Brownfist
23rd January 2007, 02:26
This is the statement that has been circulating by Carl Miller on his recent split from the RCP(USA). The only reason that this statement is interesting is that it actually engages with the RCP(USA) line from within, it is not because he is a person of any particular importance. I do not agree with Carl Miller on a number of issues, including his turn to Trotskyism, but I do think that the points that he raises must be engaged with. Not only for the continued development of maoism in North America, but for a better understanding of the nature of communism and the everlasting question of what needs to be done. Also, I guess my interest is piqued because I am currently reading A. Belden Fields, "Trotskyism and Maoism: Theory and Practice in France and the United States".
Why I Split with the RCP, and Why Workers World is Where I am turning
by Carl Miller
#1: They are actual Communists
Repeatedly it has been hinted by RCP supporters that I am not a Communist. The reason why is often related to an Avakianesque point about the struggle to find truth. That is not what being a Communist is about. That is what being an intellectual and a scientist is about. A communist is someone who is a tribune of the people, and actually fights for them and their interests, and organizes the masses in doing so.
Being a Communist isnt about showing up at an Anti-War/Anti-Death Penalty/Pro-Labor rally and selling newspapers and CDs. Being a Communist means you are the ones to organize that rally, and lead your class in fighting back against the system with all your might. Communists are tribunes of the people; they are not parasites who cling to spontaneous resistance as an opportunity to promote a leader.
Workers World Party formed the ANSWER coalition, which led hundreds of thousands of people in the streets to oppose the Iraq War. Workers World is currently leading the struggle to free the Lucasville Five. Workers World played a key part in organizing the movement to free Mumia Abu Jamal. All members of Workers World are very active in their trade unions.
The RCP, while it may support these struggles, clearly is not interested in organizing them, and just sees them as an opportunity to spread the cult of Bob Avakian, and sell newspapers.
#2: Iraqi Freedom Fighters Are Not the Enemy
Imagine if the U.S.A. were invaded by Muslim fundamentalists. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are being slaughtered by these Islamic Imperialists, torture chambers are being set up, etc. Imagine then, that a resistance was organized to defeat these invaders, however, many within this resistance were Christian Fundamentalists (Fascists).
The line of the RCP, as they are applying to Iraq, would be that both sides in this conflict are wrong. They are two outmodeds. The resistance fighters, though they are fighting against Imperialism and aggression, are JUST AS BAD as the invaders, simply because they do not hold the same ideology Bob Avakian.
Yes, an Islamic State is not desirable in Iraq, but at the same time, the real enemy of the people of the world is the U.S. Imperialists, and all INTERNATIONALISTS must side with those fighting to free their country.
#3: Worker vs. Proletarian, What the masses are and arent
The RCP has been standing on street corners with Revolution newspaper for the last thirty years, and it still remains a tiny sect. That is because its newspaper does not speak to the masses of people, it speaks to intellectuals, and not even them sometimes.
For example, take the first sentence of the latest Avakian selection in an issue of Revolution:
And this relates to the very real and often acute contradiction between applying the united front under the leadership of the proletariatthe leadership of the proletariat, and not of the petty bourgeoisie, or some other classall the way through the transition to communism on the one hand, and on the other hand, actually forging ahead through that transition and advancing to communism.
WTF!
That might speak to college professors of Philosophy, but not to the interests of the workers. The people in East Cleveland do not know what petty bourgeoisie means. They also do not know what a proletarian is. This is not an insult to their intelligence, it is merely a fact. We have a system which purposely miseducates and under-educates people.
The RCP refuses to acknowledge this. To the RCP, the masses in the ghettos and barrios are all capable of understanding the above passage, or else they should.
This is childish. Millions in this country, especially members of the working class are FUNCTIONING ILLITERATES! Many more are reading on elementary school levels. How in the hell, do you expect them to be digging into six hour Avakian speeches which are not even put in terms they can understand?
