Sanji's escalating thread

["Chris, London" <100423.2040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Sanji,

I think you share some responsibility for a series of escalating threats
which typcally for e-mail rapidly lead to a flame war. You are now
contemplating that your 8 year old child may be harmed, and we are
contemplating that this marxism discussion l'st may be closed down.

The pattern looks easily recogisable: One person
thinks there has been a shocking violation of the accepted boundaries of
debate, so threatens retaliation, which is then the reason for the
next reply to threaten even more unacceptable retaliation.

My own view is that some of this personal heat is a reflection of the
real politics actually existing in the near east. It is known that
the US government subsidizes Israel to the order of several billion a
year. We have got to be able to discuss this on this l'st without
being accused of anti-semitism.

I append your protest to Louis Godena below. I would like you to take
responsibility to explain why his remarks were anti-semitic. Robust yes,
and I have no reason to be a great friend of his, but if there was
any formula that could have been changed to prevent us being accused
of anti-semistism could you please explain what it was?

I would point out your own post could well be seen as provocative on
a personal not a political level. (See below) In the course of a few
lines you insult Louis Godenas as

1 a gutter snipe

2 Jew-baiting

3 anti-semite

4 with the mentality of a concentration camp guard

5 being beyond contempt

6 seriously mentally ill


I would like to make it quite clear that I do not see any evidence
that you are mentally ill as has been subsequently implied, but it
is only fair to ask you to explain your good judgement in posting on
a highly controversial topic in this manner. I also think Louis G,
as I have said before needs to take some responsibility for his style,
(which at various times I think he has).

I see on looking at my own archives that you have been a subscriber
>from some time in April, so you must be familiar with how rough
some of the debate has been. I am glad you did not
just jump in virtually unannounced. It is not compulsory but
it would help if you explained some of your own interest in
subscribing to this marxism l'st.

The key question IMO, because it is a political question, that I
think it is fair to put to you, is why you claimed that Louis Godena's
post was "Jew-baiting" and "anti-semitic"?

Thank you for your clarification from your point of view.

Chris Burford
London

_________________________________________________________________



From: Sanjii@xxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 14:15:55 -0400
Subject: Re: Time to 'pretty up' the fascist

In a message dated 96-06-03 13:06:49 EDT, you write:

>Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, articulate murderer of Palestinians and hard-line
>Likud fascist,  has "won" the Zionist "elections", though by a razor-thin

                   You ,Godena are nothing more then a gutter snipe-Jew
   baiting anti semite,with the mentality of a concentration camp
   guard.You are beyond contempt,and clearly seriously mentally
   ill.Why the HELL does the CPUSA tolerate you?Is this CPUSA
   POLICY?

                                                                 Sanjii
  ps:maybe Godena is part of the CPUSA out reach
  program to help the mentally ill.


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