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----- Original Message -----=20
From: Martin Zehr=20
To: redbadbear at yahoogroups.com=20
Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 11:17 AM
Subject: RE: [Redbadbear] Stereotypes and Surprises: Mormons, Reds, and =
the Pluralistic Universe

Hunter,

You have opened a door to a much wider discussion here. The issue of the =
political strategy for change is one that has evolved primarily from =
advocacy groups in this period. There is no organizational locus which =
establishes a common analysis and strategy for the left in the US. The =
critique of Mormons comes from an anti-religion crtique that permeates =
many anarchists and post-Marxists. A discussion is long overdue =
regarding what role and what blocs represent potential allies. The lack =
of a political party has created scenarios where the people are =
projected as backwards and reactionary, while only activists represent =
the movement for change. The Right long ago developed a successful =
strategy in mobilizing grass-roots support through the churches. The =
African-American movement has long been centered organizationally in =
churches, but that reality is rarely addressed in the left's work.=20

While I agree with your summary of Mormons personally, I would suggest a =
need for more accumulated experience in trying to evaluate their social =
role and how they might be addressed within a successful strategy. =
Standing aloof from so many people in the US is never a successful =
strategy for change. Tactics in elections and political activity with =
organizations and groups not associated with the usual assortment of =
non-profits will clarify their political role. It will also begin the =
process of integrating Greens (or the "left") with the people and begin =
to establish positions that begin to relate with their aspirations. As a =
Green I have no real problem with the idea of working on mass campaigns =
with Mormons, no more than I had problems working with Catholic Hispanic =
relatives of prisoners in building a campaign for prison reforms. Often =
the issue is how the issue is defined and how it is put forward. The =
masses of American people are NOT the enemy, whether they are Catholic, =
Mormon, Jew or born-again Protestants.=20

Mormons are urban dwellers, they are farmers, they are on fixed incomes =
and they work in offices and factories. They are not simply Mormons. =
They confront the ecological consequences of developers, they face the =
water issues of the American West and they interact with others in their =
communities. The refusal of Utah to accept NCLB is a positive indicator =
of a potential source of opposition upon which to build on. Organizing =
is a project that builds alliances, coalitions and support from a much =
broader cross-section of people. Electoral work means addressing the =
issues of the people. There has to be a new phase in the US to move =
beyond the existing parameters of "social activism" and begins to =
demonstrate a political maturity that acknowledges various strata and =
their role in change.

Mato Ska

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
Protected by Na=B4shdo=B4i=B4ba=B4i=B4
and Ohkwari'

Check out our Hunterbear social justice website: www.hunterbear.org
[The site is dedicated to our one-half Bobcat, Cloudy Gray:
http://hunterbear.org/cloudy_gray.htm

And see Outlaw Trail: The Native as Organizer: =
http://hunterbear.org/outlaw_trail1.htm