Re: [Marxism] Re: Barry Sheppard at Brecht Forum

[Dayne Goodwin <dayneg@xxxxxxxx>]

Amen Brian,
        In his brief preface to _The Party Vol. 1: The Sixties_ Barry
Sheppard says: "I call this book a 'political memoir' for two reasons.
First is to distinguish it from a personal memoir or autobiography. . .
        "The second reason I use the term 'political memoir' is that i
have not attempted to write a history of the SWP.  Many aspects of that
history are left out or abbreviated.  However, the fact that I was a
central leader of the SWP for most of this time means that telling my own
political story also covers much of that history."

        This Volume 1 is 354 pages.  It seems reasonable to me that
Barry's political memoir of his experience in the SWP needed to be split
into two volumes for reasons of length, if for no other reason.  Making
the break between the two volumes come in 1973 also seems reasonable to me
for several reasons.  One is that the layer of youth which included Barry,
Peter Camejo, Jack Barnes and others who founded the Young Socialist
Alliance in 1960, around 1973 went from being *among* the central
leadership of the SWP to being *the leadership* of the SWP.

        It appears to me that this two volume work is going to emphasize
the strengths, although it also discusses weaknesses, of the SWP through
the earlier period covered in volume one.  Volume two will necessarily be
not only about 'what went wrong' but to some degree 'why?'

        In writing his memoir Barry will certainly tend to justify his own
views, choices and actions - just as we all would.  Writing volume two
will be difficult for Barry because, as he commented to me, he will have
to be heavily self-critical.
        Like all of us who experienced the SWP in its better days of the
1960s and 1970s, i think Barry continues to consider and mull over 'what
went wrong?' He is very interested in hearing others' views and
experiences in this regard.

        I am delighted that Bob Gould is sharing his substantive critical
commentary on marxmail.  I very much appreciate that he made this
document available:
        <http://members.optushome.com.au/spainter/YSA.html>
        Bob's introduction: "This pamphlet on the early history of the YSA
was published in July 1973 by the Workers League, United States affiliate
of Gerry Healy's International Committee for the Reconstruction of the
Fourth International. . . It was published under a pseudonym, Guy
Williams, and the author was probably Tim Wohlforth."

        Volume two remains to be written.  Let's hope Barry is able to do
it.
        Dayne

        _______________
On Thu, 2 Jun 2005, Brian Shannon wrote:
> I made two points yesterday.
> (1) Sheppard intends to write two volumes.
> Structurally it makes better sense for him to present his view on what
> went wrong with the SWP in Volume 2 than in Volume 1.
> (2) Marxmail is a good forum for presenting our own experiences and
> views. Barry's book is a memoir of his personal experience in Boston and New
> York and as a national leader of the YSA and SWP. It does not pretend
> to be all-inclusive.
>
> Because of Barry's role in the SWP, his book will probably be the
> touchstone for several years. Therefore it behooves us to write about
> our own experiences and interpretations now.
>
> Obviously, there will be much more to say after Volume 2 comes out.
> Brian Shannon

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