[mobglob-discuss] Towards McCarthyism: The G8 and beyond

Thu Jul 11 22:32:50 PDT 2002

Mac, you found me? I wasn't lurking in any bush luring unsuspecting flower
children into the wonderful world of Neo-Nazism. I was walking around in the
open, distributing free copies of an article by Starhawk regarding the G8
summit, in a newspaper that regularly publishes her work. That's what i was
doing that day, whatever you may think.

The Radical Press, yes. The same paper that gave countless full page and
centre spread coverage of our struggle to save the Elaho in '99 and 2000.
Articles by Betty Krawczyk, Reasha Wolfe, and other heroes of that battle.
The only paper that publicized the sickening story from a United Nations
Tribunal held to uncover the ring of police, priests, and an NDP cabinet
minister passing northern native children around a pedophile ring. I have
many issues filled with such writing and valuable information. Haven't seen
a single racist/sexist/homophobic or bigoted statement promoted in any
issue. I am not aware of any anti-Semitic, neo-nazi, or terrorist promotion
in this paper. Show me an issue with such things and i will reconsider my
support for the paper.

What i *was* doing that day was distributing free copies of an article by
Starhawk. Which i had accepted the previous night at Starhawk's ceremonial
recognition and celebration of the full moon. Arthur Topham, publisher of
the Radical Press, also participated.

What *you* were doing that day was pure hysterical McCarthyism. Yelling in
my face, refusing to let me speak at all, refusing to say anything to
support your opinion (stated as a demand that i stop distributing it)
despite my request for explanation. Yelling "You're a white guy, how could
you?" louder and louder each time i tried to ask what the hell you were
talking (raving) about. "Haven't you read Will Offley?" thrown in once. I'm
guessing he must be the one who does your thinking for you. And when,
realizing that you were at least temporarily irrational, i sought to
de-escalate your agitation by saying that i would sit down and read whatever
it was you objected to then decide what to do, you said "that's not good
enough" and threatened to denounce me at meetings.

    Mc·Car·thy·ism   Pronunciation Key  (m-kärth-zm)
    n.
    - The practice of publicizing accusations of political disloyalty or
subversion with insufficient regard to evidence.
    - The use of unfair investigatory or accusatory methods in order to
suppress opposition.
        Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition
    - unscrupulously accusing people of disloyalty (as by saying they were
Communists)
        Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University

And here we are. In one short letter you indirectly associate me, if not
outright accuse me, of racism, anti-semitism, homophobia, fascism, and some
future deaths of activists. For a really thorough hatchet job you should
throw in pedophilia and cannibalism.

The point is you don't know shit yet insist on throwing it. You make
hysterical claims in hysterical manner and encourage others to join in
finger pointing and denunciation at meetings. And you lead the charge by
exposing this supposed lurking White Supremist Neo-Nazi -- who incidentally
advocates native sovereignty ;)

Bar Neo-Nazi and related organizations from social justice coalitions? Of
course. I presume that is what Garth promotes although clarification from
him would be welcome. That's a far different thing than the destructive
McCarthyism you practice and promote.

I maintain the supposition that you are motivated by an honourable desire to
snuff out racism and hatred. I submit that your methodology is misguided,
flawed and dangerous and can cause serious harm to innocent people and any
movement this foul dogmatic practice takes root in.

By the way Mac, though you don't seem to care much for facts, here's a few
you got wrong:
 - i was never at the showdown at the hoedown
 - you haven't known me for two years, in fact the first time we met was a
few months ago when i was the only one who showed up to your call for action
for the homeless. In *fact* you don't know me at all. Other than a few
minutes on that one occasion we have never sat and talked. I guess a
complete absence of understanding or real knowledge about someone never
stood in the way of a good tar and feathering.
 - there isn't to my knowledge any "racist filth" in the paper i was passing
out. I haven't read every word in it, but have confidence in Arthur Topham
(publisher and editor) inspired by personal conversations, his actions, and
by past issues of his paper. Prove otherwise about the issue I was
distributing or retract your statement that you saw me "carrying such racist
filth". Hopefully honesty does fit your agenda. I'll even provide you with a
free copy (ditto for anyone who wishes to know the facts and think for
themselves, i have half a dozen left).

give peace a chance
rick

-----Original Message-----
From: mobglob-discuss-admin at resist.ca
[mailto:mobglob-discuss-admin at resist.ca]On Behalf Of Macdonald Stainsby
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 11:17 AM
To: mobglob-discuss at resist.ca
Subject: Re: [mobglob-discuss] Towards McCarthyism: The G8 and beyond

----- Original Message -----
From: "rick" <rickm at sprint.ca>

-----------------------------------
> "Towards McCarthyism" would be a more appropriate title for Mac's thread,
> and i do have something to say about letting other people do your thinking
> for you, about fear, courage of your convictions, faith and trust in the
> body of social activists, but i have to run off for work.
>
> peace
> rick

So there is actually some logic behind this, and so people know why Rick
feels
it needed to take such shots, I found him in Calgary distributing the
newspapaer
the "Radical"- that has constantly promoted David Icke (anti-semite, loon),
has
run full articles by well-known Neo-Nazi Paul Fromm, where he blamed the WTC
bombings on our horribly lax immigration policies, where Gordon Watson the
anti-abortion terrorist of women has had a chance to rant his filth, and had
many further connections to the far right. This is another example of what
is
happening in our movement here. We want to have the ability to have people
not
white feel safe and comfortable working with mobglab, and right now it is
overwhelmingly white. THis kind of racism can lead (and always does) to
further
fascism; it is time enough is said about that and people decide how to deal
with
it.

I have known Rick, although admittedly not well, for a couple of years and
was
personally extremely disappointed and shocked to see him carrying such
racist
filth at the "Showdown at the Hoe-down". We have to make it clear to our
future
allies that, yes, we are going to defend your right not to be involved in an
organisation that tolerates "Jewish conspiracy" or "immigration is killing
the
country" or other such stuff to be representative of us.

I too have an unbound faith in a community of activists, I have a strong
belief
that only a strong, respectful and tolerant movement has any chance. We to
be
diverse, promoting and accepting the best from each and every facet of our
movement. When we allow in racists (or simply apologists) we eliminate
diversity, create a space where only (certain) whites feel comfortable, give
absolutely no respect to either the future victims of racism nor ourselves
when
we claim to oppose it and we are only tolerant of the intolerant. I have a
faith
that only activists themselves can speak up for each other- that is why we
are
going to have be very uncomppromising on how we deal with fascism in all of
it's
ugliness. It's just as important for white folks to oppose this and not
leave it
to Jews, Pakistanis, etc. as it is for men to oppose sexist behaviours and
not
wait for the women to take the lead.

"Freedom of ideas" is always the last refuge of the anti-semitic, sexist,
homophobe- because it is the only argument that works to attempt to defend
the
indefensible. We are being turned into a target market for the far right: do
we
want to wait until it's too late, not just for the organisation, but for the
very life of someone we know? I wish, I only really wish, that was a
rhetorical
question. Unfortunately, history says otherwise.

Macdonald

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