"Practicalities" of Reparations (was Re: Defacing Websites, "Stealing" Free Papers)

Gordon Fitch gcf at panix.com
Fri Mar 30 04:55:51 PST 2001



> >Doug's remark about "capitalist logic" is both political and relevant.

Justin Schwartz:
> What's the point, that a demand for reparations is nota demand for
> revolutionary socialism? Is it an objection to a program for a reform within
> capitalism that it must obey the logic and forms of bourgeois legality? Of
> which, by the way, in my tediously liberal manner, I am an unabashed
> proponent, by the way.

That's fine, but for those who are not believers, it's an important question. We have very, very little power, but one thing we do have (or ought to) on the Left is _satyagraha_, the power of the truth. Maybe it is not a good idea to ask for something we don't actually want. If I don't believe that liberalism can be rectified, why should I spend a lot of time advocating its rectification? It's true the issue is embarrassing to liberals, but that may not be sufficient cause for insincerity on my part.



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