[DEBATE] : Support the March against Xenophobia-Saturday 24th May

[Peter Dwyer]

Its easy to understand Azwell, I agree with the need for lots of action, 
independent action, Isaid that.

I just dont agree that you should allow sectarianism (again I insist on both 
sides!) to determine what is and isn't needed. I must confess that you do 
seem, implicitly, rather overly-concerned that the Allaicne may be 
criticised...and that seems to be clouding your genuine need/agreement for a 
united front against xenophobia.

There will ALWAYS be those who attack the Alliance and government, whether 
you (or others) consider it genuie criticism or fair or appropriate or not 
in this case is not important. What is politiclaly and socially important is 
to build as big and as broad a united front against xenophobia. Indeed, I 
fear your position unwittingly plays into the hands of sectariansim.

Your analysis seems to me to effectively keep putting off the need for a 
united front. Sectarianism will, sadly, often exist, on your basis coz that 
is so,  attempts at united front work should be put off until the time is 
right..I think the time is right. As the anarchists say 'if not now when, if 
not you, who?'

Dr Peter Dwyer
Bradford Resource Centre,
17-21 Chapel Street,
Bradford, BD1 5DT.

Work: 01274 779003
Mobile: 07947857906
www.brc-net.org.uk
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Azwell Banda" <azwell at ecsecc.org>
To: "'debate: SA discussion list '" <debate at debate.kabissa.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 4:05 PM
Subject: RE: [DEBATE] : Support the March against Xenophobia-Saturday 24th 
May


> Comrade Peter, I am all for anything (almost from anyone) that could stem
> the growing tide of xenophobia in South Africa. However, I am not sure at
> this stage whether "big" events involving coordination of most of the
> progressive movement here would be useful, let alone successful.
>
> I fully agree with you that in fact if properly organised, perhaps such an
> event would in fact contribute to uniting the Left in SA. But, I am aware
> that when COSATU called for a march against the ongoing problems in Zim 
> and
> the food price inflation, some groupings chose the occasion to in fact
> lambast COSATU. Now, I have a huge problem with this kind of extreme
> Leftwing madness - you cannot use a platform I have organised to protest
> such an obvious issue as the political and economic situation in Zim and 
> the
> post election violence to score some cheap points against me. I might as
> well do it alone - for, electoral political violence is bad, irrespective 
> of
> the ideological orientation one may be coming from, it needs to be
> condemned. The SA media love this kind of ANC/COSATU/SACP bashing, and in
> the process, actually conceal the reasons why the activity took place at
> all.
>
> While there is no doubt in my mind that the poor working class communities
> in this country have been abandoned with the "poors" from other countries, 
> I
> do not think that this is sufficient and necessary reason, and
> justification, for the violent xenophobic reaction the SA poor working 
> class
> are currently displaying. I think that the broadest possible mobilisation
> against the savagery being meted out to people not born in South Africa 
> must
> be encouraged. But, alas, the South African Left is too steeped in 
> primitive
> sectarian politics, and completely incapable of recognising the importance
> of broad based, short term, tactical alliances to stump out such problems 
> as
> SA is currently facing. Instead, a real danger does exist of inadvertently
> supplanting the problem of xenophobia with the problems inherent in the SA
> left, should hurried "joint actions" be planned.
>
> On the other hand, independent actions not only give all of us the
> opportunity to determine the actual size and strength of such left
> organisations on the ground should they initiate individual actions, but
> also guarantee a study supply of positive anti xenophobia actions and
> messages. Further, such independent actions would give sufficient space to
> criticise anyone such organisations chose to, in the process, giving all 
> of
> us real food for thought, regarding the causes of the current violent 
> crisis
> in this country. Surely this is not too difficult to understand?
>
> Huge hugs,
>
> Azwell.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: debate-bounces at debate.kabissa.org
> [mailto:debate-bounces at debate.kabissa.org] On Behalf f Peter Dwyer
> Sent: 22 May 2008 04:30 PM
> To: debate: SA discussion list
> Subject: Re: [DEBATE] : Support the March against Xenophobia-Saturday 24th
> May
>
> Whilst Azwell is correct that lots of continuous action is important I
> simply dont agree that a big series of organsied evenst have the potential
> to turn the left in on itself...even if that may be possible, .surely the
> opposite must also be possible-i.e  that they can be used as a uniting 
> force
>
> for the
> left.
>
>
>
>
>