[Peace-discuss] Third try

[Alfred Kagan]

>>> I am going to be direct in answering Carl's message which I think is
>>> based on simplistic assumptions. I am also forwarding it to Imani
>>> Bazell and Sundiata Cha-Jua because I value their advice.
>>>
>>> First of all, just as the term "political correctness" is used by the
>>> right to attack the left, the term "identity politics" is often used
>>> to attack people who are struggling for justice based on a common
>>> oppression. Fighting racism or sexism or homophobia is not some kind
>>> of theoretical problem, it is a necessary part of the struggle to
>>> create a better world.
>>>
>>> Race, gender, and class can't be viewed as entirely separate from 
>>> each
>>> other.  In fact, they are bound up within each other. Many argue that
>>> eliminating class divisions will not by itself eliminate racism and
>>> sexism. If we had a serious movement for equality and an end to the
>>> class divisions within capitalist society, the argument to focus
>>> solely on class might have more weight, but in the current situation
>>> where racism is increasing alongside increased disparity in wealth, 
>>> we
>>> must specifically address racism. (As you know, I think we must
>>> address the connections between war and racism as often as we can.)
>>>
>>> I don't know what the term "reconciliation" means in this context.
>>> That sounds like head in the clouds liberalism and idealism. People
>>> like Condi Rice, Colin Powell, and Clarence Thomas serve the ruling
>>> class.  They will not reconcile with the interests of the majority of
>>> black folks. On the other hand, certain classes can ally in various
>>> contexts.  For example, sections of the so-called middle class can
>>> ally in either direction depending on the circumstances.
>>>
>>> If AWARE wants to be seen as a progressive force within the whole
>>> community, we need to be open to various perspectives.  If we want to
>>> be open to allying with people who are struggling based on common
>>> oppressions, we must act in a way to make that possible. This 
>>> includes
>>> the way we interact on the listserv, in meetings, and in the way we
>>> conduct our work.
>>>
>>> I think we need to be able to work with the traditional civil rights
>>> community, black nationalists, radical feminists, the GLBT community,
>>> and others struggling for a more humane society.  AWARE is not a
>>> political party, and given the diversity of our membership, it is not
>>> going to have only one orientation towards race, gender, and class.
>>>
>>> I hope we can all agree to respectfully argue our points of view as
>>> the basis of our work.  I hope we can all agree that no one 
>>> individual
>>> has all the right answers all the time (not even Chomsky). And I hope
>>> that our meeting interactions will reflect the above points.

Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliogrpaher and Professor of Library Administration
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801

tel. 217-333-6519
fax 217-333-2214
akagan at uiuc.edu
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