Thoughts on Typical Activism
Hey everybody,
I liked to bring up this topic and get everyone's reactions. I found out about the event at Columbia, the protest against Gilchrist, through my father who happened to being watching Gilchrist debate a member of the Chicano political group at Columbia university. At first I disagreed with my father and protected the protestors, because I didn't see the actual protest and assumed all they did was hold up a large banner. I took time to watch the segment on Democracy Now on Youtube and was astonished at how these activists behaved. I am now currently finding myself in the minority of the so-called "activist" community because I disagree with the tactics, not because I thought Gilchrist has a right to speak (whether he does or not is insignificant), but I didn't see how bum rushing a stage was educating, exposing, and building class consciousness around the problem with undocumented workers. People very progressive were even alienated by the action. The rushing the stage was typical I thought of extreme student activism which has no connection to reality or to people.
So today I happen to stumble into ISO asking me to sign a petition to help the students at Columbia who took this action. I declined and cited my reasons, and I had a mini-argument with one young man in the group, and when I said I thought the action wasn't relevant to the struggle of undocumented workers, that in affect alienated people and didn't raise consciousness, they kind of blew up on me. In their usual ISO mannerisms (aggressive posturing and unwillingness to listen to others speak), they try to deduce the argument to make it seem I was a Gilchrist supporter, a Stalinist, and racist...etc. etc. That their action is correct because they silenced a Fascist. "They polarized the question." Which humors me, since the question has always been a polarizing one...what they truly have only polarized is themselves from real world people.
I realized afterwards really the reason why ISO, PSL, and these other groups took this action and why they focus vigorously on the Minuteman. In NYC, undocumented workers are treated as sweatshop labor and are super-exploited in every profession. There are cases every day, it is prevalent all around the cozy environment where these groups operate; however they themselves never confront the reality of this and settle with confronting boggy men like the Minuteman project. Yes I think it is absolutely important to expose Gilchrist and try to educate people about what their Project's implications really are and why we need to oppose it. Building class consciousness around this issue is important, but all of this is in itself meaningless when the very operations of super-exploitation are occurring all around you and you fail to even recognize that, that you give the meaning to only border crossing incidents with some nativist organization. Of course this corresponds well to the utter shallowness of their analysis of the "immigrant" issue. The very fact that they see this as an "Immigrant" issue alone shows their utter lack of class consciousness, and not seeing how this issue is truly an issue and concerns all laborers and workers, whether undocumented or not. "NO person is Illegal!" "Amnesty Now!" "No borders!" etc, etc, are the slogans that many of these groups have approached the Immigrant Communities with; however no matter how good of a response "No Person is Illegal!" gets, it still shows how inept their understanding truly is.
The question must be raised, how does any of what they call for actually help the worker (undocumented and documented) and actually solve the problem of Modern day slavery. Let us hypothetically say all Undocumented peoples are legalize, all this has really done is set up the process for new undocumented workers to be criminalized once again and go through the same process of exploitation. It doesn't actually solve any of the actual existing institutions that have already set up avenues for super-exploitation of peoples without their papers. Lets say HR 4337 is defeated, have these groups overlooked the fact that the IRCA of 1986 has enacted pretty much similar legislation which has already criminalized people. HR 4337 creates further criminalization, stopping it is a partial battle. Leaving it there is corresponding to the principle "The Movement is Everything, the Goal is Nothing."
