Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 12:49:21 -0500 From: bookmarks <106163.77-AT-CompuServe.COM> Subject: Re: M-I: Broken records I wasn't going to reply to this (especially after reading Louis Godema's excellent corrective), but rereading Louis P's comments it does raise questions I'd like answers to from other people. 1) Louis says he wants a seminar "where no-one's mind is made up *beforehand*". Is this possible? Surely any marxist comes to any discussion with their minds made up about at least some basic questions: I am/am not a Trotskyist; I do/do not think Russia was one socialist/a workers' state/whatever; and so on ad infinitum. When I've come across similar comment at conferences in Britain, what's usually meant is: we don't want anyone whose mind is made up differently from ours. Far from opening up discussion, it closes it off. is that what M-I is about? is that what M-I should be about? 2) My remarks about the books on Cuba were a touch tongue in cheek, but: is this advertising? is this a bad thing? i thought all I was doing was saying a resource was available. Louis P disapproves; someone else wrote to me asking for a catalogue, so we're tied 1-1 at the bottom of the first. Any other opinions? 3) This one's for Louis Proyect, but other answers welcome: given that you accept that Cuban workers played no substantial role in the 1959 revolution, and given that you argued that Castro was right not to focus on the working class, how do you then justify characterising it as a proletarian revolution? This is a genuine, serious question, and I'd appreciate a genuine, serious (non-abusive) answer. Charlie Hore, Bookmarks --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005