[Marxism] Cuba to Dedicate Festival of Origins to China

[Haines Brown]

I must say, Louis, I find your comments really offensive.
 
> Walter Lippmann wrote:

> > Later this month, Cuban general Moises Sio Wong will be heading to
> > China for a book tour, based on his and two other generals'
> > memoirs on being part of the Cuban revolution. The Cubans know how
> > important their historical, cultural and practical ties to China
> > have been and continue to be. They nurture these ties.
> 
> Walter, haven't you noticed that nobody except you uses Marxmail in
> the way that you do, as a place to push a line?

I assume that we all have an ideological perspective, and because we
are not sui generis that it conforms to some degree with the outlook
or other persons or movements, and that since we have constructed that
perspective through some time and effort, we are more inclined to
persist with it than not and to have a commitment to it.

> I am a little bit reluctant to give you the boot since you do
> reflect a certain current on the left that needs to be engaged
> with--even if it is with tenterhooks.

This presumes that Walter's position deviates from an orthodoxy and
that it is prescribed in the Marxism list's description. Assuming that
neither is the case, for Louis to presume that he alone defines what
is orthodox and he has the right to prevent from speaking anyone who
does not happen to conform to his view strikes me as infantile.

> The point is that for over 3 years at least you have posted one of
> these "interventions" that you know will lead to furious
> rebuttals. Why don't you take a moratorium on the Manichean,
> crypto-Stalinist, neo-Marcyite politics for a year or so?

The quote is a simple news report about the relation of nations that
are relevant to socialism. As such, it is only subject to factual
criticism, not rebuttal. Perhaps the context conveys Walter's views,
but a criticism of them would represent a "rebuttal" only if you
happen to agree with the criticisms; surely they are not a "rebuttal"
in Walter's eye's. How can you presume to speak for everyone on the
list, for I'm sure many list members choose not to participate and fly
their colors, and they surely have a variety of views. Or do you
assume that list members have no mind of their own and so can't
express their objection to Walter's posts? 

> It is distinctly odd that an American citizen and resident of Los
> Angeles like yourself has almost nothing to say about the politics,
> economics and society of the country that you live in. Aren't you
> interested in this?

You presume to judge what Walter should say? Perhaps Walter saves his
thoughts and comments about local affairs to other venues? Perhaps he
identifies with the international working class and so is more
interested in international affairs? Does the description of this list
say that its focus must be parochial, that discussion of global
matters is illegitimate?

> Let's face it. You know next to nothing about China except that it
> is a "friend" of Cuba. As a list devoted to the Marxist analysis of
> society, we would expect you to examine the Chinese economy.

Who is this royal "we". I'm ignorant about virtually everything, but
that sure does not keep me from thinking about things, asking about
them, learning about them, and even sometimes expressing my views
about them. If this list is only for a few self-styled experts, the
cogniscenti, then the implication is that I don't belong here.

> To praise China because it is friend of Cuba has almost nothing to
> do with the methodology that Karl Marx developed in works such as
> the 18th Brumaire, the Grundrisse, Capital V. 1. and others.

This is childish. Water in the quote above reports facts rather than
offer an analysis. Perhaps the context needs to be there. But
regardless, based on the works of Marx you cite, what constitutes a
"Marxist" analysis is very flexible. Besides, the issue should not be
a subservience to some model you feel is implied by works written over
a century ago, but the creative development of Marxism in relation to
changing world circumstances and hopefully also a constructive
development of the Marx's methodology.

> Perhaps you should spend less time reading Cuban press releases and
> the Wall Street Journal and more time refamiliarizing yourself with
> the Marxist classics.

What arrogance! I hope you don't presume to tell me what to read or
not to read. Who make you our teacher? Such a role would seem to
contradict the function of a list moderator.

Haines Brown