But there are terms that workers can understand. Read Workers World newspaper for example. Workers World newspapers exposes the U.S. Imperialists as criminal in simple plain terms. Workers World highlights the events of the workers struggle around the world. Workers World points out that the problems which affect workers in their everyday lives are systemic.
What more, Workers World in the past has had programs on Public Access television. These programs are not videos a bearded man standing at a podium, these are videos of protests, videos of events from around the world, all pointing out the truths about this system.
A great realization of this occurred to me, when I was working on producing a pamphlet with a group of RCP supporters. It was proposed that we include the word Proletarian Revolution. I pointed out that most of the masses do not know what Proletarian means. I was simply told they should.
What kind of intellectual snobbery this is! Rather than trying to appeal to the workers, the workers are expected to become intellectuals on the level of Bob Avakian, and if not fuck them.
This kind of approach to the masses, will not make revolution.
Conclusion:
The Revolutionary Communist Party is a party, not of workers, but on intellectuals. The RCP does not speak to the workers, but to intellectuals. Its propaganda may be taken to the workers, but it does not really respect the workers themselves. Most of the RCPs supporters, interestingly, are not workers, but intellectuals.
And even for intellectuals, it sucks.
Notice that the only theoretical articles in Revolution newspaper are written by Bob Avakian. The RCP promotes a culture of appreciation for Bob Avakian. DVDs are made, which feature one speaker, Bob Avakian.
As far as I am concerned, there is really only one line within the RCP, that is, the line of Bob Avakian.
In the eyes of RCP supporters, Bob Avakian is like Jesus Christ. No jokes can be made about the great Messiah. No disagreement with his line is promoted.
RCP supporters actually admitted to me once that they only read the selections from Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao which Avakian reccomends.
During the past year, a discussion came up about What is to be done?. I actually read What is to be done?, but this was a struggle. Originally all I was supposed to do was read Avakians enriched what is to be done.
Lenin led a revolution, overthrew a capitalist state, and built the worlds first socialist government. What does he know in comparison to a man who has lived in France eating waffles for the past twenty years? (See the last sections of memoir for Avakians own admission of this fact.)
The RCP is an obsure Ultraleftist sect. Workers World Party is a group which actually reads and understands Marx and Lenin.
Can the admin. please change the name of the thread from "Carl Miller splits from the RCP(USA)" to "Carl Miller splits with the RCP(USA)"
Why I Split with the RCP, and Why Workers World is Where I am turning
by Carl Miller
#1: They are actual Communists
Repeatedly it has been hinted by RCP supporters that I am not a Communist. The reason why is often related to an Avakianesque point about the struggle to find truth. That is not what being a Communist is about. That is what being an intellectual and a scientist is about. A communist is someone who is a tribune of the people, and actually fights for them and their interests, and organizes the masses in doing so.
Being a Communist isnt about showing up at an Anti-War/Anti-Death Penalty/Pro-Labor rally and selling newspapers and CDs. Being a Communist means you are the ones to organize that rally, and lead your class in fighting back against the system with all your might. Communists are tribunes of the people; they are not parasites who cling to spontaneous resistance as an opportunity to promote a leader.
Workers World Party formed the ANSWER coalition, which led hundreds of thousands of people in the streets to oppose the Iraq War. Workers World is currently leading the struggle to free the Lucasville Five. Workers World played a key part in organizing the movement to free Mumia Abu Jamal. All members of Workers World are very active in their trade unions.
The RCP, while it may support these struggles, clearly is not interested in organizing them, and just sees them as an opportunity to spread the cult of Bob Avakian, and sell newspapers.
#2: Iraqi Freedom Fighters Are Not the Enemy
Imagine if the U.S.A. were invaded by Muslim fundamentalists. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are being slaughtered by these Islamic Imperialists, torture chambers are being set up, etc. Imagine then, that a resistance was organized to defeat these invaders, however, many within this resistance were Christian Fundamentalists (Fascists).
