[lbo-talk] A Call for Unity of the U.S. Anti-War Movement

[Chuck0]

This may be a well-meaning statement, but it is ignorant and naive for 
many reasons. The main problem with it is that it posits the existence 
of one monolithic anti-war movement, when there are actually several 
peace and anti-war movements with different agendas, tactics, styles, 
goals, and messaging. The anti-capitalist anti-war movement has some big 
difference with the peace movement over tactics. It also has some huge 
differences with the liberal tendencies in the anti-war and peace 
movements. Trying to get all of these movements to function as one is 
foolish as much as it disrepects the various movements. It is naive to 
pretend that some kind of false unity will make these movements more 
effective. So this statement about THE Anti-War Movement (tm) is 
ignorant because it doesn't comprehend the varied terrain of anti-war 
and peace activism.

On a more political level, you just aren't going to get UFPJ and ANSWER 
to work together. UFPJ exists because the liberal and progressive 
anti-war activists want a big organized alternative to the vanguardist 
ANSWER. There has even been a recent split within UFPJ, by activists who 
are upset with the lack of internal democracy in UFPJ. Of course, ANSWER 
and UFPJ may be the most loud-mouthed of the peace groups, but they 
represent a minority within the greater movements against war 
(especially local peace and justice groups). I just can't see this 
effort to "unite" the peace movement (sic) panning out, as it would 
inflame a struggle for power by the authoritarians running UFPJ and ANSWER.

For multiple movements against war and for peace, not one big one run by 
self-appointed leaders,

Chuck0
Infoshop.org

Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:


> Dear Friends:
> 
> The statement below was adopted at last night's [July 8] meeting of the 
> Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition (NOAC). We would greatly appreciate 
> any help you can give in disseminating it as widely as possible to 
> anti-war groups.
> 
> In solidarity,
> 
> Jerry Gordon
> Member, NOAC Coordinating Committee
> 
> *************************
> 
> A Call for Unity of the U.S. Anti-War Movement
> 
> 
> To: Act Now to Stop War & End Racism (ANSWER)
> United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)
> United States Labor Against the War (USLAW)
> 
> The Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition (NOAC) was established in October, 
> 2002 to unify antiwar forces in Northeast Ohio in an open, democratic 
> coalition with the objective of helping prevent the threatened U.S. war 
> against Iraq. In the aftermath of the conventional phase of that war, we 
> decided to retain our coalition and to continue building demonstrations 
> around such demands as "Bring the Troops Home Now! End the Occupation of 
> Iraq!"