Don Phau regales us about video games. Who is Dan Phau, you ask? Well, I’m glad you asked that question.
Don Phau. A Larouchian. He spoke before a panel organized by Virginia governor Kaine to look into causes for the Virginia Tech shootings, and came out swinging against violent video games. Par for the course for the Larouchian contingency, his attacks were of a more hysterical focus than his fellow compatriots for his position.
Violent Video Games. You know. The type of video games in which the Virginia Tech shooter was not known for playing — at least not during his college years. Or any other type of video game, for that matter.
I am breaking an unofficial rule of venturing into the politics of Larouche’s political crusades. It’s not as though there isn’t some reason for a person to believe video games are having some harmful affects on our children. My basic problem is that even by Larouche’s standards, his political opposition to video games rings hollow and false. I do not believe Lyndon Larouche gives a flying rip about violence in video games, or at least not directly.
But this whole arena leads him — and his immediate subserviants and employment– into some curious fits of ignorance. Larouche has Senator Joseph Lieberman as “Protector Of Hollywood’s Nintendo Brainwashers”. This is an interesting concept, as Lieberman is second to none in his criticism — or nagging if you prefer– of video game violence. But it is also curious in terms of company named — Nintendo, which is something akin to yelping about that heavy metal music in this year of 2007(*1). Nintendo is doing just fine, thank you very much, and I think the wii system has been a moderate bust, but the thing is… there was a moment in the mid-90s (I think, I’m only really vaguely aware of the video game industry) where Nintendo and Sony released the different versions of a new Mortal Kombat game, I believe. Sony’s was bloody, Nintendo’s wasn’t. Nintendo opted for a somewhat less “hardcore” and more family-friendly niche. Which may in fact mean that Lieberman is in the pockets of Nintendo lobbyists, what with his flailing about on video game violence, two wrongs making a right. But why would Larouche select Lieberman?
In other Larouche news, Lyndon Larouche trekked over to Russia in a historic trip and… do you care?
Okay. I have stood accused of … um… not balancing out anti-Larouche material with pro-Larouche material? This was back when I posted a series of posts on the history, from the mainstream media — filtering a bit with some odd Larouche pamphlets, and… I had not read anything from Dennis King, though the Larouchians assumed that I was just cribbing from him. (I’d be happy to do so now.) Other than that, I had posted a number of ex-Larouchites’ bitter experiences, and have posted any number of links to snide comments from … um… civilians who trekked into the Larouche realm (to a cadre shool, or just a greeting such as this encounter.) I suppose I can remedy that situation with this… positive experience shared on FACTNet:
Yes, I was a member of the west coast region. I was in Los Angeles. Yes, it was disturbing on what I saw of what was done to the older members. The tough part though is that a lot of Lyn’s theories are very sound ideas. In particular I love the possibility of freeing the third world from their dire situation. Are you sure Larouche knows about whats being done to the older members?(*2)
The reason why I left was not because of Larouche’s Ideas per say but because of the living standards. For example I had to wake up at 5:00 in the morning 3 mornings in a row for a cadre deployment and ended up vomiting during the deployment. After that Day I just felt very fatigued. I just couldn’t handle getting up really early and staying up real late. Not sure if it was because I was lazy or what it was. It seemed that everyone else was very energetic and not tired at all. I also had a stomach problem as well. I can say one thing for sure. Those 7 months were the most interesting 7 months of my life. Over all I think it was a positive experience. I still collaborate with them and they understood completely on why I felt it was best for me to leave and they are still very friendly with me. Some of the kindest people I’ve ever met in my entire life are in the movement. They’re very intelligent as well. Now of course I don’t agree with everything larouche says at all, and I hope the other members feel the same way as well.
I am attending Humboldt State University and right now am taking summer classes in Los Angeles. Not sure what I want to major in. I still love politics and absolutely want to make a positive difference in this world. I’m being dead honest when I say this. I didn’t experience what you guys are talking about with these horror stories in the movement. It was in a weird way a very relaxing environment. There would be a lot of excitement when something big was happening: such as when Alito was getting elected, but for the most part I felt at ease.
The food was crap, I didn’t get too great of a sleep too often, etc, but the people were friendly and wanted me to question things. There were a couple of members who were grumpy or cultish but i would say 95% of the members were fun to be around with.
[…] One reason why I left was because I wanted to learn more about the movement but it was hard to do so because I was constantly deploying. So ever since I left, I’ve been reading, reading, and reaing. That’s pretty much it. Reading Larouche, Reading the thinkers larouche mentions a lot, Reading the thinkers Larouche considers scumbags, etc.
Sounds like a very productive way to spend one’s time, don’t you think? He goes on to entreat you to double cubes. I myself have not doubled any cubes. Squares are another matter. I invite everyone to go a Larouche card-table with a piece of toilet paper and beg them to “Double This Square, Damneditall!”… um… you know, to help out Rosie O’Donnell.
(*1) Speaking of which, Don Phau wrote anti-heavy metal music articles for Larouche in the 1980s. It’s all starting to fit a pattern. (*2) Har de Har Har. Sigh.