The first little discussion below is from the facebook page OCCUPY KANSAS CITY. The second is from #OccupyKC - We are the 99% - #EndCorporatocracy.
NOTE: PEOPLE WHO ARE SENDING HATEFUL EMAILS TO KCIWW AND TO DIANE NEED TO KNOCK IT OFF YOU ARE MISINTERPRETING THIS. THEY ARE NOT RACISTS. THE IWW IS OBVIOUSLY NOT RACISTS. I HAVE DISCUSSED ALL THIS WITH THEM. THEY GET IT. THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE. FUCKING LEAVE THEM ALONE ALREADY. IF YOU WANT TO ATTACK SOMEONE ATTACK REAL RACISTS, AND REAL NAZIS.
7 comments:
Hi Comrade,
I can't agree with you more on the need to smash racism. However, I think you are reading something into the statement posted by the KC IWW that wasn't intended by the original poster. They are saying we need to unite the working class across political lines. This would imply getting the working class element in the Tea Party to stop being racist and join the rest of the working class. That would mean to stop being Tea Partier. In my opinion, that's an unrealistic goal, but it's definitely not a racist goal. It's an anti-racist goal.
I am glad to you made the much-needed point that there is a a limit to who we can work with, but you should be careful not to put words in other peoples' mouths to advance your arguments. Let's not just be constructively critical, let's assume the best of our comrades rather than the worst.
in solidarity,
Erik Forman
IWW member- personal capacity
What is "racist" about that was posted by the KCIWW?
I am am a member of the IWW, And the AFT) originally from a small town in Kansas, a mix of 4 different European ancestries and one native/indian & i do not see anything other than an appeal for working class solidarity and the urging to engage in dialogue with people who have beliefs that work to divide and concur those of us who are workers of whatever stripe we find ourselves. How can we influence without engaging the people who are concerned about the so-called "wedge" issues (gun control, women's reproductive health, gender, sexual orientation, etc)?
I agree with Brother Foreman.
I also am sincerely asking these questions. I want to understand your reasoning.
In Solidarity,
Wade Hannon,
Chicago
Oh dear.
While I do totally agree with you, the individual who posted that certainly did not mean that they wanted to welcome nazis into their company. I know this individual personally and consider them a friend. I hope you'll believe me when I say that... the intent is not as bad as it might sound. :)
NOTE: PEOPLE WHO ARE SENDING HATEFUL EMAILS TO KCIWW AND TO DIANE NEED TO KNOCK IT OFF YOU ARE MISINTERPRETING THIS. THEY ARE NOT RACISTS. THE IWW IS OBVIOUSLY NOT RACISTS. I HAVE DISCUSSED ALL THIS WITH THEM. THEY GET IT. THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE. FUCKING LEAVE THEM ALONE ALREADY. IF YOU WANT TO ATTACK SOMEONE ATTACK REAL RACISTS, AND REAL NAZIS.
I think you're looking too much into this. From the perspective of workplace organizing, you have to take these people on and dialogue with them. The amount of racists that are in political groups is very low. But the amount of people who are racist is high, and in organizing, you need a way of dealing with that. That includes dialogue with them to try and kill that attitude and if worst comes to worse, you need to find a way to isolate them and steal their base from them.
I didn't read KCIWW's statement as a formal endorsement of some sort of united front with fascist groups and I sincerely doubt it was meant that way.
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