[Marxism] David Laibman, Review of *“The Most Dangerous Communist in the United States”: A Biography of Herbert Aptheker*, by Gary Murrell
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Science & Society July 2016, Vol. 80, No. 3: 437-440 “The Most Dangerous Communist in the United States”: A Biography of Herbert Aptheker, by Gary Murrell. Afterword by Bettina Aptheker. Amherst/ Boston, Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Press, 2015. Paper, $29.95. Pp. xviii, 444. Gary Murrell, Professor of History at Grays Harbor College in Washington State, has given us a much-needed comprehensive study of the life and work of Dr. Herbert Aptheker, Marxist historian and political theoretician. Aptheker’s scholarship on the African American people — with dozens of published works, including the monumental Documentary History of the Negro People in the United States — set the direction of historical research in this area, despite being ignored, repressed and vilified in official academia and in the publishing world. His long association with Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, and his multi-decade editorship of that scholar’s legacy, resulting in another 44 volumes, are yet another signal contribution to U. S. and world letters. His virtual odyssey across the USA’s college campuses, in speaking tours that again spanned decades, became a major element in the counterattack against McCarthy-era repression, and thus in the emergence of the New Left in the 1960s. His testimony in various Smith Act and McCarran Act trials made him a principal voice of reason and the quest for political and intellectual freedom. Finally, his staunch support of the Communist Party USA and his steadfastness in defense of that organization — despite many complexities and tensions in his evolving relationship with the Party’s leadership, and his eventual break with the Party — make him an exceptional, and controversial, figure in the American left in the 20th century and beyond. All of this, and more, is covered in Murrell’s book, based on impressive references, archival study, and many hours of interviews, including centrally with Dr. Aptheker himself. The story is told in 26 chapters, arranged broadly (if not entirely) in chronological order, covering Aptheker’s early life; his research on slavery and on slave rebellion in the U. S. South; his ever-troubled relationship to the academic and publishing establishment, especially within the history profession; Aptheker’s role in the military in World War II; his defense of the CPUSA during the McCarthy-era attacks; conflicts within the Party concerning control over the publication activities of Party members (including his daughter, Bettina); founding and building of the American Institute for Marxist Studies; running for Congress in the 12th CD in Brooklyn; the trip to Hanoi, with Staughton Lynd and Tom Hayden; the long struggle to publish the Du Bois papers and letters; the movement to free Angela Davis after her arrest, following the events at the courthouse in San Rafael, California, in August 1970; the fateful 25th Convention of the CPUSA in Cleveland, in December 1991 and the founding of the Committees of Correspondence; and the final years in California, during which Aptheker finally achieved some recognition in academia and secured some teaching posts, which had long been denied him. On the personal level, we learn of Aptheker’s deep and loving relationship with his wife of many years, Fay, and their daughter Bettina. The latter’s recent testimony concerning sexual abuse by her father during her childhood is discussed in a forthright and dignified manner in the Preface, and is also addressed in Bettina’s “Afterword.” There are many complex, and often troubling, stories packed into this life, and no possibility of recounting them in a short review. Murrell is eloquent in his admiration for Aptheker’s accomplishments, in both their political and their scholarly dimensions: Aptheker is credited with altering fundamentally the historiography of the Black people in the United States; with being a prescient critic of the predatory foreign policy of that country; and with being a singular champion of democracy and human rights. But Murrell is also critical, where he feels the need for criticism. On the latter, here is a summary passage, from the final chapter, “Now It’s Your Turn” (354): ". . . for all his accomplishments, there was a terrible flaw in Aptheker. On the one hand, as the historian Chris Phelps wrote in the Chronicle of Higher Education, 'the extent to which Herbert Aptheker could symbolize intellectual freedom . . . was profoundly limited by his habitual excusing of repression by single-party regimes cast in the Soviet mold. . . .' . . . Then, too, members of the CPUSA around the country looked up to
[Marxism] A footnote on British politics
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Tonight I saw an interview with a woman member of Cameron's cabinet. Minister of Small Business I think. Sorry I missed her name. She was responding to the wave of anti-immigrant incidents. She declared that decades ago she was a proud member of the Anti-Nazi League and at the same time a Tory. Interesting in itself and interesting that she would make that declaration decades later. ken h _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * > On Jun 27, 2016, at 6:46 PM, marinercarpen...@gmail.com wrote: > Defensiveness and incomprehension at basically every point. There just isn’t much in your response that it even makes sense to try to respond to. PS: I’m not remotely important, but if even I saw what was coming, and that the only defensible position for the left was to try to defeat the referendum, then a lot of other people should have been able to see it as well. Some did. Many of those who didn’t have engaged in some of the most ridiculous, defensive bullshit I’ve seen in quite a while. Credit to you for at least being willing to admit “buyer’s remorse” (although I don’t care for the metaphor). _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Brexit and Labour Party crisis in twitterdom
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Hi Jamie thank you for posting a reply. It's great to get acknowledgment. As for how many were there at the rally it is impossible for me to even guess. But one report had the police saying 10, 000 and I have never in all my protesting days which now stretch over half a century seen the police exagggerate about the number of protesters. Be that as it may, it is clear that political time in the UK has escaped the clutches of chronological time. No one is sure at all of what will happen. Comradely Gary On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 7:48 AM, jamie pitman via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > > POSTING RULES & NOTES > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > * > > Hi Gary, > > I went to the protest tonight; at about 7 o’clock when I left I think it would be more accurate to say there was more like 1,000 people there. > > (As I’m sure you’re aware) there’s an argument Corbyn has lost support due to the lacklustre campaign he ran to stay in the EU. The counter argument is that Corbyn’s reserved endorsement for remain was more in tune with a sceptical Labour base than many of his MPs (who painted the EU as a land of milk, honey and worker’s rights). It’s completely conceivable Corbyn did lose some support from some of his young supporters who were overwhelmingly in favour of remaining. But his mandate was such it is unlikely that it has made much difference (given the lack of support the others received). And so its also unlikely that this coup will be successful. But I’m beyond doubtful this has translated into much public support outside of the membership – I.e. in terms of Corbyn being able to win a general election – and the likelihood is we may well face a snap election this year to give Cameron’s successor a proper mandate to negotiate Brexit and, most likely, reboot Osborne’s austerity programme. > > Jamie > > Sent from Mail for Windows 10 > > From: Gary MacLennan via Marxism > _ > Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm > Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/gary.maclennan1%40gmail.com _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and Labour Party crisis in twitterdom
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/27/bruising-day-ends-with-labour-in-turmoil-and-corbyn-turning-to-the-grassroots The [possibly] crucial point is whether or not Corbyn is automatically placed on the ballot. I’ve heard McDonnell say they’ve checked it legally and he is. But if he isn’t (or at least if the other side wangles it so he isn’t) then I’m afraid he’s done. Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: marinercarpen...@gmail.com _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * The origins of the referendum are common knowledge. Nobody on the left welcomed the referendum as far as I know or saw it as an opportunity - so this point about ‘naive wishful thinking’ and ‘imagined internationalist, anti-racist uprising’ is a complete straw-man. Obviously people on both sides of the argument attacked Farage’s rhetoric. But racism was equally forthcoming from the other side, if more subtle (one of Cameron’s ‘concessions’ was, effectively, to starve migrants who hadn’t found a job). Moreover, the racist right were unleashed by the campaign itself, at least as much as the result, and (whilst a counter-factual) its difficult to imagine the outcome would have been any different if the result had been 48 – 52 the other way. Had it been so, Farage would be gunning for a second ref and many who voted leave would have had the feeling of exclusion (and its violent consequences) further reinforced. You talk about *I and others* as if you’re *remotely* important. I have no idea who you are/ represent/ write for. Are you suggesting everything would of been ok if I’d just read your article in The Workers Armpit or whatever? Have you any notion how marginal the far left are currently in the uk? How miniscule? And yet you seem to suggest the far left can shape discourse and set the agenda and, moreover, the message of the mainstream media is completely unimportant. You further seem to say that we just needed the right arguments/ theory. The truth is the far left here comprises a dwindling pool of public sector workers, academics and students. Many of which are relatively privileged in the eyes of the old industrial working class. In other words, the far left was completely powerless to shape this outcome (whatever the line had been) and, historically, has largely itself to blame through becoming stultified/ petrified in doctrine that could no longer explain the world to the people it sought to recruit. I personally have conceded buyers remorse in regards