History of SWP (US)

["James F. Miller" <jamiller@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

PROYECT VS. BILENKIN ON SWP HISTORY

   I agree with many of Vladimir Bilenkin's criticisms of
Louis Proyect's "history of the SWP" posting. I'm glad
someone had the time to subject Louis's comments to a little
careful scrutiny.
   I'm a supporter of the SWP (US), and as such, would like
to contribute a little to this discussion.

   Louis said:

> However, it is simply wrong to set up a dichotomy between some kind
> of intrinsically proletarian opposition to imperialist war and petty-
> bourgeois acceptance of it. The workers have shown themselves just as
> capable of bending to imperialist war propaganda as events
> surrounding the Gulf War show. The primarily petty-bourgeois based
> antiwar movement helped the Vietnamese achieve victory.  It was not
> coal miners or steel workers who provided the shock-troops for the
> Central America solidarity movement of the 1980's. It was lawyers,
> doctors, computer programmers, Maryknoll nuns, and aspiring circus
> clowns like the martyred Ben Linder who did.

   This is one of many cases in which Louis distorts the positions
of the SWP in order to make it appear foolish. The expression:
"intrinsically proletarian opposition to imperialist war" used
here by Louis does not characterize the views or activities of
the SWP in WW II or any other war. SWP members and supporters
are aware that most workers succumb to imperialist war pressures.
The "proletarian opposition to imperialist war" that characterizes
the position of the SWP refers to the class interests of workers
in relation to imperialist war. In this respect, the program of
the SWP is the same as that of Lenin in WW I.
   The SWP has never had a sectarian attitude toward those antiwar
activists who come from middle-class families, or have occupations
that place them in the ranks of the petty bourgeoisie. Many SWP
members themselves were in these categories during the Vietnam war,
and some still are.
   The SWP encouraged its members to get jobs in unionized
factories beginning in 1978, and most of its members did so.
That is how the party came to be composed primarily of industrial
workers. But the SWP still recruits college students and others
who are not industrial workers. I think most other leftist
groups would agree with the SWP that one's class background or
current occupation should not be a barrier to one's membership
in a revolutionary organization. Anyone who accepts the program
and agrees to work in a disciplined way in a recognized party
organization can be a member. It is on this basis that the SWP
has welcomed many types of people into its ranks over the years,
including computer programmers and college professors.



Jim Miller
Seattle
jamiller@xxxxxxxxxxx


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