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It's hard to write about a good comrade who has died. Tom Condit was a good comrade. Although I met Tom in the early 1970’s, I didn’t get to know him until I became actively involved in the Peace and Freedom Party in the 1980’s. Tom was part of a remarkable little group of people in Berkeley, CA who kept the Peace and Freedom Party alive, and on the ballot, as a socialist alternative for voters in the state of California from the 1970's until now, (including putting it back on the ballot after it lost its status). Tom and his friends were not just involved in electoral activities, but were there on the front lines of demonstrations, strikes and boycotts. One thing that was remarkable about Tom was that he could fight for his principles, but continue to work with his opponents in other areas where there was common ground, or to work with them again another day when common ground was found again. You could find Tom on a picket line organized by the Bolshevik Tendency (a long forgotten split from the Spartacist League), or in a committee meeting with people from the Communist Party USA. While Tom could get angry, I never saw him lose his cool. I think the anti-sectarian attitude of Tom and his group of close comrades is something that everyone who ever came into contact with Tom has been strongly impressed with, and something which anyone on the left in the USA or elsewhere could learn a lot from. In my opinion, the left in the USA has lost an important leader, even if he was rarely recognized in public for his leadership. My condolences to Marsha, and to all of Tom’s close friends, comrades and family. Ted Zuur ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
