[PEN-L:33071] Re: Re: ANSWER, NION, United for Peace, & Win Without War

["Ian Murray" <seamus2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Yoshie Furuhashi" <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>

> >Well, who gets to define/create what counts as the important
divisions?
>
> Divisions based on racial and income stratifications are readily
> observable, in patterns of residence, socializing, and political
> organizing.  While leftists aren't segregationists like Lott and
> Thurmond, left-wing political organizers, much less "peace and
> justice bureaucrats," seldom live in the midst of the group who are
> more opposed to war and destruction of civil rights and liberties
> than other groups are: low-income blacks.  We have yet to see black
> leaders who can mobilize blacks ready to be mobilized.  White and
> other leaders are most likely unable to lead low-income blacks.

==============================

Duh. You don't want white guys "leading" low-income blacks. You want it
to be the other way around, in fact. If there was *one* thing I learned
from Seattle is that white guys ain't the best organizers.



> The questions that I asked are specific ones not answered by the
> website to which you referred me.  To repeat:
>
> For that (= the breakdown of the distinction between rank-and-file
> activists and "peace and justice bureaucrats") to happen, resources
> -- money, skills, name recognition, access to facilities, contact
> info about liberal and left-wing intellectuals and celebrities,
> contact info about anti-war organizers and activists nationwide, etc.
> -- have to be equally possessed by all the (as of now) local
> organizers, rather than centralized by the national organizers like
> those who manage ANSWER, NION, United for Peace, and Win Without War.
> In other words, all of the local coalitions and their main organizers
> will have to have what ANSWER, NION, United for Peace, and Win
> Without War have.  Is that possible?  Is it desirable if it is
> possible?  How do you propose to accomplish it?  (Three different
> questions here).
> --
> Yoshie

============================

Like I said I *could* write a book about all the questions you raised.
At the same time coming up with concrete answers to the questions would
not necessarily *solve* the problems you mention. Tell you what, rather
than building coalitions to end imperialism etc. why don't we organize
against the organizations that you claim have all the stuff we might
need to end imperialism.

In no particular temporal order: To organize buses, you need a phone
book. To find out what issues need to be addressed you read the
newspapers, journals, talk to people who are directly impacted by the
social problem[s] you seek to solve etc. To rent a room to hold a public
forum, you need a phone book and some cash up front. Pass the hat when
the "crowd" shows up, be honest about the costs of renting the room etc.
To raise money you need a little money, well written findraising letters
and a phone book with the addresses of your fellow citizens. To get name
recognition you create a catchy name and put it on the letters you send
out using the addresses you get from the phone book and send copies of
your info etc. to local media. To find intellectuals, read their stuff
and use the computers at public libraries and find their phone numbers
and email addresses. When you contact them, be friendly and ask good
questions. Stop and get another cup of coffee or tea, maybe even get a
bite to eat. Mail your fundraising letters. Wait for the checks. Go to
the neighborhood bank. Set up an account. Deposit checks and get a good
accounting notebook to keep things honest with your co-organizers and
the tax man 'cause you can bet your ass he's gonna want to look at them.
Sell out and get a 501c3 status from the Feds. etc. Be nice. Don't be a
racist and don't let any racists into your group. Make sure no FBI/CIA
scumbags infiltrate your organization. Make sure trustworthy people
handle the money. Break for lunch.........Keep laughing.


Ian