Re: The "Gutless Stalinism" of the FSLN and FMLN

[Stephen E Philion <philion@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> Let me just make some brief points:
>
> 1) When I wrote about the FSLN and the FMLN, my main interest was trying
> to point to alternative models of *organization* to the type of dead-end,
> sectarian models of Maoism and Trotskyism that betrayed the possibilites
> of a broad-based socialist movement in the United States in the 1960's
> and 70's. Instead of having a massive socialist movement with the ability
> to influence millions, we have groupuscles standing on the sidelines
> competing with each other as to who can generate the most fiery rhetoric.
>
-----This is on the money, even if we find ourselves *wanting* to be
critical of some of the FSLN/FMLN's imperfect positions. Why?  Because
the central problem realy was not in Central America, nor the leadership
of these national liberation movements.  The biggest obstacle to their
success was that its supporters in the US failed to stop their
government's subversion and/or sponsored military attacks against the
FMLN?FSLN.  Critiques of the FMLN?FSLN are all well and good, but at
least they had the excuse of being under sustained attack and huge
financial/life losses from the most powerful nation-state in the world.
I can excuse the FSLN/FMLN's willingness to try negotiations in a last
gasp effort to survive under remarkably impossible circumstances. It is a
lot more difficult to grasp why the leadership of the opposition in the
states was so inclined toward lobbying efforts in lieu of direct
action/civil disobedience strategies.  The focus should be on our
mistakes in the US and the failures/successes of solidarity based
organizing in the states during that period...otherwise,our "critcisms"
of the FSLN/FMLN are nothing more than blaming the victim.

steve


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