my vote but in the end it made no difference (I am not in a leninst Ponzi scheme nor will I ever be again) so you can stick your charge of complicity up your arse. The same with your sickeningly moralising coda written from another country. From: MM _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * > On Jun 27, 2016, at 6:05 PM, A.R. G wrote: > > it would be foolish to pretend that [racism] played no role Which is why I’ve never pretended that. The argument for left support to remain doesn’t need to “go there”, nor does it gain anything from going there. Staying in the EU doesn’t help deal with British racism. But defeating a call to leave from the racist right absolutely does. _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * From what limited reading I have done, my understanding is that much of the pro-Leave vote came from towns outside metropolitan areas where "generic brown folks" are less represented. Others are right not to lump any and all opposition to the EU with "racism" but it would be foolish to pretend that it played *no* role given the open advocacy of such ideas by some of the right-wing pro-Leave campaigners. - Amith On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 3:01 PM, MM via Marxism wrote: > POSTING RULES & NOTES > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > * > > > On Jun 27, 2016, at 5:30 PM, marinercarpen...@gmail.com wrote: > > > > I’m not sure I understand what point you’re making... > > > This referendum originated in Cameron’s appeasement of the right wing of > his own party; there was no “left” that was remotely capable of redefining > the terms on which it would take place or be understood — only some naive > wishful thinking. For that reason, the referendum's impact was always going > to be shaped overwhelmingly by the racist, anti-immigrant sentiments of the > people who had “won” it as a concession: they knew they could spin this as > a victory for nativism and "traditional values” (as they are now doing). > > Recognising all of that, many of us urged support for remain, not out of > any love for the EU, but because *this referendum* — i.e., the one > happening in the real world, in June 2016, because of Cameron’s > appeasement, as opposed to some fantasy referendum flowing from an imagined > internationalist, anti-racist uprising — *was not the right referendum for > any progressive outcome*. > > Furthermore, since a leave vote was very obviously going to unleash the > racist right, many of us argued that *left* support for leave would fatally > undermine their credibility in the eyes of the millions of immigrants in > Britain whom they would be complicit in making immediately, concretely > vulnerable to abuse and physical danger — millions of people who are > otherwise their natural allies. > > I don’t care *remotely* what left supporters of leave want to say in > response to talking heads on the telly who are bad mouthing the British > working class. Their talking points have never been any part of the > argument that I and others were making. Raising it in discussion with left > critics of their position is a defensive red herring — a way of avoiding > confontation with the awful truth about their naivete and poor judgment, > their recklessness, and their complicity in the violence now unfolding. > > I hope that’s a bit clearer, because I'm completely sick of explaining it > while people are being attacked on the streets. > > _ > Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm > Set your options at: > http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/amithrgupta%40gmail.com > _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * > On Jun 27, 2016, at 5:30 PM, marinercarpen...@gmail.com wrote: > > I’m not sure I understand what point you’re making... This referendum originated in Cameron’s appeasement of the right wing of his own party; there was no “left” that was remotely capable of redefining the terms on which it would take place or be understood — only some naive wishful thinking. For that reason, the referendum's impact was always going to be shaped overwhelmingly by the racist, anti-immigrant sentiments of the people who had “won” it as a concession: they knew they could spin this as a victory for nativism and "traditional values” (as they are now doing). Recognising all of that, many of us urged support for remain, not out of any love for the EU, but because *this referendum* — i.e., the one happening in the real world, in June 2016, because of Cameron’s appeasement, as opposed to some fantasy referendum flowing from an imagined internationalist, anti-racist uprising — *was not the right referendum for any progressive outcome*. Furthermore, since a leave vote was very obviously going to unleash the racist right, many of us argued that *left* support for leave would fatally undermine their credibility in the eyes of the millions of immigrants in Britain whom they would be complicit in making immediately, concretely vulnerable to abuse and physical danger — millions of people who are otherwise their natural allies. I don’t care *remotely* what left supporters of leave want to say in response to talking heads on the telly who are bad mouthing the British working class. Their talking points have never been any part of the argument that I and others were making. Raising it in discussion with left critics of their position is a defensive red herring — a way of avoiding confontation with the awful truth about their naivete and poor judgment, their recklessness, and their complicity in the violence now unfolding. I hope that’s a bit clearer, because I'm completely sick of explaining it while people are being attacked on the streets. _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and Labour Party crisis in twitterdom
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Hi Gary, I went to the protest tonight; at about 7 o’clock when I left I think it would be more accurate to say there was more like 1,000 people there. (As I’m sure you’re aware) there’s an argument Corbyn has lost support due to the lacklustre campaign he ran to stay in the EU. The counter argument is that Corbyn’s reserved endorsement for remain was more in tune with a sceptical Labour base than many of his MPs (who painted the EU as a land of milk, honey and worker’s rights). It’s completely conceivable Corbyn did lose some support from some of his young supporters who were overwhelmingly in favour of remaining. But his mandate was such it is unlikely that it has made much difference (given the lack of support the others received). And so its also unlikely that this coup will be successful. But I’m beyond doubtful this has translated into much public support outside of the membership – I.e. in terms of Corbyn being able to win a general election – and the likelihood is we may well face a snap election this year to give Cameron’s successor a proper mandate to negotiate Brexit and, most likely, reboot Osborne’s austerity programme. Jamie Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Gary MacLennan via Marxism _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Fwd: Guess what, neo-Nazi group attacked in Sacramento is pro-Assad and pro-Putin | Louis Proyect: The Unrepentant Marxist
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Odd how many on the Left were up in arms about a "red-brown alliance" when it came to witch-hunting in the Palestine solidarity movement, but do not mind espousing Baathist anti-Muslim rhetoric. - Amith On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 7:47 AM, Louis Proyect via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > POSTING RULES & NOTES > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > * > > > > > https://louisproyect.org/2016/06/27/guess-what-neo-nazi-group-attacked-in-sacramento-is-pro-assad-and-pro-putin/ > _ > Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm > Set your options at: > http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/amithrgupta%40gmail.com > _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * I’m not sure I understand what point you’re making...the insinuation seems to be along the lines of ‘the lady doth protest too much’? I’m also unsure about who you would identify as ‘the left’ in the UK; the only thing really happening here is Momentum. Nobody takes the swp seriously anymore since Martin Smith, Corbyn, Lexit; the average age of its membership is frightening – one cold winter and the party would be decimated. And for the time being, Left Unity function as an adjunct to Momentum as far as I can see. Anyway, having now read the Huff Post article, and with more incidents reported today, I would have to say I’m feeling more than a dose of buyer’s remorse. Re: Seymour’s article - Nobody on the far left that I know of ever thought of the EU ref as anything but a toss-up between two shitty options (he seems to infer he’s some sort of seer working for the institute of the brain-numbingly obvious). Plus he seems more than comfortable indulging Project Sneer himself. Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: MM _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Brexit and Labour Party crisis in twitterdom
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * I am in a remote part of Australia (again) and am following the crisis in the Labour Party on Richard Seymour's twitter feed. (I can picture Lou's eyes rolling in horror) Twitter is of course the most infuriating means of communication yet invented. But it does convey something of the ferment of what is happening. Compared to the comatose, zombie like state of Australian politics, it provides like a wonderfully invigorating rush of excitement and a by the second proof that the status quo is in danger. I have read Richard's blog on the Verso site and as always it is very thought provoking. But it is too early to say whether his guess is correct and that the coup against Corbyn has been bungled. My selection for the anti-Corbyn candidate still remains Andy Burnham, though he has tweeted that he will not support the coup. If he will not stand, then the coup could collapse. So, the plotters against Corbyn will get their vote while thousands of his supporters chant outside. Did the plotters underestimate Corbyn? It would appear so. Richard's analysis is that they want their party back irrespective of the damage this does. But as the coup drags on and the plotters are forced out of the corridors and the back rooms and into the streets, it is now clear that they will encounter real popular anger. And I don't think the likes of Hilary Benn or Alan Johnson will be prepared for what will happen. all fascinating. comradely Gary _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Fwd: What Do Syrians Want? | Dissent Magazine
