[Marxism] Sectarian? Re: The Obama cult

[Fred Feldman]

Dayne Goodwin writes:
I agree that sectarian-ism is a deeply consolidated problem on the U.S.
left. I assume that Fred - as a veteran of decades within one of the deeply
sectarian U.S. left organizations - is quite familiar with sectarianism.
But i don't understand why Fred lodges an accusation of sectarianism in the
midst of discussion on this list.

The word "sectarian" is used in the marxist movement to refer to
organizations which put their own organizational self-interest - their sect
- ahead of the best interests of the working class generally....

I would be interested to learn how Fred's view that it is sectarian to
confront illusions about Obama impacts his actual political activism, beyond
this discussion list. In regard to this issue of how to respond to
widespread illusions about Obama, what are other "sectarian" marxists doing
in their activism which he chooses to avoid doing? What does he choose to
do in his activism which distinguishes him from these other activists who do
not properly restrain themselves from criticizing Obama?

Fred responds:
This is a simon-pure personal attack on my own political past and present,
without making an attempt to answer any argument that has been made.

Dayne's argument that the list is not sectarian seems to be based on the
fact that the list, not being an organization, is by definition free of any
self-interest that could conflict with that of the working class. Aside from
the excessive narrowness of this definition, I think it is false to suggest
that the list is not an organization, and therefore cannot be infected by
sectarianism. It would be better to identify the list as a low-level form of
organization which attempts to separate itself from, but still very much
reflects, the historically prevailing sectarianism. 

As for my political role on the list (the list does not require me to defend
my day to day political activity, which is quite limited, I seek to oppose
sectarian tactics, strategies, and perspectives where they show up,
inbcluding in Dayne's post which substitutes the personal for the political.

Below are, in order of appearance, the recent articles in which I have best
expressed my differences with left sectarian, as differentiated from what I
consider a working-class oppositional approach under the given
circumstances, responses to Obama's campaign and election.
Fred

Responses:

http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w43/msg00401.htm


http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w43/msg00411.htm


http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w44/msg00310.htm


http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w44/msg00381.htm


http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w46/msg00173.htm


http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w46/msg00369.htm


http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w47/msg00169.htm


http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/marxism/2008w47/msg00356.htm