[lbo-talk] diversion from activism/cultural front

[John Halle]

> 
> _Once_ we seriously begin to build a mass political party and start 
> to have some successes in doing so, artists and intellectuals who are 
> party members and sympathizers can contribute to the growth of the 
> party a great deal by doing what they enjoy doing -- writing, 
> composing, or whatever -- on the cultural front, recruiting other 
> artists and intellectuals to the party and events (like concerts, 
> exhibitions, dance parties, etc.) and organizations (like composers' 
> collectives, leagues of photographers, etc.) that it sponsors, 
> teaching arts to youths at camps and summer schools that the party 
> organizes, etc.  That's what political parties on the left -- be they 
> Communist, Socialist, Social Democratic, Green, or whatever -- _do_ 
> in almost all other nations except the United States.
> -- 
> Yoshie

Yes, of course, and much of my inspiration derives from the hope 
for reconstructing precisely this sort of "cultural front."   
My reference to  F.S. Saunders excellent work is meant to convey this.  

Obviously, we are very far away from this point now. Given this fact, I
stand by my assessment that cultural activism at this stage can be
diversionary and is for many "a trap."

Best,

John