Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 12:31:13 -0900
From: "Michael A. Lewis" <ffmal-AT-aurora.alaska.edu>
Subject: Re: What do anarchists do?




    Just a note of caution here:
    While some anarchists do many of the things you list and describe, and
many anarchists do some of the things you list and describe, not all
anarchists do all of the thing you list and describe.
    For instance,

    "Anarchists recognize that we share this planet with the other species
of the world -- we do not rule this world, but cohabitate with the other
species.
Further, we recognize that biological diversity is a key component to our
own survival"

    This not an inherently anarchist position. Do not confuse anarchism
with the rather muddled philosophy of deep ecology. Some anarchists may
indeed believe and defend the statements above, but this does not come from
anarchist theory.
    In this, I take a page from Bookchin and his followers, who have long
cautioned against this sort of confused philosophizing. We must be precise
and clear as to our anarchist underpinnings, lest we unnecessarily be
lumped together with others we may not enjoy being in bed with.
    Anarchism is a political philosophy and as such is devoid of the
moralistic connotations of deep ecology. There is nothing in anarchist
theory that prevents us from running a chicken factory as long as the tools
of production are owned by the workers and we all share equally in the
proceeds. Whether or not we are offended by the plight of the poultry
therein rises from our ethical, moralistic and spiritual feelings, not from
a cogent analysis of the political and economic reality.
    Mike Lewis

Chuck0 wrote:

> Hey all, just thought I'd let you all know about a new page I've just
> posted at the Mid-Atlantic Infoshop, titled "What do anarchists do?" I'm
> working on this with Dave Neal, of Anarchy for Anybody. If anybody has
> any suggestions or comments, I'd appreciate hearing them. This page is
> in its first version at this point.

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