RE: [A-List] Melvin

["Craven, Jim" <JCraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

Mark Jones died of cancer aged 55. We can speculate as to the causes of
why someone as vital as he should be taken from us so early in life.
After this little episode it occurs to me that one very plausible reason
for Mark's premature demise was his deep frustration at the circular
firing squads that seem to be the pathological behaviour pattern of the
revolutionary left. Time after time, despite his constant efforts to
bring people of different backgrounds together, he would find himself
forced to choose sides in the most petty, arcane, and wholly unnecessary
disputes such as this, amid all the very real struggles that affect us
all. That sort of experience, when coupled with the sort of personality
he was, might be expected to produce the destructive side-effect of
despair, in addition to the obviously destructive consequences for
organisation and communication. How much easier it would be to simply
walk away, but how little would be accomplished.

I wish that people possessed a greater generosity of spirit and
willingness to regard those with an essentially similar interest as
comrades, despite whatever disagreements may arise from time to time.
*Comrades* do not fling insults of "liar", "punk-ass mutherfucker",
"bitch", etc., at each other. Why is this not obvious?

Michael


Rsponse Jim C: This will be my only response to this subject. I did not
respond to Melvin's comments that I was "fucking with him" merely for
expressing my own point of view on what it means to call someone a
"liar"--as opposed to merely arguing that someone was incorrect on a
particular point--and did not want to add to those voices calling for
Melvin's removal. And I too am saddened that Henry's voice has been
temporarily--I hope--lost from the list. But Michael's points are very
well taken and I do know from extended personal conversations off-list
with Mark that what Michael is saying about the trials and tribulations
that Mark faced in trying to keep the list together and relevant is very
true.

In the context of increasing repression in America and increasingly
sophisticated technologies of surveillance, mind/soul control and
repression, with increasing numbers of imperialist-collaborating "Elves"
keeping lists of who is "naughty and nice"--well beyond Christmas--all
of those on this list--and others like it--are taking a very visible
position and stand vis-a-vis U.S. monopoly capitalism, imperialism, the
national security state etc and should be commended and respected just
for taking a stand and putting themselves at risk. Those who openly
stood against Hitler, and tried to give warning of what was about to
take place in Germany, made themselves more visible and easier to
identify later. For this reason alone, even though I have my own rage
and passions, I am more inclined to remember this fact before dismissing
those with whom I disagree with invective and vitriol. Just to identify
oneself as a Marxist or anti-imperialist or anti-fascist in America
is a powerful public stand and statement that puts one on a wide range
of lists of various U.S. Government agencies and should be respected.

And I believe that Michael is correct in saying that terms like
"punk-ass mutherfucker"[sic] and "bitch" reveal some vile forms of
sexist baggage and hurtful language that can only be hurtful and deter
women comrades from joining in with male comrades, and, also, simply
says nothing about why a particular person may be incorrect on a given
point; it is simply gratuitous--albeit perhaps psychologically
purging--but empty in terms of having any progressive content or effects
on real struggle. It can only do the work of "The Man" in terms of
promoting divisions and splits that "The Man" spends a lot of time
figuring out how to achieve.

But the bottom line is that the cause, the struggle and even this list
are more important than any one person or any purported contributions of
any one person. I for one cop to being a highly imperfect person and
revolutionary whose own positions and personhood are evolving. I welcome
any and all corrections to my own positions that are based on solid
reason and evidence. And as someone whose mother and father are dead and
who would give all that I have for just one more day with my father and
mother, anyone who called me a "mutherfucker" to my face would find
either me or that person in an intensive-care unit at the hospital as
such vile vitriol can be very hurtful to some who take such vitriol
literally.

Please, there are no superstars here. And there is no place for narrow
"identity politics" or the types of divisive and list-imploding tirades
and bullying that Melvin seems to take to when anyone dares to disagree
with him. In the real world, the messenger and the message are often
tied together such that the message may be tainted by the messenger
and/or the mesenger tainted by the message. Melvin's often important
messages are often tainted by a highly imperfect--and perhaps deeply
troubled--messenger; this is sad for both the message and the messenger.

Jim Craven