Re: [Marxism] Answer to Mr. Lause's challenge

[Paddy Apling <e.c.apling@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 01:52 22/07/2005, Louis Proyect  wrote:
> Shane wrote:
> > But James has made the point... at that point in
> > time time Browder and the party leadership were criticizing Roosevelt
> > -- some even said that he was a "fascist." Of course later on the
> > party switched its position (for the better, I think).
>
> This was during the Stalin-Hitler nonaggression pact. I have a
> collection of 1920s-50s political folk music with a fascinating Pete
> Seeger-Millard Lampell song titled "C for Conscription":

<snip>

> After Hitler invaded Stalin, the CP line changed 180 degrees. From
> that point on, the party was gung-ho. It even reached the point
> where people like Ben Barzman, a Hollywood 10 victim and father of
> ex-SWP'er John Barzman, wrote trashy, racist screenplays like "Back
> to Bataan", which starred John Wayne and was filled with references
> to killing gooks.
>
> Needless to say, this is not how Marxist parties should function.
> The CP did very many good things, but this turning on a dime to
> satisfy the foreign policy exigencies of the Kremlin was not one of them.

This is widely agreed - and Harry Pollitt, then General Secretary of
the CPGB, resigned the post over the characterisation of the war as
"imperialist" in 1939 - and probably the vast majority of party
members agreed with him.  The party's strong campaign in 1940 was for
proper air raid protection for the populace and the 180 degree turn
in June 1941 was greeted with immense agreement and relief.  I can
well remember my jubilation - and the sure knowledge that Hitler had
made one attack too many!!!

Unfortunately many of the ultra-left sects retained their opposition
to the war throughout - a FAR greater mistake - and one which still
seems to have support among too many of the ultra-left.

It is comparatively easy to point to mistakes, many indeed atrocious
mstakes in retrospect, but the important point now is to get the
maximum unity to oppose the imperialist policies of our right-wing
politicians, Bush, Blair, etc...

 Paddy
http://apling.freeservers.com





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