Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 13:45:03 -0500
From: Unka Bart <gatorojo-AT-earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Goodbye Leftism!


>Jon George wrote:

>> And though I may come off as a patronizing old fool in the above comments,
>I still admire the energy and the rage in the Eugene essay and wish them all
>the best.

And ChuckO responded:

>Jon: I think your opinions are pretty on target. I can kind of relate to this
>way of thinking, but only so far. I've been an anarchist for 15 years, but
>certainly never have experienced a heady series of events like Seattle/A16
>and so on. I may have missed the excitement of the 1960s, but I'm going to do
>my best to enjoy the current explosion in radicalism.

Prompting yer kindly ol' Unka Bart to add:

and preface his remarks with the disclaimer that this is in *no* way a
criticism of ChuckO.

Bearing in mind the wisdom of George Santayanna (those who fail to learn
from history are doomed to repeat it);  there is a lesson available to
those who want to relive the excitement of the '60s, in the response of the
Philadelphia police department.  Those who control the reins of power have
learned from the experience of the 60s.  They have studied, and obviously,
done so in great detail; just exactly what went down (when the forces of
the state lost control of the situation) and asked themselves the critical
questions that are necessary to prevent losing that control again.

I suspect that ChuckO, veteran of activism of many years, does not need to
participate in the exercise I propose for budding young activists, so he is
excused and may go drink a beer or three.

But the rest of you budding young activists would benefit from heeding ol'
George and emulating the state powers-that-be.  Contrast the Seattle
experience with the one in Philly.  Be advised that the forces of the state
put a great deal of effort into practicing the mantra, "Know your Enemy."

There is a clue in this message.  One wonders if Carrie from Eugene will
recognize it...

yer kindly ol' Unka Bart