I'm sure he's well aware that he's been given the same "conspiracy of silence" treatment as Marx during his writing career, but the leveling power of the internet has exposed thousands of people to his political theory. I know that Anglophone Internet Communists is maybe not the most representative grouping of people, but among them, it's hard to find someone who hasn't read his books, listened to his lectures, or had both of the above recommended to them by multiple people.
The yellow lecture has gotten over 300k views in 9 years, which may not be a lot for Spider-Man and Elsa Murder Mystery Mukbang Gone Sexual?! but is kind of incredible for an hour and a half lecture by an Italian-American Communist from 37 years ago.
All of this is to say: Michael Parenti has been extremely important to my political development and that of many others, and I think his influence will only grow. I respect him tremendously and I hope he knows that he's helped build a brighter future.
He's old now, and I can't remember (honest to God no pun intended) if it's alzheimers or dementia, but he doesn't remember a lot anymore. Some comrades from Gen Zedong visited him about a year ago in his care home. He's not sharp enough to have political discussion, but he was very happy to have visitors and show them clippings and photos of his lectures and visits around the world. He seems well taken care of and in good spirits, but when memory goes there's good days and bad days. I'm glad they saw him on a good day and reported that he seemed happy - it's the least he deserves.
It's dementia, and I'm pretty sure he's living in his own house or apartment, at least he was when the GZD'ers visited him.
When GZD members visited him they took some pictures of his wall decorations. One of them included a picture of Parenti getting arrested during a protest. Pretty wild that he and Bernie were once colleagues but now have such different views on the world.
I get wanting to meet your idols, (this is just my opinion) it was in poor taste to go over to the man's house. He's an intellectual yes, but he's still a person, not someone for people to post about on Reddit about their visit
I think it would be in poor taste if they stalked the man, but I think they had family who knew Parenti so it wasn’t anything too weird
That changes things a bit.
Yeah people don't just show at public intellectuals house like Chomsky or Parenti unless you've been given the go ahead.
I thought they had found his address out and just showed up randomly to fawn over him.
He has advanced dementia and is probably pretty lonely. Old folks need socialization, even dementia sufferers. I'm sure he not only didn't mind but was happy to have some kids over who hung out with him and were a generally good vibe. They organized the visit, they didn't just like show up and demand to be seen.
I don't know, if I were 80+ years old and young communists were coming to me to say how much my work inspired them, I'd be pretty happy about it. Imagine how it must be after a lifetime of watching neoliberalism reign supereme to see this kind of organizing and enthusiasm now?
After the revolution, I hope he gets a big fucking statue and a library named after him.
I wonder who will carry his torch. Don’t get me wrong, I like Wolff, Hudson, Harvey, etc. but they’re pretty tame. Maybe Wolff is the most exciting of them all to listen to and can match Parenti’s energy.
Wolff is 80, Hudson is 84, David Harvey (?) Is 87...
:flattened-bernie:
Wolff is a pretty uncharismatic dude though, often pretty tedious. Parenti was an inspiring and lovable polemicist, like he had :ture-fist: energy. Imagine you didn't agree with Wolff fundamentally already and he was trying to convince you with his droll, condescending lecturing nature.
IDK Wolff has his place, his Economic Update is good praxis, but if he's the best we have (which he might be) were in a dark place.
Imagine everything about him was the same, but he's a neoliberal - how much innate power do you think he'd have to shake you from your communist beliefs?
I think he has avuncular charm, but that's just me. It's okay to not like someone. Charisma is like attractiveness---in the eye of the beholder.
I didn't say I don't like Wolff, he does his part. I just don't think he's very convincing, and definitely no :party-parenti:
