From: "Dave Coull" <coull2-AT-btinternet.com>
Subject: Re: new US law on israel (or carp's need to feel special)
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 20:10:17 +0100



Maldoror wrote


> so basically what this diatribe is saying is that this
> list really isn't about discussion of anarchy in any
> sort of intellectual or preogressive way but rather 
> an outlet for people to make fun of others because
> they're so bored and insecure in their pathetic 
> lives that that's all there is left for them.


The "diatribe" that Heather forwarded is (1) old news,
and (2) nothing to do with anarchism or anarchists.
Indeed, in many ways, what it has to say is the complete
antithesis of anarchism. It's just a piece of silliness 
which has been around on lots of very different lists 
on the net for a long time, and which appeals to some 
"internet experts" who like to feel superior to the "newbies". 
It is in no way representative of the anarchy-list or
the people on the anarchy-list.

Accepting that you meant "the US government/powers-that-be"
rather than literally "the US president", I would like to try to come 
back to you original question. Unfortunately I've lost your original
post, so this will have to be from memory. If it is true that the US
government has officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel, that is terrible, it is shocking, but it is not  _surprising_ .
It just reflects a consistent  US  government attitude, over
a great many years, and under both Republican and Democrat
presidents, of bias in favour of Israel and bias against the Arabs.

In general, it is terrible that governments do terrible things.
It is shocking that governments do shocking things. However,
do not expect anarchists to be  _surprised_  that governments
do terrible and shocking things. 

A week ago, there was a huge demonstration in London
(estimates of numbers were as high as 450,000 people)
under the slogans  "Don't Attack Iraq : Freedom For Palestine".
Now, personally, I didn't go to that demonstration, not 
because I disagree with these slogans, but because 
I think that we in Scotland should have had a demonstration 
in Edinburgh, instead of being expected to go to one
in London. I believe that a demonstration in Edinburgh
would draw a lot more Scottish protesters than a demo
in London, and that it could put pressure on the Scottish
Executive to disassociate themselves from Tony Blair,
and that this would be an effective way of furthering
the anti-war cause. Nevertheless, even without myself
and other Scots who think like me about this, the London
demo was  _big_ . A lot of people, including a lot of anarchists,
are not just saying that the government is up to no good,
but trying to prevent some of the wickedness it gets up
to. 

My impression from what you have written is that you are 
very young. There is nothing wrong with that. We need
young people in the movement. I can even vaguely remember 
being young at one time myself. If you genuinely want to
ask questions and to learn things, stick around. Carp isn't
so bad once you get to know him better. As for Heather, 
she was a child-star in the film "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang",
with Dick Van Dyke, and I think she is sometimes bitter 
that real life has not lived up to the magic of that film.  
We do indeed sometimes have "discussion of anarchy
in an intellectual or progressive way" on this list.
As well as having lots of other stuff that may 
seem irrelevant. But stick with us. You will
find it very educational, and might even
get to like it.


Dave Coull