[lbo-talk] Postel responds to Leninology

[www.leninology. blogspot.com]

Doug posted a reply from Postel:I knew Postel was aware of those signatures because I copied and pastedthem from his interview.  My point, for what it is worth (and it is worth agreat deal in my view) is that left-wing intellectuals are by no meansautomatically reticent on the issue.  It is a simple matter of asking.  Thefact that liberals are more concerned with Iran than other instances merelyadverts to their priorities.  I know Adam Michnick must have been very keen,although he is an apologist for other kinds of tyranny these days, and genuineIslamophobe (you'd think someone exposed to Polish antisemitism would knowbetter).The radical or revolutionary left may not all have links with prominent Iraniandissidents.  On the other hand, there is a huge revolt in Egypt at the momentand I would be astounded if many leftist intellectuals were deeply involvedwith the liberation struggle in Egypt.  Similarly, there is a massive strugglein a country directly contiguous with Iran right now, to liberate the countryfrom its current oppressors.  Some of us have tried to forge links with thosewho are involved, but most people have either been unwilling for doctrinalreasons or unable to.Actually, how many leftists have done more than sign a petition for Nepal,or the Moros for that matter?  To persist in the same theme, could we finda ubiquitous leftist activism on the matter of the recent suppression inSomalia?I repeat and underline: Postel's attitude is unnecessarily smug and moralistic,failing to take account of the face that people have limited resources and tendto target them where they can have most effect.  As a Leninist, I offer somepossibilities for revolutionary realpolitik: the American left would be advised toform links with those on the Iranian left who aren't barking mad (like the MEKor the followers of Houzan Mahmoud), who oppose imperialism and who aregenuinely fighting for freedom.  It would be both politic and in concord withsocialist principles to find and support such people.  However, the deploymentof forces (petitioners, leafleters, protesters) depends on how effective they canbe.  That's something that people other than Iranian activists have had to livewith for some time, and if it stands as a condemnation, it isn't only or mainlya condemnation of the Western Left.
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