Alex_Hamilton's blog

Let's build a culture of respectful debate: a response to Alex Hundert

This article is a response to a blog post written by Alex Hundert titled "A Response to Judy Rebick: The Black Bloc and the 21st Century anti-Colonial Movement at the Olympics" I originally wrote it as a comment on Alex's post and it's presented here with minor edits.

First, let me be clear and say that this is not a response to Hundert's position on the black block in Vancouver. Rather, I feel the need to respond to the way Hundert chooses to dismiss Mick Sweetman's position on the black bloc.

Why I Broke Up With The Anarchist Community

Here's an article that argues the same thing as Mick does in his recent blogs on mass movements and anarchists. It adds a grounded,personal perspective to the debate.

Why I Broke Up With The Anarchist Community

Quote:
About 5 years ago, I stopped hanging out and doing work in the anarchist community because it wasn’t meeting my needs. The community wasn’t doing the kind of work I’m most interested in, it was completely white-centric, and it tended to silence me when I got the most passionate. In short, the anarchist community in the city I was living in failed me.

But I never stopped considering myself an anarchist.

Educate, agitate, organise

I thought this article from over at Anarchist Writers was fitting given the recent debate about anarchists joining mass movements versus anarchists hoping the mass movements join us.

By Aileen O'Carroll

Educate, agitate, organise. The phrase has been around for years but the ideas it encapsulates are still radical. We live in a world where we are encouraged to be passive. We are all consumers. We watch, we read, we observe, and some of us wait, hope and dream. These words go against the grain. You can't build a revolution by watching from a distance. There comes a point where many decide that they are tired of sitting on the sidelines.

Continue reading here

Howard Zinn, historian and anarchist who challenged status quo, dies at 87

Form AK Press via A-Infos:

Quote:
US, AK Press: Obituary: Howard Zinn, historian and anarchist* who challenged status quo, dies at 87
Date Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:33:48 +0200

Newfoundland solidarity with Haiti/Bataye Ouvriye

Newfoundland's political punk band the Class War Kids have recorded a special 4 song EP, with every cent going to Bataye Ouvriye. The EP can be purchased here so get yourself some politically-charged punk rock tunes and support one of Haiti's most important grassroots, independent organizations at this critical time.