What Leftists don't want to admit is there is an actual reality to there being a problem with illegal immigration itself. It has contributed and correlates with the continual worsening conditions for labor, and the employer taking advantage of all workers through employer sanctions, and the internal outsourcing through subcontracting. Further we must make clearly that overwhelming reason why undocumented workers leave their native birthplace is mostly economical. It isn't because there is some sort of dream they want to realize here, they in reality want to be Americans...this is hardly the case. Whole villages in Mexico have been rooted and have come here seeking economically better conditions in this nation. What does this say really about the system of Neo-Liberalism itself...is breaking down the borders the solution? It is what pushed these problems to their inevitable development. I will respond to those who say "No Borders!" by stating "Close the Borders! Save the Mexican Worker and Farmer!" Free Trade and the progress of NAFTA has created in many parts of Latin America greater poverty. This is why in the liberated areas controlled by the EZLN, the people have not left their land. They understand that the large stream of immigration to the North has caused various economic impacts at home, such as allowing monopoly farming to buy up land and further hurt the people. Zapatistas have even ostracized people for leaving. Why haven't the Left here realize this? Supporting immigration and "breaking down borders" is no way creating a better situation.
The changes in Oaxaca are inspirational, this is the only true way such a system of super-exploitation and criminalization will change, when the worker in Mexico and elsewhere is actually changing his conditions and society and beginning to realize the role Neo-liberalism plays. We must not act as some agency or advocacy group for understanding and support for Undocumented people. Acting as self-righteous "vanguard" agent who fights marginal fringe rightists doesn't accomplish a thing. We have to work with undocumented people to see their role as a worker, and raise their consciousness. How do you fight modern day slavery? You take the fight to the employer who exploits and the government who turns their blind eye to it. You go to the worker, learn from the worker, synthesize, and create a plan of action that builds class consciousness and exposes the workings of Imperialism in the work place.
This is the only way to change the conditions for day laborers, restaurant, construction, manufacturing, garment, and other workers where undocumented workers are super-exploited. Yelling "FASCIST!" Blaming the Right-wing Conspiracy, Holding up banners WON'T do this.
I liked to bring up this topic and get everyone's reactions. I found out about the event at Columbia, the protest against Gilchrist, through my father who happened to being watching Gilchrist debate a member of the Chicano political group at Columbia university. At first I disagreed with my father and protected the protestors, because I didn't see the actual protest and assumed all they did was hold up a large banner. I took time to watch the segment on Democracy Now on Youtube and was astonished at how these activists behaved. I am now currently finding myself in the minority of the so-called "activist" community because I disagree with the tactics, not because I thought Gilchrist has a right to speak (whether he does or not is insignificant), but I didn't see how bum rushing a stage was educating, exposing, and building class consciousness around the problem with undocumented workers. People very progressive were even alienated by the action. The rushing the stage was typical I thought of extreme student activism which has no connection to reality or to people.
So today I happen to stumble into ISO asking me to sign a petition to help the students at Columbia who took this action. I declined and cited my reasons, and I had a mini-argument with one young man in the group, and when I said I thought the action wasn't relevant to the struggle of undocumented workers, that in affect alienated people and didn't raise consciousness, they kind of blew up on me. In their usual ISO mannerisms (aggressive posturing and unwillingness to listen to others speak), they try to deduce the argument to make it seem I was a Gilchrist supporter, a Stalinist, and racist...etc. etc. That their action is correct because they silenced a Fascist. "They polarized the question." Which humors me, since the question has always been a polarizing one...what they truly have only polarized is themselves from real world people.
I realized afterwards really the reason why ISO, PSL, and these other groups took this action and why they focus vigorously on the Minuteman. In NYC, undocumented workers are treated as sweatshop labor and are super-exploited in every profession. There are cases every day, it is prevalent all around the cozy environment where these groups operate; however they themselves never confront the reality of this and settle with confronting boggy men like the Minuteman project. Yes I think it is absolutely important to expose Gilchrist and try to educate people about what their Project's implications really are and why we need to oppose it. Building class consciousness around this issue is important, but all of this is in itself meaningless when the very operations of super-exploitation are occurring all around you and you fail to even recognize that, that you give the meaning to only border crossing incidents with some nativist organization. Of course this corresponds well to the utter shallowness of their analysis of the "immigrant" issue. The very fact that they see this as an "Immigrant" issue alone shows their utter lack of class consciousness, and not seeing how this issue is truly an issue and concerns all laborers and workers, whether undocumented or not. "NO person is Illegal!" "Amnesty Now!" "No borders!" etc, etc, are the slogans that many of these groups have approached the Immigrant Communities with; however no matter how good of a response "No Person is Illegal!" gets, it still shows how inept their understanding truly is.
