TremulousTetra
prismatic universe
excellent post Groucho!Groucho said:Incidentally, I am a member of the SWP and have been for most of my adult life - in fact for just over half of my entire lifeFor most of that time I have been a very active member.
I remain commited to the politics of the SWP, and of all the various organisations on the left I feel strongly that the SWP has the soundest theoretical position, and has contributed the most to the movement. However, no organisation is perfect. The most crippling thing that can happen to an organisation is to i. deny reality and ii. create an atmosphere of sectarianism where the genuine theoretical and tactical differences end up taking second place to a kind of 'party patriotism'.
I support democrati centralism as being the most effective way for a revolutionary organisation to operate.
I have always been happy to work with other Socialists and progressives because generally* we are on the same bloody side! I will happily work with pretty much anyone on specific issues (excluding Fascists obviously). As a union rep I have to (quite rightly) work within a union that includes Tory voters.
One thing that always sadens me is to see members of 'rival' sets of initilals IS v IMG, SWP v SP tearing lumps out of each other. When an SP member began working at my place a few years back he expected me to be a block to his activity. Instead I encourage and supported him onto our union Committee. We caucused and compromised so that we could where possible present a united front within the union branch. It was almost invariably possible. Had we not worked together the more moderate elements would have used the division to carve us both out. As it happens we also engaged in rigourous debate over many many pints and he eventially joined the SWP.
I do not regard the SP as political enemies. There is a certain inevitable rivalry but ultimately there is enough in common that should permit us to work together. The SP are the most serious force on the left in Britain outside of the SWP. I am a Marxist and socialist first. I am a member of the SWP because I believe we have the best collective strategy to advance the Working Class movement. The party is never an end in and of itself.
In short I hate sectarianism!
*I say generally because occassionaly a leftist or Anarchist group adopts such a sectarian position that they become a sect and see their principle operation as attacking other left groups - e.g. CPGB/Weekly Worker.
as a poorly (politically and otherwise) educated working class lad, what drew me into the SWP was it's totally practical and pragmatic attitude. It wasn't just fancy sounding speeches full of rhetoric that was music to the ear, there was a plan of action. There was theory and practice.
fraternal greetings comrade, resistanceMP3
