tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.comments2015-04-12T22:26:15.488-07:00Left ViewsErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18415101736925158585noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-45021775986994263362009-01-07T07:57:00.000-08:002009-01-07T07:57:00.000-08:00Sounds like a great film for everyone leading unin...Sounds like a great film for everyone leading uninspired lives today. Sadly, today even people living in the city have lost their sparkle to live out a life worth living. The rewards of living a life that serves a greater purpose than our own survival would be just the recipe for that, as you suggest with your choice of the civil right's movement, and then the social justice lens. The greatest thing we could do for eachother is live inspired lives, this would change our world.The Inspired Planethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387576665876164836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-24947808096218746082009-01-03T16:27:00.000-08:002009-01-03T16:27:00.000-08:00I hope you are going to keep posting here. BrowneI hope you are going to keep posting here. <BR/><BR/>BrowneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-50896097197232141012008-12-28T08:25:00.000-08:002008-12-28T08:25:00.000-08:00I think it far more useful to focus on what we nee...I think it far more useful to focus on what we need to be doing, rather than Obama's quandries, quagmires and dilemmas. Who, after all, would be a 'good' head of CIA? Anyone with any competence for the job has skeletons in his closet.<BR/><BR/>(Although, I've often said to my friends, half in jest, that in a revolutionary government, I had my eye on that post myself!)<BR/><BR/>So as organizers, our task is pulling together the local alliances, networking them outward and upward, and mobilizing their popular power to make them do what has to be done. Like the man says, change comes from below. So let's discuss what WE have to do.<BR/><BR/>'Progressives for Obama' has a proposal on the table, but others are welcome as well.Carl Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00215874972566616424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-48194771786920243942008-12-10T07:37:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:37:00.000-08:00I agree with Anonymous I on both points.I agree with Anonymous I on both points.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-68628212812420541882008-12-09T22:12:00.000-08:002008-12-09T22:12:00.000-08:00This is about as terrific a statement on Obama in ...This is about as terrific a statement on Obama in relation to the empire and to the U.S. Left as I have seen anywhere. Been trying to explicate the need for "pushing" Obama to fellow peace and justice activists here in backwoods Oregon--and for that matter to some on the SNCC list--who believe we now should wait and "give the man a chance, see what he does," as if being Black and liberal made him a savior; you have said it far better. Just wish you'd included more on how the "bailout" relates to this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-22007038492775418262008-12-07T07:54:00.000-08:002008-12-07T07:54:00.000-08:00This blog was well written, it was poetic yet hist...This blog was well written, it was poetic yet historic. For this reason I was sadden at the author's false sense of facism. Facism takes its population by surprise. Palin was obvious and therefore inelligible. The popularity of leadership required for facism must include the 'left'. Look at the historic models and recalibrate the blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-50217461179373218812008-11-02T17:02:00.000-08:002008-11-02T17:02:00.000-08:00There is a current in the liberal/progressive inte...There is a current in the liberal/progressive intelligentsia to express disappointment with Barack Obama's unwillingness to be a failed candidate or a dead hero for them. How could he vote for the FISA bill, how could he cave on offshore drilling, how could he...? Among other things, these folks are out of touch with their own racism.<BR/><BR/>Early on in this process Obama was ambushed in a nationally televised debate by GE's mouthpiece, the late Tim Russert, and challenged to reject and condemn Minister Louis Farrakhan. Minister Farrakhan had dared to say about Barak Obama, “This young man is the hope of the entire world that America will change and be made better.” Obama knew that the demand that the intellectual author and leader of the redemptive Million Man March be denounced came from men who would see him dead before they would see him president but “this young man” went to his knees to remain a viable candidate. And Louis Farrakhan understood completely!<BR/><BR/>The dying Republican party's apparatus then took it to another level. Rush Limbaugh, one of the most vicious and dangerous racists in human history, ranted that Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., the minister who married Obama and his wife Michelle, the iconic leader of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago since 1972, is a “race-baiter and a hatemonger.” A national Limbaugh-led mob howled that this holy man must be denounced and renounced, and again for the sake of his chances to be president, Obama knelt before them again and called Rev. Wright’s profound truth telling “inflammatory and appalling.” And save a brief bout of ego and a little fun, Rev. Wright understood completely.<BR/><BR/>Have no illusions about Barak Obama. He is auditioning with the ruling class in this campaign for president, and judging by pats on the head from Rupert Murdoch and Warren Buffet, he is giving a credible performance. The candidate is genuinely trying to convince them an Obama Administration would be business as usual, his empty rhetoric about change notwithstanding.<BR/><BR/>What everyone in this country needs to realize though is that Louis Farrakhan, Jeremiah Wright, the African-American population of the United States, and the people of a world where racism holds less sway are intensely watching. Their hearts are in this fight. They have consciously and strategically muted their support for Obama. They are going to give white America no excuses to do the wrong thing here. They would like a peaceful transformation of this country.<BR/><BR/>If this election is stolen and a peaceful transition proves impossible, these same people will be on the front lines in different tactics of transformation.<BR/><BR/>This goes beyond Obama the candidate for president. Something the ruling class will never willingly permit must happen before Obama, a Black man, is elected. Obama will win 95-plus% of a record turnout of Black voters. But he will win the presidency only with a substantial number of white working class votes. This would constitute a dangerous level of working class unity like we have never witnessed in US electoral history.<BR/><BR/>Such unity would shake this county’s ever constricting capitalist bourgeois democracy to its foundation. One of the main engines of that capitalist economy is racism. For the sake of profits racial divisions and the super exploitation of workers of color must be kept intact—at all costs.<BR/><BR/>The reason that chattel slavery came into existence in the semi-feudal agrarian US economy of the time was that it was very profitable for the masters of that economy.<BR/><BR/>The reason that racism is so pervasive in the United States today with its developed industrial, albeit collapsing, capitalist economy is that it is very profitable for the masters of that economy.<BR/><BR/>It took the bloodiest war in US history and hundreds of thousands of white workers willing to fight to the death to end chattel slavery. No election and no candidate for office will end racism in this country. As long as capitalism exists elections will only produce racist results.<BR/><BR/>The least important thing about Barak Obama is his empty rhetoric about change. The ruling class chuckles over such nonsense. What they are stricken over is the possibility that working-class whites might make their first halting steps toward an effective political relationship with their brothers and sisters of color. They know their history. They know that was the dynamic that brought down the slave economy. They know that would be the beginning of the end for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-33559727064277852072008-10-30T14:25:00.000-07:002008-10-30T14:25:00.000-07:00[email dated Monday 10/27, posted with author's pe...[email dated Monday 10/27, posted with author's permission ~ Moderator]<BR/><BR/>I read your plea for Obama. Did the Obama campaign pay you to write this?<BR/><BR/>It seems to me Eric went a little overboard with his support for Obama. My main gripe with the “Progressives for Obama” is that they talk about the need for activity around specific issues but then they use their support for Obama as an excuse not to address the issues they claim to say this independent initiative is needed around.<BR/><BR/>Mark Rudd has even done Eric one better… he suggests nothing progressive will come from an Obama first term and we should start planning on working to make progressive change a reality in his second term… I assume someone will one up Mark Rudd now and call for extending the two-term limit to three or four, maybe even five as Obama is still quite young.<BR/><BR/>Anyways, as you guys treat Obama as if he is the second coming, almost three-thousand people--- working people--- are being foreclosed on every single day and all Obama would have had to have done before Congress voted is suggested that this bailout money be used to buy up every home mortgage as they come up for foreclosure, let the government make the needed modifications to the mortgages based upon family circumstances--- and you know what? That money would have ended up in the vaults of the exact same bankers anyways… sitting right there on the vault shelves ready to loan out again. But, Obama didn’t advocate such a move which makes me believe he doesn’t really give a tinker’s damn about the working class. Had he brought forward this idea he would have been elected in a massive landslide and none of you would have had to worry about my one vote that has already been cast for Cynthia McKinney.