More on the Black Bloc in Quebec

["Jay Moore" <research@xxxxxxxxxx>]

FYI -- Here are some further musings I just received on another List from
the father of one of the Black Bloc members.  I would characterize his
politics as left-wing Social Democratic, definitely not Marxist.  But it's
very interesting what he says about where these anarcho-youth like his own
are coming from.

best,
jay

**********

Thanks very much for your great reports, Jay.

My informant is fine with her  red badge of courage". She also tells me that
after the gagging, vomiting and all the gas has been washed away the effect
is very exhilarating, especially if you are at an organizing meeting
drinking beer!

Of course I have gotten into several arguments about the appropriateness of
the Black Bloc actions. Many feel it discredits the protest against WTOand
NAFTA but I just don't see that much attention would be paid to the protests
if it wasn't for the Bloc actions- much of the peaceful protest WAS very
much a result of the fact that Canadian authorities were on the look-out for
the threat posed by the Black Bloc and thus restricted passage across the
border. Further,there is evidence- some of which I posted several months ago
( at least one article in Le Monde Diplomatique) that Black Bloc actions
HAVE influenced WTO and FTAA negotiators at least to a small degree ( some
NGO's have been represented and more concern has been given to the
democratizing aspects of Free Trade than had been  previously. Also, the
tactics of Black Bloc-in Seatle and Washington have forced police into
defensive positions, because battling them on the streets increased the
chaos and casualties to an unacceptable extent from a public relations point
of view.)

To me, however, the most significant point, is the extent to which the Black
Bloc- most of who are normally quite respectful , law-biding citizens and
socially concerned in their everyday lives- represents a kind of INTIFADA-
we adults have neglected the demands of social justice for so long and our
political system is such a pile of immoveable cement , completely
unresponsive to anything but the selfish, greedy and insensitive demands of
its citizens, without the least concern about the fate of millions around
the world and the media is, for the most part, a machine for generating lies
and fantasies- that it has fallen upon children and young adults to make the
sacrifices necessary to send a wake up call. They can't bear to live without
a few rays of hope burning through the sordid gloom of the subterranean
dungeon of their everyday lives. They want to be good people and are willing
to take chances and make sacrifices to achieve that end.

This argument seems to have an effect, as does  refuting the excuse one
hears so often when arguments get bogged down: "It's all so complex! Like
Andy Rooney on Sixty Minutes last night who did point out an interesting
fact: that most of what China exports to the U.S. is the product of American
firms but then did the old "It's so complex and besides I never could use
chopsticks very well"

I believe the issue of Free and Fair trade is something most Americans can
come to understand, once the various mystifications put out by the media and
politicians and the purely selfish perpective are laid aside.

But we still can't count on any of our present representatives in government
to lead the people in this respect and probably won't for a long time. Thus.
in my view, the task is in its most formative stage and in the forum that
which exists on the most fundamental and personal level in everyday life,
NOT the media, which corrupts just about everything it touches.