Re: Re: Re: Anti-Bush protest at Ohio

[Michael Hoover]

>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 06/24/02 20:17 PM >>>
Rather than agreeing or disagreeing with the political line can I propose some 
questions? After all one of the problems with the Communist International was of 
communists in one country forming a line that was not 
well integrated with the conditions of struggle of communists within the country 
itself. 
How does the local campaign react to the successes and the costs of this 
demonstration?  Few political platforms are perfect and practical activity 
is a compromise, but is it thought this required too much heroism from a small 
minority, or that the political capital of embarrassing Bush and the 
university authorities was worth it? Is this vanguard too far out ahead of a larger 
movement? Or did its actions make a larger movement more possible?
The leaflet appears well written, with authoritative references, for an academic 
audience. But it could have been written by radical passionate 
young Democrats wanting to focus everything on contempt for Bush.
How well did the message get over that real patriotism is not in logical contradiction 
with real internationalism?
Are there staging posts along the way?
Or is contempt for Bush in agitational and progandist terms readily translatable into 
strategic contempt for global finance capital?
Chris Burford, London
<<<>>>

puhleeze, it was a protest...

i'm sure organizers would have liked a larger turnout, more folks giving shrub the 
cold shoulder, some mainstream media attention to osu admin's (in concert, no doubt, 
with prez's security forces) repressive threats...

given opportunity that presented itself focus on prez seems appropriate, i've a hunch 
communist int'l wasn't on agenda (of course, devious vanguard types were probably 
calling shots and they'd never let on that turning one's back on bush - not to mention 
accompanying website - is part of their diabolical sectarian red plan)...

organizing folks will learn from effort, a few others may get involved, some may have 
seen hypocrisy of officialdom, there'll be chances in future to stand up/speak out...

michael hoover (who has participated in more several-in-attendance demos in orblando, 
florida) than he'd care to remember) 

Re: Re: Anti-Bush protest at Ohio

[Chris Burford]

Thanks. Rather than agreeing or disagreeing with the political line can I 
propose some questions? After all one of the problems with the Communist 
International was of communists in one country forming a line that was not 
well integrated with the conditions of struggle of communists within the 
country itself. Now we have no Communist International,  and perhaps no 
communists, just international email lists, where you often cannot work out 
where the contributor is writing from.

The Turn Your Back on Bush website reports

>there were four graduates who stood and turned their backs during Bush's 
>speech, despite the threat of arrest and the denial of a diploma. About 
>ten other people in the stadium did the same. Fortunately, most of them 
>were treated respectfully and no one was arrested. Some of these people 
>are available for interviews.


How does the local campaign react to the successes and the costs of this 
demonstration?  Few political platforms are perfect and practical activity 
is a compromise, but is it thought this required too much heroism from a 
small minority, or that the political capital of embarrassing Bush and the 
university authorities was worth it? Is this vanguard too far out ahead of 
a larger movement? Or did its actions make a larger movement more possible?

The leaflet appears well written, with authoritative references, for an 
academic audience. But it could have been written by radical passionate 
young Democrats wanting to focus everything on contempt for Bush.

How well did the message get over that real patriotism is not in logical 
contradiction with real internationalism?

The leaflet ends "we'll seek to unite diverse communities in our struggle 
to build a world without exploitation and oppression, that is, a material 
foundation for a world free from terrorism."

Are there staging posts along the way?

Or is contempt for Bush in agitational and progandist terms readily 
translatable into strategic contempt for global finance capital?


At 21/06/02 06:04 -0400, you wrote:
>>But could Yoshie or someone else post the core paragraph of a leaflet or 
>>press statement about the political content of the protest. What I want 
>>to see is how the line places the conflict in the context of a wider 
>>appeal which in principle with a fair hearing ordinary working and 
>>progressive people of the USA could sympathise with or even support. 
>>Otherwise the central terrain of battle is lost.
>>
>>Chris Burford
>>
>>London
>
>You can download the press release at 
>.  Here's the website for 
>the protest: .
>--
>Yoshie
>
>* Calendar of Events in Columbus: 
>
>* Anti-War Activist Resources: 
>* Student International Forum: 
>* Committee for Justice in Palestine: 


Chris Burford, London

Re: Anti-Bush protest at Ohio

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

>But could Yoshie or someone else post the core paragraph of a 
>leaflet or press statement about the political content of the 
>protest. What I want to see is how the line places the conflict in 
>the context of a wider appeal which in principle with a fair hearing 
>ordinary working and progressive people of the USA could sympathise 
>with or even support. Otherwise the central terrain of battle is 
>lost.
>
>Chris Burford
>
>London

You can download the press release at 
.  Here's the website 
for the protest: .
-- 
Yoshie

* Calendar of Events in Columbus: 

* Anti-War Activist Resources: 
* Student International Forum: 
* Committee for Justice in Palestine: