International A.N.S.W.E.R. [Archive]

Unicorn

28th April 2008, 23:47

I read American liberal blogs frequently and I have noticed a surprising amount of venom towards the organization.

Liberal anti-war activists seem to have three main complaints:

1) A.N.S.W.E.R. "hijacks" anti-war rallies
2) A.N.S.W.E.R. speakers in the rallies bring up other issues like Palestine and Mumia which are "divisive"
3) A.N.S.W.E.R. is affiliated with "Stalinists" (Workers World Party) which alienates "middle-class" people

What are your thoughts? Should communists participate in a "popular front" against imperialism? Should we make compromises to build a broader coalition?

Red October

28th April 2008, 23:57

A.N.S.W.E.R used to be with Workers World Party until the PSL split, so now Workers World is with the Troops Out Now Coalition. What the liberals say doesn't matter much anyway, we need a radical anti-war movement, not a middle class liberal one.

Ultra-Violence

29th April 2008, 00:57

Let me start of by saying A.N.S.W.E.R Has my mother fucking respect.

1) A.N.S.W.E.R. "hijacks" anti-war rallies

That is a stupid statement right thier.They dont hijack anti war rallys Thier the Only ones Bringing them ON!. WCW fell Apart and i dont see any one else doin anything about it!

2) A.N.S.W.E.R. speakers in the rallies bring up other issues like Palestine and Mumia which are "divisive"

Divese in the sense that White Yupie "liberals" dont want to take part in Fuck em! they dont matter and dont help our cuase anyways. Its about the working class doin this shit themselves, and the fact that anwer brings these up is a GREAT THING! Solidarity forever!

3) A.N.S.W.E.R. is affiliated with "Stalinists" (Workers World Party) which alienates "middle-class" people
^^^
See above post

The Douche

29th April 2008, 01:08

ANSWER tried to get the black bloc to donate money to them as we marched through an area that the ANSWER march had just passed through.

They approached us with trashcans to put our money in, some of which had a whole lot of bills in them. My first thought was of the irony that these Stalinists were coming up to anarchists and asking them to place thier money into trashcans, when I asked the ANSWER marshall if he also saw the humor he told me to "shut the fuck up, because we wouldn't even be having the march if it wasnt for them". This sentiment was apparently shared by a number of those marshalls because quite a few of the anarchists had similar things told to them. I just kept walking, some people reached in and took money out of the trash cans, I wish I had.

Fuck ANSWER. Most of the liberals who hate them probably support UFPJ, which is a CPUSA front. Fuck them too. Fuck WCW also.

BIG BROTHER

29th April 2008, 01:12

answer doesn't seem so bad...could anyone tell me more about them, do they argue for a "free tibet" too?

Ultra-Violence

29th April 2008, 04:21

The Douche

29th April 2008, 04:31

ANWER is a group who basicaly at the moment are the only ones who are doin anything to stop this bullshit war check out their webiste

http://answer.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ANS_homepage

And to the anarchist guy up thier eh i guese its just the place u live at and i dont think that reflects on all of ANSWER cuase ive talked with plenty of them never had an experience like that but eh

This was at a really big anti-war protest in DC, September 23 2005 I think it was anyways.

Either way, stalinist front group, wasting thier time. I'm not even trying to spark up a secterian conflict here, but honestly, they know who they are, they know who we are, how dare they come around with trash cans full of money and ask us to give them more.

Ultra-Violence

29th April 2008, 18:44

^^^
True when i get to the trash cans up till now i havent gave them a penny no joke but i do believe theres nothing stoping us from working together but thats getting off subject but true that true that.

Red October

29th April 2008, 19:28

answer doesn't seem so bad...could anyone tell me more about them, do they argue for a "free tibet" too?

I've never heard anything about Tibet from ANSWER, and given their strong ties to Marxist-Leninists, I would be incredibly surprised if they came out in support of anything like that.

I'm very skeptical of the anti-war movement right now and I think we've all got to do some hard thinking about what we're doing and who we choose to work (or not work) with.

Asoka89

29th April 2008, 20:59

Unicorn

29th April 2008, 21:04

I've never heard anything about Tibet from ANSWER, and given their strong ties to Marxist-Leninists, I would be incredibly surprised if they came out in support of anything like that.

I'm very skeptical of the anti-war movement right now and I think we've all got to do some hard thinking about what we're doing and who we choose to work (or not work) with.
I think they supported crushing the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

Ultra-Violence

30th April 2008, 00:46

Ever wonder where the money for the permit, the signs, the funds spent on the whole organizing system comes from?

I dont see the big deal in them asking for a donation. I'm not a huge ANSWER fan since I'm not that fond of their Stalinist elements, but I do have solidarity for all my anti-capitalist comrades and I plan to attend their May Day event (in collition with a ton of other groups) in DC

You have a point but the simple Fact that we need a permit and all that bullshit for a protest is fucking ridiculous IMO i have to pay to make my voice heard in the streets! and the streets belong to us in the first place but thats another subject another thread

And of course Regardless of their Ideology i spuport ANSWER and thier effort. Solidarty man Solidarity

"I'm very skeptical of the anti-war movement right now and I think we've all got to do some hard thinking about what we're doing and who we choose to work (or not work) with."

