[PEN-L:1917] Re: French movement situation

[glevy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Bill M. asked:

>I recall that it was Harlan or Paris - one struggle one fight, Jerry . whatever
>did that mean other than an allusion to a dichotomy - union person or scab?

The allusion to "Which Side Are You On" was in in support of two (what I
viewed as uncontroversial) propositions:

(1) In class conflicts, the first question that must be asked is: which
side are you on? Do you support the bosses and the state or do you
support the workers in struggle against them? This doesn't mean, though,
that we have to uncritically support such struggles. Many of the issues
that Bill raises are valid and I would certainly not be the one to say:
let's forget about the real limitations and problems with a particular
conflict and the "leadership" of that conflict. While an important
question, though, it is a secondary question to: do you support or oppose
that struggle? From my class perspective, the answer is clear.

(2) internationalism. The struggle in France is related to struggles in
other countries around the world against austerity and budget cuts. That
struggle also has relevance for countries that are less developed
capitalist economies where workers and others are opposing IMF
"structural adjustment" policies. What goes on in France, in other words,
will have international repercussions just as surely as peasants and
workers in struggle in Chiapas, Mexico has international effects. I
support both struggles despite their limitations. If we had to wait to
support a struggle whose total perspective and leadership we supported,
we would end up not supporting any major struggles. "I am a citizen not
of Athens or Greece, but of the world" -- Aristotle.

Jerry