Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 10:05:58 -0500
From: Partha Banerjee <partha-AT-capital.net>
Subject: Re: Dowry Conference: Feminism/Leftism --  or whatever



>I don't see why you feel you and Partha have no platform from which to
>speak.  Do you mean that you are both looking for a "safe" place for
>such discourse and dissent?

________

I don't think I have no platform. Internet platforms are just
also-platforms for me. However, I think what Rinita says is that our space
is severly restricted, not only by the capitalist-patriarchy but also by
the capitalist/status quo/ivory tower pseudo-radicals (both male and
female, the former more expectedly and the latter disappointingly, at least
for me).

I understand the wrath of the right-wing against us, the "progressive left"
whatever that means.  What I don't understand is the rejection/undermining
of us by ivory tower people who call themselves progressive yet show signs
of being a part of the market-driven conservative hegemony. Much
individualism (and self-gratification out of a false consciousness),
sporadic liberalism, little or no mass-activism. The "right" is in fact
sustained and nourished on this social apathy of the bourgeoise elite.

As far as looking for a "safe" place, what could be a safer place than the
virtual media like an internet newsgroup? And many of us think (with due
regard for their intelligence and knowledge) that we are doing a
revolution. *Nothing personal against any individual*.

I would rather quit all my writing (and things that I do for living) and
help one or two poor women and their children to earn some education and
self-esteem. I have seen extreme poverty in my own life (unlike the new
liberal the Clinton/Blair kind). And I have seen the apathy of the elite
left.

My two dinky cents.