For Scissorheads keeping score at home over the last few weeks some of us have been having a conversation with Mike Flugennock in the comments. We’ve already established that he is a gifted cartoonist and a sharp wit, but some members of our community–myself included–were befuddled by the messages we were getting.
Last weekend, I asked Mike:
So Mike,
Now that you see we have some common ground in re: the media.
I’ve asked you this before…
We already know your position on elections, politics in general, and our flawed two-party system in particular both here [at MPS]: “Really, man… just as long as the muthafucka burns,” and on Twitter: “@flugennock: @RubenBolling But, what if I truly HATE America? What if I think America is a filthy, bloody, hideous beast that needs killing?”
So my question to you is that if we just burn the muthafucka, what do you propose replacing it with? I’m serious, I’m not being rhetorical. Tell us.
…and Mike has responded with a very thoughtful comment that I am promoting to this post:
Well, I could go on for a few written paragraphs, but it’d be really awkward — not because I don’t know what we should replace it with, but because my major was Design/Fine Art, not PoliSci, so I’m totally no good at stuff like drafting a policy agenda.
Basically, I’d like to sweep the smoldering rubble aside and build a new society that values people over capital, cooperation over competition, in which people look to each other and themselves for “leadership” instead of handing that power over to politicians, and… d’ahh, screw it, man; here’s some cartoons:
“A Better World Is Possible, And Exists Now In The Shadows Of This One”.
…and, in answer to your question — which is a pretty basic question, thrown at me by pretty much everyone ever since I started doing antiglob posters right after Seattle: “We All Know What You’re Against, But What Are You For?”:
Long answer short: anarchy. And before you all start moaning and rolling your eyes, do a little reading up on what anarchism is and isn’t. (Hint: Most of us are not stereotypical black-hoodie-wearing, brick-tossing, emaciated vegan punk rockers. Many of us are old hippies. Many of us prefer Grateful Dead to Anti-Flag. Many of us like sausage pizza and beer. Many of us aren’t into the reductionist neo-Luddite glass-smashing thing. Many of us like clothes not held together by safety pins.)
Anarchy, as a political philosophy is NOT what our pop culture and the media portray it as, and I get what Mike is telling us, and I think now maybe you will, too. So it turns out that we all have a lot of the same goals and ideals. Our paths to get to our desired results are different, but when is that not true? Words are my medium, art is Mike’s.
And honestly: I think Mike is more of idealist than I am.
Anyway, Mike, thank you for replying so eloquently and artfully. I’m really glad to have you onboard.
Regards,
Tengrain
