[OPE-L:8720] Marx's Time and Our Own

["gerald_a_levy" <gerald_a_levy@xxxxxxx>]

Title: Re: [OPE-L:8714] Re: a case against the war in Iraq

The recent discussion over repression in the US reminded me

of the following poem by HEINRICH HEINE  --  a

contemporary and friend of Marx and Engels:

 

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*REMEMBERING KRAHWINKEL'S REIGN OF TERROR*

 

 

We, the senate and the Mayor,

After intensive thought and prayer

For all the various creeds and classes,

Enjoin these laws upon the masses;

 

 

'Beware of aliens, for they sow

Seeds of revolt where'er they go;

Rebellious souls and other vermin

Are scarcely ever (praise God) German.

 

 

'Obedience to their ruler's due

From Christian and (much more) from Jew;

And Jew and Christian, every one,

Must close their shops when day is done.

 

 

'No one shall walk abroad at night

Unless accompanied by a light.

If three shall meet in any street

They shall disperse -- before they meet.

 

 

'Discard your weapons, bring them all

Hastily to the City Hall;

Retain no sort of ammunition

Unless you long for quick perdition.

 

 

'Who holds another point of view,

He shall be shot without ado;

And arguments by gestures is

Even more dangerous than this.

 

 

'Honour your Mayor; it is he

Who guards the State and zealously

Decides what's best for old and young.

So listen well -- and hold your tongue.'

 

 

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Sounds like it could have been written recently, doesn't it?

 

Marx and Engels (and Heine), of course, experienced repression

in their time.  What, if anything, is different about the repression

today?   What relationship was there between economic crisis and

political repression in Marx's time and our own? 

 

In solidarity, Jerry