[PEN-L:3952] Re: Postmodernist Marxism

[MScoleman@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 99-02-24 09:15:52 EST, Louis Proyect writes (this is a
partial quote from a longer missive):

<< We are in many ways in a situation like the one that
 preceded WWI, including the Balkans as a hot spot. I view the current world
 situation as extremely dangerous. I am positive that unless capitalism is
 wiped off the face of the earth, our fate is warfare, fascism, ecological
 ruin and economic misery. As Rosa Luxemburg once said, the choice is
 socialism or barbarism.

 My problem with the constellation of academic leftists who Doug has
 attached himself to is that they represent a form of denial. They write
 about everything except the need for socialism. I have no problem with
 people writing about Hollywood, television, the phallus or whatever. What I
 do object to is the notion that any of this has anything to do with the
 central task that Karl Marx set for himself. Furthermore, as the capitalist
 crisis deepens, it will be more and more necessary to call things by their
 rightful name. Political clarity, not camaraderie, is the goal. If I was
 interested in camaraderie, I'd take up some other cause than Marxism.
  Louis Proyect

 (http://www.panix.com/~lnp3/marxism.html)>>

yes, i've seen the pbs specials too, they've been airing them for a couple of
years now, beginning with the one about how Russian nuclear subs are in such
bad shape they are in danger of dumping nuclear waste into the ocean and
polluting the entire world.  And yes, I agree that the world is in much
greater danger of exploding now than it was a couple of years ago -- by
comparison the cold war looks safe.  **********HOWEVER**************, the
world is not going to be saved by one man, even Louis Proyect.  And that is
the essence of what I read from your comments -- Karl Marx the individual man
spent HIS life trying to preach to the dense and uneducated and Louis Proyect
is now spending HIS life preaching to the dense and uneducated and how dare
anyone not fucking pay attention.  Revolutions may be started by a few off
beat individuals but they failure rate is also due to the extreme egotism of
those same individuals.  maggie coleman mscoleman@xxxxxxx