(OPE-L) Re: Freeman, "Why not Eat Children?"

From: Gerald A. Levy (Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM)
Date: Sat Oct 16 2004 - 08:34:51 EDT


> It wasn't thought provoking at all but sowed illusions about
> the character of imperialism.

David Y,

What is deemed to be thought provoking, like beauty, is in the
eye of the beholder.  In this case, Freeman's article in _The
Guardian_ was deemed to be thought provoking by
"Venezuela News & Action" <newsandaction@veninfo.org>
which is distributed by the Venezuela Information Office:
"The Venezuela Information Office is dedicated to informing
the American public about contemporary Venezuela, and
receives its funding from the government of Venezuela".

What might be thought provoking would be to consider the
related questions of:

a) what is the analysis and praxis of the WSF?  (Recall how
at the end of _The Guardian_ article, Freeman was identified,
along with Boris Kagliarsky, in terms of his association with the
WSF).

b) what is the type of coalition needed, and on what political
basis should it be organized, by workers in the imperialist nations
to support the Bolivaran revolution in Venezuela? Clearly
the VIO thought that the Freeman article was in solidarity
with the people of Vzla and worthy of dissemination to
supporters in the US.

I suspect that if the author were to present a report to
cadre in his political party on the situation in Vzla then he
would have made other -- or, at least, additional -- points
(probably many of the points you made).  His audience,
though, was broader and -- in context -- I think the
article has to be seen in terms of his efforts to build the
WSF.  I suspect that since you have a different perspective
on what analysis should have been presented, it reflects
a different political position from Freeman on how to build
coalitions and maintain united fronts.  But, I should stop here
because I don't want to put words in your mouth or that of
Freeman.

In solidarity, Jerry


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