals can’t give an inch, because I believe many really don’t care about their country, only their selfish
agenda, including open borders and making felons and criminals the victims while innocent people (again of all spectrums on the color and creed) are killed and harmed every day.
I’d be happy to hear responses from any of you. But please try to refrain from the hate filled language that many (not all) Liberals and Democrats have resorted to in order to undo the people’s will and smear a President (far from perfect,
but who is? and don’t get me started on our last Prez and his scandals that were ignored by his lapdog mainstream media.) who is doing what he said he would do when running for office by trying to protect American citizens, help the American economy and calls
for law and order. (No Obama, No Trump, period.) A simple cause and effect occurred and for noble and good reasons.
From: Maarja Krusten <Maarja@aol.com> via [mailto:archives@forums.archivists.org]
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 1:13 PM
To: Archives & Archivists (A&A) List <archives@forums.archivists.org>
Subject: [archives] "Archives have never been neutral: An NDSA interview with Jarrett Drake"
Thoughtful interview with Jarrett M. Drake, archivist at Princeton:
http://ndsa.org/2017/02/15/archives-have-never-been-neutral-an-ndsa-interview-with-jarrett-drake.html
Much to consider here, throughout the records life cycle, for RMs as well as archivists and for the ultimate end users (including scholars) of archival materials:
". . . there has been a lot of discussion about the goals and the work resulting from #ArchivesforBlackLives. Some ardent archivists in Philadelphia, where I currently
live, picked up the hashtag and are starting to organize around it, which is great. But it’s unfortunate that some people in the field have been critical of their efforts, so we have to ask ourselves a hard question, which is: why does an emphasis on black
lives disturb people in this field, and in this country, so much? Why does an affirmation of black humanity offend you, if black people are indeed people to you? Of all the ideas or arguments I’ve circulated in the last few years, #ArchivesForBlackLives is
the only one to my knowledge that’s received open pushback and criticism. This reality makes the work that much more crucial."
Maarja
@ArchivesMaarja
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
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