From: kjkhoo-AT-pop.jaring.my
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 14:05:13 +0800
Subject: Re: M-I: A reactionary decision


While using sharp polemics, etc is fully acceptable, even welcomed, the
mailed reactions to the suspension of Adolfo, Jay and G Levy has been
somewhat excessive.

I believe the moderators were correct to suspend Adolfo. The suspension as
I see it did not have anything to do with his sharp polemics and political
stance, but with the totally unacceptable call to "exterminate" some one (G
Levy). That should have no place not only on M-I, but anywhere. Given the
vehemence of that statement I'd hate to be in any country in which Adolfo
has power - and that has nothing to do with the "special conditions" of the
"Third World" (and I come from a country that generally falls into that
category). Instead, the tendency to so eliminate rivals, etc. would caution
"Third World" people of the same.

So also, the suspension on Levy is I believe wholly justified in light of
his "contributions". Frankly, if there's one person I do detest from the
short time I have been on m2 (previously) m-thaxis (previously and m-i,
it's Levy. Others may cause me to despair that socialism will ever get
anywhere, or drive me to great anger for their pronouncements, but do not
cause me to detest them. That however does not warrant Adolfo's call to
exterminate him. If such a sentiment is bourgeois, then all I can say is I
rather have bourgeois legality and morality (don't flame :))

The suspension on Jay is, I think, unwarranted - his caricatures may have
been somewhat childish (think of the time spent on that ascii art), but I
don't think they warranted suspension.

By all means let's have the polemics, but can we refrain from unnecessarily
name-calling and above all, from saying that so-and-so should be put out of
his or her miserable existence or better do us all a favour and put himself
or herself out of his/her miserable existence.

KJ

At 12:32 pm +0800 3/3/97, Jacques Beaudoin wrote:

 * To the moderators of marxism-international:
 *
 * As a subscriber to this list since the beginning, and despite the fact
 that
 * I didn't contribute to it (mainly because I'm not really able to write
 and
 * debate in English), I want to advise you that I totally oppose your
 * unprincipled and reactionary decision regarding the participation of J.
 * Miles and A. Olaechea; and I also want to assure these comrades that I
 * totally stand with them in condemning this move.
 *
 * Using a sharp polemic and even "hard words" in defending the revolution
 is
 * part of the history and practice of the international workers movement
 and
 * must be accepted-not only as a fact, but sometime as a necessity.
 *





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