-----Original Message----- From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org] On Behalf Of Bill Bartlett Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 8:05 PM To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] non-violence is the most powerful weapon we have
At 2:28 AM +0100 11/11/11, Tayssir John Gabbour wrote:
>But the right wing exploits the fact that leftists will merrily
>infight, rather than take such obvious constructive action to
>partially mitigate the (real) problems.
"Such obvious constructive action" as breaking windows? Is the reason that it is so hard to send up what you say simply that you can't be bested at making a fool of yourself? And anyone who tries just falls flat?
One can not discard _any_ conceivable tactic in the abstract. Therefore there is no possibility of discussion unless everyone in the discussion accepts as a given that there exist or could exist situations in which the correct tactic would involved window smashing.
Then it would be possible to discuss whether, in the current situation, window smashing can be a correct tactic.
Only those involved in the Oakland Occupation can decide whether or not it is an acceptable r desirable tactic in that concrete situation.
On the basis of what Voyou has posted I speculate that the Black Bloc was incorrect. That does not make them irrational, nor does it indicate that there are probably reasons persuasive to sincere and rational people. Sincere and rational people can be wrong, very wrong; that does not make them less sincere or rational.
Those in these threads not assuming that, assuming that there is no rational case for the Black Bloc are unacceptably sectarian -- & as a speculation on my part are merely reacting from unconsidered feelings and searching for rationale for those feelings without recognizing what they are doing. They are unconscious of their own motives. That is a speculation: it is not an argument that they are wrong.
Carrol