UNTRUE!

by Melvin Little

From: Redlabour@aol.com
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2004 13:32:49 EST
Subject: Re: Why I supported Brown

Comrades,

Greg Pason or Lisa Weltman writes [on/about January 31]:
"What does concern me from supporters of Walt is that Walt's always said his position on abortion if he was asked, it's hard not to know if you actually know/ask Walt. Hell, Mary Brown was elected as a NC alternate and I'm 99% sure she was wearing a "Pro-Life" sweatshirt to the meeting, and was the only vote against the March for Women resolution."

This is UNTRUE. I was at the convention myself, and I would have noticed if Mary Brown or anyone else wore something [like] a "pro-life" tee-shirt. This is sheer demonization of the so-called moderates in the party. I am tired of hearing allegations that hints that Walt Brown is some kind of crazed Christian Coalition type; he's not from the Christian right. In fact, he's an Episcopalian. Most Episcopalians are hardly Chrstian rightists.

I am tired of hearing allegation about Walt Brown being some kind of racist. He's been a member of the NAACP since 1949. He was close with the late A. Philip Randolph who was the father of the Modern Civil Rights Movement. There's nothing that would ever convince me that Walt Brown is a racist.

Why is there such attacks on Comrade Walt Brown? In spite of his opposition to the war of Iraq, his support for a universal socialized medicine, his opposition to corporate abuse of our society, and other issues dear socialists, he might not support a "command economy." That is what separate so-called revolutionaries from so-called SP moderates. A command economy is exactly what failed in the USSR and failed in China. Saying this does NOT make Walt Brown, Melvin Little, Mary Cal Hollis, Dwight Welch, David McReynolds, or John Metz a Blairite or a proponent of a kinder and gentler capitalism. Everyopne of us (even including myself) would be to the left of traditional social-democracy. The Socialist Party USA, however, is of that tradition. We are principled in our desire for democratic-socialism, but we do not want to alienate our allies outside the party for the sake of ideological purity. Just as I may feel uncomfortable with the extreme fundamentalism of the Christian right, I am uncomforatable with purposely dissing everyone in our party and our society that might not agree with 100% of the SP Program. As a Socialist, I beleive in tolerance. This includes tolerance of opinion.

In Left Unity,
Melvin Little
Socialist Party USA
Democratic Socialists of America

"When you wake up to the fact that your paper is Tory, just remember that there are two sides to every story."
---Billy Bragg

"If you want a symbolic gesture, don't burn the flag; wash it."
---Norman Thomas

"I believe in socialism, because I believe in humanity.
---Eugene V. Debs

"I would never trade one form of tyranny for another."
---Tommy Douglas

"Today, far more than in 1914, our socialism must be international and anti-militarist or it has absolutely no meaning at all."
---David McReynolds

"How many television programs, address the failure to provide national health care, the unfair distribution of income in our country, and our low wages?"
---Bernie Sanders