The line of the RCP, as they are applying to Iraq, would be that both sides in this conflict are wrong. They are two outmodeds. The resistance fighters, though they are fighting against Imperialism and aggression, are JUST AS BAD as the invaders, simply because they do not hold the same ideology Bob Avakian.
Yes, an Islamic State is not desirable in Iraq, but at the same time, the real enemy of the people of the world is the U.S. Imperialists, and all INTERNATIONALISTS must side with those fighting to free their country.
#3: Worker vs. Proletarian, What the masses are and arent
The RCP has been standing on street corners with Revolution newspaper for the last thirty years, and it still remains a tiny sect. That is because its newspaper does not speak to the masses of people, it speaks to intellectuals, and not even them sometimes.
For example, take the first sentence of the latest Avakian selection in an issue of Revolution:
And this relates to the very real and often acute contradiction between applying the united front under the leadership of the proletariatthe leadership of the proletariat, and not of the petty bourgeoisie, or some other classall the way through the transition to communism on the one hand, and on the other hand, actually forging ahead through that transition and advancing to communism.
WTF!
That might speak to college professors of Philosophy, but not to the interests of the workers. The people in East Cleveland do not know what petty bourgeoisie means. They also do not know what a proletarian is. This is not an insult to their intelligence, it is merely a fact. We have a system which purposely miseducates and under-educates people.
The RCP refuses to acknowledge this. To the RCP, the masses in the ghettos and barrios are all capable of understanding the above passage, or else they should.
This is childish. Millions in this country, especially members of the working class are FUNCTIONING ILLITERATES! Many more are reading on elementary school levels. How in the hell, do you expect them to be digging into six hour Avakian speeches which are not even put in terms they can understand?
But there are terms that workers can understand. Read Workers World newspaper for example. Workers World newspapers exposes the U.S. Imperialists as criminal in simple plain terms. Workers World highlights the events of the workers struggle around the world. Workers World points out that the problems which affect workers in their everyday lives are systemic.
What more, Workers World in the past has had programs on Public Access television. These programs are not videos a bearded man standing at a podium, these are videos of protests, videos of events from around the world, all pointing out the truths about this system.
A great realization of this occurred to me, when I was working on producing a pamphlet with a group of RCP supporters. It was proposed that we include the word Proletarian Revolution. I pointed out that most of the masses do not know what Proletarian means. I was simply told they should.
What kind of intellectual snobbery this is! Rather than trying to appeal to the workers, the workers are expected to become intellectuals on the level of Bob Avakian, and if not fuck them.
This kind of approach to the masses, will not make revolution.
Conclusion:
The Revolutionary Communist Party is a party, not of workers, but on intellectuals. The RCP does not speak to the workers, but to intellectuals. Its propaganda may be taken to the workers, but it does not really respect the workers themselves. Most of the RCPs supporters, interestingly, are not workers, but intellectuals.
And even for intellectuals, it sucks.
Notice that the only theoretical articles in Revolution newspaper are written by Bob Avakian. The RCP promotes a culture of appreciation for Bob Avakian. DVDs are made, which feature one speaker, Bob Avakian.
As far as I am concerned, there is really only one line within the RCP, that is, the line of Bob Avakian.
In the eyes of RCP supporters, Bob Avakian is like Jesus Christ. No jokes can be made about the great Messiah. No disagreement with his line is promoted.
RCP supporters actually admitted to me once that they only read the selections from Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao which Avakian reccomends.
During the past year, a discussion came up about What is to be done?. I actually read What is to be done?, but this was a struggle. Originally all I was supposed to do was read Avakians enriched what is to be done.
Lenin led a revolution, overthrew a capitalist state, and built the worlds first socialist government. What does he know in comparison to a man who has lived in France eating waffles for the past twenty years? (See the last sections of memoir for Avakians own admission of this fact.)
The RCP is an obsure Ultraleftist sect. Workers World Party is a group which actually reads and understands Marx and Lenin.
Can the admin. please change the name of the thread from "Carl Miller splits from the RCP(USA)" to "Carl Miller splits with the RCP(USA)"