Mr. Proyect, I came across this column by Christopher Hedges and, while I agreed with the overall sentiment, was bothered by what I saw was a misrepresentation of Marx in the first few paragraphs as well as an overall apologetic tone for the "failures of Communism". I realize that the history of most communist countries is darkened by state abuses and violence, but I don't see why it seems so obligatory for certain Marxists and leftists to have to preface their ideas for alternative societies with an apology for the crimes committed by the U.S.S.R., China, etc. I understand that millions suffered in the name of "communism" and that for that reason, the word itself may leave a bad taste in some mouths, but to constantly feel the need to apologize for past abuses seems to me to indicate that one feels that Marxism in and of itself is significantly to blame and that by associating oneself with this school of thought somehow, however remotely, puts you in the same club as Stalin.
Another thing that irked me was his insinuation that Marx "worshiped" the state a "utopian" mechanism. I may be mistaken, but I always thought the idea was to take over the state and use it's power insofar as to set up a just society, and after all is said and done, to let it wither away as we progress beyond the need for it. The way he words this critique makes it sound as if it had come from a hard-line Bakuninite. While I agree with him that not everyone has to agree with Marx to help in the fight for a better world, I do think that he should at least try a little harder not to misrepresent the man in an article calling for the school of thought he founded to be taken seriously. Sorry for such a rant, and I don't mean to seem like I'm slamming Hedges because, although I am familiar with the name, I can't say I have read much of his work and so am unable to pass too much judgment. And, as I said, I agree with the overall sentiment. Well, keep blogging in good health, and I anxiously await your next post. My reply: I think that Hedges is best seen as a work-in-progress. If we had a powerful and massive socialist movement in the USA, he would certainly become part of it just the way that John Reed was in previous era. It is our job to build such a movement to help intellectuals and artists find their proper voice. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