The question must be raised, how does any of what they call for actually help the worker (undocumented and documented) and actually solve the problem of Modern day slavery. Let us hypothetically say all Undocumented peoples are legalize, all this has really done is set up the process for new undocumented workers to be criminalized once again and go through the same process of exploitation. It doesn't actually solve any of the actual existing institutions that have already set up avenues for super-exploitation of peoples without their papers. Lets say HR 4337 is defeated, have these groups overlooked the fact that the IRCA of 1986 has enacted pretty much similar legislation which has already criminalized people. HR 4337 creates further criminalization, stopping it is a partial battle. Leaving it there is corresponding to the principle "The Movement is Everything, the Goal is Nothing."
What Leftists don't want to admit is there is an actual reality to there being a problem with illegal immigration itself. It has contributed and correlates with the continual worsening conditions for labor, and the employer taking advantage of all workers through employer sanctions, and the internal outsourcing through subcontracting. Further we must make clearly that overwhelming reason why undocumented workers leave their native birthplace is mostly economical. It isn't because there is some sort of dream they want to realize here, they in reality want to be Americans...this is hardly the case. Whole villages in Mexico have been rooted and have come here seeking economically better conditions in this nation. What does this say really about the system of Neo-Liberalism itself...is breaking down the borders the solution? It is what pushed these problems to their inevitable development. I will respond to those who say "No Borders!" by stating "Close the Borders! Save the Mexican Worker and Farmer!" Free Trade and the progress of NAFTA has created in many parts of Latin America greater poverty. This is why in the liberated areas controlled by the EZLN, the people have not left their land. They understand that the large stream of immigration to the North has caused various economic impacts at home, such as allowing monopoly farming to buy up land and further hurt the people. Zapatistas have even ostracized people for leaving. Why haven't the Left here realize this? Supporting immigration and "breaking down borders" is no way creating a better situation.
The changes in Oaxaca are inspirational, this is the only true way such a system of super-exploitation and criminalization will change, when the worker in Mexico and elsewhere is actually changing his conditions and society and beginning to realize the role Neo-liberalism plays. We must not act as some agency or advocacy group for understanding and support for Undocumented people. Acting as self-righteous "vanguard" agent who fights marginal fringe rightists doesn't accomplish a thing. We have to work with undocumented people to see their role as a worker, and raise their consciousness. How do you fight modern day slavery? You take the fight to the employer who exploits and the government who turns their blind eye to it. You go to the worker, learn from the worker, synthesize, and create a plan of action that builds class consciousness and exposes the workings of Imperialism in the work place.
This is the only way to change the conditions for day laborers, restaurant, construction, manufacturing, garment, and other workers where undocumented workers are super-exploited. Yelling "FASCIST!" Blaming the Right-wing Conspiracy, Holding up banners WON'T do this.
Hi comrade.. Nice to see like minded people in Blogdom!
Cheers!
Posted by
clash |
4:01 AM
I lack the time to engage with the level of interest any responding response (polemic, even) should have. But here goes:
1. The "tactics" - all wrong. I'll be the first to argue that student ought not to not take ultra-radical tactics off the campuses and into broader struggles where they haven't earned leadership. In fact I did just this in my longer piece on the new SDS. It turns people off, people who might be otherwise won to radical struggle over time. However, this was on their campus, it was ultimately a student space. And as such they have the complete authority to bum rush any stage, hell they could have kick the shit out of them and occupied the auditorium armed with shotguns, and while I'd find the tactics excessive it'd still be their call.
