These are not very edifying times for the Left in America. Amidst the growing quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan, the hemmorrhaging of millions of jobs out of the country, our hellish inner cities, the lack of accessible health care, and the exponential impoverishment of millions of workers, the Left remains stagnant, bereft of popular appeal and very nearly invisible. This in a nation of nearly 300 million, with a population steeped in history and constantly mindful of its pioneering and revolutionary traditions.
It’s not like they haven’t tried. The Left is full of some of the best people in the country. Bright, conscientious, hard-working, dedicated. They have a nearly heroic capacity to soldier on, despite failure after failure, setback after setback.
Too bad, then, that the two main groupings of the anti-war American Left are re-hearsing the old split and split again stategies that have served them so poorly in the past. I’m talking about the ANSWER Coalition and the New York-based United for Peace and Justice. The two have been fighting like cats and dogs over the proposed September 24 anti-war event planned for Washington, D.C. Well, maybe I shouldn’t say that. Cats and dogs at least battle with a certain urgent honesty that is lacking in most of these internecine struggles on the Left. More like a couple of spoiled children. The issue is after all is said and done Palestine (besides the usual jealousies over jurisdictional matters), and to a lesser extent “militant Islam”. UfPJ is dominated and led by many with an innate hostility toward Muslims and especially Muslims calling for the kibosh to be put on Israel as an exclusively Jewish state. ANSWER frequently tails a sort of nascent Arab nationalism and can be rather uncritical toward all those perceived to be enemies of the US military, regardless of pedigree.
But are these “principles” really important enough to derail a movement that could, acting in concert with other forces, provide some relief to the occupied, maimed and murdered?
It would be far better for the Left, and for the country, if these two quarreling entities could unite around the basic issues and really shake things up. Moral principles are great and all that but they should not be overplayed. Perhaps we could use a bit of knavery and opportunism if it helps put a half million people or more in the streets of D.C. on September 24th.
And, who knows? Success here might even lead to the infusion of some fresh blood into a movement in dire need of it. Many of its leaders have been around since Eisenhower and should be pensioned off and allowed to fade gracefully into the background. If there’s one thing the Left doesn’t need, it’s this current crop of walking cadavers and their dreary progeny, repeating the same old discredited slogans and inviting defeat in an environment rich with the possibilities of triumph.
We have the same thing here. Many many communist and workers parties all fighting with each other and with the government. No one wants to unite because it means a loss of power and influence in the various states and cities where they often hold elective office or control patronage jobs. Governments are able to rule more easily a divided opposition. My question, what will the democrats do if there is a large demonstration in Sept?
Well, part of the problem here is that the Left suffers from contradictory traditions which frequently produce mutually incompatible aims. On the one hand, you have this complex (and rarely discussed) mentality growing out of the early labor movement — itself stemming from a Protestant noncomformist background — which gives it its missionary zeal and fervor in the cause of the oppressed which kindles a lively flame of enthusiasm for things like solidarity with the Iraqi people. But the same tradition also accomodates a respect for a liberal society and the rule of law. Too, organizations like Soros’ Move On (which had a very active hand in creating United for Peace and Justice) frequently have agendas at odds with the stated aim of this or that antiwar group. UfPJ’s Communist pedigree plays a role as well. The Commmunist Party has for many years depended heavily on the support of progressive Jews especially in New York city simply to survive. Most of these people do not relish demented jihadists running around loose in the Middle East and have made their feelings known to the leadership of groups with which the CP is identified. ANSWER on the other hand, sees itself as a vehicle for the “poor relations” of the American Left – people of color, muslims, sexual minorities, and others. Then, there is the undeniable fact that a lot of people who protest in general are seeking not the fulfillment of stated goals so much as a personal catharsis. All this makes for a very volatile. The result; dissipated resources and people ostensibly united by politics pulling in many different directions.
Wonderful text message. Is extremely good web design furthermore. keep on the great work.
I’m a very long time watcher and I just believed I’d stop by and say hello for that first time. I seriously like your posts. Thanks
Discovered your blog while searching Yahoo. This was a nice article. I’d like to see you take the main idea from this post and make a second article, maybe embed a movie, too?