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * By Idrees Ahmad https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/what-do-syrians-want-islamic-state-war-resistance-assad-regime _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] No evidence that Omar Mateen was gay
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * I would say that this article tends to prove the opposite of what is said in the subject-line above. Wythe Louis Proyect via Marxism wrote: > POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * NY Times, June 26 2016 Was the Orlando Gunman Gay? The Answer Continues to Elude the F.B.I. By FRANCES ROBLES and JULIE TURKEWITZ A vigil for the victims of the Pulse nightclub attack was held at Lake Eola in Orlando last week. Credit Hilary Swift for The New York Times ORLANDO, Fla. — After news media reports suggested that the man who carried out the massacre at a gay nightclub here may have himself been gay, the company that bills itself as “the world’s largest gay hookup site” put out what amounted to a distress call, asking members who may have been in contact with the gunman, Omar Mateen, to come forward. In an attempt to find an account connected to the killer, the site, Adam4Adam combed through the profile photos of every one of its 300,000 Florida members and researched 20 email addresses used by Mr. Mateen over the years that the company said had been provided by the F.B.I. Adam4Adam came up with nothing. “I think it was a hoax,” David Lesage, a spokesman for the Montreal-based company, said about the reports that Mr. Mateen had used Adam4Adam and other dating sites and apps for gay men. Two weeks after Mr. Mateen barged into the Pulse nightclub on June 12 and opened fire on the crowd, leaving 49 people dead and another 53 wounded, investigators are still trying to determine the underlying motive for the slaughter. Although federal officials have said Mr. Mateen had become radicalized to some extent online, at least half a dozen men have come forward with claims that hint at another potential motive, reporting that they had seen Mr. Mateen at gay clubs, encountered him online or had romantic encounters with him. The claims have prompted investigators to look into whether Mr. Mateen, who had called 911 pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, was also a closeted gay man consumed by feelings of self-loathing and revenge. F.B.I. investigators, who have conducted more than 500 interviews in the case, are continuing to contact men who claim to have had sexual relations with Mr. Mateen or think they saw him at gay bars. But so far, they have not found any independent corroboration — through his web searches, emails or other electronic data — to establish that he was, in fact, gay, officials said. The question of sexual orientation is a part of a broader effort by the F.B.I. to establish Mr. Mateen’s criminal profile. Beyond being a critical piece of information that could help the agency reconstruct the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, it could aid in creating a broader analysis of criminal and terrorist behavior. “People often act out of more than one motivation,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch told reporters during a visit here on Tuesday. “This was clearly an act of terror and an act of hate.” One of the first people to bring up the idea that Mr. Mateen could have been gay was his ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, who, a day after the massacre, told The New York Times that her former husband often made angry comments about homosexuality. “If you know anything about psychology, you know that people that have a really, really strong resentment or above-average hate toward something, it’s because deep inside that’s what they truly are,” she said in an interview at her home in Boulder, Colo. “In Islam, it’s true that there is very low tolerance for homosexuality. He may not have been able to be himself.” But she added that she was speculating, and that there was nothing in their intimate life on which she had based that hunch. Several men later came forward to tell other news media outlets that Mr. Mateen was a regular at Pulse. (Two of them, female impersonators who perform at the club, declined to comment for this article, though, saying the focus ought to be on the victims.) Another Orlando man, a Navy veteran named Kevin West, told The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post that he had communicated with Mr. Mateen for about a year on Jack’d, a gay chat and dating app. Hector Camacho, the chief executive of Jack’d, said the company was cooperating with the F.B.I. A company spokesman, Jeff Dorta, said several television networks that sought to au
[Marxism] Fwd: Union Jacks Flutter Over a Widening Gyre | Salvage
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * By Richard Seymour http://salvage.zone/online-exclusive/union-jacks-flutter-over-a-widening-gyre/ _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * > On Jun 27, 2016, at 5:08 AM, jamie pitman via Marxism > wrote: > > MM wrote: “It’s bizarre how defensive left advocates of leave have been about > this point; I haven’t seen a single serious example of this allegation, but > it is repeatedly invoked by left advocates of leave, and always defensively. > Very odd.” > > You must be joking? Absolutely not, but I think you missed (or misunderstood) the word “serious” in my comment. Nobody should be surprised that the mainstream press is entertaining this line, but where are examples of this allegation coming from the left? Why does every criticism of support for "leave” evoke the defensive protestation that it "wasn’t just about racism”, even when the criticism doesn’t suggest it was? _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Fwd: Guess what, neo-Nazi group attacked in Sacramento is pro-Assad and pro-Putin | Louis Proyect: The Unrepentant Marxist
