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Announcement :: Peace |
Public Meeting: What Happens after Nov. 2? |
Current rating: 0 |
by Tom Mackaman Email: tmackaman (nospam) yahoo.com (verified) |
25 Oct 2004
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Public Meeting of the Socialist Equality Party, sponsored by Students for Social Equality, this Thursday at 7pm in 319 Gregory Hall. |
I warmly invite all IMC readers to a Public Meeting of the Socialist Equality Party, sponsored by Students for Social Equality, this Thursday at 7pm in 319 Gregory Hall.
I will be speaking, along with SEP national representatives Jerry White, US congressional candidate in Michigan, and David North, Secretary of the SEP. The talks will be followed by Q&A and open discussion with those attending.
The meeting will not be a typical campaign event. Instead, discussion will relate to the war in Iraq and the future of US democracy.
This promises to be a very interesting and important event. White and North are both excellent public speakers and have written extensively on the war in Iraq and numerous other issues for the World Socialist Web Site (wsws.org). Please take the time to attend! And please forward this e-mail to others who may be interested!
plese e-mail tmackaman (at) yahoo.com with questions! |
This work is in the public domain |
Re: Public Meeting: What Happens after Nov. 2? |
by goodriddancegipper (No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0 27 Oct 2004
|
To Jack Fan and Anna (Perhaps one in the same):
You two are self-absorbed toads. Here you have the opportunity to comment on someone locally with the courage to ask broad, relevant questions about the current condition in America, as well as the extremely costly war based on lies abroad, and the best that you can do is to pick your intellectual noses and fling your rewards onto this website. Then again, actual commentary from either of you is probably not preferable, considering the typical slack-jawed nature of your other insipid posts.
Cheers to Tom Mackaman not only for his innovative and successful campaign--regardless of whether or not he gets elected--but also for his willingness to tackle serious issues affecting our community, our state and our nation. Cheers also for having the guts to stick to his left-wing convictions, and to consistently speak eloquently. You've been a breath of fresh air for local politics, Tom. |
Re: Public Meeting: What Happens after Nov. 2? |
by goodriddancegipper (No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0 27 Oct 2004
|
How are you using "this web to its fullest extend [Sic.] to promote" your "global political views," as they pertain to Tom's candidacy? Do you accept, reject, or modify's Tom's views of and opposition to the war in Iraq, the current crisis in American democracy, the crises facing workers in America and worldwide, and other pertinent topics which Tom is urging "courageous" people such as yourself to engage? Try making posts that relate at least somewhat to the topic of the original post.
Tom's candicacy is innovative in several respects, not the least of which is his willingness to make the national--indeed the global--local. Moreover, Tom is reinvigorating multi-party politics by challenging the two-party duopoly that, with the recent exception of the Greens, has faced few challenges. These are the things that this site was designed to tackle, and I politely urge people to consider these and other issues that Tom has raised, and respond accordingly.
I also urge people to listen to the debates in which Tom has participated, and availed himself rather well, I might add. |
Re: Public Meeting: What Happens after Nov. 2? |
by goodriddancegipper (No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0 27 Oct 2004
|
Jack Fan/Anna:
No, it was a way in which to prevent its removal to the hidden bin, to which my previous and rather venomous post was sent, perhaps rightly so. However, my sentiments in that original post, which I shall not repost, and the first to which you refer reflect my true sentiments about your so-called opinions, which are that they a waste of this medium. Your self-indulgent digressions were the ultimate disrespect to both Tom's original post, and the overall purpose of this website. Period. I do indeed politely urge people to consider the issues that Tom has raised. Since this rather rudimentary request seems to be beyond both of your respective capacities, it would seem not to apply to you, no? So a polite request to thoughtful readers who can stay on topic, AND a sharp jab at those who not only do not do this but also fail to maintain a pretense of either addressing Tom's post/issues or having a real and thoughtful conversation about them, can in fact coexist. Both stand.
Speaking of stances, did anyone hear Tom pillory Naomi Jakobbson (sp?) for her characterization of the Democratic Party as "historically the party of the people?" Tom's response was that he was a History TA at the University of Illinois, and if she were in his class, he would give her an "F." He then went on to list the various reasons why the Democratic Party has not been the party of the people, including being the party of slavery, then segregation, of Vietnam, and other ignominious issues. Although for some the Democratic Party has been embracing, it certainly has not been nearly so all-embracing. Tom's point was brilliant.
This is to a significant degree why Tom's candidacy is crucial. If this were simply a race between a Democratic candidate and a Republican one, such a comment from the Democrat would not have been so directly and accurately challenged, if it were addressed at all. While such a point should not lead one to automatically dismiss Democratic candidates today, it ought to lead people to leap out of our typically presentist perspectives and view issues and institutions historically. This becomes easier when we either step back a bit in order to think critically, or expose ourselves to others who put themselves in a position to do so. That's both a purpose and a goal of democracy. It's also one of its responsibilities, and I would continue to urge people to do so here and in the world at large, especially as we in America have the historic opportunity to make significant political changes after nearly four years under the worst, dumbest president of my brief lifetime. |