Apocalypse Now Remains a Christmas Classic

Apparently the coda for US imperialism is nation building, according to the NYT, given their take on the invasion of Venezuela. There is some sort of distinction between Venezuela under Trump and Iraq under Bush. The nuance at this time escapes me: 

“Instead, they vaguely sketched out an arrangement similar to a guardianship: The United States will provide a vision for how Venezuela should be run and will expect the interim government to carry that out in a transition period, under the threat of further military intervention.” NYT

Within hours of the invasion the WSJ published a piece on the financial opportunities being opened up by the US occupation. I will leave it to Mary Oliver to give proper context to all of this.

Of The Empire

We will be known as a culture that feared death and adored power, that tried to vanquish insecurity for the few and cared little for the penury of the many. We will be known as a culture that taught and rewarded the amassing of things, that spoke little if at all about the quality of life for people (other people), for dogs, for rivers. All the world, in our eyes, they will say, was a commodity. And they will say that this structure was held together politically, which it was, and they will say also that our politics was no more than an apparatus to accommodate the feelings of the heart, and that the heart, in those days, was small, and hard, and full of meanness.

Mary Oliver

The Socialist Style Narrative

Mamdani’s inauguration offered a number of visual statements and metaphors. As such events should. Depending on the context or the interest you have, there was no lack of choice. Mine for the moment is the presentation that Rama Duwaji made at the ceremony, the selection of designers, the style statement made.

The Victorian gothic look will be all over 2026. 

Duwaji will be one of the great counter narratives of this administration against the main stream, however subtle and meticulously discret she plans to be. Her invocations when made, will be loud and clear.

Mamdani joins a growing consociation of progressive and socialist mayors across the US. Large urban centres are increasingly the points of resistance. This is not surprising. Mamdani would be well served by looking at Baltimore when it comes to issues of youth and community safety. 

State of the nation

Flu rages here and there is one public vaccination clinic open during the past month. Everything you need to know about the state of our community health is contained in that statement.

Reading list

The Deed is Done by Rachel Seiffert