Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 09:26:34 -0400
From: Louis Proyect <lnp3-AT-panix.com>
Subject: M-I: A new Marxism list


Louis Godena:
>Louis Proyect is a different case.  There was never any move to "expel" him,
>just an attempt to get him to stop bullying those with whom he disagrees.
>Nor did the other moderators think the idea of his temporary hiatus
>"absurd", just premature.

(clip)

>
>I expect to announce in a day or two the new address for the revised marxism
>lists.  I have already said that those who want to come along are welcome.
>I expect that things will continue on pretty much the way they are here at
>Jefferson, only we won't have such a trollish cadre of overseers sighing and
>hissing over every untoward remark.
>
>That's a promise, Ben.
>

This post from Louis G. only confirms that I made the right decision
yesterday to start a new Marxism list based on the EDIN (Economic Democracy
Information Network)computer in Berkeley. Nathan Newman, a CofC leader, has
graciously donated the use of the machine for a new Marxism list.

Louis G. accuses me of "bullying" people. I humbly disagree. I was actually
unleashing my full polemical fury against him at the time around the
question of the American Indian. Bullying is a rather nebulous term for a
moderator to use, as is "creating a hostile environment" which he has also
accused me of in the past. Marxist debate entails ferocious polemics and I
must not be bullied into holding back when I am determined to make my points.

I really don't think it is necessary for me to explain in great detail
about what I am looking for in a Marxism list, since I have written
thousands of words on this question in the past. I have also tried to set
an example in my own posts. Basically, I will be trying to create a culture
in which this type of creative, nondogmatic Marxist thought rises to the
surface. This means inviting contributions from the sort of participants
who I have made no secret about my admiration for: Yoshie, Jon F., Mark
Jones, Carrol Cox, Gary McLennan, Jim Farmelant, Michael Hoover, Nestor
from Argentina, etc. The goal would be to create an ecology where many
flowers like these bloom.

I have no intention of leaving the new list that Louis G. is creating. I am
not critical of his intentions, since he has been quite explicit about his
new list not being in continuity with the past, but a new list entirely. I
will have the same attitude toward it that I had toward Leninlist. I was
along for the ride, but not really looking to be a key participant. Looking
back in retrospect, it is rather unfortunate that I ever got into a brawl
with Adolfo over Cuba because I wanted to keep a low profile on that list
and not get into a war with Adolfo, who I like and respect. My only
suggestion is that Jim Hillier and Louis G. try to patch things up and fuse
their lists into one. The Leninlist needs automation and there are few
principled political differences that should keep these comrades apart. I,
for one, would like to be an observer of the debates between comrades over
whose interpretation of Stalin is more correct. Just keep me out of it!

These various mailing-lists are not in the business of competing with each
other. Nothing would make me happier than if Louis G.'s list grew like
wildfire and Nepalese, Indian, Philippino and other Mao/Stalin Communists
got on line. We are talking about millions of revolutionaries around the
world and it is good if they get connected. I am very interested in what
they have to say, even if I am more in the Guevarist tradition myself.

At any rate, I wish the new lists every success and I encourage everybody
to get on board all of them without prejudice, including Doug's LBO list,
where I will be launching an extended Marxist history of rock-and-roll.

Louis Proyect





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