[Marxism] Demons of Separatism

[Mehmet Cagatay <mehmetcagatayaydin@xxxxxxxxx>]

The text below is my corresponding with Renegade Eye (
http://advant.blogspot.com/ ), It seems that I'm producing some
misunderstandings with my sloppy statements. It is reflecting my final
thoughts about the question of PKK. I am deeply sorry that my deficiencies
in both politics and English are usually causing confusions:

"I like how you used quotation marks around the word "left."
At a meeting of the local antiwar group, I reported from your posts, about
the situation with Kurdistan.
Considering the Stalinist history of the PKK, if they say they are for or
against seperatism, you never know. Not the most honest brokers to say the
least."

I did not use them in this post, but I usually use quotation marks along
with the term "left" to signify when it includes also the groups that
classify themselves as leftists but do not support the distinctive
characteristics such as involving in class struggle. Like everywhere,
there are so many of them in Turkey that quotation marks are practical
tools to point out the ambiguity of the term.

The skeptical expression of "you never know" called to my mind Daniel
Negreanu's article where he dealt with the myth of poker tells. He depicts
one of his experiences at a table full of "aspiring pros" paranoiacally
struggling to decipher the body language of other players but neglecting
the fundamentals of the game: "They were so obsessed with trying to figure
out what people's tells were that they completely neglected what was
actually going on in the hands - who bet, who raised, and so on."

It might be noticed that I have been wittingly sidestepping the critique
of PKK. It is not by the reason of that I have sympathy for their
pragmatic strategies, their desertion of the Marxist roots, adoptions of a
Stalinist mind, reactionary collaboration with feudal remnants, etc. In
truth, it is not my dilemma. The critique of PKK is the responsibility of
Kurds. I have no idea about their "real" intentions and neither have the
enthusiasm to crack the code of their political body language. I am more
concerned with the truth that PKK is the objectification of the Kurdish
question which has been ramified by years of assimilation, oppression, and
overlooking policies. We should not judge form of the objectification of
the question at first, when the question is still on the table.

Rather than wrestling with the consequences, I want the political demands
of the Kurdish citizens of Turkey, like a new Constitution acknowledging
the existence of Kurdish people, a general amnesty, an economic plan to
improve the daily life in the region, etc. to be accepted immediately. We
might have the luxury to be involved in the question of PKK then.

"Greetings:
I don't let anyone call me "leftist," if it includes Stalinists,
nationalists etc.
Regards,
Marvin"


Dear Marvin,

I'm really very sorry about the misunderstanding which is due to my
careless statements. I didn?t ever attempt to criticize you; Actually, I
was criticizing my previous standpoint about the Kurdish question which
can be traced back in my older posts. While I was contemplating on this
issue recently, I have realized that by introducing the long-term
possibilities like workers state and self-determination, we are
overlooking the immediate demands of Kurdish people to be treated as equal
citizens. I believe that the solidarity of working classes of all nations
is the ultimate solution but this should not constrain us from landing an
ear to the immediate demands. Please inform me about your further
anxieties regarding my attitudes.

Sorry again,
Comradely,

mc.    

Mehmet Çagatay
http://weblogmca.blogspot.com/

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