These new-found tensions which are present at all stages in the real nature of colonialism have their repercussions on the cultural plane. In literature, for example, there is relative over-production. From being a reply on a minor scale to the dominating power, the literature produced by natives becomes differentiated and makes itself into a will to particularism. The intelligentsia, which during the period of repression was essentially a consuming public, now themselves become producers. This literature at first chooses to confine itself to the tragic and poetic style; but later on novels, short stories and essays are attempted. It is as if a kind of internal organisation or law of expression existed which wills that poetic expression become less frequent in proportion as the objectives and the methods of the struggle for liberation become more precise. Themes are completely altered; in fact, we find less and less of bitter, hopeless recrimination and less also of that violent, resounding, florid writing which on the whole serves to reassure the occupying power. The colonialists have in former times encouraged these modes of expression and made their existence possible. Stinging denunciations, the exposing of distressing conditions and passions which find their outlet in expression are in fact assimilated by the occupying power in a cathartic process. To aid such processes is in a certain sense to avoid their dramatisation and to clear the atmosphere. But such a situation can only be transitory. In fact, the progress of national consciousness among the people modifies and gives precision to the literary utterances of the native intellectual. The continued cohesion of the people constitutes for the intellectual an invitation to go farther than his cry of protest. The lament first makes the indictment; then it makes an appeal. In the period that follows, the words of command are heard. The crystallisation of the national consciousness will both disrupt literary styles and themes, and also create a completely new public. While at the beginning the native intellectual used to produce his work to be read exclusively by the oppressor, whether with the intention of charming him or of denouncing him through ethnical or subjectivist means, now the native writer progressively takes on the habit of addressing his own people.
Our Candidates
First, Progressive Majority is not only active in Washington State, but in 7 other states across the country, including “swing†states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado, Minnesota and Arizona.
As far as Washington, over the last 14 years, we have experienced more “swing†than any other state in the country – six of the nine congressional seats have been held by members of a different political party during that time, and the state legislature has experienced vast turnover. A look at Maria Cantwell’s less than 2,500 vote margin in her 2000 Senate election and Chris Gregoire’s 129 vote margin for her Governor’s race will only confirm that independent nature of Washington State.
To date, we’ve endorsed 40 candidates in Washington State running in 2007. Of these, over half are first time candidates, meaning they have never run for any public office before.
A complete list can be found at our website.
These are people like Ramona Fonseca, who is running to be the first Latina elected Mayor in Granger, a small town in the Yakima Valley which is over 80% Hispanic; Maria Osorio, running for an open seat on the Toppenish School Board; Ken Mann, 37, running against a conservative incumbent for the Whatcom County Council; Chase Gallagher, a 23-year-old candidate for Shelton (Mason County) Finance Commissioner, and 28-year-old lawyer Joshua Schaer, who would be the only progressive on the Issaquah City Council.
We have only endorsed three sitting incumbents for re-election, and that is because their races are so critical. They are two of the very few elected progressives in Eastern Washington, and Alec Fisken, running for reelection to the Seattle Port Commission – because to get a majority on the port, we must win that seat as well.
The other non-first time candidates fall into one of two categories. The first is promising up-and-comers who lost their last campaign, like Bill Sherman who is running for King County Prosecutor or Cindy Poysnick, who came within a handful of votes from winning a seat on the Puyallup School Board two years ago. The second category is progressive elected officials who are taking the next step to running for higher office, such as Rose Ehart, who is a member of the Pierce County Conservation District and is running for the University Place City Council, or Brian Sullivan, whom you’ve already mentioned.
Thank you for your interest in our work, CultureKitchen!