[Marxism] The relentless and obsessive opposition to

[Anthony Boynton]

Re: [Marxism] The relentless and obsessive opposition
to

Racism is alive, but wounded, in the United States.
The fact that Barak Obama is a Democratic Party
candidate for Prez who is likely to win the
nomination, and win the office itself, is a good
measure of how deeply racism is wounded. The wound was
not inflicted by Mr. Obama, not in fact wasit
inflicted recently. It was inflicted in the 1950’s
and1960’s when the Civil Rights movement, the Black
Nationalist movement, the ghetto rebellions, and the
worldwide social upsurge which culminated in 1968
battered and bloodied the racist structures of
capitalism. The wound was made deeper by the African
revolution, especially by the destruction of apartheid
in South Africa.

Obama’s candidacy has put millions of people into
poltiical motion who had not been in motion for a long
time, most of whom had never done anything political
in their lives, except for possibly vote. A lot of
those voters want to put another stake into the heart
of racism, and maybe even finish it off.

They are right to believe that electing Obama will
strike another blow against racism, although it is
very likely that they believe the election of a black
man to that office will lead to other changes which
are not likely to materialize.

The heightened expectations of black people and young
people in the USA are certain to be dashed in this
election.

So, are “our” only two options

.... supporting Obama because his election would be a
historic change within the limits of imperialist
electoralism, and a great symbolic victory for black
people everywhere?

....or opposing Obama because he is a ho-hum centrist
Democratic Party imperialist no different than any
other Democratic Party Senator except for the facts
that his skin is darker and he is a better speaker?

Supporting Cynthia McKinney is a better option than
either of these, and all other possibilities available
today. The left needs to promote its own program in a
positive way in contrast to the commonly held program
of McCain, Clinton, and Obama. 

Of course the “left” does not in fact have a commonly
agreed upon program, but some of the points of such a
program do exist for the left in the USA. One point
stands out: Immediate Withdrawl of all US troops from
Iraq and Afghanistan.

How should we support Obama supportes in the Black
community? “Propagandistically”. In other words we can
not support their candidate because he too is a war
candidate, and here’s why. We support Cynthia because,
even though she will not win.... 

Nobody should expect to convince Obama supporters to
join up with some little revolutionary outfit, or even
to vote for Cynthia McKinney in November. The best
that can be hoped for is that we will plant the seeds
which will bloosom after November, after the millions
who have been mobilized behind Obama begin to have
their illusions pricked.

Anthony






      ____________________________________________________________________________________
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.  
http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com