Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 08:37:06 -0500 (EST)
From: Louis N Proyect <lnp3-AT-columbia.edu>
Subject: Re: Carlos' support for Algerian reaction.


On Thu, 15 Feb 1996, CEP wrote:

> 
>     1. Islamic guerrillas in Algeria, as Shiny Shit in Peru, are
>     acting *without* consulting the working class and the oppressed.

Louis: Different people with entirely different persepectives (Doug 
Henwood, Chris Burford, Jon Flanders, etc.) have asked Carlos to stop using 
the term "Shiny Shit". He persists on using this term. I guess he doesn't 
want anybody to inhibit his "creativity". I want to add my voice to those 
who ask him to stop.

Carlos, use of this term is counter-productive. It gives the current you 
identify with a bad name. You come across as not as a serious polemicist 
but as a juvenile name-caller. There is a place where this sort of 
discourse is normal: the newsgroup "alt.politics.socialism.trotsky". I 
don't want to see this l*st degenerate as that forum has.

By continuing use of this term, you are telling other people that is okay 
to curse each other. Cursing tends to polarize debate to the nth degree. 
I, for one, am intent on having a full debate with Stalin and Mao 
supporters. I expect to learn something from the debate and I hope my 
adversaries will also.

So please cut it out.


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