^^^
BINGO the anti war movement is really depressing honestly and thats one of the reasons why i back up ANWER their the only ones bringing the heat to those bastard. The anti war movement needs like a shot of adrenalin right inthe heart

but id love to hear peoples ideas on what to do to make it better

and thats the problem with the left in general were all doin our own shit and have are heads to far up our asses that we wont work with each other when we all want the same thing?! come on now

30th April 2008, 02:02

Ironically UJFP was also a "stalinist" front group (Specifically its leaders are in the CPUSA) they're just more liberal friendly commies who take opportunistic stances rather than maintaining solidarity with anti-imperialist resistance.

chegitz guevara

30th April 2008, 20:20

UFPJ's leaders are in the Committees of Correspondence for Democratic Socialism, a CPUSA split. I have a hate-on for the leader, Leslie fucking Cagan.

A.N.S.W.E.R. is a front for PSL. The organization is not run democratically, and if PSL loses control of a branch, they wreck it. Other than that, however, I support the organization, though I am not a member. Interestingly enough, I am a member of UFPJ through two different paths (my local anti-war group and the SP-USA), and I emphatically oppose them. Grrrr.

I agree with Ultra-Violence's assessment. Those sectarian liberal fucks don't know what the hell they are atalking about. There would be no antiwar movement in this country without A.N.S.W.E.R. The RCP deep-sixed Refuse and Resist, World Can't Wait went no where, and the Troops Out Now Coalition is pathetic. The National Assembly this year doesn't seem interested in building a new antiwar coalition, so A.N.S.W.E.R. is all we got.

KurtFF8

1st May 2008, 00:54

redSHARP

1st May 2008, 01:27

we should present a united front, but we should not lose our ultimate goals with in the broader group.

Ultra-Violence

1st May 2008, 03:34

^^^^
Bingo!

but doin it is the sticky part how do we go about it?

bcbm

2nd May 2008, 23:23

There would be no antiwar movement in this country without A.N.S.W.E.R.

There's an antiwar movement in the US? If ANSWER is all there is, then the US movement is fucked. Or do you consider going from drawing people to the biggest demos ever to basically nothing a great success?

Ultra-Violence

3rd May 2008, 00:38

There's an antiwar movement in the US? If ANSWER is all there is, then the US movement is fucked. Or do you consider going from drawing people to the biggest demos ever to basically nothing a great success?

Well what are you doin? and we never said it was a great success its just all we got left now so i respect them for not just for their anti war efforts but for the fact that thier also at immigration demos when the jena six shit was going on ANSWER was thier! you name it they show up (at least here in l.a) and if they dont show up their the ones organizing it.

And yes the anti wat movement is realy and pathetic butthis is a different kinda of war now its not like *Nam when they had the draft and the war really affected every body now its really only a concen of *military familys and people like us but to most americans all they can think of is the price of a gallon of gas so its debatable

3rd May 2008, 03:41

Fuck ANSWER. Most of the liberals who hate them probably support UFPJ, which is a CPUSA front. Fuck them too. Fuck WCW also.

UFPJ isn't a CPUSA front. The CPUSA is a democrat front.

Anyways, I'd rather work with ANSWER than with UFPJ, although that doesn't mean they're that much better.

I think they supported crushing the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

PSL is a strange bunch, indeed. They support basically any anti-US struggle unconditionally.

Ironically UJFP was also a "stalinist" front group (Specifically its leaders are in the CPUSA) they're just more liberal friendly commies who take opportunistic stances rather than maintaining solidarity with anti-imperialist resistance.

I wouldn't even call them communists.

The National Assembly this year doesn't seem interested in building a new antiwar coalition, so A.N.S.W.E.R. is all we got.

How do you know this? Why would there be an assembly at all if they weren't?

The Douche

3rd May 2008, 04:23

UFPJ isn't a CPUSA front.

Like hell they aren't! I have yet to meet a UFPJ organizer who isn't a CPUSA member! I've met dozens.

IronColumn

3rd May 2008, 05:20

UFPJ is a coalition of many different organizations, of which the CPUSA is only one. I think front organizations like ANSWER, WCW or TONC and a popular front group like UFPJ are slightly different methods that Stalinists have for attracting converts.

Red October

3rd May 2008, 05:31

UFPJ may be strongly influenced by CPUSA, but CPUSA is "communist" in name only, and I definitely wouldn't consider UFPJ a "communist front group". The CPUSA are weak-ass social democrats who function as the "radical" auxiliary of the Democratic Party.

bcbm

3rd May 2008, 15:23

Well what are you doin?

Organizing for a number of things, or I was back home anyway.

and we never said it was a great success its just all we got left now so i respect them for not just for their anti war efforts but for the fact that thier also at immigration demos when the jena six shit was going on ANSWER was thier! you name it they show up (at least here in l.a) and if they dont show up their the ones organizing it.

