SLSL Racial Differences

[Bahia Quasimodo]

It may turn out that racial differences
(disagreements)
 are not as basic as questions of money and power, but
have served (advanced)  a useful (sarcasm here)  
purpose, often in the interest of those (the
criminally insane leaders of the free world and those
that keep them in money and power--big business, local
politics, media) who deplore (bemoan) them most, in
keeping us divided and  relatively poor and powerless.
(p.12)

This is what I think Pynchon is saying. I don't agree
with it, but this is what he seems to be saying. 

The US government, the State governments, the
Municipal governments, the local governments, spends
billions of dollars to diminish racial differences.
They pass laws to prevent racial differences. 
However, they spend more and do more to create and
maintain these tensions. 

Big business (McDonalds, Pepsico, Merk, Ford,
Boeing...etc.) deplores racial tensions and
differences. They invest lots of money to ease racial
differences. However, they spend far more to cultivate
them, and feed them. 

Why? Because when concentrated money and power in the
US spends money, it divides people. It divides people
(racial lines are as "useful" as any other line that
can be drawn) by keeping most  people poor and
powerless and the rich and powerful rich and powerful.


While race matters and while racial differences have
always been a factor in the US, tensions along racial
lines are neither necessary nor sufficient for
maintaining the current economic state of affairs. 

Those who deplore racial differences (tensions,
conflicts, and segregation, miscommunication,
misunderstanding) most are those in power.
Nevertheless, those in power are also those who keep
people separate and equally poor relative to the
prosperity of the State and the Power elite. 

There is nothing new or profound in any of this. But
who cares? 
Pynchon can have simple politics and write beautiful
fiction. Maybe having simple politics makes him a
better author than he would be if he were a deep
thinker on these issues or an academic. Pynchon is a
damn good thief and poet. And the combination is what
makes him good. His politics are rather beside the
point. 


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