conspirational world view (was Re: [Marxism] Re: Pearl Harbor,etc.--reply

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>>My own organization, one born in 1974 with no historical organic
link to any previous revolutionary organization, made up of cadre with
an average age of 24, and essentially inexperienced, was able to face
COINTELPRO effectively, to the point we exist today. And believe they
faced COINTELPRO, the FBI files from the period fill several shelves.

>>>Unwittingly, you illustrate the very reason why conspirational world
views are not politically useful. By taking as an item of faith that
the BPP was destroyed in the main because of COINTELPRO, questions
essential for any revolutionary in the USA go un-answered or, worse,
ignored. --Carlos


I should have been more careful in my writing, for I did not wish to
imply "that the BPP was destroyed in the main because of COINTELPRO."

Yes, COINTELPRO was only one aspect of the demise of the BPP. It was
not the determining factor, by any means. However, without going into
the political weaknesses of the BPP and SWP, it seems to me that the
established Leninist-type organizations handled COINTELPRO quite well.
That your organization also did so may be due to its seriousness and
leaders who, although young, took a serious look at earlier practices.

And I believe that most of us were surprised by the extent or weight of
the conspiracy, although we shouldn't have been.  And it was a secret
government conspiracy.

>>>National Bolshevism?

Jeez, this seems to have been very obscure at the time and a rhetorical
description or jibe rather a living tendency. After I wrote my note, I
googled it and came up with you on this list in a short dispute on
Lenin and Radek and others. Aside from these comments, is there a more
extended note on it that you can refer us to?

from Brian Shannon


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