Dear David: You do make an excellent point - as (almost!) always. Or at least - if one can for now reject the term 'religious'. I do agree that sects are a major problem on the organised left-in-parties-right-now. As far as I can tell, my behaviour since I was 20 or so has not been sect-like and religious. I have tried to be involved as much as I can be with movements. beyond 'sects'. However - the thing is, for the friends/comrades that have built this site - they do hope that one purpose of it is: That it may serve as a discussion area for those believing there was a socialist state in the USSR up to 1953. (Life is never adequate without hope I think!). I am not ashamed in 2024, to be viewed as someone who still believes in a unitary democratic centralists party. I talked a while back as to why I think the term Stalinist is simply a catch-all for simple abuse or a lumping together of whatever-you-don't-like of Brezhenivism. Duane did not agree then, nor will he now.
Moving on however, even if you are of that ilk, there remain patent divisions. How are these overcome? Simply by - I think anyway - a combination of historical discussions; assessing current situations; and practical united front work in many contexts. So I have no doubt that starting from a statement about being "Marxist-Leninist" - positions, do then poses a barrier for some who would otherwise be interested in some of the pieces. So my own response is: (i) that is why I did not invite people to look at the article on Poland; or the article on 'Trotsky vs the Bolsheviks' - but this particular article. Apart from anything else I might add - that on this issue, I myself am frank that I am feeling my way, and genuinely open on this matter. (ii) Our writings are not confined to this site. For example, of my co-editors/collaborators at Berlin Left - I am the only one to self-describe as a MList at our meetings. I - and they - consider Berlin left to be a United front. Incidentally, I think I do not try to disguise the fact that I consider myself as a MList when writing submissions for it. But it is the case that my writings tend to be of a differing style for Berlin Left, than they would be for a rag that necessarily calls itself 'Marxist-Leninist'. This was not intended to be a long reply, merely to register that you certainly have a point! However on looking it over, to my dismay it stretches on a wee bit. Even so, I shan't prune it! Be Well, H -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#29252): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/29252 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/104713347/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: marxmail+ow...@groups.io Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [arch...@mail-archive.com] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
