Author: [log in to unmask] (Jajasoon Tlitteu) Date: 12/13/94 12:50 AM [Editor's note: This message was submitted to SCREEN-L by the "Author" noted above, and not by Jeremy Butler ([log in to unmask]).] I commend Jeremy for his "not squashing" of the Prop 187 Petition and his reasons for doing so. Personally, I don't see the reason for hesitancy (and I certainly don't see the reasons for Larry Jarvik's gripes). Prop 187 was not "simply" a piece of legislation or a "partisan political initiative." It's passing was dependent on its mediation through the press and television. While this petition was not directly related to the televisual aspects of the legislation, you cannot separate the law from its mediation; therefore discussing the law is discussing its mediation. I was particularly bewildered by this part of LJ's disgruntlement: >Signing such a petition, I am sure, will discredit the reputation of any film >or television scholar who is foolish enough to participate, since it would >reveal a lack of prudence. Huh? What type of prudence does this lack? As a person you can express you opinion, as a scholar you can do the same! How is LJ so "sure" that signing such a petition would discredit ones reputation? If you're going to blast someone's actions, at least justify your critique! Since when does a scholar only have authority to discuss their specific field of study? Even if you disagree with me above that Prop 187 is inexplicitly linked to our field of study, this was obviously a case of one group of scholars trying to pass along their information to another - I passed it along to other maillists as well. After all, if Newt can tell us all to rent Boystown, we can certainly tell him where to shove his racist & unconstitutional law! ******** jajasoon tlitteu ([log in to unmask]) "Academic training was instrumental. You have to understand the language of society before you can start stretching and subverting it and ripping and tearing it and burning it and watching the plastic drip on the ants."