<BR/>Anyways, my gripe is not with anyone endorsing, supporting, working for or voting for Obama… I would rather have Obama than McCain; and having worked in the Democratic Party (notice I say worked “in the Democratic Party” not for the Democratic Party because I view the Democratic Party as a useless party--- but it is possible to move some issues of importance to working people through using the Democratic Party from time to time [I have also served in a variety of leadership positions in the Democratic Party--- most recently as a member of the State Central Committee of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party]) but, there are limitations imposed by capital which is in firm control of the Democratic Party--- working people have to fight just to get the most simple and basic resolutions through precinct caucuses, county conventions and state conventions, not to mention national conventions--- and then, just to have the party hacks and the politicians undermine and/or ignore these resolutions.<BR/><BR/>It bothers me to no end that when we tried to get many of the so-called “progressives for Obama” to help get progressive resolutions through precinct caucuses and move them up through county conventions on up to the state conventions on a slew of issues these “progressives” sat this part of the struggle out. So, I question their sincerity in saying they believe in independent initiatives on progressive issues. <BR/><BR/>Tens of thousands of people turning out for a variety of Obama support events and people are not even allowed to carry in their signs in support of single-payer universal health care. No petitions or open letters to Obama are being circulated at these events… no leaflets calling for mass mobilizations around the problems of working people… even the talk is about “helping the middle class.” Well, it is those working class people living in poverty who need the real help.<BR/>I lived in Manitoba, Canada for ten years and have had a lot of experience with the benefits of a real mass labor party, where working people completely dominate--- the New Democratic Party, which is the official party of organized labor, the kind of party we need here in this country… the NDP has dominated Manitoba politics for years now, even when out of power and even has considerable influence at the federal level in advancing the rights and programs of the working class; and working people have reaped tremendous benefits from the NDP.<BR/><BR/>Now, if all you “progressives for Obama” were even hinting at becoming involved in building this kind of real mass-based party of labor in this country your gushy support for Obama would be another matter. But, this gushy support dished up by Eric is completely uncalled for, unless of course he was paid by the Obama campaign to write it… or, if these are his true feelings and he suffers such illusions as expressed in this Elmer Gantry, that is his problem… but, the working class isn’t going to get anything out of Obama--- not even if they fight like hell like workers did in the thirties; capital has put Obama in to do a very specific job on labor and when he gets done he is going to be lucky if he can complete a first term without being driven from office like Richard Nixon--- never mind talking about a “second term.”<BR/><BR/>Has Eric also written the Pope suggesting Obama be nominated for sainthood?<BR/>Come on, working people support candidates because the candidates have either done something to warrant that support or they expect the candidates to at least promise something of substance… the closest thing Obama has come to promising anything is that he might reinstate the draft--- now, once this is done, I think Obama can pretty much bend over, put his head between his legs and kiss his butt good-bye because all these young people gushing over him now--- almost as much as Eric has done--- are going to be hitting the streets with the mailing of the first draft card.<BR/>I also have <A HREF="http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/alanmaki" REL="nofollow">a blog on the official Obama campaign web site</A><BR/><BR/> Also, aside from the Obama issue… has Eric written anything about public ownership and nationalization to halt plant closings… a while back I was reading about the struggle to save the Van Nuys GM plant and the boycott idea. I created a <A HREF="http://capitalistglobalization.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">blog surrounding the issues involved in the closing of the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant</A> you might want to check out and comment on.<BR/><BR/>Alan<BR/> <BR/>Alan L. Maki<BR/>58891 County Road 13<BR/>Warroad, Minnesota 56763<BR/>E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net<BR/> <BR/>Check out my blog:<BR/><A HREF="http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Thoughts From Podunk</A><BR/> http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-89589340800899141462008-10-27T05:32:00.000-07:002008-10-27T05:32:00.000-07:00Eric,good to see you're out there doing the good w...Eric,<BR/>good to see you're out there doing the good work.<BR/>Go Obama.<BR/>All power to the people!<BR/>Your old ERAP buddy<BR/>michael james<BR/>michael@heartlandcafe.com<BR/>www.heartlandcafe.