Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 12:49:47 -0800 (PST) From: "J.M. Adams" <ringfingers-AT-yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [postanarchism] fuck you no ickeans on this list Yes that was a bit hasty of a decision. I have had huge problems with wingnut Ickeans on another listserv I administer for the anarchist community in Vancouver, BC. They stirred up a huge shitstorm over anti-Semitism / anti-Zionism calling one of the locals a "Jew-sympathizer" and accusing her of "probably being a Jew" and so on and so forth simply for questioning the underlying motives of David Icke (who, as I said, is a promoter of the Nazi propaganda document, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion). I will resubscribe Larry Mintz since he claims he just wondered if anyone knew anything about him, which seems harmless enough, but just as I unsubscribed the neofascist "National Anarchists" when this list first began I will unsubscribe any other neofascists who try to promote their ideology here, which I do not agree is "authoritarian" considering that neofascists are as free as any of us are to create their own listservs. In cases such as this one however, where the person is not promoting a neofascist ideology but asking what people think about it, I will make sure not to just unsubcribe someone without discussion. Sorry about that. Jason PS: Here are two anarchist documents that critique David Icke and his "wacky" approach to new age neofascism. *** >From the SFBay-IMC: Update on David Icke: progressive and anti-authoritarians in a number of west coast cities have reported an unnerving increase in supporters of David Icke handing out pamphlets and recruiting at their events. It isn't clear how much support or visibility David Icke has in the Bay area so far. Personally I haven't seen anything at all around Berkeley, but there have been enough reports in other cities about this new-ager with a neo-fascist tendency gaining a foothold. It seems like a shocking number of people follow him, given how ridiculous he is. Picture the pesky LaRouchites or people standing in front of events pushing sectarian newspapers. It seems that progressives might tolerate members of the International Socialists, but if some guy who pushes racist and antisemitic conspiracies is latching onto your events, that should be nipped in the bud. --------------------------------------------------------- David Icke Pied by Antifascists in Vancouver, BC http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-l-0004/msg00169. html PRESS RELEASE Vancouver, BC, Canada -- At approximately 1:37 pm today, British anti-semitic conspiracy theorist and author David Icke was pied during a press conference/book-signing at the Granville Book Company bookstore. Amongst other things, ex-soccer goalie and sportscaster David Icke is known for proclaiming himself the Son-of-God during a 1991 BBC interview. Since that time he has published three books, detailing an intricate and ever-evolving World Conspiracy. As well as claiming that the world is run by shape-shifting reptilian bloodlines, (possibly from Mars), Icke uses historical right-wing anti-semitic theories like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. He has also praised the research of British Holocaust denier David Irving. Today's book-signing/press conference was interrupted when three protestors, two dressed as lizards, one with an alien hand puppet, entered the store and proceeded to ridicule Icke. While being heckled for his anti-semitic views by the alien hand puppet, Icke was suddenly creamed by two lemon-meringue pies. The two pies were thrown by agents of a local pie-brigade, the Meringue Marauders. While the pie-tossers fled, the lizards and hand-puppet were aggressively confronted by Ickes Followers, a combination of pot-addled new-age flakes, right-wing militia supporters, and other confused individuals. While Icke consistently tries to silence criticism of his paranoid ramblings by labeling any opposition as an attack on free speech, his Followers chose to shout down, assault, and briefly detain the lizards and hand puppet. All escaped unscathed, leaving a cream covered mess of bigotry and nuttiness behind. David Icke is an arrogant windbag who uses scapegoating, hate and neo-nazi materials to promote his confused, fringe-fascist world view. The Meringue Marauders felt it was time to pop his balloon. The pies were selected for their flaky crusts. Flaky pies for a flaky guy. The Meringue Marauders can be reached c/o Anti-Racist Action: aravancouver-AT-t... (604) 682-3269 box 9677 add your comments critique of David Icke by network of class struggle anarchist in London Saturday September 06, 2003 at 03:27 PM (This makes more sense in Europe/Canada. There are many german vegetarians and environmentalists, but among germans I know, a lot have suspicions of animal rights (and also of things like folk music, and tiny weird religions that have central leaders) because of the parallels with parts of early nazi culture. It doesn't seem to make sense in the U.S. ) ------------------ ecofascism? http://gridlock.gn.apc.org/ecofasc.htm The issue of NewAgeFascism has recently been placed under the spotlight by various concerned parties, the most notable of these have been Open Eye Magazine (who have done much valuable work in exposing David Icke - more of this later) and a new book called "Ecofascism - Lessons from the German Experience". Whilst not being the