Re: Leo on violence

[Brian Carnell <briand@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 06:34 PM 2/4/96 EST, you wrote:
>Leo's account of the success of his students in competing in a national
>public speaking competition is a vivid refutation of racist theories
>of mechanically determined intellectual ability.

I would think such theories are so far beyond the pale they wouldn't need
such refutation, though if you do seek one this would be an example.

>Nevertheless if is of course relevant that a lot of additional effort
>is required to overcome the psychosocial disadvantages, and compete
>with students of the most privileged classes.

Why would this be the case?

>I think this issue is linked also with Yugoslavia. The wide availability of
>weapons and the preparations for a popular war of resistance against another
>invasion, would undoubtedly have been progressive, should an invasion have
>occurred. On the other hand when these weapons fall into the hands of
>sectarian groups aiming to dismembers multi-ethnic society, this is
>very harmful for the unity of working people, not to say their welfare.

Of course I would only add that the very same effects can be had when the
state accumulates such weapons.  I.e. my point is not that private citizens
will NOT kill each other unjustly -- of course they will.  But so will the
state.

>I think the conflict with Brian, (not Bryan, I was glad to note)
>may feel tiresome, Leo, but I think there are strategic issues behind it.

I'll try to keep it from being too tiring. :)

>While marxists, and others, IMHO, must make use of many opportunities
>under civil society to oppose oppressive and exploitative pressures of
>capitalism, we should not automatically support every libertarian demand.
>
>Total freedom to carry guns, total access to child pornography, whatever.

The two are not analagous since the existence of child pornography is only
possible through the violation of rights of children.  Possessing guns does
not automatically indicate such a rights violation.

>It is interesting how the total freedom we have on *marxism* to post whatever
>we like has created not the desire for an atomised cacophony but a sense
>of community even despite some of the bitterest divisions, and a desire for
>some coherence in the development of threads.

Good point....wish I'd thought to say it first. :(

>We should oppose Pesach calling for a simple strengthening of police in New
>York, (a civil society type argument) and instead support arguments about
>the peaceful management of conflict relying better on local democratic
>involvement.

Here I would agree with you.  Strengthening the power of the police state's
police is never a good idea.


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Brian Carnell                                   Coming, Feb. 20...Human Freedom
briand@xxxxxxxxxxxx                             pages (libertarian) at          
                                                                        
http://www.carnell.com/




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