[O29] Proposal for 4th Demand

[gustavo]

Huibin Amelia Chew wrote:

>on following my train of thoughts to the end, one idea for a 4th
>demand/slogan is:
>
>"MILITARISM REINFORCES RACISM, SEXISM, & HOMOPHOBIA"
>
>the purpose of this slogan, while not concrete, would be to set the
>stage for the job of the event's speakers, who would then elaborate
>and help explain this theme.  it would serve to set the tone and point
>direction of thought for the audience, while appealing to those who
>'get it.'  it would not be an outright "demand" and perhaps not such a
>cause of division or turning people away.  the last bit is
>particularly appropriate given the queer rights protest we're allying
>with.
>
>unless it's so vague it's incomprehensible -- and if so, I invite
>creative suggestions for revision ("militarism reinforces racism,
>VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, & homophobia")
>
>the other option of handling these dimensions of analysis is a small
>grouping of more specific demands.
>
>really... must... sleep.
>
>-Amee
>
>  
>
>>An action coalition does not present an analysis through its demands.
>>O29 is so diverse, to take one example, that it seems unlikely that it
>>can present a coherent analysis of anything. It exists simply to
>>organize an action. Its job is not analysis.
>>    
>>
>
>this is hypocrisy.  why do we bother to put out "statements" and
>"calls to action" then?  why did we include an allusion linking
>Katrina to the war in a demand?  I guess this is somehow not
>analytical, but empirical??!?  all that for positivist "objectivity."
>
>  
>
>>For the action it needs a limited set of demands. The more demands
>>there are and the wider their scope, the less focus the action will
>>have.
>>    
>>
>
>not necessarily.  it depends how well the additional demands reinforce
>the central focus.
>
>  
>
>>To seek for the action coalition to develop an analysis of sexism and
>>racism, for example, goes against its purpose as an action coalition.
>>    
>>
>
>hypocrisy!  and why do we bother to have any analysis at all then, for
>instance that the troops must be brought home now, that funds for war
>come at the expense of human needs?
>
>  
>
>>I have told you that I admire the clarity of your thinking. What I
>>forgot to say was that no person's thinking can be perfectly clear all
>>the time.
>>    
>>
>
>I never asked you to judge my intellect.  have I judged yours?
>
>it is true real demands are concrete not abstract, but how "concrete"
>is funding human needs?  there are different levels of concreteness
>that can apply in different situations.  I sense a lack of effort and
>experience in creatively thinking on how to grapple with minority
>experiences.
>
>-Amee
>
>  
>
>>Neither the O29 coalition, nor groups of people reading emails, nor a
>>repro rights coalition, can develop an analysis as clear as can be
>>developed by one clear-thinking person. That is the task of
>>clear-thinking people. The result of a clear analysis will not be just
>>some coalition or group of email readers, but a new political party.
>>That party will have a program to eliminate institutional racism and
>>sexism, imperialist war, every kind of oppression, and the material
>>foundations of these things. That party will pose its demands in
>>relation to the state and the ruling class. It will laugh at
>>pseudo-demands like, "Stop racism."
>>
>>"Stop racism"? How? What kind of racism, institutional or attitudinal?
>>Anyone can talk loosely about racism and oppose it in the abstract.
>>Such a "demand" exposes nothing about the racism that pervades the
>>society. It offers itself as a medal to anyone ready to wear it. It
>>hardly presents an analysis.
>>
>>A real demand against racism is concrete, not abstract. Fund the
>>schools. Restrain the police. Community control. Enforce affirmative
>>action. Stop the profiling. Stop the threats to wiretap mosques. Stop
>>the war. End the death penalty. End language discrimination. Open the
>>books of the corporations to see how racist they are in their daily
>>behavior. Expropriate corporations guilty of racist crimes.
>>
>>I have no problem adopting a muddled demand Monday, if the majority
>>wants it. I will vote no. I hope you will be there to argue for
>>whatever position you support.
>>
>>David
>>    
>>
>
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>
>  
>

-- 
"Se eu dou comida aos pobres, eles me chamam de santo. Se eu pergunto porque os pobres não têm comida, eles me chamam de comunista."

"If I give food to the poor they call me a saint.  If I ask why the poor have no food they call me a communist."

-Dom Hélder Câmara

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