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13873354459761865301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-29835895507805179632008-10-25T14:29:00.000-07:002008-10-25T14:29:00.000-07:00Thank you, Eric Mann, for incisively clarifying wh...Thank you, Eric Mann, for incisively clarifying what is at stake in this presidential election. For me, two points especially stood out: McCain’s activity in Vietnam, and Palin’s fascism and sexism. You ask the necessary question that I haven’t seen anyone else pose: Why was McCain in a North Vietnamese POW camp in the first place? Mindlessly parroting that McCain is a war hero serves to perpetuate and strengthen historical amnesia over US imperialism. This prevents us from seeing how US imperialism is very much alive today – and how it can be fought, especially with the opening that Obama’s presidency would create. Second, as frightening as a McCain presidency is, the prospects of a Palin presidency are even more terrifying to me. Again, you are right to insist that we can’t underestimate that she is ‘deadly serious, armed and dangerous.’ Thank you, Eric. I am forwarding this piece widely and will work to turn out the vote for Barack Obama.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-62902273901378380832008-10-24T18:04:00.000-07:002008-10-24T18:04:00.000-07:00Eric, thanks for this piece...there's so much in i...Eric, <BR/>thanks for this piece...there's so much in it to digest. Need some time to let it percolate, but with a few days left in this election there's no time. <BR/><BR/>I agree with Simone that the piece about calling McCain a war criminal is dead-on! This is exactly what the left should be doing--flipping the script on these fools. <BR/><BR/>You are so correct that as the right-wing desperately tries to resucitate Senator McCarthy, we need to remember that these attacks against Obama, however unfounded, are really attacks on us. <BR/><BR/>I remember having dinner at Bill Ayers' house a couple years ago. If McCain wins, I'll be waiting for that infamous knock on my door..."Were you recently, or have you ever been to dinner with Bill Ayers..." These people are crazy. <BR/><BR/>In contrast to the comments of "anonymous", I was moved by your point about "rising expectations". <BR/><BR/>And while Obama may not want to emphasize race, the racist reaction to a black man even running in this election and the sea-change in black consciousness around Obama's candidacy over the last year shows that the "national question" is nowhere near dead. <BR/><BR/>I think I can agree with "anonymous" about one thing and one thing only..."you shit is BAD brother"...and by that i mean, its off the hiznoook! Keep up the good work. <BR/><BR/>strugglin' against the six,<BR/><BR/>andyt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-61493294414971623932008-10-24T13:29:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:29:00.000-07:00Eric - Thank you for your thoughts on the election...Eric - Thank you for your thoughts on the election and the context of<BR/>this vote. My name is Camilo Romero, and I am a member-organizer of<BR/>SINALTRAINAL, the Colombian union fighting Coca-Cola and Chiquita for<BR/>the murders that have recently and finally reached the political<BR/>consciousness of mainstream politicians. You and I met at the USSF in<BR/>Atlanta last year, and I wanted to share two points with you:<BR/><BR/>1) The black-brown divide that exists in urban centers is a driving<BR/>factor in why other young African-Americans and Latin@s, such as<BR/>myself, have taken on the challenge of supporting Obama not simply<BR/>because he is a qualified candidate with respectable principles but<BR/>because his unique candidacy presents an opportunity for education and<BR/>trust-building amongst our communities. Several of us have started a<BR/>grassroots organization - BlackBrown Projects - targeting this<BR/>potential and starting popular education and mentorship in areas such<BR/>as NY, LA, Denver, and Miami that has organized local coalitions such<BR/>as Latinos For Obama towards this cause that L/CSC & BRU also shares.<BR/>Obama is certainly not a savior, but his election can spark those of<BR/>us who elect him to engage in the political process now and in<BR/>generations to come so that soon the decision for this country and our<BR/>communities elsewhere will never again have to be between the lesser<BR/>of any evil.<BR/><BR/>2) Please be sure for future postings to spell "Colombia" correctly.<BR/>As you know, imperialism is present even in the anglo-normative<BR/>structures of the English language.<BR/><BR/>Take care companero, talk to you soon...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-22704063670751997092008-10-24T13:27:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:27:00.000-07:00[This is not an attempt at a decisive counter-essa...[This is not an attempt at a decisive counter-essay, only some thoughts.]<BR/><BR/> 8) A victory for Barack Obama will usher in a revolution of rising expectations. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Yes and as soon as those expectations become frustrated by the reality of what Mr. Obama will be unable and unwilling to do if he does win the "election", his "organizer's background" notwithstanding, YOU will be right there trying to divert peoples' justified anger right back into the same damn system and rotten 2-party imperialist state---probably saying "come on, NOW we really need to re-elect him and hold his feet to the fire! Give your money and time and resources to the Democrats"---who already have PLENTY of support from various banks, corporations and even open reactionaries like Andrew Sullivan. The Dems don't need you to help them bring strands of opposition and discontent back under the wing of the ruling class---that's what they do best, but it's nice that you're willing to "strategize" feverishly on how to help them. Which is what you're doing, even thought you don't justify it in those terms. He would have not made it this far if he were as progressive as you take him to be.<BR/><BR/>"He's black." WOW great argument! Brother, I can SEE that! You correctly notice this country was built on genocide and slavery and I know you hate national oppression to this day. But your identity politics does no good in exposing Obama's agreement with the BIll Cosby line of "personal responsibility"---which works AGAINST building a consciousness and resistance to that oppression, and it fails to posit any real solution, short of perpetually organizing around peoples' immediate needs and urging people to go out and vote every 4 years to "defeat fascism" when all this Obama person does is preach common ground with these same fascists. Your shit is BAD, brother---real bad. Dimitrov at its worst. I recognize the positive change you're trying to build but your method is the same old, tired, American pragmatism with an emphasis on "fighting back." Obama's candidacy is indeed the END of race---in a way. It signifies the END of the struggle against national oppression, like how we need to "move beyond the divisiveness of the 60s." Putting your efforts there strengthens the ruling class at a time when they really need it. Instead of trying to exacerbate the divisions that exist between them by building political resistance, it drags things out by keeping them under wraps.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-39868382048286468742008-10-24T13:25:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:25:00.000-07:00[fwd'ed from a mailing list ~moderator]Check out t...[fwd'ed from a mailing list ~moderator]<BR/><BR/>Check out this well written message that helps us to defeat mccaine and the rnc. I have been phone banking at the LA County Federation of Laboe calling union membets in Nevada, very interesting, the respones I got very supportive to no way; you should try it. I will also be doing a workshop *on Chicano Liberation) at the Mecha Statewide conference this Saturday at LA Valley College.<BR/><BR/>Carlos Montes<BR/>www.fightbacknews.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-45688798816155067072008-10-24T13:10:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:10:00.000-07:00Thanks Eric -Actually I have frequent flyer miles ...Thanks Eric -<BR/>Actually I have frequent flyer miles I can use to go anywhere but it<BR/>is kind of hard to find someone who can really put me to use - any suggestions?<BR/>JudyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-52445507967972575682008-10-24T13:03:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:03:00.000-07:00This is a beautifully written article paying homag...This is a beautifully written article paying homage to a vital and critical time in American history. I am honored at the care given to the Black struggle in America. As Eric Mann states, this is a true turning point in American history. <BR/><BR/>It honestly looks at the Obama platform with no illusions of overnight transformation of American policies on any front. What it does state is that “the Obama election is a direct challenge to the neo-cons, the racists and bellicose fascist who have controlled the White House, the media and the political discourse in this country for decades.” The Black national question is up front and center as the 1st of ten reasons why we need to work to elect Obama. He is Black and qualified. <BR/><BR/>All my life I have been waiting for this moment in history. It is true Obama is not the first Black person to run for president. Shirley Chisholm and Jesse Jackson paved the way with battle scars for life and because of them Obama is the first to reach the Democratic nomination. I feel strongly that, regardless of past views on the corruption of this political system, it is an obligation to those before us and those after us to use our power of the vote, which was won in blood, to help change the course of history again in a positive way.<BR/> <BR/>Eric Mann wrote in this article that some of the fears and doubts that we the Black nation have are true and should not be taken lightly, but they are the same reasons we should and will move forward. It is our history, our legacy, our right to self-determination.<BR/><BR/>Thank you, Eric, my dear friend.<BR/><BR/>Barbara Lott-HollandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189262873457536932.post-37754531339468970972008-10-24T13:00:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:00:00.000-07:00What an inspirational, well-thought out and well-d...What an inspirational, well-thought out and well-documented article! You echoed my sentiments! <BR/><BR/>fpochoa@aol.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com