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KPFK SENIOR PRODUCER ALAN MINSKY JOINS THE FRAY Robert et al, Alan Minsky here, KPFK Senior Producer, Indymedia's organizer. I've taken my time to chime in on this because I've been swamped preparing for NYC -- and I also wanted to take the time try to sort out my thinking on this matter. I am not too familiar with Hustler or Larry Flynt's career (I've seen the film, recall his intervention in the Clinton-era scandals/idiocies, have a sense of what style of pornography can be found in the magazine, and I read the Sherman Austin article). But I am aware enough to know that if NION practiced the type of consensus decision making process that is practiced by Indymedia and other groups from the Global Justice Movement / Zapatista-inspired mold, I would expect that any affiliation with Hustler would not successfully pass through the process. In other words, I do believe that Aura's argument would hold sway in a democratic, highly respectful process (in which both (all) sides would get a fair chance to express their position) amongst rank-and-file NION members. In fact, I doubt the outcome of such a process would even be close. And, I do not believe for one second that the Global Justice movement is filled with Stalinists, or people blinded by politically-correct orthodoxy. Instead, I think the very committed rank-and-file activist community is still populated by well-thought-out, conscientious people who seek a better society than the fucked-up, imbalanced, unjust one we presently abide in. I doubt many people in that movement want to see Hustler outlawed (I certainly would not support that -- I'm for free speech all the way). But I firmly believe that resistance to any overt endorsement or affiliation w/ Hustler would hold sway amongst such activists because the relationship between patriarchy, popular pornography, and economic exploitation remains transparently obvious to this large body of politically conscious everyday folk (just as pro-feminist, non-dollar-driven erotica would be embraced). If I were present at such a meeting, I would certainly support an effort to block an affiliation with Hustler. I believe that in the 1990s and into this decade there has been a great "normalization" (i.e. wide-spread acceptance) of pornography and the sex-industry, with Howard Stern and HBO both virtually promoting woman strippers and lap-dancers as veritable role models for young women. Of course, people will make the decisions they make and it's up to them. But the explosion of these industries the past decade and a half strikes me as thoroughly related to the tougher, more brutal economy facing the middle and working classes. And, to my mind, damned if there isn't also a correlation between the wider-acceptance of these industries and a parallel de-emphasizing of education (the development of young people's minds) in this society. In contrast to the ethics of feminism, this overt social trend is sending the message to young women that their primary their value lies in their body's appeal to men (and their money) and not in the development of their minds. (And, old school, anti-Stalinist that I am, I do believe that widespead feminist pedegogy would facilitate the development of a post-patriarchal sexuality (which, to me, as a straight, hopefully intelligent and sentient, man, would, be a million times more sexy and attractive than a society made-up of the lost, vacant souls that I see when I encounter popular pornography). To reiterate my main point, I earnestly believe that the millions of rank-and-file folks in the Peace and Global Justice movements share similar, common sense (old-school, non-totalitarian, anti-censorship, liberatory) positions as those expressed in the previous two paragraphs and, as such, would not embrace endorsing Hustler in the way that NION did recently. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it. Alan Minsky CORSINI CALLS FOR CALM To All Concerned: This particular e-mail debate over LarryFlynt.com's supporting NION's call for NYC protest is clearly unfortunate given what 'we' as progressives are facing. I say 'we' because a progressive political future for our country and world is necesarily dependent on our ability to be inclusive and cultivate dialogue between constituencies and political and social points of view -- all directed toward unseating the heinouos power structures that are dismantling what's left of our democracy and threatening our very existence on this miraculous planet we inhabit. I ask all who have been drawn into this minefield of progressive 'ego' and identity politics to let it go and allow for us all to focus on NYC. I myself am preparing to leave tonight. this is a debate that demands some form of resolution but it cannot happen here and now and with this kind of rancor. I remain hopeful that we can all reflect on this and perhaps re-engage in a more reasoned fashion devoid of any and all personal attacks after -- the RNC. Good luck and safety to all traveling to NY. Yes we can make a difference. We will change the course of history -- there is no choice. Sincerely, Robert HUSTLER’S BRUCE DAVID DECLARES WAR Robert: We at Hustler can accept being rejected by certain elements of the progressive community. Sure, we are disappointed; we would like as much support as possible for the positions we are taking in print, especially since these progressive views have cost us at least some loss of readership. (You are right to point to the survival of our democracy and the survival of the planet itself as the real issues.) But, as Rick Nelson said, "You can't please everyone, so you gotta please yourself." We are pleased to have presented the views of Dr. Helen Caldicott, Janine Jackson (FAIR), Greg Palast, Karl Grossman (nukes in space), Howard Lyman (mad cow disease), George Monbiot, Peter Coyote, Carol Picou (Gulf War illness), Craig Unger, Christian Parenti, David Cay Johnston and others to the very people who most need to be reached. What we will not abide, however, is being called rapists and being accused of fostering assaults on women and children, even by implication. People like Aura Bogado make these accusations so freely because the voices of reason remain silent in the face of such nonsense. Hustler's editors will not remain silent when attacked in this fashion. You can all expect to see a rather forceful series of responses in print, starting with Hustler's February issue. This, of course, will distract us from our attacks on Bush, Cheney, et. al., but then, that's of no concern to Bogado, is it? Robert, if you ever want us to post something in the future, don't hesitate to ask. Regards, Bruce David Editorial Director HUSTLER KPFK'S JAMIE LEE COVERS FOR BOGADO I wanted to respond to the flurry of e-mails that have generated over the NION LA announcement that Larry Flynt supports the campaign to obtain a permit for Central Park and the call for 1 million people to NYC for the RNC to say no to bush & all he represents. I believe that some of the e-mails generated off of Aura Bogada’s initial e-mail have taken a very ugly turn and is quite divisive for the kind of resistance movement that is needed to stop the course our government is taking and beyond that. The personal and unprincipled attacks which have been aimed at Aura in particular are unacceptable. The Not In Our Name Project absolutely condemns the disgusting, misogynistic attack on Aura by Mark Cromer of Hustler. We will not participate in and will actively oppose any further attacks on Aura if any appear in the pages of Hustler. We sincerely and deeply apologize for any role anyone in NION played in opening Aura up to these attacks by forwarding her private email response. After this e-mail, we will not be responding or sending out e-mails through LA NION with all the cc's on this subject. Aura's criticism of forwarding her private e-mail to LA NION is absolutely correct and it was inappropriate to forward any response to and from Aura to others without her permission. Aura has played a very important role in promoting and supporting the Not In Our Name project through her work and efforts at KPFK and Free Speech Radio News and it is very much appreciated and continues to be needed so. I hope that we will be able to discuss and debate the issues raised in her initial e-mail with her and to continue to find the ways to work together to change the direction Bush & Co. are hell bent on taking the planet! It is in that spirit that I want to address the question posed by Aura - which is very legitimate and important question and concern (for many of us! that's why I am writing this to everyone pulled into this discussion). Who is the `our' in Not In Our Name? Who does it need to be to stop this endless war and repression? Who can and needs to be united with to do just that? To answer this, I want to go back to what NION is about (and isn't), why it was initiated and the fact that it has been able to connect and give so much heart and courage to so many is a testament to the void that it is filling. This seems to be has gotten lost or shoved aside especially in latter e-mails generated off of Aura’s first email. In the wake of 9/11 and the response from Bush & Co., many of us could see the course our government was taking things, it was ominous, dangerous and deadly. But the challenge was how to bring together all those who were not "with Bush" and how to contribute to building a resistance movement that would have a flag - the globe - to rally around and to gather others, that could inspire and give courage to many who felt alone and isolated because they were `with the people of the world' as well as others beginning to question the direction this country was being taken and