Just as the term "anti-semite" is used to deter criticism of the state of Israel, the term "red-baiting" is used to deter criticism of extremist authoritarian ideologies that support the likes of Mao and Stalin.

http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/26503.php

During the 1960's, rightest forces... from independent right wing groupings, to the FBI and other government bodies, used "red-baiting" to discredit, undermine, and destroy dissident movements.

Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement came under heavy attack from the FBI, whose head, J. Edgar Hoover, was convinced M.L. King was on the payroll of international communism.

The press in the 60's continually attacked the anti-war movement for being "communist inspired." It didn't matter if it was true or not... during those days it was an accusation tantamount to being called a traitor.

What a shame that ahistorical people like "000" carry on the work of the right by maligning and attacking the organizers of today's anti-war movement.

Unity people... UNITY. I don't care what your political ideas are, if you are against war and empire, then there is reason to stand together. Stop the infighting and finger pointing. Don't do the work of those who wish to divide us.

duhhh....

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2002/12/23722_comment.php#23778

duhh....

True to form, black-block-head will continue to avoid debate over the issues raised and continue the ad-hominen attacks and slander against the critics of extremist authoritarians within the movement.

First, lets address the real history that I am apparently so naive of. I am quite aware of the attacks originating in the 60's, and as far back as the 1890's. I am aware of the govt attacks on radicals of all persuasions. But that is not at issue here. What is at issue is the history of authoritarian extremists sects who support the likes of Mao, Stalin, the Shining Path and others in their ilk.

For other readers, go to this post:

http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/26503.php

and read the posts from activists who were around in the 60's entitled "Never Again" and "wow". They articulate the dangers of these extremist authoritarians whose primary objective it is to build the party and achieve state power, and they will destroy your organization to achieve these goals.

The reason this issue is so important is because there is long history of repression and murder of anarchists and other anti-authoritarians who critique the politics of Mao, Stalin, the Shining Path, Fidel Castro, and many many others. The spanish revolution failed in large part due to the counter-revolutionary tactics of the communists, supported by Stalin and local communist thugs.

The same call for Unity was put forth as a justification for counter-revolutionary communist atrocities during the spanish revolution. It has been repeated over and over again throughout the years. So when Black-Block-Head says,

"Unity people... UNITY. I don't care what your political ideas are, if you are against war and empire, then there is reason to stand together. Stop the infighting and finger pointing. Don't do the work of those who wish to divide us,"

I get worried. This sounds too similar to Bush's statement, "You are either with us, or against us." It is characteristic of fundamentalist rhetoric. Yes, I am against this war, and will come out in the streets with you, but i will resist, at every turn, the efforts of authoritarian communist rhetoric.

Never Again.

000