Elegy for Alexsei Navalny

The people who rule the world are often divided against each other into warring factions, but as was the case in Europe half a millennium ago, it is also true now that it is a single class of people, who hobnob together when they can. They killed Navalny in Russia, and would kill Assange in America. Angela Davis said, "If they come for me in the morning, they will come for you in the night."

So what do you do, besides feel the fear and express the rage? "It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it."

The Talmudic rabbi was speaking of the Jewish messianic tradition. In the modern world, that idea was effectively taken up by the international "left." Exclusively so. The romantic nationalism that led to the worst barbarism of the last century is also what led to and justifies the current war in Palestine. So we know what "the work" is today. Origin is not destiny; we can draw freely on the sources, owing them no loyalty oaths.

Navalny did not finish the work of liberating the world from these tyrannies. We probably won't either, but we'll do what we can. You cannot deny the terror they have placed you in, which they do to silence people and make it harder for them to act. And prisoners are managed, constantly asked how they are feeling, what they are doing, what are their problems, how they are best contained. Alexey, may your spirit live on; to rest in peace is no one's obligation.