Re: [Marxism] Lafontaine: a question for Einde

[Einde O'Callaghan <einde@xxxxxx>]

David Walters wrote:

> Einde wrote:
>
> "I must say I deeply resent being called an Anglo - I'm Irish. In
> addition, unlike Nobby I've lived heer for 13 years and I think I have a
> better idea of what is happening in the East of Germany than the vast
> majority of West German leftists - including unfortunately my own
> comrades."
>
> I know the feeling. When I moved to Tucson in 1976, I was called "Anglo"
> for the first time in my life. He said, "Anyboy having a Bar Mitzvah
> cannot be an 'Anglo'". Needless to say, this New Yorker lost the argument.
That may be so - but in 13½ years living in eastern Germany I've never
once been called an Anglo (indeed I've never even heard the term being
used before) and nobody has ever questioned my right to voice opinions
about politics in my country of residence. I was elected to the state
executive of the WASG in Saxony on the basis of these political opinions.

To be quite honest, when I read that comment from Johannes I felt I had
been slapped in the face by somebody whose comments I've always read
with interest. I felt that the comment was designed to deny the
significance of anything I've got to say about Germany on the basis of
my country of birth or my native language. While I don't believe
Johannes is a racist in any sense, I do feel that he was getting very
close to the line with that remark.

The last time I've been so angry about such an insult was when a racist
scab at one of my former workplaces called me an "Paddy bastard" and I
pinned to the wall and warned him that if he ever called me anything
like that again I shove his teeth down his throat. BTW, Johannes, this
isn't meant to be a threat to you - I'm just trying to show how offended
I was by your remark.

Einde O'Callaghan

_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism