Re: clarification

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Carrol:

I agree with the rest of your list, so let me add some qualifications
to 2 & 3 of the "principles of unity":

>2. Opposition to all U.S. interference in the internal affairs of other
>nations or in conflicts between other nations. (This is awkwardly
>stated, but I really don't think I want to be in the same party with
>anyone who supported NATO aggression in Yugoslavia. Also
>I want to incorporate a principle that honors Nestor's arguments
>re Peron & similar figures in the third world.)

How do we go about criticizing Noam Chomsky, Edward Said, etc. on the
positions that they have taken on the Yugoslav affairs, for instance?
While I disagreed with Jared on his _manner_ of criticism of Chomsky,
he has a very valid reason to offer a criticism (and I say this
without fully agreeing with Jared on his assessment of the Yugoslav
affairs).  Criticism of some kind is undoubtedly necessary here, but
we have to criticize their respective positions without sounding
sectarian or burning all the bridges, actual or potential, between us
and Chomky, Said, & all the people who admire them.

>3. Acceptance and encouragement of independent action on the
>part of women and black americans. (This can probably be
>extended, but I dislike long lists and I think these two imply
>the whole list.) [Incidentally, this would honor the little that is
>legitimate in the weasel-worded statement from Butler that
>Doug quoted. I'm working on a response to that post.]

Generally, yes, though in the case of women, it can only mean the
acceptance & encouragement in a very abstract sense, for many of
independent actions by feminist activists have become questionable,
especially in the light of the "principles of unity" 1 (not to make
the Dems a locus of progressive political action) & 2 you laid out.

>P.S. A speculation. There are two professed anarchists on
>the lbo list (probably more but these two are the most
>articulate). My guess is that one of them (Bob Fitch) would
>grumpily go along with the movement envisioned here. I
>disagree with him frequently, but he reads posts by
>marxists and responds in a principled manner, and he
>does have things to say.

You mean Gordon Fitch?  If so, I agree.

Yoshie