I suppose we should roll out to support the Dems, too, since they're the only option we have in getting the war to stop from the government? I don't think "at least they're doing something" is a particularly inspiring reason to support them.

And yes the anti wat movement is realy and pathetic butthis is a different kinda of war now its not like *Nam when they had the draft and the war really affected every body now its really only a concen of *military familys and people like us but to most americans all they can think of is the price of a gallon of gas so its debatable

It is a different kind of war and I think a strategy that was more dynamic than "do the same thing repeatedly until we drive the movement into the ground" was/is needed.

OneBrickOneVoice

6th May 2008, 03:34

This was at a really big anti-war protest in DC, September 23 2005 I think it was anyways.

Either way, stalinist front group, wasting thier time. I'm not even trying to spark up a secterian conflict here, but honestly, they know who they are, they know who we are, how dare they come around with trash cans full of money and ask us to give them more.

dude your being ridiculous. A big march like that costs tens of thousands of dollars for a permit.

chegitz guevara

6th May 2008, 05:33

How do you know this? Why would there be an assembly at all if they weren't?

Both ANSWER and Cagan are invited to speak at the opening session, though if Cagan has any fucking shame she won't show up, as her wretched politics is the reason the National Assembly is happening. Anyway, from what I've read from people who are taking part in the organizing, there is not an intent to form a new antiwar coalition. One of the indications of this are the stupid teaching sessions. As if that's why people are going.

This is hearsay second hand, so take it for what it's worth. Regardless, I think most people I've talked to think this is about building something new, so we should be pushing for that when we get there.

chegitz guevara

6th May 2008, 05:35

I heard an unconfirmed rumor yesterday that there was a split in A.N.S.W.E.R. Can anyone confirm this or has anyone heard anything?

Red October

6th May 2008, 05:38

I heard an unconfirmed rumor yesterday that there was a split in A.N.S.W.E.R. Can anyone confirm this or has anyone heard anything?

I don't know anything about that, but it wouldnt surprise me. Did you hear what it was about or who's splitting?

chegitz guevara

6th May 2008, 05:43

I wrote down all I heard. The person who said it yesterday has a strong dislike for A.N.S.W.E.R., so I take it with a grain of salt. I was asked if I knew anything. Obviously I don't.

Ultra-Violence

6th May 2008, 19:47

I suppose we should roll out to support the Dems, too, since they're the only option we have in getting the war to stop from the government? I don't think "at least they're doing something" is a particularly inspiring reason to support them.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
#1 the dems can rot in hell #2You cant compare a coalition like ANWSER to a political party especaily the dems or reps maybe greenis lol.

It is a different kind of war and I think a strategy that was more dynamic than "do the same thing repeatedly until we drive the movement into the ground" was/is needed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
HA! heres the thing tho ANSWER has stated its self the longer this war goes on the more radical thier aproach is goana be. yes i know this war has been going on for 7 yrs to long but thier hasnt been a movement in this country for like over 40's were learning thier learining.

-i dont worship ANSWER but they do have my support so far and i am critical of them when their doin shit backwards etc... just sidenoting thier

6th May 2008, 20:02

Why can't you construct coherent sentences?

chegitz guevara

6th May 2008, 20:55

Maybe English isn't his first language.

YSR

6th May 2008, 22:02

Ultra-Violence

7th May 2008, 00:36

Why can't you construct coherent sentences?

Maybe English isn't his first language.

^^^^^^^
Lots of that and my english teachers just plained out sucked for the mosit part but i do more reading then i write

UFPJ endorsed (admittedly limited) use of direct action against the war. ANSWER has not. I'm not a huge fan of the anti-war movement (despite being really involved in it) but UFPJ is way better for their limited acceptance of diversity of tactics
^^^^^^^

Thats why i am very critical of ANSWER at the same time for the have onyl spoken of direct action they have yet to ACT on it but kudos to those UFPJ ,shoot this MOVEMENT NEEDS A KICK IN THE FUCKIN BALLS!

OneBrickOneVoice

9th May 2008, 03:13

UFPJ endorsed (admittedly limited) use of direct action against the war. ANSWER has not. I'm not a huge fan of the anti-war movement (despite being really involved in it) but UFPJ is way better for their limited acceptance of diversity of tactics.

no way UPFJ endorsed that. And what are you talking about? There were days of Direct Action immediately preceding or after March 17 march on the pentagon and the Sept 15th march on the capitol which were called for by ANSWER. ANSWER had the huge ass die in and then had the veterans and people jump the barricades of the capitol.

chegitz guevara

9th May 2008, 16:10

As to my unconfirmed rumor, I've had confirmation it is FALSE. There is no split in A.N.S.W.E.R.

As for UFPJ or A.N.S.W.E.R., if the National Assembly can only kill one coalition in June, I hope it's UFPJ that's dragged into the street, beaten, urinated on, then hung from a lamp post. Useless fuckers.