to stand with those under attack in the name of the so-called `war on terrorism' - be it the people of Afghanistan, Iraq or people living in the U.S. and this list grows daily - to stop the Bush & Co.! To accomplish this will take millions, tens of millions of people in this country. Those who have come together in this resistance movement are quite diverse - in our politics and beliefs, languages, cultures - but we have something greater in common. The "our" in Not In Our Name is for everyone "living in the United States who believes that it is our responsibility to resist the injustices done by our government, in our names." (from the NION Pledge of Resistance). " When President Bush declared: ‘you're either with us or against us.’ Here is our answer: We refuse to allow you to speak for all the American people. We will not give up our right to question. We will not hand over our consciences in return for a hollow promise of safety. We say NOT IN OUR NAME. We refuse to be party to these wars and we repudiate any inference that they are being waged in our name or for our welfare. We extend a hand to those around the world suffering from these policies; we will show our solidarity in word and deed." (from the NION Statement of Conscience). As the anti-war movement in this country grew in the wake of 9/11, the US war against Afghanistan, Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, Iraq and growing attacks on civil liberties -we saw an amazing diversity of people on the same side - opposing the injustices being done by our government in our name - to speak with one voice albeit in many different ways. It should not be surprisingly that within this resistance movement there has been and is a lot to debate and struggle over, what are the cause, source of these injustices and horrors we oppose, what is the solution(s), - and case in point, who can we unite with, who should we unite with, on what basis, and related to that how to change the course of history - what is the content of the last line of the NION Pledge "Another world is possible and we pledge to make it real." We also find that we have some serious disagreements with people that who we are standing with in this struggle, including on some very crucial questions - and we must find the ways to have principled dialogue and debate over these questions. Someone described the 60's as a time when people were demonstrating all day and debating strategies for change all night. We definitely need more of both right now! NION as a project is united to resisting the injustices being done by our govt in our name... right now the whole world is watching and looking to hear the most powerful message coming from the streets of NYC from the people living in the US will be NO TO BUSH & ALL HE REPRESENTS! NO TO ENDLESS WAR & REPRESSION! Some of the issues raised in the e-mails are life and death questions for humanity and the kind of world we want to live in. We as people living in the U.S. also have an important responsibility to the people of the world to debate and find the solutions to those questions. Check out the response to the ad that NION published recently in Iraq "U.S. torture and occupation, not in our name" http://www.notinournaine.net/war/baghdad-ad- 7jul04.htm. One of the responses to the ad was challenging us, what are you going to do about this? And the very important issue raised by Aura in her e-mail, the oppression and exploitation of women! Again, I say that the last couple of e-mails from the Editors of Hustler magazine are particularly vicious, offensive and very dangerous. To discuss this further I think goes beyond the scope of the Not In Our Nameproject but I personally welcome the opportunity to find the forms to have this debate and discussion. -Jamie Lee, organizer, Los Angeles Not In Our Name Project JAMIE LEE REQUESTS REMOVAL OF POSTINGS Mr. Cromer, You do not have my permission to post or publish the e-mail I just sent to you nor do you have the permission of Los Angeles Not In Our Name to print, publish or post on any site any of the e-mails that you have received with regard to this issue. Please immediately remove all e-mails that you received from and through LA NION from the larryflynt.com website. Jamie Lee, organizer, L.A. Not In Our Name MARK CROMER SAYS 'NO DICE' Ms. Lee, To the contrary, we have every right to engage in this debate and to do so as others have, via new media postings. Not only are we personally subjects of this debate, but Aura Bogado has made this anything but a 'private' discussion. To that end, we intend to continue posting these emails and viewpoints on our associated websites and you can be sure we will be covering this debate in upcoming issues of Hustler magazine.It appears you are uncomfortable with public scrutiny. Given your stated positions, that's understandable. Regards, Mark Cromer Features Editor |