Sunday, August 30, 2009

radio interview.

http://www.americanfreedomradio.com/archive/No-State-Project-32k-082909.mp3

here is an audio clip of my recent interview with amec stevens on the no state radio  show.

give it a listen and tell me what you think.

7 comments:

Vincent said...

It's an interesting topic, but 2 hours! Could this not be put up in edited form so that the relevant bits are left and not the adverts or the worst of the presenter's hesitations and false starts?

That is my first point. Second point is that some huge generalizations seem to be inevitable here, making it hard for a foreigner at any rate to see what the topic actually is.

Over here, the police are only armed in special circumstances, still, though increasingly they go around in bullet-proof vests all the time & fail to resemble the traditional bobby with his tall helmet.

But I shall seemingly have to devote 2 hours of my own time in order to fulfil your request! It may take a while, Alistair, doing it in instalments.

Vincent said...

I'm not very far in. Being used to the BBC whose presenters are able to speak so much more eloquently, I get terribly impatient with the long-drawn-out nature of the discussion, which might suit a long car journey, but not ordinary life. An edited transcript would be better for me, after having the pleasure of listening to your intelligent voice, whose English accent still peeks through the Canadian.

From my perspective, some of your thesis (about 14 minutes through) that there is something deliberately intimidating about the police dress and behaviour, or rather the direction it seems to be moving) though it may be true of Canada, I think by reference to the UK is not driven by some malign conspiracy so much as trying to catch up with reality.

Over here, we are of course attached to the old red telephone boxes, the old red London buses with cheery, cheeky Cockney conductors---and bobbies with shiny buttons on their tunics plus truncheons and whistles, strolling round the neighbourhood like everyone's favourite uncle, giving a clip round the ear to lads who trespass and lack respect.

If those days could possibly be preserved we would. But still there are traditions, and these include not arousing fear in the innocent passer-by.

So I would ask you "why?" What is the evil conspiracy to inspire fear in the innocent? What mastermind or sinister group is behind this threat to freedom and old-fashioned values, that you perceive in the streets?

Perhaps it is that the world has become nastier. I just saw the film Traffic, about drug cartels in Mexico and the effects on young people in US (excellent film, by the way). And it makes you think that there are nastier worlds occupying the same space as the one you and I dwell in.

Dr.Alistair said...

marc`s position is that the state is a mythological beast, and that we are being co-opted into this game of cops and courts for control purposes.

my expertise is in analysis of the structure of communication. my point regarding american, and canadian, police is that they are intimidators. thier agency is one of posturing menace.

if you continue listening to the discussion, which i agree could do with some editing, you will hear my analysis of the types of people chosen for the work, thier attire, thier badges, emblems and logos, thier tools (guns, cars, helicopters...) and thier physical posture and behaviour on the road.

i grew up in england where the police-man was encouraged to be your friend. the relationship here is vastly different. parents and children alike are terrified by the cruiser approaching from behind to check one`s licence plate, even though we are full registered and have thousands of dollars of insurance....

even a routine spot check will increase the heart-rate significantly. i went through one the other day where six cruisers had blocked off the main thoroughfare into town and ech car was approached by a stone faced police woman who, without greeting gruffly asked if i had been drinking.

now, i do agree that drunks are a danger to the road, but does a random spot check mid-evening do anything other than rattle the general pupulace, before it may have the outside chance of snaring a motorist with an illegal blood/alcohol level?

the conversation, while focusing intially on th epolice state and it`s methodologies, moves toward the structure of personal identity and our struggle to wake up and directly experience life as opposed to reacting to signals from others.

thanks for your kind words and your feedback regarding the show vincent.

i appreciate it.

Memphis said...

OK, you talk just like Bob Dylan.

No, I'm kidding. You and Dr. Helen are posting some serious materials here with the videos and audio files and all.

I took the Rorschach test and posted the results on my blog. I know you said this wasn't your area, but I wasn't exactly being serious, so if you're curious as to whether or not I'm truly insane, now you can find out.

Dr.Alistair said...

phew, i`m glad you are kidding.
i would have hated my voice...

X. Dell said...

I apologize for getting to this so late, but I'm glad I gave it a listen. The host (Stevens) is kinda hard to listen to. He talks way too much. I would have preferred hearing you more in depth, and less of Stevens' improv. Perhaps one day you'll edited that down a bit (and take out the commercials, obviously).

All in all, I think this is a fascinating topic for so many reasons. The semiotics of authority are ultimately the semiotics of the parent/child relationship. I did find what YOU had to say interesting.

Dr.Alistair said...

Absolutely x. the adult in us all gets negated in a thousand ways.

it`s no wonder the vast majority of people can`t make good decisions, when they are caught in a parent/child dichotomy.

regarding the host, he is so passionate about his position in all this that he becomes full of adrenalin and rattles on like a meth addict, no matter how much i try to slow things down.