Re: [Marxism] Admire Colin Powell - Hell No!!!

["Marvin Gandall" <marvgandall@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Carrol Cox wrote:

> Yes -- and not merely "tacitly." And I agree with the quoted text,
> though I think on many points GI should be cited cautiously. But this in
> no way contradicts what Marvin writes below. His argument is not against
> violent insurrection but against gratuitous acts of vengeance _after_
> (or even during) such an insurrection. In fact, what you quote from Marx
> seems to me to add emphasis to Marvin's argument. Revolution (including,
> or especially including, violent insurrection) is above all else a
> self-education for the working class. Mere vengeance should surely be
> considered part of the muck of the ages from which revolutionary
> self-education is to free us.
-------------------
Exactly, Carrol, thanks for clearing up Calvin's misunderstanding, and to
Louis for the citation. Steve Heeren may also be misunderstanding what LT
wrote. Nowhere in the passage cited by Louis does Trotsky suggest the US,
unlike Russia, would experience a peaceful transition; only that it would be
relatively less contentious and violent because of the higher level of
culture and economy, and that "after the main issues have been decided", you
(Americans) will not waste your energies and resources in costly social
conflicts...and you will move ahead so much more rapidly in consequence."

I don't think has ever been a private propertyholding class in history which
has peacefully surrendered power, where the masses haven't been forced in
self-defence to counter violent repression. But it's one thing to learn from
history, and another to romanticize violence. The fascists have been the
worst offenders, but violence also been subject to mystification on the left
to a lesser extent.

MG





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