Re: [Marxism] Yesterday's primary elections: Ron Dellums and Igancio de la Fuente!

["aaron amaral" <amaral1871@xxxxxxxxx>]

I think it is fair enough to ask questions about the class rootedness
of the ISO (or the Greens) and, by extension, Todd's campaign. What
concerned me was what I understood by 'failure to speak the language
of the class'. If you meant that Todd's campaign discourse was somehow
not pitched at the class - somehow unintelligible to an 'average
worker'  - or  that the issue raised are somehow not class issues,
then I would have to strongly disagree.

I would point out a couple of things about relative rootedness. First,
that Todd also has a relatively long history - stretching back into
the 80s - of being active in the Central American solidarity
movements. I believe, though I might be mistaken, he lived in El
Salvador and Nicaragua for a time in the mid-80s and was very active
throughout the period with the solidarity networks. Second, the ISO
has a strong recent record, from well before this round of immigrant
rights mobilisations, of doing work good work  - particularly in
southern CA - around fighting the Minutemen and other more positive
immigrant advocacy work; a history which no doubt has resulted in
burgeoning relationship with long-standing activists within the
immigrant and Latino communities. Third, I am not sure if you are
making a criticism of the ISO trade union work in Oakland by
suggesting that it has not yet translated into substantial community
ties but it does bely the criticism of the ISO as simply being a
campus based student group.

I think it is a good thing you are supportive of the campaign. There
is a type of ultra-left sniping that I may have mistakenly read into
your comment and it was this that initially provoked my response.
Nobody is going to disagree with the notion that the left as a whole
has much work to do in raising the level of its organic connection to
the class. This issue remains how to achieve this and I believe the
Green Party campaigns in CA do have a role to play.

-Aaron

On 6/7/06, Javier A <javierunderground@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> --- aaron amaral <amaral1871@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I was a little stunned to read Javier's analysis.
> > Maybe he can better
> > explain where the failure to 'speak the language of
> > the class' is
> > manifest? Without a fuller explanation I am both
> > left to assume that
> > Javier is advocating a craven 'workerism'  (and in
> > what context?) and
> > to wonder about sectarian motivations...
>
>
>
> Lets just say that im a little stunned to the fact tat
> you are little stunned. My "craven workerism" or in
> other words, arguing that Todd doesnt have a base or
> real political influence in the working class, might
> seem ridiculous to some. But let me just make some
> basic points.
>
> One, ever since there has been a big immigrant
> upsurge, Todd has jumped into this movement with two
> feet. He has connected himself with many different
> leaders of the movement that have a history of being
> part Latino based NGOs. These leaders have come out of
> the woodwork and are becoming reactivated. Many were
> veterans of the central American movement of the 80s
> or the Chicano movement of the 70s. These organizers
> have roots in the immigrant movement, while Todd has
> only exchanges with these organizers. He doesnt have
> any history, real organizational ties, or political
> culture that would tie him with the rank-file of the
> immigrant movement.
>
> Second point, I know alot of the activists around the
> struggle for descent contracts with Oakland's Public
> school district and how  difficult it was in
> mobilizing the community. Todd is connected to the
> ISOers who have become teachers and part of the
> leadership of the union, but not really connected or
> organizationaly tied to the working class community of
> Oakland. Todd is connected to left, obviously Camejo,
> Palestenian groups and so on. There is a serious
> dichotomy between the growth of left-wing
> electorialist and the working class, and I think Todd
> is emblematic of this.
>
> And by the way, this not just my "secterian" opinion.
> Im friends with a "mid-level" ISOer who admits that
> the ISO has no base in the working class and is really
> just a student group but he wishes that soon enough
> this will change. But it doesnt seem that Todd's
> campaign will begin that process. Thats not to say Im
> not glad hes running, I hope he gets his million votes
> and he keeps on debating O'reilly. But its just
> looking at the situation honestly.
>
> Camejo on the other hand is talented. I was at a
> meeting where I heard him speak to a group of
> organizers from a wide range of Latino non-profits,
> civil rights groups, in Spanish. They all had his
> respect. It was a group that was mixed of Latino
> organizers and workers.
>
> Javier

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