2. Issues with movement slogan - much smarter people than I, namely Joaquin Bustelo, have argued the fine points of sloganeering in the immigrants rights movement. I'm inclined to uphold his line that very few immigrant workers give a shit about "amnesty" as a useable concept. That said, the "no person is illegal" or "no boarders" slogans are right on in my humble opinion. They correctly take aim at disparities between labor and capital during the age of neo-liberal imperialism. Capital can move whereever the fuck it wants to, backed by US firepower. But labor can't? This is a good point to hammer home to white workers, and most immigrants know that when Capital moves it can really fuck shit up, again most of these people's families are members of a recently displaced peasantry (recent in terms of a half-century).
3. Simply defeating HR 4337 is tantamount to claiming "The Movement is Everything, the Goal is Nothing." - bullshit. It is that simple. In the face of a Washington consensus that "illegals" are untermenchen worthy of utter criminalization this movement completely fucked their agenda. Name the last time the US left (read: white folk) did anything close to this? Please tell me. Seriously, I'm feeling depressed having to even write any of this shit and being reminded of one fucking victory might help (well, we did prevent the US ruling class from completely fucking up Iraq, and we stopped Israeli imperialism from starving Gaza to death and cluster bombing the whole of Southern Lebanon, and then we won Universal Health-care like all other Western "Democracies," and have real unemployment insurance...No wait, we fucking didn't do any of that shit). Jesus Christ, I'd be so fucking happy if the "working class" as defined by ShineThePath (again, read: white or at least native born people) could win fucking anything. We can't even hold 13 percent union density.
4. The supposed problem with "illegal" immigration - Please god, let undocumented immigration increase. The left in this country could use more ex’s from Latin American party left forces. I cannot even begin to describe how exciting it is to think about folks from Central America who were active in the FMLN or Sandinistas showing up in K-town. Not to exotics brown people as "hardened fighters," but shit. These are folks who have actually made strong lefts (again to stress that I am talking about recent and past members of various party lefts throughout Latin America, and not all Latin@ immigrants). These leaders have done more than sitting around complaining that the only thing we hate more than the Romans are the Judean People's Front (to reference a recent post by LeftSpot).
A couple of weeks ago I posted a piece about getting shit from white trade unionist while flyering at the piece of shit Democrat's event. The people giving us the hardest time where Carpenters and Laborers. Let Latino construction workers take every last one of those labor aristocrats' jobs and found a real trade union. The only trade union around Knoxville with a Latin@ majority will actually participate in a general strike and knows what the fuck May Day is.
Ultimately ShineThePath, we all carry baggage, and your post is case in point. Just cause the ISO and PLP think that something is worth supporting doesn't mean that it ain't (not that it isn't sometimes a good indicator). You've got to challenge that shit before it gets away from you.
Posted by
Nelson H. |
7:46 PM
Clash- Thanks for the comment, and I'll be taking a look at your site in the future.
Nelson- I think I couldn't be further from your view than possible. Yes this was a Student area; however the action by a few student activists was completely divorced from the rest of Columbia, and didn't expose the Minuteman at all. It only demonized themselves, isolated themselves, and alienated a whole host of Columbia students. How can you approach this as simply "Students taking their space." When the actual case is that the leaders of this event, and those who made up the ones who took the stage where political activists with this or that group. This action has done nothing in the end but hurt what is the "Left," and only undermines our efforts to build class consciousness through exposing organizations such as the Minutemen. This wasn't "the Masses" uprising at Columbia, it was far from that case.
Your second point is interesting, I think sloganeering is effective. The point I make however is that the sloganeering heard on the Left in the "Immigrant Movement" just hides the very shallow analysis of the Left itself. Is it really our purpose to have a free flow of labor to this country? Is this what we're practically asking for? If so all we are doing is promoting the super-exploitation of third world nations even further and worsening of working conditions in the US. Free Flow of Labor is the Imperialist dream, what people are not realizing on the Left is that the Imperialists support free flow of capital (including Labor), the point of criminalization is not just a Xenophobic reaction of the Minutemen, but a way to garner more profit of the sweat of undocument workers who are forced into a underclass of labor in this nation.
