alanjjohnstone
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Quote:If I'm wrong about this, correct me, but it looks sometimes that the tv review or the sports column is hidebounded by the fact that the columns are supposed to fit a certain word length. (usually too short.)
Material World column 750-850 wordsI'll accept your suggestion that there should not be a regular guest column…and will amend to frequent submissions from non-members, with some non-members contributors to be headlined prominently on the front cover if appropriate for publicity and contemporary events.
There are two angles to be tackled. The easier is the simple Irish nationalist one of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the division between those that heeded the call and those who heeded the counter-command not to participate. And then there is the Irish Citizens Army position. Connolly was increasingly taking a pro-German stance and the banner over their HQ "Neither king nor kaiser" wasn't quite accurate.Any analysis i think must speculate with mind games about just what Connolly was thinking and all that blood-sacrifice motivations he could achieve and will be i think imprecise without having the before-mentioned lying on a psychiatrist couch.I go with our own and Sean O'Casey's using the preponderance of evidence …it was effectively a betrayal of the working class. As YMS mentions the aftermath was a tragedy and generations suffered. Imagine if the Rising was only an IRB affair and the ICA remained intact…A whole alternative history could be written. In 2016 despite all the sympathetic articles that will appear elsewhere, we should not shy away from the unpopular view.As an aside, where i worked we had a shop-steward who was actively involved with the Orange Order, not just the mainstream but in independant lodge that had been expelled for its extremism, (he was also a very early member of UKIP), yet he raised no objections whatsoever when the James Connolly banner would appear on our pickets, arguing that there were two Connolly's…the nationalist who he objected to, but also the trade unionist Connolly who he had no problems with. In that sense his views was very similar to mine…on Connolly, i hastily add.
A more recent case cited in the Monument from the 50s was a couple, both members, who were exposed by the News of the World of running a call-girl agency. They were not expelled but some members did try to ostracise them when they turned up at conference.Now the law of the land said that they committed a crime, but was it contravening party principles? Were they exploiting unwilling women or assisting women who were not forced into such a business and merely taking a cut?We all know that there are two views on prostitution that are prevalent…one is that it is vile (an anagram of evil), another is that it is a job like so many others where people sell their bodies and labour-power. The IWW has an industrial union for sex-workers, for instance.Is the party equipped to make a decision on such topics or as YMS says restrict ourselves simply to what impact it has on our ability to advocate socialism and judege only from that perspective. It means of course around the world socialists will take differing viewpoints depending on the local attitudes there is to those involved in the sex industry. But i think as i suggested in my previous comment, the Party may well take a moralistic attitude based on the opinions of people at particular moment in history when it comes to trying to differentiate between crimes.
Quote:Debate on all the 16 Items for Discussion placed on the Agenda by branches of The Socialist Party will be conducted at the Autumn Delegate Meeting on Saturday, 24 October and on the afternoon of Sunday, 25 October.I think there is little harm for those unable or unwilling to be at ADM in person once the agenda is available to express their views in advance of ADM so perhaps his or her points might well be raised by someone attending and also i think all members are entitled to comment upon the proceedings once a report of it is posted especially if a party poll is taking place.And to put my money where my mouth is —-
Quote:“Which reasons, other than non-acceptance of the party's object or contravention of the declaration of principles, may be deemed action detrimental to the interests of the party?”I think myself public expressions of sexism, including homophobia or discrimination against transgender, racism and support for nationalism and professing belief for a particular religion may well be valid reasons for expulsionOur D of P are a little vague on these grounds even though our explanation on the website elaborates somewhat. And it will lead to some issues. For example, what is sexism…for instance what about if a married member was divorced for "mental cruelty"…hence my caveat that it should be public expression rather than based on private behaviour. When it comes to criminal convictions i think it is a huge grey area. I can't comment on NERB experience since i have very limited information to the actual situation but for the branch the nature of the crime determined much of their actions. And i think that may well be the situation that all branches will face. Many specific crimes are of particular revulsion to members, while others much less so (which i think KSRB are drawing our attention to.) But it does lead us into various dilemmas of the Party deeming itself judge and jury and what if the crime is a past one and within the scope of the Rehabilitation of Offenders that he or she need not declare it but somehow, it becomes known to the Party. Do we hold their past actions against prospective or existing members and that a person cannot change and punishment ever-lasting.The issue for ADM is a very difficult one, full of blurred lines (and dare i use the word morality) that i don't think it can be clearly designated by fixed rules. I think it has to be judged case by case and for common sense to prevail. What we have to avoid apart from being seen condone certain anti-social actions is to have lynch-mob and mob justice decide membership criteria.
And (c) we also permit views contrary to the Party to be expressed through a number of interviews that the Standard has published.But i think a regular "Guest Column" would be a welcomed addition to the Standard since it may perhaps strike up a more lively debate and discussion interaction, something which we presently don't have much of but possibly could capitalise upon.Full 100% expression of the Party case need not be a requisite when a disclaimer can be used. If they wish to be critical of our position in an article our only requirement should be that this is stated explicitly.Other occasions could be i suppose a more expert observation on domestic politics or the international diplomacy in foreign affairs. We do have fairly comradely contact with a number of non-party writers who i think could be persuaded to contribute. On the downside, i think if we only let them write on topics which are acceptable to us, it may limit it to technical details and intricate points of Marxian economics or whatever.
Former UK Ambassador to Syria state that David Cameron's policy on Syria is wrong and that Russia's is right.https://youtu.be/CAAb4ItRuNE
Thought this thread should be bumped up since it looks as if the UK will soon be flying strike actions in Syria and upping their drone assassinationsNo doubt we have all read how Russian aircraft are tresspassing into Turkish airspace…but is it true?Turkish "airspace" is now 5 miles INSIDE Syria's airspaceI first read it on a Russian Insider which of course is a questionable bias source http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/russia-violated-turkish-airspace-because-turkey-moved-its-border/ri10230So waited until it was confirmed by another source, this time a Turkish newspaperhttp://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkish-f-16s-intercept-russian-jet-after-violating-turkish-air-space-2314895Of course, the media is conveniently silent on the almost daily violations of Syria's airspace by Turkey and the rest of the anti-Assad coalition, unlike Russia, none of which have been invited to participate by the legally recognised and UN endorsed government of Syria.
Quote:has always been poison to the elites in Dublin and London, but an inspiration to lovers of freedom everywhere.That it was an inspiration most definitely cannot be denied and numerous romanticised myths have grown up around it but can we say the Rising was the proper strategy for those claiming to be socialists to have embarked upon alongside nationalist anti-socialists, much less an example to be emulated by future generations.In fact, shouldn't the German socialists in the abortive uprisings of 1921 and 1923 have taken heed of the lessons of Dublin, 1916. In saying that, i look forward to reading this book sometime, for i do possess a certain amount of empathy for Connolly even if i do think he picked the wrong options in his life…i know…i know…heresy to confess that on this forum..and i have always like Irish Rebel songs…
An interview worth taking the time to readhttp://www.truth-out.org/news/item/33082-more-leisure-less-capitalism-thanks-to-tech
Quote:You think capitalism is going to end?Yes. Which doesn't mean that I think exploitative, hierarchical, social structures are going to end. I just think that what we have thought of as capitalism, based primarily on the exploitation of wage labor to make profit, is going to turn into something else.I'm not convinced
I wonder if our Manchester comrades knew they were under the sights of the Statehttp://i3.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article10193625.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/JS73729313.jpghttp://i1.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article10193630.ece/BINARY/JS73723335.jpg
Not sure of the full result but the status quo has apparently wonI was however intrigued to learn that Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc) – a far left party has no official leader but is overseen instead by a six-member committee. May not mean anything but i wonder if othere here might know more
BBC reports that 60,000 took part in this demonstration. The comrades in Manchester certainly had their work cut out in trying to leaflet so many. Congrats to all who turned up and leafletted.
Hmmm…just because i never get the answer, i keep thinking of the running joke in Reginald Perrin of the commuter train scenes and the crossword questions.