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * https://louisproyect.org/2016/06/27/guess-what-neo-nazi-group-attacked-in-sacramento-is-pro-assad-and-pro-putin/ _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Why Syrians become refugees
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Dr. Michael Hudson, In interviews with Chris Hedges and Gregory Wilpert, you assert that it is jihadists armed by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that is driving Syrians to leave the country. Would you take such a fact-free approach when it comes to the global economy? On October 10, 2015 the Independent reported on the findings of the Berlin Social Science Center. Based on a survey of 889 Syrians who fled to Germany, it was revealed that twice as many refugees blamed President Assad’s military response to peaceful demonstrations for the country’s woes than on the jihadists. And even more tellingly, 489 of the 889 surveyed called for a no-fly zone to stop barrel bombs in order to reduce the emigration flow. Meanwhile, 49 thought the answer was to support Assad. I simply do not understand why otherwise intelligent people such as yourself and Seymour Hersh can turn into blithering idiots when it comes to the subject of Syria. Yours truly, Louis Proyect _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Statement on Vote on BREXIT
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * http://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/europe/brexit-vote-results/ --- Diese E-Mail wurde von Avast Antivirus-Software auf Viren geprüft. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Fwd: ZCommunications » Great Day in European History
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Boris Kagarlitsky exultant over Brexit. This, of course, is how Kremlin cash keeps flowing into his think-tank. https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/great-day-in-european-history/ _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Fwd: ZCommunications » We Need A United Left
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Michael Albert, what a jackass. "What I should say is, yes, a large turnout for the Greens (and perhaps the abstention vote, too) can help inspire and even develop an organized, sustained opposition. But, to accumulate Green votes or abstentions and have Trump win would undo any benefits of the dissident tally under a mountain of debits due to Trump wielding state power. If we have lots of Green votes and lots of abstentions, but we get Trump in the Oval Office, we have not achieved the best possible outcome we could. More, nothing about wanting to develop a powerful, organized, sustained, left opposition is inconsistent with wanting Clinton to win the election itself. In fact, wanting Trump to lose is one aspect of wanting the most powerful left after the election." https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/we-need-a-united-left/ _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Fwd: Spain: further stalemate | Michael Roberts Blog
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * https://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/spain-further-stalemate/ _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] the British Labour Party crisis
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * I support Corbyn in his affair as I am sure most people on the list do. I have been re-watching the Godfather movies and as always they have been a great help in understanding politics, so some of what I say here reflects that belief. The coup against Corbyn has been planned for a long time. The right wanted "their" party back from this leftist upstart and they simply needed a trigger. They initially thought the local government elections would give them that but the Labour Party did quite well. Then the trigger moved to the Mayoral elections in London, but Labour won that. So it all became about the referendum on Europe. When Brexit movement won, the coup plotters got their stalking horse Hilary Benn to be the first to stab Corbyn. Then they staggered the resignations to maximize the coverage and the sense of crisis and the cascade of imitation effect. Finally they dragged out the Dumb Deputy Leader, Tom Watson, to perform the coup de grace. Despite having the media on their side including the liberal Guardian, which I read, they still have not as yet pressured Corbyn into resigning. There will be a vote of no confidence, and that might spark a leadership contest. Throughout it all Andy Burnham, who had previously stood for the leadership, has refused to resign and has stayed "loyal" to Corbyn. He is in all probability waiting in the wings to emerge as the candidate that will heal, and be the compromise, the candidate with no blood on his hands, seemingly. My guess is that this role for Burnham has been in the planning for a long time. Can Corbyn tough it out? Will the party and the country support him? Where will that leave the Parliamentary Party? It is impossible to say, especially from Down Under. But I hope he does tough it out and he takes it to the people and they vote massively for him. Whatever happens waves of instability will break over the British political scene in the short and at least medium terms. comradely Gary _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Brexit and imperial privilege
