Jason on Fri 25, July 2008 @ 17:54

Jason — 2008-07-25 17:54:45

In the last but one paragraph of Mike McNair's main contribution i.e. before the summing up he refers to the religious far right advocating purity against 'women and sexual deviants.' This is quite a problematic use of language. Are we to assume Mike means LGBT people? Referring to people as 'sexual deviants' is hardly challenging the ideology of the right!

On other point Mike says that cruishing fascism in the egg does not work as they're back. However, whilst it is certainly the betrayals and failures of social democracy that has led to the revival of fascist parties such as the BNP the refusal of much of the left to undertake militant defence including pre-emptive organised self-defence to drive the fascists from the streets is part of the problem.

Self-defence and building up an alternative base of working class politics are concrete questions. Where the left and Black community have used militant self-defence as well as united campaigns and attemtps to buyild socialist alternatives- such as in Oldham where some of were key activists a few years back- the fascist BNP have been largely contained.

tax on Tue 29, July 2008 @ 00:49

tax — 2008-07-29 00:49:53

Dan J - an excellent argument,well said.There is much in that i will myself re use - like that incredibly revealing quote from Griffin. I do think the BNP are actually beyond using violence organisationally now, even on the sly, but would be very hapy to provoke it or turn a blind eye to their members using it. The simple truth is, the size they are now, they don't need it. Once having the real violence in our society - the cops and the army - becomes viable, which it will do if they start to take seats, DIY violence loses any appeal.

CPGB man, i'm sorry but you are talking like someone who has had no experience of the far rght as is. Your frame of reference is entirely theoretical and second hand, and your conclusion that antifascism is 'popular frontism' is a) meaningless to the unitiated so -10 points there and b) untrue.

Antifascism is neccesary for the organised working class to gain a space to organise, whether thats the battle of ideas or just the battle. If we allow the far right to be the 'radical opposition' and the 'truth most are afraid to speak' rather than socialists and socialism, we are giving up our ground. It is my understanding too, and no offence if i'm wrong but this is just what 2 of your leading members told me, that the CPGB only angles itself to the rest of the left,trying to get the 'marxist party' bit right first before going to the public. This means you won'thave come across issues like organising in racist workplaces or communities, or having a BNP presence ITA.

Finally another young cadre of yours was heavily involved in the oxford no platform demo, to say the least.

So like Dan J, i'm at a bit of a loss.

(A)

Permanent Revolution

Jason on Fri 25, July 2008 @ 17:54

tax on Tue 29, July 2008 @ 00:49