Criticism vs. Self-Righteousness

If I had a dime for every time someone told me I was being divisive, “mean,” or self-righteous, I’d go out and buy a pack of Peanut Chews.

In the events leading up to the split between News & Letters Committees and the Marxist-Humanist Committee, I was told I had no right to criticize older members, because they understand Marxism more than I do. This claim completely ignored the fact that I was joining several of the other older members in that criticism – individuals whose understanding of Marxism is well-renowned.

I’ve been told in vegan and animal rights activist circles that I should not criticize people who protest fur and neglect other animal rights issues, because these people are increasing awareness of the problem by getting people to think about the issues. I’ve seen no evidence to demonstrate this. Many people are against fur already, and never make the connection to realize that leather and meat are just as wrong. And yet, when I’ve expressed my frustration with activists waste time with this approach, instead of advocating directly for veganism, I’m accused of being self-righteous.

If we don’t allow open and honest criticism in activist circles, if we don’t allow dissenting thoughts to be voiced from within, if we are expected to go along with “the organization” or “the movement” uncritically and without thought, what can we even begin to hope to accomplish? If we keep doing the same shit, we’ll keep getting the same shit. We don’t all think alike, nor should we. We don’t always agree on the best approach. We shouldn’t stifle our voices for the sake of some bullshit false unity.

We need to be able to express our criticisms openly and honestly, without passive-aggressiveness. We need to be willing to concede to reason when reason shows us the error of our ways. We need organization that reflects our values of democracy, honesty, and freedom of speech.

We do not have the right to be above criticism. We do not have the right to live without being offended. This is not self-righteousness.

My fellow activists, get over yourselves.

Keith Olbermann on Prop 8

Video

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Bravo!

Melissa Etheridge refuses to pay taxes

The Daily Beast op-ed “You Can Forget My Taxes” by Melissa Etheridge

She has a point. GLBTQ persons are second-class citizens in this country, and yet we’re still expected to pay taxes. I’ve made a lot of money this year, but until the laws change, and recognize my right to marry my husband whom I’ve shared my life with for 2 years now, I don’t see why I should pay taxes either.

On the Left: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Good: The 2^nd Annual NYC Anarchist Bookfair. Why, you may ask, would a Marxist be so eagerly awaiting the upcoming anarchist bookfair? Because it promises to be a gathering of open-minded and young Leftists, and so it is the ideal place for open dialog and exchange of ideas about changing the world for the better. While we may disagree about a lot of things, we can learn from each other and organize together to help make the world a better place.
… That, and I am a book hor. I luff books of all kinds, and buy a lot, much to the chagrin of my Dino.

Bad: Left Forum 2008. The dialog around revolution and social change has been reduced to talking about how great the movements were, discussing why we should vote for Obama, and encouraging people to buy local organic produce. The only redeeming value was meeting new people and selling some lit.

Ugly: News & Letters Committees and how it has been transformed into its opposite. Please read this public statement of the Marxist-Humanist Tendency and send responses as appropriate. Contact Olga Domanski and let her know that this is no way to run a revolutionary Marxist organization. Support the Marxist-Humanist Tendency!

Davie Rodeo

September 22 marks yet another rodeo event in Davie, FL. Cows are being held in a small, fenced-off piece of land near a major road, where they are subject to the noises of traffic day and night, only to be trucked off and brutally tortured for “entertainment.” If you live in or near Davie, don’t support the rodeo. If you wish to help organize a legal protest, please contact me.

ETA: I just realized that I’m going to be in NYC the day of the Rodeo.  I’ll still help organize any way I can.

Gates on Blu-Ray DRM

http://www.betanews.com/article/Gates_Bluray_DRM_is_AntiConsumer/1129572265

I know this is old news, but I just stumbled across it this morning, and I couldn’t believe the hypocracy. Those remarks are so outrageous coming from him, I couldn’t even laugh at them.

Separation of Church and State

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

-First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America

Our government is in the grips of the so-called “Christian Right.” In spite of this, many conservative Christians imagine themselves the victim of some invisible secular humanist movement that wants to destroy God and their rights to practice their religion.

All people should have a right to practice their religion, provided it does not interfere with the rights of others.  When a religious belief becomes imposed on others who do not share the same views, then religion becomes an oppressive force.  When public Christian prayer is mandated in public schools, those students who are not Christian are forced to sit quietly and listen.  In public spaces, where free speech should be protected, one can simply walk away.  Students are not free to do so, and no one has the right to impose their views on another in this manner.

Many of these same Christians, if they were the minority and found their children having to sit through non-Christian prayers, would object just as readily as the atheists, and rightly so.  Yet the golden rule tells them to do unto others as they would have done to them.  They shouldn’t have to sit through prayers they disagree with, so they shouldn’t subject others to it as well.

We should all be free to worship – or not worship – as we see fit.  We should not force others to subject themselves to our concept of God.

Keith Olbermann

I truly think he is the only journalist (in the mainstream media) who has a spine.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/110206J.shtml

It really hurts me to do this.

This November, I’ll be voting for Democrat Jim Davis, simply because none of the third-party candidates stand a chance, and I really don’t want that sexist, heterosexist fucker Charlie Crist to win.