Post by benbrucato on Nov 1, 2011 22:17:10 GMT -5
Last night, I was reading something that made me recall a document I helped edit over a decade ago. This booklet, "Criticism and Self-Criticism within the ABCF: How, why and when to make or take criticism," contains many ideas that I now consider part of who I am today.
It begins with an excerpt from Mao Tse-Tung that I will include below. Then it opens: "Being a member of the ABCF is not easy."
But I digress. So I was reading something that made me think about this.
Of course, I take this "fight" and the "death" here figuratively, but I take the desire to not be ruled with the utmost seriousness.
Someone recently wrote me, asking me not to step back from this project:
Some ways of exerting authority are really insidious. I have very thick skin -- you can ask anyone who knows me. I'm not easily rattled. When I said that this is not a safe space, it is not because of imbecilic ravings of a closet Stalinist, nor the flak the caucus has already had to deal with. I'm concerned that when Machiavellian-types resort to unprincipled public behavior designed to destroy someone else's reputation in order to get their way. I worry what the next level to which the assaults will escalate and what they might entail.
But it is true that "organization means commitment."
I recognize that withdrawal will pass along an undeserved and "unprincipled peace" and help to foster this "political degeneration." I'm using Mao's terms from "Combat Liberalism," the piece that opened "Criticism and Self-Criticism." I guess I need to combat my own liberalism. But I need help from all of you to make sure unprincipled attacks will be shut down. It's for the best of all of us.
Now the ABCF is no group of Maoists, and I have never myself been one. These words are relevant to any revolutionary.
I need to be committed. And we all need to behave with revolutionary principles, even if some of the central leaders of this hierarchically ordered occupation do not. But we all need to be on alert. We should make sure all of our activity is witnessed by allies. Since I only know a few people in OA, I will only be present if someone will be able to accompany me on site. I'd like to start attending the caucus meetings, and do some labor around the occupation.
I did not attend tonight, and would love to be filled in on what transpired. We should start an email list or a non-public forum.
My email is ben ~at~ benbrucato ~dot~ com.
Cheers,
Ben
It begins with an excerpt from Mao Tse-Tung that I will include below. Then it opens: "Being a member of the ABCF is not easy."
But I digress. So I was reading something that made me think about this.
We didn't sign your social contract! If you're willing to coexist with us, we'll share everything we have with you, we'll go to any length to work out conflicts -- but if you want to be the boss, if you want to give orders and always be in the right, then whether you have a security guard or a whole civilization behind you we're going to have to FIGHT until one of us is DEAD, because one thing we will NOT do is BE RULED!!!
Of course, I take this "fight" and the "death" here figuratively, but I take the desire to not be ruled with the utmost seriousness.
Someone recently wrote me, asking me not to step back from this project:
I don't think total withdrawal should be our only line of consideration here. [...] I don't see how giving up is a viable alternative. It's not like the space outside the occupation is free of hierarchy.
Some ways of exerting authority are really insidious. I have very thick skin -- you can ask anyone who knows me. I'm not easily rattled. When I said that this is not a safe space, it is not because of imbecilic ravings of a closet Stalinist, nor the flak the caucus has already had to deal with. I'm concerned that when Machiavellian-types resort to unprincipled public behavior designed to destroy someone else's reputation in order to get their way. I worry what the next level to which the assaults will escalate and what they might entail.
But it is true that "organization means commitment."
I recognize that withdrawal will pass along an undeserved and "unprincipled peace" and help to foster this "political degeneration." I'm using Mao's terms from "Combat Liberalism," the piece that opened "Criticism and Self-Criticism." I guess I need to combat my own liberalism. But I need help from all of you to make sure unprincipled attacks will be shut down. It's for the best of all of us.
Liberalism manifests itself in various ways.
To let things slide for the sake of peace and friendship when a person has clearly gone wrong, and refrain from principled argument because he is an old acquaintance, a fellow townsman, a schoolmate, a close friend, a loved one, an old colleague or old subordinate. Or to touch on the matter lightly instead of going into it thoroughly, so as to keep on good terms. The result is that both the organization and the individual are harmed...
To indulge in irresponsible criticism in private instead of actively putting forward one's suggestions to the organization. To say nothing to people to their faces but to gossip behind their backs, or to say nothing at a meeting but to gossip afterwards. To show no regard at all for the principles of collective life but to follow one's own inclination...
To let things drift if they do not affect one personally; to say as little as possible while knowing perfectly well what is wrong, to be worldly wise and play safe and seek only to avoid blame...
Not to obey orders but to give pride of place to one's own opinions. To demand special consideration from the organization but to reject its discipline...
To indulge in personal attacks, pick quarrels, vent personal spite or seek revenge instead of entering into an argument and struggling against incorrect views for the sake of unity or progress or getting the work done properly...
To see someone harming the interests of the masses and yet not feel indignant, or dissuade or stop him or reason with him, but to allow him to continue...
To regard oneself as having rendered great service to the revolution, to pride oneself on being a veteran, to disdain minor assignments while being quite unequal to major tasks, to be slipshod in work and slack in study...
To be aware of one's own mistakes and yet make no attempt to correct them, taking a liberal attitude towards oneself...
Now the ABCF is no group of Maoists, and I have never myself been one. These words are relevant to any revolutionary.
I need to be committed. And we all need to behave with revolutionary principles, even if some of the central leaders of this hierarchically ordered occupation do not. But we all need to be on alert. We should make sure all of our activity is witnessed by allies. Since I only know a few people in OA, I will only be present if someone will be able to accompany me on site. I'd like to start attending the caucus meetings, and do some labor around the occupation.
I did not attend tonight, and would love to be filled in on what transpired. We should start an email list or a non-public forum.
My email is ben ~at~ benbrucato ~dot~ com.
Cheers,
Ben