Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 22:26:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Gerald Levy <glevy-AT-acnet.pratt.edu>
Subject: Re: M-TH: Juan's evasions and misrepresentations


Jon Beasley-Murray wrote:

> > It may have been an unnecessary and gratuitous qualifier, but it was no
> > more an instance of national chauvinism than expressions  like "German
> > revolutionary" [Marx] or "Mexican peasant revolutionary" [Zapata] or
> > "US-railroad labor organizer-socialist" [Debs].
> Try "slow-witted German revolutionary," "lazy Mexican peasant
> revolutionary" or "corrupt US-railroad labor organizer-socialist" in
> which the attempt is to create and profit by a more general stereotype.

... and what is the "more general stereotype", Jon?

Was Juan called slow-witted? No.
Was Juan called lazy? No.
Was Juan called corrupt? No.

What was he called? A "genius." If there is anything offensive, it is
not Argentinian or accountant. It is "genius." Yet, *why* was he called a
"genius"? Perhaps it is because it sounds like he believes himself to
*be* a genius.

No one wants to address the slurs by Juan against Kliman and Freeman. Do
you agree, as he insinuated, that they are vulgar economists?

If not, then you can perhaps understand both the fact that I was offended
by that designation and my question to Juan to *name* any Marxists other
than himself who are writing on the subject of political economy.

Nor, Jon, have you addressed the stereotypes that Juan has directed
against me or his factual distortions and misrepresentations. Perhaps
(just maybe) you are using this occasion (like Doug) to score a few
cheap points (especially after my comments about how you announced the
ending of m2).


> "Oh, but I wasn't trying to suggest that all Germans were slow-witted,
> al1 Mexicans lazy or all US labor-organizer-socialists corrupt.  No,
> no, no.  These were but factual qualifiers."

Slow-witted, lazy, and corrupt are of rather a different order than
factual qualifiers that include a person's country of origin and
occupation.

However, if it will make everyone feel better, I apologize for calling
Juan an Argentinian. I apologize for calling him an accountant. Just don't
ask me why I am apologizing, though, since Juan is Argentinian and an
accountant.

I also apologize for calling him a genius. He clearly is not a genius.

Now, when will Juan apologize to (among others) Andrew Kliman, Alan
Freeman, John Ernst, Paul Cockshott, Allin Cottrell, Steve Keen, and
myself?

I'm not holding my breath waiting for these apologies, however. "Geniuses"
don't make mistakes or apologize.

Jerry



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