[lbo-talk] Re: Mr. Churchill

[Michael Dawson]

Speaking personally, John, I don't get as worked up about the right's
advocacy of war crimes and general irrationality because it's expected and
because there's nothing much I can do about it, unless and until there is a
politically viable leftist force in this society.  The reason I'm outraged
at Churchill is that he has done enormous damage to the credibility of the
left.  At a time when we all agree that the fate of humanity probably
depends on the left putting together a second and better wave of state
power-taking, we simply cannot afford Churchill's childishness.  He'll never
admit it, but he's done huge harm to the left, and through that, the entire
human race, including American Indians.

About the racism charge -- defending Churchill this way is also damaging the
left's credibility.  Every time anybody savages a non-white intellectual,
it's painted as racial.  Churchill's a prick for writing what he wrote and
for refusing to retract it and apologize.  I'm mad because he's a famous
leftist, not because he's Indian.

________________________________________
From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org]
On Behalf Of jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net
Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 7:36 PM
To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
Subject: [lbo-talk] Re: Mr. Churchill


> IMHO, one has to wonder if he's always been an FBI agent.  What more
perfect
> trap could there be for further weakening the left at this moment than for
> us all to rally in favor of a Bin Laden cheerleader?
> 
> Michael Dawson

I've only been here on LBO for about 4 years but this is the saddest thing I
have seen posted 
here in that time. I am almost too angry to write. Please do us all a favor
and keep your 
nonsensical and totally unsubstantiated accusations to yourself. You have
demonstrated that 
you do not understand what Ward has written so your critiques will be taken
with that in mind. 
I wish you would take the time to read one of his books that I recommended
but that is your 
choice. Either way you might want to less of an ass out of yourself.

Michael Pugliese's posting of information concerning internal conflicts
within AIM and IITC and 
posting documents questioning Wards heritage also added nothing to the
debate and 
demonstrated extremely poor judgement on Michaels part. These are matters
that, unless you 
are involved in "Indian" matters, will not necessarily be understood. They
certainly do not add 
to anyones understanding of the current controversy. 

I guess I'll have to post my Cherokee Registry Number now and prove my
heritage or risk being 
labeled an Indian poseur by Pugliese. It is COO41816. I am a full member
with voting rights 
Michael.

I am trying very hard not to think of this attack on Churchill as racist but
I cannot help but feel 
there is some element of that in the distain for him. Why is it so hard to
support the man? I 
think his essay was poorly written and I think Ward is a hothead. So what?
He has done good 
serious work in the recent past and does not deserve the treatment he is
being subjected to. 
He is not hate filled but he is angry. He has more than every right to be
angry. Is it because 
this Indian hasn't shown sufficient gratitude for all the white man has done
for him that makes it 
difficult to support him? Perhaps it is because Ward still has a chip on his
shoulder about the 
deliberate and systematic extermination of 90% of the people with whom he
shares a common 
heritage. He identifies the ruling class as the recipients of that legacy
and as continuing some 
of the same policies although frequently in altered or disguised forms. It
isn't that hard to see 
why he thinks of the US as the moral equivalent of the German Nazi party who
were victorious 
and get to write their own version of history.

Whare was all this anger when Ann Coulter said we should kill all Middle
Eastern leaders and 
force all the population to convert to Christianity? Where were the demands
to have her column 
removed from newspapers? Far more controversial statements have been
ignored.

John Thornton