Melvyn posed posed one of the truly difficult challenges that the left faces: learning how to learn from the masses at the same time as we supply them with information. Listening is a very difficult skill. I remember trying to speak with the boyfriend of my first wife's mother. He worked in a gas station. He was not stupid, but he was angry. He directed much of this anger at Blacks, but I think he was racist. He just had this anger and he did not know where to direct it.
Fortunately, I just read a wonderful book -- The Hidden Injuries of Class -- which helped me to translate some of his words into what he was really thinking rather than to come down on him as a stupid racist. I do not pretend to be entirely successful. Usually the discussion would get to a degree of rationality, but then would return to the same ugly spot the next time we would meet. In a way, Melvyn is at a great advantage, coming from his experience as an auto worker, an environment that has a long history militancy, both intellectual and practical. But he is absolutely correct in realizing that Bush is much more effective than speaking to the working-class family on the left. I wish it were otherwise. On Sat, Jul 31, 2004 at 04:36:05PM -0400, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Don't get me wrong. . . I love books . . . but a segment of the so-called > Marxist intellegincia have not asked people what they actually think and feel. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