Your point number 3 is just not true and perhaps is missing my point entirely. The US state ALREADY enforces laws which have create conditions for an underclass of workers. Whether or not HR 4337 passes, the undocumented workers in this country are still living in a hell hole. There is no love loss here. The MOVEMENT continues, the Left has thus far failed in providing the analysis and leadership to try to push this movement to expose the process of every day super-exploitation as a whole, and to create this into the class movement needed in this nation. I agree with you the Left hasn't done anything akin to the movement we are seeing today, but it wasn't the Left who mobolized people...It was the spontaneity and the consciousness of the masses of workers, immigrants, and their families themselves....the "vanguard" weren't responsible. Now on Unions...why focus working class position on Union membership? Unions lost membership because of largely their own corrupt incompetence and willingness to unchange. Heck I think the labor movement is in a much better place than the 1980s', the Unions have finally realized how wrong they were and workers in the service industry fields are standing up.
Reason you cited in four is purely pragamatic...More Undocumented workers means more revolutionary activity? Perhaps, maybe not, but more undocumented workers means MORE Exploitation, WORSENING conditions for workers, and INCREASING poverty in nations like Mexico. The reason you cite is the exact reason why Zapatistas have opposed people leaving their homes and heading North. What about Latin American revolutionaries building movements in their nations? How can you have a movement in Mexico of Peasants in Chipas if all of them would just be uprooted and come to the North. I would encourage anyone in Mexico now considering to come to the US to stay and fight PAN, PRI, and the corrupted comprador Bourgeois.
Further I think putting your hope of the development of the Immigrant movement on local labor groups is illusory. There is more of a basis here to build a non-Trade specified labor movement than anything. Yes Locals are developing into bulkwarks of Latino representation...but how is that meaningful? Some of their leaders just develop into labor aristocracy themselves and operate as advocates and service agents rather than a labor organization. I believe really what the Left has missed from this is all is that Labor Locals are helpful, but it is not where the majority of workers is at any longer (you cite the 13 percent density yourself), The left has consistently neglected to try to give a throough understanding and programme consistent with the day-to-day needs of undocumented and documented workers, as well as having a full vision of the future and shaping a better society.
What is important to understand here is I am not criticizing PLP, ISO, RCP, or any other group for JUST being that. I am criticizing them for their overall lack of building class consciousness, education people, learning from people, and analysis which is relevant to this movement and revolutionary developtment. Basically the criticism is that of Mass Line.
Posted by
ShineThePath |
11:23 AM
Nice blog you have here. Let me adress some of your points. You do bring up some good points from a marxist perspective however I disagree. I believe the students didn't go far enough. The Minutemen represent an ultra nationalist, rascist, psuedo-fascist agenda and should be shown that they are not welcome in a diverse and accepting city like New York where we think that no human being is illegal.
Posted by
LeftyHenry |
7:26 PM
I share your dislike for fringe rightists as much as anyone else. However the tactics taken by the activists were what Lenin specifically derided in "What is to be Done?" The action wasn nothing more than spontaneity at its worse. It didn't raise the consciousness of anybody, only alienated people and isolated these activists. Attacking these people is not going to achieve anything, all it will do is bring the hammer of the repressive state harder on us and further cast us away from the masses.
Further here is another slogan which on the surface maybe meaningful but isn't. "No one is Illegal." Quite frankly what does this mean? How do you stop the criminalization of these people? By opening the borders so wide for US Imperialism to destroy the Mexican nation? By giving general amnesty which will only propel more criminalization of a NEW undocumented working class.
As I have pointed out before to Nelson H. The free flow of labor, as any other capital, isn't a desirable thing.
Posted by
ShineThePath |
7:29 PM
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