Re: [Marxism] Re: Feb. 24, 2006

[Brian Shannon <brian_shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Feb 26, 2006, at 7:26 PM, Fred Feldman wrote:

> I said that those who stayed loyal to the party leadership structures
> which meant, under the circumstances, voting for expulsions you might
> have doubts about and so on, should be viewed as "left behind" to be
> harried and punished for their sins by the four horsemen and the
> Antichrist.  I think we more than paid for our errors, to be quite
> frank.  Maybe not Jose, who got out quicker.  But damn, I  paid a lot
> more than I owe anybody, let me tell you.


Anyone who feels somewhat guilty, as Fred may, or superior, as Louis
may (I sure he doesn't; I'm just naming as a straw horse because he
left early and without the obloquy that was cast on me) should read
or reread Theodore Draper's two volumes on the formation of the
American Communist Party.

Cannon, Shachtman, Swabeck, et al, made all kinds of mistakes, voted
to expel Ludwig Lore, who was correct on almost every question, yet
still ended up creating the SWP, which was the most dynamic political
movement in the U.S. for over 40 years.

Guilt can be a motivator, it should not be "s/he whom we can point a
finger at."

It is also time for those of us who are guilty to get over it as well.

brian


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