[Marxism] Will YOU come at 3.m.?

["Hunter Gray" <hunterbadbear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

NOTE BY HUNTER BEAR  [January 22  2005]  Foggy in Idaho -- like Seattle
where on January 1 1955, I was baptized into the Red Radical Faith.   See my
now ancient I.W.W. card [#323147] on Lair of Hunterbear.

This isn't an explicitly religious thing, so don't panic and run away.  But
I do have a hypothetical question that I occasionally ask regarding say,our
Roman Catholic priests [and other clergypersons]: If I were to call Him [or,
in certain other denominations, Her] at 3 am, would he/she come quickly?
The answer is Almost Always -- and always Yes in the case of mainline
denominations [RCs, Episcopalians, Lutherans, LDS et al.].  And this holds
true for Medicine Men, as well as the Ethical Humanists [of which I am a
member, though they are regrettably scarce in Idaho] and it holds true for
Me.  If there is any way, human or superhuman, that I personally can come
when called by a mangled soul, I always come.  Doesn't mean I am any Angel,
just that I was through enough long, long ago -- and since as well -- to
have heavy empathy.  And I know plenty of others, believers and otherwise,
who do the same.

[About a year ago, I called -- not, however, at 3 am -- for a priest who
could give me Healing and Last Rites and I received those pronto.  Had it
been 3 am, I know he would have come.]

But when it comes to some Radicals and some Liberals -- and even some
Organizers -- not all will come into Crisis Stuff.  Some will -- and some
won't. [Some even won't answer a letter, a phone call, or e mail.]  Those
who won't would rather Jaw Smith -- talk -- than act.  [I am not referring
to outbursts of genuinely angry indignation given the current national [and
global] mess.  But of course we do ultimately need more than just blarney.]

And others who won't come or act, may not have much to really offer.  A
basic question I have for some radicals and some liberals and some activist
organizers, do they [we] have something, a Program or a Vision, for which we
might die -- or for which we would even get fired from a job?

I belong to several radical and labor outfits.   Some, frankly, are more
satisfying than others.  I have no problem at all with the concept that
socialism and related dimensions and democracy are inseparable -- as
intertwined and intermeshed as fused copper wires.  I have always held
strongly to that.  Socialism -- and its anarcho syndicalist kin -- are
Radical.

But, it really is personally hard for me to get at all excited about the
Democratic Party.  I may on occasion vote for it, but I don't really see my
historical niche in that -- even in its ostensible "left wing."  I don't see
my role as assisting in its reformation.  All of that is, in the last
analysis, an arid box canyon.

Frankly, if I were to call the Democratic Party at 3 am, I really don't
think it would come.

Here, now, are some thoughts of mine on all of this that some have seen and
others may not have.

COMMENT BY HUNTER BEAR  [November 4 2004]

Well, it's been a "cold Monday morning" for sure -- but the River flows on.
For my part, here in pervasively Republican Idaho, I wrote in Walt Brown for
President and Mary Herbert for Vice President [Socialist Party USA] and,
with one local exception , voted a straight Demo ticket after that.  More on
Idaho politics.

Lots of talk now about organizing and fight-back.  [Joe Hill's genuinely
immortal line is being quoted to the Four Directions.]  All well and good --
IF people are really willing to work and work hard.  And especially
to do so over the long, long haul of many years, many rivers, many mountain
ranges.

I've polished this piece of mine and expanded it a bit.  This is probably
the last time I'll put it out on discussion lists -- but some day and some
way, along with much more of course, it'll be published in a book.

 BTW, I have gradually learned that this Organizing piece of mine has been
really widely reprinted to the Four Directions and I much appreciate that!
H

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>From my Organizing Catechism:

9] And any really healthy grassroots organizing campaign has to have a
Vision -- one that is two dimensional: Over The Mountain Yonder, and the
Day - To - Day needs. As I have indicated, a movement which, among other
things, is characterized by an idea whose time has come, is a broad-based
cause growing out of local community organizational efforts -- in turn
inspiring and stimulating new community-based thrusts. To become a bona fide
movement, there absolutely has to be the two-dimensional ethos and active
life. But the purely local effort has to have the same two dimensional
ingredients, whether it's part of a movement or by itself.

[Something with vision only can easily wind up a small, in-grown sect;
and something that's only day - to -day can become a tired service program.
And when an organization has lost its way, factionalism is a sure thing
along with the withdrawal of the local people.]

A good Organizer's role in all of this vision-building is extremely
critical -- especially at the outset. But it's also critical all the way
through in conjunction with the growing awareness of the grassroots people.
The two-dimensional vision -- Over The Mountain and Day - To -Day -- is the
shiny idea that makes people part of a crusade and sometimes a truly great
one. It all gives meaning to life. And sometimes, if necessary, one will die
for it. Each of these two dimensions stimulates and feeds the other. A good
and truly effective Organizer absolutely has to show this interconnection.

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So here, then, is the mini version of my full course [so far] on
Organizing -- including comments and a good colloquy with a friend on
voluntarism and related matters.

http://www.hunterbear.org/my_combined_community_organizing.htm

In the Mountains of Eastern Idaho -

HUNTER GRAY  [HUNTER BEAR]   Micmac /St. Francis Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
www.hunterbear.org
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´
and Ohkwari'

In our Gray Hole, the ghosts often dance in the junipers and sage, on the
game trails, in the tributary canyons with the thick red maples, and on the
high windy ridges -- and they dance from within the very essence of our own
inner being. They do this especially when the bright night moon shines down
on the clean white snow that covers the valley and its surroundings.  Then
it is as bright as day -- but in an always soft and mysterious and
remembering way. [Hunter Bear]




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