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * MM wrote: “It’s bizarre how defensive left advocates of leave have been about this point; I haven’t seen a single serious example of this allegation, but it is repeatedly invoked by left advocates of leave, and always defensively. Very odd.” You must be joking? Listening to the radio now, this is being debated on both BBC radio 4 and LBC. The term ‘Project Sneer’ has even been coined to describe the argument/ phenomenon. There is a growing movement to rerun the referendum with the inference it should never have been left in the hands of Northern malcontents (a slightly dubious petition that’s already had 2 million signatures; prominent Labour, Tory and Liberal politicians making slightly different arguments that all end up with the UK either not leaving or re-joining). It’s impossible to distil the reasons for the 17.4 million who voted leave into one pat explanation. But the rejection of globalisation is becoming increasingly widespread. I’m now in London doing a PhD as a mature student, and suppose I would be – in demographic terms – a shoe-in for an ‘in’ vote; but I voted out because I grew up in the North where life chances have declined for decades. I left school and in a few years became a docker, a job that declined exponentially over the ten years I was there (loss of the national dock scheme; containerisation, casualisation etc); after that I retrained as a carpenter/ joiner. This started well but then the wages and the amount of work also fell through the floor at the start of the recession which was when I quit and went and began my first degree instead. As everybody knows, this decline continued in inverse proportionality with the ascendancy of London PLC (and will be why the Westminster consensus around devolving power/ subsidiarity to a local level will never work and will only provoke more resentment long term). This was what I voted against in part. I also voted against the fact that the EU has more or less outlawed even the mildest forms of social democracy. And I’ll be honest, *I’m not sure if I voted the right way* (there’s even terms/ hashtags that have been coined for this feeling: Regrexit and Bregret). But the list of crimes perpetrated by the EU is a long one, not least racist policing of the Schengen zone (generally ignored by liberals who paint the EU as a rainbow institution); it’s own corporate capture allowing MegaCorp to drown small business under a mountain of regulation that only MegaCorp can deal with; innumerate examples of steam-rollering democracy (ask the Dutch, French, Irish, Danish, Spanish, Greek, Italians or Polish people or just listen to more or less anything J-C Juncker’s ever said ever) reflected in the closed-door structure of the Commission; TTIP (although I’d imagine we’ll get some form of turbo-charged trade deal in-or-out) Etc. Etc. Etc. There is no doubt that Nigel Farage is a xenophobic, racist shitbucket who, unfortunately, a lot of pensioners and late middle aged manual workers identify with. During the campaign however, his most egregious announcements/ antics were denounced by everybody including the official leave side (who mostly prefer to signal their own nativism at a more socially acceptable dog-whistle pitch – but, for clarity, not all the leave campaign was fought on the anti or controlled immigration ticket). That Farage’s arguments didn’t have the influence attributed to them can possibly be seen in the overwhelming leave vote returned in areas with high ‘immigrant’ populations all over the mid North East and West. Anyway, the point is that attempting to paint the EU ref as a clash of any two homogenous constituencies of people (young/ old; progressive/ reactionary; north/ south; right/ left) is dumb. I haven’t read the Huff Post piece yet (I will do, and I’ve heard it mentioned on the radio this morning) but some of the Remain camp’s tears are unjustified. This referendum hasn’t created more racists (they were already there – e.g. some of the protests that have been cited include demonstrating outside a mosque – this has nothing at all to do with the EU or the issues it raised); somebody from the right of the Tory party was always going to succeed Cameron as well; our economy was fucked already (and by that I mean within the terms of debate given in the mainstream, I.e. our structural and fiscal deficits). I don’t buy the argument about the EU as guarantor of peace within Europe; it’s merely allowed our now waning, senile former imperialist powers to band together to continue to squeeze former colonies through ruinous trade deals. The question of whether racists h
[Marxism] The Brexit vote: an Irish revolutionary perspective
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * https://rdln.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/the-brexit-vote-an-irish-revolutionary-perspective/ Along with the left-republicans, The Irish SWP also supported a brexit vote in the six counties ("Northern Ireland"). The bourgeois nationalists (SF and SDLP) supported a Remain vote. Phil _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com