[Marxism] Re: to Carlos (2)

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tackling and analysing the problem of institutional racism in a Marxist
fashion requires that we spurn the use of psychologistic terminology.
--Calvin

When someone writes of "institutional racism" and "white-skin
privilege", and uses it to pillorize arguments that should be discussed
on their own merit, I see this as bringing in irrelevant (perhaps
psychological) guilt through the back door.

In a similar context, James P. Cannon and others in the Trotskyist
movement, at a certain point in an argument would claim that the
opposition was petty-bourgeois, or wore a "trick suit," etc.

The CP, I believe, used male chauvinism and white chauvinism in the
same way. For the Maoists, it was "capitalist roaders."

In any case, on this list, where there is no political party, little or
no knowledge of each other, we should discuss ideas on their own merit.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ad-hominem.html

Brian Shannon


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