From owner-marxism-international  Mon Apr 21 01:59:38 1997
Subject: Re: M-I: PANIC LEFTIST - FRAME SEVENTEEN
Message-ID: <19970421.015433.4078.4.JSchulman@juno.com>
References: <Pine.SOL.3.95.970421010432.23483A-100000@forbin.syr.edu>
From: jschulman@juno.com (Jason A Schulman)
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 01:58:50 EDT


On Mon, 21 Apr 1997 01:12:26 -0400 (EDT) "Amrohini J. Sahay" writes:

>One of the issues that we have tried to introduce to the net-left is a
>more complex understanding of the theoretical analysis of
>"representation". The net-left (as is clear from the painfully
simplistic 
>commentary by Hugh Rodwell on experience/knowledge) has bracketed all 
>that lies beyond the "common sense". It is, then, within such a context 
>that Jason Schulman understands "violence". "Violence" for him is that 
>which hurts the "body" and the "body" is that which is located in
"space"
>("kitchen"). It is only in such a philosophically naive and semiotically
>innocent context that Schulman recognizes violence and it is by
>supporting these discursive practices of Rodwell, Schulman ... that the
>net-left has produced a political unconscious which is sexist, racist,
>homophobic... Because no one bodily beats up women on this list, does 
>not mean that there has not been a tremendous amount of violence against

>them.

To say that verbal abuse equals "violence" is to cheapen the word.  I am
no more a supporter of sexist language and practice than you are, but I
will not equate insults with physical injuries.

>        The same localizing/trivializing of (in order to legitimate) 
>violence informs Jerry Levy's "defense" of the fascist practices of
>Rodwell. What Levy misses is the fact that posing a question -- outside
>any historical context that is developed by sustained critique -- is an
>attempt NOT at production of knowledge but is a strategy of surveillance
>and punishment (GIVE ME THE R I G H T answer or else).  This is Hugh
>Rodwell's strategy. This is the favored strategy of all fascists. 

Spoken like someone who hasn't the faintest idea of the difference
between a fascist and an everyday authoritarian.  I suggest you (re) read
Trotsky's on fascism and Daniel Guerin's *The Brown Plague*.

-- Jason
______
"Radicalism in the United States has no great triumphs to record; but the
sooner we begin to understand why this is, the sooner we will be able to
change it."  Christopher Lasch (1932-95), *The Agony of the American
Left* (1969).


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