> In the spirit of hard-headed science, Max, how about quantifying the > respective influences of Abbie and Diana? While we're at it, why not throw in > some multiple regression analysis? Abbie got people into the streets for explicitly political, mostly constructive purposes. You don't need regression analysis. All you need is arithmetic. > Wouldn't it make more sense simply to say "I like Abbie Hoffman and his > views/values better than those of Diana? That wasn't the issue. I have nothing against Diana, never have. Her public elevation to sainthood is simply without foundation. > I heard a local representative of an organization fighting to have an anti-land > mine treaty put in place this morning on CBC radio. Given your statement, I > guess there's nothing his contention and that of other folks fighting against > the use of anti-personnel mines in places like Angola and Cambodia that the > deployment of these armaments changed drastically in the 1980s, that the > new deployment was designed to inflict damage and terror on local > populations instead of targeting armed combatants. Nothing to their thanks > to Diana's efforts for helping to publicize this fact via things like > documentaries filmed in Angola with the civilian victims of these mines. I'm firmly against little kids being blown to smithereens, and I commend the efforts of activists in all noble causes, including the suppression of land mines. I simply don't believe it means a god-damned thing. Can't I do that without being associated with "inflicting damage and terror on local populations"? Call me crazy, but I think the working class is going to be the agency for curbing the use of land mines, not the forces that could be attributed to Diana's activities. > Since you have declared that any change in the disposition of land mines > won't have any effect on the conduct of war, etc. I guess that settles it. No > point in trying to raise public awareness or to change public opinion on the > subject. In any event, that wouldn't be _real_ social change, would it? I'm not on any crusade against do-gooders about whose projects I have skepticism. But sooner or later we all have to consider the best use of scarce political resources. Don't we? I am struck by the contrast between your indulgence of the Diana cult and your hard- headedness with respect to the extensive labors of trade union and social-democratic forces to move the EU to the left. Cheers, MBS =================================================== Max B. Sawicky Economic Policy Institute [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1660 L Street, NW 202-775-8810 (voice) Ste. 1200 202-775-0819 (fax) Washington, DC 20036 http://tap.epn.org/sawicky Opinions above do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone associated with the Economic Policy Institute other than this writer. ===================================================
