From my window

[Ben Pincas <benpincas@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From my window, admittedly, a non-academic window, I see a revolution on the 
>ground and the academics watching it as ... what?

Speaking generically, the Arab world, unlike the Blairs, Schroeders and Putins 
of this world, are not just going to wag the dog - they are going to whip it.

I see a phenomena in which the Iragi people have more control over the White 
House and Downing Street than USuk citizens.

I see impotence on the left in the US and UK: Why? Because they are, despite 
their excellent theoretical credentials, essentially a bourgeoise left - 
bourgeoise marxists.

They  make a greater fuss over UN or US dead than Iraqi or Palestinian deaths.

They are afraid not to appear "patriotic". (They might get arrested or 
boycotted at work)

They are picky-knicky about the morality of the violence of the revolting 
global peasants.

But I am glad. Why?

Because a political movement means movement - and things are moving, even 
though it is without one western so-called leftist lifting a finger to help.

I have been called an imperialist here - yet it is I not you who see every 
bodybag going back to the USuk as a GOOD THING in the marxist sense.

>From Afghanistan to Palestine - in a continuous uninterrupted band something 
>is taking place which will define this century - it will be called the Arab 
>century.

And so it will remain, if we marxists do not wake up out of beauty sleep and 
get involved.

>From my limited understanding of Marx (I prefer reading Trotsky) Marxists do 
>not start revolutionary movements, but they get involved and increase the 
>awareness of those involved.

Where is CAstro, the Chinese, where are the demostrations in western capital 
supporting  the evolution?

Nowhere - just the old Vietnam sysndrome, which consists of merely 
demonstrating against the war - not because it kills iraqis, Afghans and 
Palestinians, but because it kills bourgeoise american soldiers.

Instead of campaigning to bring the troops home, one could from a Marxist 
pointof view, campaign that they stay - and that the other powers should stay 
out.

The USuk has shirked its responsibilities in Afghanistan - leaving the Germans 
et al to take the heat there. Now they wish to do the same in Iraq - and some 
comrades find that good.

I have seem some lonely, forlorn e-mails from the Iraqi Communist Party - but 
have heard no support from their western comrades - ditto for the PKK in 
Kurdistan and Marxist comrades who actually fighting elsewhere.

The conclusion is clear - marxism int he west has become an intellectual 
pastime constisting of scoring points against each other and being dazzled by 
each others analytical brilliance.

However it is not here that history will be written and where the real 
dialectical leaps take place - that can only take place through practice - as 
Trotsky discovered.

I know I am being provocative - regard it as a bit of agit prop from an english 
jew who has far more admiraton for my arab and south american comarades than 
for any of the anglo-american variety who are afraid of being unpatriotic - who 
are afraid of what the neighbours will say.

Blair beats in the heart of many on these lists: "I say, old chaps, let's have 
a revolution, but this time we'll be splendidly ethical about it"

I cry for us and cheer for real revolutionaries.

Ben
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