Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 19:15:08 +0100
From: Richard Bos <Richard.Bos-AT-hagcott.meganet.co.uk>
Subject: Doing what has to be done


NICK.HOLDEN-AT-geo2.poptel.org.uk wrote:
>Richard: It is
> > plain common-sense that a revolution has a duty to defend itself against
> > a ruthless ememy who will do just about every horrible, nightmarish thing
> > you can imagine.
> >
> > Maybe you think we should just tell them to read some dusty book by Leon
> > Trotsky, and they would all be convinced of the rightiousness of your
> > cause. But then a Trotskyist party could never get in the position to
> > make those real choices, could it?
> 
> Given Trotsky's role in organising the red Army to resist the
> counter-revolution after October, I think the above is unecessary and
> political wide of the mark. You may have great criticisms of Hugh, and his
> tendency, but I don't think that should blind you to history.

Richard:
Note that I said "Trotskyist Party". Trotsky was then a member of the 
Bolsheviks (a recent one), and acting under the guidence of the party 
which certainly could not be described as a Trotskyist party. Even 
Trotskists would not claim that I think. I do not think I was wide of the 
mark at all.

> 
> I would have thought we could all agree on the need for suppression of
> counter-revolution. The question is the form in which this suppression is
> administered, and whether, as Aldofo seems to think, it should go on for
> ever and ever, suppressing more and more effectively as the workers' state
> develops, or whether it should be a product of the transition to socialism,
> i.e. a necessary but unpleasant historical stage in the dictatorship of the
> proletariat - once we have conquered, the aim, surely, is freedom?
> 
> Do you think the Bolsheviks (Lenin any more than Trotsky) enjoyed the
> suppression of Kronstadt? Of course not. They sought ways to lessen the
> 'necessary level' of state suppression, but were governed by history.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> NickH

I agree with the thrust of what you are saying. We want 
Socialism/Communism because we care about people, so of course we would 
get no pleasure what-so-ever from what would be neccessary. We should 
never forget for one moment the pain and suffering that the other side is 
causing, every minute of every day, and we must with heavy hearts and 
determined spirit, do what we would have to do.

-- 
Best wishes,

Richard.                     
      New Worker Online http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2853




     --- from list marxism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---