[lit-ideas] Re: Anarchism and Leftism
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 10:45:07 -0700
I did notice that none on the Left saw fit to discuss the ideas in the MEMRI
dispatch. I did notice that none saw fit to discuss the ideas in my
comments. All anyone wanted to do was quibble about my reference to
"leftists." As though none on the Left really knew what Leftism meant.
In Andreas article I recognized arguments I'd seen coming from the Left
before except for his comment which could only be described as anarchic.
Why do you think there is an attack here Simon? What attack? Andreas made
a comment and I looked it up. Where is the attack? I did see an attack in
your note. Did it take up the issue of the Saudi, Egyptian or PLO
opposition to Hizbollah's adventurism? No, You don't see fit to do that.
Does it take up a discussion of the Left's association with Anarchism (which
is the subject of the note you seem to be responding to)? No, you didn't
see fit to do that. All you saw fit to do was the very thing you accuse the
Right of doing, "attack," and yet you do it ineptly. There is no substance
to your attack. It can't be pinned to anything concrete.
Lawrence
_____
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Simon Ward
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 10:09 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Anarchism and Leftism
Interesting that Lawrence's response, as so often, is an attack on the views
of the political opposition rather than a defence of his own position.
As far as I see it, this is a common thread in US right wing politics. Try a
Google search on "What the left thinks" and you'll get the idea.
Is this because the right are afraid of the left or is it because they have
an effective policy vaccuum?
Incidentally, British politics have become so centralised that there is
little or no distinction between left and right.
Simon
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence <mailto:lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Helm
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 3:37 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Anarchism and Leftism
http://www.infoshop.org/afterleftism.html
After reading Andreas article last night I became interested in its
Anarchist element. The elements of Leftism are well known, but the
association of Leftism with Anarchism while something I've run across from
time to time has seemed an individual thing -- a fringe element. Perhaps
there is a more going on in this vein today. Some anarchists apparently
want to rid themselves of their Leftist millstone and become Post-Leftists.
I would think they would need to quit siding with Leftist positions if
that's what they want, but apparently some others believe they can continue
to side with Leftist positions.
Here is a Wikipedia article on Post-Leftist Anarchy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-left_anarchy It is described as
something that has rapidly developed since the fall of the Soviet Union. I
see a reference in this article to the Post-Left Anarchists opposing
"authoritarian Leftism." They especially oppose "compulsory moralism." I'm
not sure who they have in mind here. It is beating a dead horse to oppose
the authoritarian Soviet Union and its compulsory moralism. Do the Welfare
States of Europe impose "compulsory moralism?" I hadn't heard that.
Here is a Wikipedia article on "Left Anarchism." I can't tell from this
article how a "Left Anarchist" would stand on the war against Militant
Islam. That isn't the concern of the article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_anarchism But I will suspect that they
will side with the Left on this war until I hear otherwise.
Lawrence
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