The left platform - Thank God its over

The recent split in the SWP ( the departure of sixty members of the faction 'left platform') which was precipitated by the resignation of long standing SWP member (many years on the central committee) Lindsey German, has been a very sad affair, an utter distraction from political life and from my blog.

I had high hopes of developing the my last theme about faith on this blog, but was otherwise occupied with the horror that was unfolding which was the left platform faction formed late last year and supposedly disbanded after the annual conference in January, coming to its end, this week gone.

The circle of around sixty people seemed to have varying views, but were united against the party and their 'political strategy'. I didn't get too involved in the discussions because I was finding it all very sad indeed, and am not sufficiently involved at branch level. However one of the themes that seemed to emerge time and again was about the anti-capitalist / anti-war movement which the left platform seemed to think was the force (movement of people with left leaning - save the planet - capitalism sucks type ideas became visible in Seattle in 1999, but probably started before then, with for example the french workers strikes of 1995) which could be wielded to somehow oppose the recession.

That idea is really quite daft, first of all it lacks the understanding about how that movement has changed, we no longer see the huge demonstrations that characterised that era and culminated in the great and massive two million strong anti - Iraq war march in 2003, although many millions would be in some way more open to radical ideas through the actuality of that movement particularly the young, the forces that made it then are not the same now. We cannot go backwards in time, any new force will have new characteristics developed by those who have nothing to lose but their chains, if there will be a new force like that of anti - capitalism, maybe that was completely unique and never to be repeated. It doesn't mean we still can't fight the system as we always try our utmost to do.

The other reason why the left platform's position on the movement is daft is because they seem to think the direction can be turned by people in the SWP. We are and were only a part of that movement, we do not hold those sorts of powers, even if it existed today like it did in 2003, we could not tell the movement to come here or go there, it was a dynamic movement, a coming together of forces, we were and are only a very small part of it. To think that we are it and try to emulate the spirit of it for our own ends is opportunism, and shallow.

Now it is all over and sixty have left, we can resume the fight against the bosses system, a system of inequality, injustice, oppression, fascism and war. Yes with slightly depleted forces, and I am sorry about that. However, I can resume an orientation on the question of faith and socialist politics again, hopefully in my next post. Phew.

'cos you gotta have faith

In my view, having faith can make life much easier, we cannot live on bread alone, as human beings, we need spiritual sustenance. Especially considering the madness of the system we are born into. Such gross inequalities, poverty in the midst of colossal wealth, the wasting of lives through unnecessary wars, and of course the terrible, needless and careless slow destruction of the planet due to an insane desire and lust the ruling rich minority class has for fiscal profiteering.

The reality and truth of the situation can appear 'hidden' from us either because it is too much for us to think about and / or we are fed pettiness and pap to anaesthetise us. Examples such as some media like the Sun, the daily Mail, advertising, competition - starts at school, oneupmanship, these sorts of things all help mask the rotten reality of our daily lives and divert our thoughts away from the injustices of it.

There will be times when reality comes to light, all of us will experience these moments but maybe at different times and different places, some people may feel so incensed that they are driven to campaign and fight against the system. A revolutionary party such as the SWP is useful; it will enable those individuals to keep that fight going and will alert and educate people in other cases of injustices, not to mention an overall time tested theory about the most efficient and effective way to make fundamental changes in society, but that might be the subject of a future post.

For now, I want to look at the question of faith; whether it acts as a masking of the real conditions we are in, therefore duping us into accepting an unjust world and keep quiet, or whether faith or religion even can be useful to help set us free.

It Dread ina England

Twas such a dull day today weather wise; didn't feel like going out anywhere, it was cold, raining, sleeting, snowing and DARK man DARK.

However today marked three victories.

1/ a C18 (nazi - military wing) face book page was taken down late last night, it was called "I hate Romanian Gypsies". Well done to all those, particularly those in Ireland who fought it and brought it down so effectively.

2/ The nazi EDL (English defence league) have cancelled their latest trip to Bolton in march. They hurt and fight anyone and everyone on the streets who is not one of them. Black, white, Muslim, non Muslim, gay, straight, young, old, women, men. So, I am so glad they will not march and hopefully we will stop them again when they try to march in Dudley 4th April.

3/ The nazi BNP have been pulled from 'debating' at Newcastle university, planned demonstrations lead to its cancellation. They were to debate with the tories against multiculturalism, again I am so glad this has been stopped.

BIG UPS, PAT ON THE BACK, WELL DONE TO ALL ANTI - NAZIS

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