Re: [Marxism] Re: The Black Scholar Editorial on Zimbabwe

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Walter Lippmann wrote:
> Write analysis of the conflicts and contradictions in Zimbabwe all 
> you like. But joining up in the media's campaigns against Mugabe and 
> others is, in my opinion, not a project which socialists in the 
> larger capitalist countries should engage in.

Does anybody have the slightest inkling what Walter means by "joining 
up in the media's campaigns"? I haven't received any phone calls from 
Fox TV to appear on the O'Reilly show. For that matter, when Fox 
reporter Patrick Kennedy called me for an interview on Julio Pino, 
the Kent State professor who used to be on Marxmail and who was 
accused recently of being a 'jihadist', I told him that I would as 
soon speak to the FBI.

>  I feel similarly about those continuing efforts by some on the 
> international left to expose and attack what they feel are the 
> deficiencies and betrayals of the South African ANC government. The 
> ending of white minority rule and the beginning of black rule in 
> Africa is a thoroughly progressive development.

So was the FLN throwing out the French in 1956 but history moves forward.

> These black-governed countries are capitalist in their structure and 
> are riddled with problems and contradictions. Understanding
> and learning from these things is important for all socialists.

Walter, you really have a true knack for the well-chosen bromide. You 
are to the left as a Norman Rockwell painting was to the covers of 
the old Saturday Evening Post.

> It's dismaying to see how little understanding there seems to be in 
> some circles of the importance which the victory in overthrowing
> apartheid represented. Racism is a profound curse on modern life.

Racism is a profound curse on modern life? Can we coin a new phrase 
for such an observation? Uber-bromide.

> It can't and won't be eliminated with a change of administration, 
> but the removal of white racist minority regimes and their replacement by
> black majority governments is a profound accomplishments. Political 
> leftists, especially in the so-called "advanced" capitalist countries,
> really must appreciate that.

Aren't we fortunate to have somebody like Walter lecture us about our 
white skin privilege. It makes me feel like I am still in the 
presence of a Columbia SDS'er back in 1969.

> Since I'm not a member of any organization with a full political 
> program, I'm free to pick and choose those issues on which I'm
> going to focus my time and energy.

Well, it is obvious what issues you focus on. Wherever the US State 
Department puts a minus, you put a plus. Trotsky had a word for this 
kind of thinking.





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