The crisis we see in suburban America is similar to the decline of the working class. The modernist rationality of the suburbs is losing hegemonic gravity d/t further neoliberal erosion of community, institutions, and uncertainty= new politics of rage, despair, denial, & apathy.
Anyone who has lost their formerly liberal Boomer parents to the right wing extremist senses this subtle crisis. Gen X, as the lost generation of the neoliberal age, bore witness to the epistemic displacement of the American Dream and it's fading allure.
The suburbs moved from the surety of white supremacists suburban culture into a postmodern, post-truth outpost that is now merely a panoptic facade striving to unconsciously restore the erroneous zenith of western ideals: Placid houses of "values," entitlement, and consumerism.
From grocery advertisements to daytime television commercials for Mop & Glo-- the avatar of the "Standard North American Family" is in decline and must be replaced. Yet, suburban cosmopolitan discourse seems entirely unable to suffice. What will replace this edifice is unknown.
But White Suburban Americans, seem deeply and even unconsciously anxious, as well as woefully unprepared, for the neccessary culture shifts needed for progress in our country.
Perhaps understanding how this displacement has arisen, the sociopolitical and discursive forces which have decentered suburban culture as well as the forces that have materially hollowed out the middle class, would be of some use to society as we move forward.
Spent 24h studying world events, felt elevated by western solidarity🇺🇦. Also reminded of millions of dead the US & allies have created (and continue to create) in the middle east since 1991. In several countries, we play the role of the Russians. Hold both these realities close.
As you watch Russian choppers land in residential neighborhoods, tanks rolling down suburban streets
& see average European families shield their children and take up arms. As you support them and pray for them - know that you are watching from the view of the invaded.
This POV is shared w the store owner, teacher, father, mother, and children in Iraq, in Yemen, in Syria, in Palestine, in Vietnam. Only the flags on the sleeves of the invaders are changed. Understand this above all else - let it change how you see all of it forevermore.
The middle-class is where we learned to render inert, the revolutionary political potential of the proletariat and the working class. It's where we learned to propose justice as theory, rather than a tangible good.
It is the site where we receive the anesthesia of comfort capitalism. Where we take a "balanced view"-- we learn to be "anti-war" but still "support the troops," "to respect police" but still "support Black Lives"-- a place where we recognize oppression but do little about it.
The middle-class is the socially reproductive site where we learn to accept Neoliberalism as "the way it is." The suburbs are the site where we are given private property so we may see they capitalist were "right all along"
Pupdate- we think she has pancreatitis but we aren't completely sure. Going to be a long night with a pacing, occasionally yelping fur baby. 😞
Nevermind. We're back at the vet. Poor baby.
Pupdate- 2.0 it isn't pancreatitis but instead, severe (and unexplainable) neck pain. Which explains the posturing that resembles abdominal pain. As for me, my American Express is a little sore, but I just want my pupper comfortable.
@Matthew60323922@maiasz@BenLevenson@DrSarahWakeman@UnhealthyAlcDrg@theNASEM Prob. a good time to tell you I don't believe in treatment in it's current form. I would never work in a treatment facility. Much less, for-profit. The therapeutic tactic you refer to is not very useful and may be harmful. Yet, "denial" is still a chief symptom. Debate is how.
@Matthew60323922@maiasz@BenLevenson@DrSarahWakeman@UnhealthyAlcDrg@theNASEM There are scientific reasons why people develop "denial." The question is how to identity, and puncture hardened denial structures w/o causing harm. The "old way" of confrontational tactics and shaming can cause more harm than good and is usually contraindicated. Tx has few tools
@Matthew60323922@maiasz@BenLevenson@DrSarahWakeman@UnhealthyAlcDrg@theNASEM Establishment of newer methods- unconditional positive regard, honest information sharing, all work, provided you have meaningful clinical offering. People really want a better life. Forcing them to be aware of a problem while offer little in the way of a solution, is a failure.