Left Forum 2010

[bayano]

So, who will be in NYC for the Left Forum 2010

http://www.leftforum.org/

March 19-21
New York City

I am mixed on it, admittedly, but it's an easy way to see tons of radicals when you're already in New York. There is a bit of controversy as Jesse Jackson is leading one of the bookending plenaries (Chomsky runs the other side), but it should be big and somewhat interesting.

[black magick hustla]

the left forum is awful btw. its all these people kissing the ground of worthless "revolutionary scholars". who cares about those smoothtalking people

[FreeFocus]

the left forum is awful btw. its all these people kissing the ground of worthless "revolutionary scholars". who cares about those smoothtalking people

I actually can't wait to attend next year, it seems like an excellent place to meet activists and theorists and be around like-minded people while discussing things of meaning and hopefully learning a thing or two in the process.

[bayano]

I haven't been since it was the Socialist Scholars Conference, but its good for the hallway chit chat to see where different groups and trends are at. Plenaries and workshops at conferences like these are a bit trite for those well established in the left, but between events like this, the US Social Forum, and other politically diverse gatherings, you can work your way into knowing where a lot of the groups are standing at the moment.

For folks less knowledgeable, of course, there's usually an abundance of primers on the topics and ideological linchpins that we grapple with.

[AmericanRed]

There's usually something worth seeing at the Left Forum. And it's not just academics, either -- the labor-oriented panels are almost always worth seeing. They certainly were last year.

[which doctor]

the left forum is awful btw. its all these people kissing the ground of worthless "revolutionary scholars". who cares about those smoothtalking people
Judging by that I've heard of it and looking at the list of panels, I don't think that's what its about at all. Of course there's going to be loads of problematic politics, as it runs the whole gamut of the left spectrum, but I don't think it's fair to say it's completely disconnected from the idea of rekindling a working-class politics.

I might actually be going this year, mostly because I will have a free place to stay and it will barely cost anything besides my meals.

[Die Rote Fahne]

I'd like to see Finkelstein there.

I know his politics are radical leftist, but he rarely discusses them (apart from the relevancy to Israel and Palestine).

[The Idler]

Is this the biggest left event in the united states?

[Pawn Power]

Is this the biggest left event in the united states?

No, the US Social Forum (http://ussf2010.org/) is.

[ZombieGrits]

So, now that this thing is over; how was it, you who attended? ;)