greatest work ever published (it's too simplistic/sparse and certain parts display a suspiciously unobjective admiration for Murray Bookchin - further investigation revealed that one of the authors just happens to be his wife...) it provides an introduction to a serious and previously neglected issue. Ecofascism can be loosely defined as the mixing of concepts such as organic farming, vegetarianism and nature worship with racism and and nationalism; this mixture is not new - first appearing in nineteenth century Germany. "New Age" nazism (currently mainly personified by David Icke) uses some "green" ideas in conjunction with conspiricist theories and derivations from various pseudo-occult traditions, most notably Theosophy. The green movement in this country is large and extremely diverse, incorporating many different groups and factions ranging from Direct Activists to FoE/Greenpeace/Green Party to a variety of New Age/mystical types - a very wide range of ideas, theories and practices come under the general heading of "green". There are no set divides betwen the various groupings and a certain degree of crossover exists. It would be safe to say that the most important of the above - the direct action eco-movement, i.e "Earth First!" has to its credit now probably developed a strong enough commitment to social justice and genuinely libertarian and anti-authoritarian ideas and acivities for it not to be susceptible to Ecofascism. Exceptions to this may be some mystical greens (see below). There are however a number of other petty authoritarian factions within the Direct Action movement who don't quite deserve the label of fascist; these include the "vegan police" and ideological pacifists both of whose problems are self-explanatory. It is however within the "New Age" movement that fascism is the biggest problem. Fascist tendencies have always been present within it but due to the naivety of many of its adherents these have gone largely unchallenged/noticed. A prime example of this is the enduring popularity of Rudolf Steiner's Anthroposophy in alternative circles in this country as well as in Germany and America. This ideology mixes bizarre racialist spiritual theory (which somewhat unsurprisingly concludes that European whites are at the summit of the heirarchical scale of humanity) with concepts such as "biodynamic farming", a form of organic agriculture which "tries to foster a more organic relationship between cultivator and soil." Many ideas current within mystical green circles have a very similar conceptual basis to those of classical Fascism (i.e. the German, Italian and Spanish models). Examples of this include a desire to return to an idealised mythical "golden age" - in this case Celtic, the celebration of "feelings" and emotions (i.e. of collectivity and unity) over reason and the cultural appropriation of pagan rituals and symbols. The problem has become much more acute recently with the emergence of groups such as Rainbow Ark, and more populist figures such as David Icke. Icke may be a figure of fun to those who recall his "turquoise" and "godhead" phases, but his ideas have recently taken a much more sinister direction; he has successfully managed to repackage and overtly (notably "Jewish conspiracy" theories ) into a theory that has proved highly popular amongst New Agers who consider him a sort of guru. In his books called "The Robot's Rebellion" and "....and the truth shall set you free" he attacks electoralism and capitalism - at first glance a praiseworthy exercise but on the grounds that it is a global conspiracy involving a Jewish elite and the "All Seeing Eye" cult !!!! . Unfortunately his followers, the vast majority of whom are New Agers (Although it should be noted that members of the nazi group C18 have turned up at his meetings) don't appear to be able or willing to recognise Icke for what he is - a fascist. Even when publicly confronted with statements such as "A Jewish clique worked to create the First World War, the Rusian Revolution and the Second World War." they have a disturbing tendency to deny his blatant racism and anti-semitism. Certain aspects of the "New Age" are not holistic or benign but pure poison and should be attacked and discredited at every available opportunity. This is particularly important as more people then ever are turning to New Age spirituality and conspiricism in an escapist search for answers and scapegoats to explain or forget the misery of their everyday lives. Unfortunately there aren't any answers to be found in crystal gazing (crystals which incidentally if shopbought are likely to have been mined by multinationals such as RTZ who are engaged in wholesale devastation of the Third World) or infantile conspiracy theories. The reality of the situation is that we live in an openly exploitative and oppressive society and until people recognise that the answer to the riddle of their dead lives lies in practical struggle people will look to scum like Icke peddling their shit as a solution. Ecofascism, Lessons From the German Experience by Janet Biehl and Peter Staudenmaier is published by AK Press and is available from them or the usual lefty bookshops. add your comments ===="“Marx says, revolutions are the locomotives of world history. But perhaps it is really totally different. Perhaps revolutions are the grasp by the human race traveling in this train for the emergency brake.” - Walter Benjamin __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005