[PEN-L:1817] silliness

[JDevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (James Devine)]

Louis N Proyect wrote: > I would pay top dollar to see a debate
between her and Ellen Meiksins Wood  in a locked steel cage/fight
to the finish debate. My money's on Wood.<

Jerry Levy asks>> What do my fellow PEN-Lers have to say about
the above statement?<<

I'm sure Louis is being metaphorical rather than advocating
actual violence. But the choice of metaphors seems to indicate an
a priori preference for violent solutions (with heavily sexist
overtones). Crucially, I think Louis is engaging in a profoundly
unpolitical way of criticizing those with whom he disagrees (akin
to those who criticize Bill Clinton by attacking his wife).
Rather than telling us what is empirically or theoretically or
practically wrong with the opinions of his political opponents,
he says "let's you and her fight," a political coward's approach.
Why not use insults or bathroom humor, Louis, rather than making
your political arguments with imaginary violence? Those would be
more pleasant, at least, even though they would be equally
unpolitical.

I can't understand how people on the left can even think about
violence with no political movement to back them up. Without such
a movement, violence simply veers toward individual terrorism.

That said, I must admit I like Wood's work. I really don't know
Wainwright's views at all, so I can't support or criticize them.

for socialism from below,

Jim Devine      jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Los Angeles, CA (the city of your future: the modern home of slavery)