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Open letter to M4 action critics
2 cents from an old comrade
Friends and comrades-
For disclosure: I am a comrade who spent over a decade active in radical politics in Oakland, and who has recently left the area. Being away from recent events in the Bay makes me hesitant to comment on the March 4th actions, but seeing so many comments and opinions aired by folks who were clearly not there or did not participate I feel I might as well offer my 2 cents.
I have just three thoughts to submit:
1) If you were not there, did not participate in the 880 takeover or other direct actions, please do not denigrate those who were there and did take part based on unfounded assumptions or your own pet theories or beefs. Chances are if you weren't there you don't really know what you're talking about.
2) If you have a problem with direct action, or a specific action, then don't engage in it. But don't hide behind accusations against and assumptions about those that do engage because you have a problem with action itself. Don't pretend you would be down if and when this or that impossible or unrealistic condition is met, if you simply don't like people taking radical action with their bodies and that is what really scares or offends you. Rebellions are messy and imperfect things, the State is massive and more repressive than many of us care to admit; all that individuals have is their own agency and bodies, don't castigate them for doing the best they can, even if it is not perfect. It can't be.
3) Please stop sniping at folks from behind the barricades of your laptops. If you have a legitimate tactical or ethical concern, and actually do radical organizing work in the community you live in, then you know who to talk to about such things and where and when it is appropriate to do so. If you don't do such work, then it is best to stay out of it, or get involved now and figure it out the hard way, through experience. If you really think facebook or this sight is an appropriate place to take militants to task, then it is safe to assume you are not as down as you would have us believe. And please, please, don't bait people on a public forum that we all know the state has its eyes on.
That's my 2 cents and all (or more) than I probably have the right to say from here.
Hasta Siempre!
For disclosure: I am a comrade who spent over a decade active in radical politics in Oakland, and who has recently left the area. Being away from recent events in the Bay makes me hesitant to comment on the March 4th actions, but seeing so many comments and opinions aired by folks who were clearly not there or did not participate I feel I might as well offer my 2 cents.
I have just three thoughts to submit:
1) If you were not there, did not participate in the 880 takeover or other direct actions, please do not denigrate those who were there and did take part based on unfounded assumptions or your own pet theories or beefs. Chances are if you weren't there you don't really know what you're talking about.
2) If you have a problem with direct action, or a specific action, then don't engage in it. But don't hide behind accusations against and assumptions about those that do engage because you have a problem with action itself. Don't pretend you would be down if and when this or that impossible or unrealistic condition is met, if you simply don't like people taking radical action with their bodies and that is what really scares or offends you. Rebellions are messy and imperfect things, the State is massive and more repressive than many of us care to admit; all that individuals have is their own agency and bodies, don't castigate them for doing the best they can, even if it is not perfect. It can't be.
3) Please stop sniping at folks from behind the barricades of your laptops. If you have a legitimate tactical or ethical concern, and actually do radical organizing work in the community you live in, then you know who to talk to about such things and where and when it is appropriate to do so. If you don't do such work, then it is best to stay out of it, or get involved now and figure it out the hard way, through experience. If you really think facebook or this sight is an appropriate place to take militants to task, then it is safe to assume you are not as down as you would have us believe. And please, please, don't bait people on a public forum that we all know the state has its eyes on.
That's my 2 cents and all (or more) than I probably have the right to say from here.
Hasta Siempre!
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thanks for injecting some common sense into this. xo
"'Old Comrade'' thinks that unless you were stupid or naive enough to have taken part of the adventure on the freeway you should keep your mouth shut . Or only forward your criticisms thru ''proper channels '.
That sounds similar to some right wing Vet saying that only those that fought in a war can criticize it
Any rally, demo, building occupation , etc, can be justly commented on by any particpant in that movement .
I think the real issue is that no more than 5% of the Oakland rally took part in the freeway action and most of the Anti-Education Cuts movement don't agree with it . Instead of blasting your critics and insisting they shut up maybe, just maybe you should seriously listen and even re -evaulate .
That sounds similar to some right wing Vet saying that only those that fought in a war can criticize it
Any rally, demo, building occupation , etc, can be justly commented on by any particpant in that movement .
I think the real issue is that no more than 5% of the Oakland rally took part in the freeway action and most of the Anti-Education Cuts movement don't agree with it . Instead of blasting your critics and insisting they shut up maybe, just maybe you should seriously listen and even re -evaulate .
People can do what they want if they think they are free. They can go onto highways. They can criticize. They can accept or reject criticism or just think about it or just ignore it. They can change or stay the same. how i see the world is not how anyone else sees it so until i see the world the way the other person does - do i criticize what they did or how they see the world?
since each person has their own view of the world, should i criticize the way each individual acts or thinks or the dynamics of how a group acts or thinks?. should i be trying to change others or just change myself who i do have control over?
maybe i should do and say nothing because free people are going to act and think how they want to irregardless of my view of the world and how things ought to be.
now the other view: if police think they can get away with it - if they are "free" to do what they want with impunity....well, then, they can beat people and be abusive - do whatever they want irregardless of the laws. the laws mean nothing to them either. they are anarchical pigs. however, the police are not supposed to be free to do whatever they want...they are sworn to obey the law. does the law mean anything?
since each person has their own view of the world, should i criticize the way each individual acts or thinks or the dynamics of how a group acts or thinks?. should i be trying to change others or just change myself who i do have control over?
maybe i should do and say nothing because free people are going to act and think how they want to irregardless of my view of the world and how things ought to be.
now the other view: if police think they can get away with it - if they are "free" to do what they want with impunity....well, then, they can beat people and be abusive - do whatever they want irregardless of the laws. the laws mean nothing to them either. they are anarchical pigs. however, the police are not supposed to be free to do whatever they want...they are sworn to obey the law. does the law mean anything?
So, if one wasn't there, they have no right to an opinion? And if their opinion is counter that of the action then it is invalid and should be silenced.
By employing that logic? Nobody has a right to an opinion on Oscar Grant's murder, cause but for a handful of individuals; cauuse but for those individuals, they weren't there.
And by that logic, nobody here gets to lambast the cops for clubbing the protesters on the freeway, because that was a radical action, so if you don't like it, you just need to shut up about it rather than voice your dissent.
Ya see what I'm gettin at here? Free speech and the right to voice ones opinion goes both ways; whether one is physically there at the time of the incident they are voicing an opinion on or not.
Keep it real y'all
By employing that logic? Nobody has a right to an opinion on Oscar Grant's murder, cause but for a handful of individuals; cauuse but for those individuals, they weren't there.
And by that logic, nobody here gets to lambast the cops for clubbing the protesters on the freeway, because that was a radical action, so if you don't like it, you just need to shut up about it rather than voice your dissent.
Ya see what I'm gettin at here? Free speech and the right to voice ones opinion goes both ways; whether one is physically there at the time of the incident they are voicing an opinion on or not.
Keep it real y'all
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