Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 20:23:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: Gerald Levy <glevy-AT-pratt.edu>
Subject: M-G: Replies to Apologists and Revolutionaries


I.  Reply to a Stalinist Apologist, Part One
    ======================================== 
> From: Siddharth Chatterjee <siddhart-AT-mailbox.syr.edu>
> Jerry Levy
> is a notorious flame baiter and a provocateur

I'd say calling someone a "provocateur" without any *evidence* whatsoever
is the best (i.e. the worst) example of flame-baiting.

> who has regularly
> used words like "Stalinist", "Stalinoid" to describe his enemies.

Why is it that Stalinists don't like being called Stalinists? "Stalinoid"
is a word I invented (or perhaps re-discovered). It refers to a
particular variety of Stalinist like Sid who slavishly and
hypocritically defends *all* manner of Stalinist zig-zags (in other words,
a "Marxist" with no sense of shame or integrity).

> He has attacked all kinds of people in the past including myself, 
> Adolfo, Louis P, etc.

Need I say more? With friends like LNP and Adolfo ...
 
> to him was motivated by his earlier post to M-I in which he called
> Louis P an "It" (meaning an insect). This is the kind of reactionary
> bile we have coming from people like Levy who call themselves "Marxists".

Notice how Sid again makes *assertions* about LNP but has not dealt with
any of the many examples that I gave that *justified* the characterization
of him as "It".  

Actually, I want to take this opportunity now to apologize ... to insects.
It was an insult to insects everywhere to compare them to LNP.

> With people like Levy, there is only one kindof treatment that 
> they understand - no tolerance whatsoever for their reactionary and
> vulgar outpourings.

The accusation that I am reactionary is another absurd charge coming from
someone that deserves to be called a Stalinoid apologist. As for being
"vulgar" ... what would you suggest? Should I be shot for my poor table
manners?


II. Replies to Revolutionaries (Bob M, Dave B, Hugh)
    ===============================================
I'm not a Trotskyist, but I do want to say for the record that the
Trotskyists on m-int were the only ones who publicly opposed the
censorship. I do not think this accidental: at least they know what
principled positions are.


III. Reply to a Snitch
     ================
> The last sustained political
> argument I heard from him


Typical Proyectism -- slander and lies. Indeed, as Rakesh pointed out
today, It is habitually incapable of arguing with what someone *actually*
said.

btw, Proyect who says that I am an anarchist (not true) who "romanticises"
squatters omits to mention that he called *all* squatters "morons." That
is the type of "Marxist" that Sid thinks so highly of.


IV. Reply to Henwood
    ===============
> As I've asked 20 times before, what do these Marxian categories tell you
> that the intelligent use of bourgeois stats can't?

To begin with, how about the rate of *exploitation*? 

Or, do you think that exploitation doesn't matter?
 
(btw, I don't think Rakesh was kidding when he suggested that I give you
an education on Marxism. But, you can ask him yourself. In any event, I
don't have the time at present to give you a tutorial in the a-b-c's of
Marxism).


V. Reply to Stalinist Apologist -- Part 2
   =====================================
> From: Siddharth Chatterjee <siddhart-AT-mailbox.syr.edu>
> It is very hilarious to note that due to the current events in M-I, 
> Levy and his supporters (Rodwell, Malecki, Bedggood) are using (and have
> used) words like: "Stalinist, Stalinoid, thought-police, Gulag,
> dictatorship, suspended prisoner" - defamatory words whioh are used
> by *bourgeois* ideologues of all stripes in their crusades.

How right you are! Anyone who uses terms like "thought-police",
"dictatorship", "prisoner", etc. *must* be a "*bourgeois* ideologue". 
I guess that makes Marx, Engels, Lenin, Luxemburg, etc. etc. etc. all
"bourgeois ideologues" as well. (if you don't believe me, I suggest you do
a word search through their writings).

> Very much
> like the term "anti-semitism" is used by apologists for Zionism.
> Another 'mere' coincidence. 

No, it's not a "coincidence" that a die hard Stalinist doesn't like the
word "anti-semitism". It's also not a coincidence that I was suspended by
someone who just recently (last week?) made the most outrageous
anti-semitic statements that were roundly denounced by many listmembers on
m-int. 

VI. Reply to Rolf
    ============ 
> And once again, that M-I always *was* a kind of
> Confederacy. I suggest - even to Gerald - emigration
> to that M-G land of Abe Lincoln.
 
> Welcome to the open air of M-G.

Thanks for the welcome. We both realize that we will not agree on too many
questions, but I have to say that M-G has been libeled on M-INT. At least
there are no censors here.

Jerry



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