BLACK EYE Issue 1
Diary
Of An
Ex-Trotskyist
The Characters
May Shelley
The BSP: Bad Socialist Party (or make up your own name from
these initials!)
BS Today: the newspaper of the BSP
Dominant Faction: L.S., E.T., P.G. (branch leaders), et al.
Opposing faction: D.C., J.A., S.E., myself, et al.
The Anarchist Switchboard: Bill K., Joe, Dave, Bill M.,
Paul, Laure, Jim, Melissa
The Scene
I had been a member of the B.S. Party for a year when I
felt the first symptoms. A lecture, an article, and postmeeting
arguments in the bar led me to swear I'd show the
BSP they were wrong in their assessment of anarchism. To
argue better, I read more, and the more · anarchist books I
read, the more I thought, "Hey, this is better than the
B.s. t"
At the same time, a battle arose within the New York
branch of the BSP. The dominant faction, encompassing the
official leadership of the branch, badly wanted to shut up
the discontented members (including me) who had formed a
small opposing faction. Under the guise of proving that the
leaders were instantly recallable, a mock election was held
to give the opposition a chance to win office. After a
solid barrage of harassment from the leadership, the
opposition was voted down. The winning faction then
consolidated themselves into a branch committee, and the
leaders of the losing faction were persecuted in public and
in private.
While all this nonsense was going on, I was getting
acquainted with an anarchist collective I had found, the
Anarchist Switchboard. The hypocrisy of the BSP leaders,
trying desperately to hold on to their positions, was
horrifying, and. the kindness and rationality of the
anarchists were of great comfort to me. Gradually I
realized that there was only one thing to do. • ••
l
The Diary
11/20 I love 111y comrades and it scares me that I am an
anarchist, that I oppose them and what they say. I am
an anarchist, I am an anarchist, I cannot deny it.
"We carry a new world in our hearts."
11/21 I am an anarchist, I am an anarchist, and there is no
cure.
1/13 P.O. [BSP member in another city) wrote an article in
BS Today that gets anarchism completely wrong. I must
do something to correct the BSP's view of anarchism.
1/14 Arguing with L.S. about anarchism is like beating my
head against a brick wall. He is very authoritarian
-- in a revolution I might end up fighting against
him.
1/19 I've been sitting here for four hours trying to write
a response to the BS Today article about anarchism. I
just wrote a little bit but I've got to put it away
until tomorrow. It's a big task and it's going to
take a lot of courage to execute.
1/22 The branch meeting was cancelled because of the
snow. This is the first time in ages that I wasn't
with my comrades on Thursday night. I am reading God
and the State and I'm really getting excited because-I
like it a lot and I agree with it. I wish I didn't
think it was right.
1/23 Anarchism does not contradict Marxism, or negate it.
1/29
2/5
2/7
2/ 8
2/9
2
Anarchism encompasses it. Marxism tells you how to
change society, but anarchism tells you why. Marxism
is a strategy, but anarchism is a philosophy -- a
truly communist society must be based on it. The more
I read, the more I am convinced: I am an anarchist
first.
At the branch meeting
screaming and shouting
D.C. and J.A. I
themselves with the way
and beyond, there was much
and finger-pointing. I love
which they wouldn't shame
they argue.
McG. [my more or less objective Marxist friend)
brought his friend N. to the meeting tonight. N.
annoys the hell out of me, but he's partial to
anarchists -- and I need all the help I can get. To
hell with responding to the BS Today article. I'm so
fucking tired of arguing with the BSP over
anarchism. It gets me so mad.
Hiding between the shelves at Saint Mark's Books,
reading Kropotkin -- Conquest of Bread -- absolutely
wonderful. ·
I'm reading Homage to Catalonia -- it's good. I get
tired of Orwell himself after a couple of pages, but
Spain in the 1930's is very interesting.
S.E. [member of the opposition) said it: I am an
anarchist. I will embrace it and deny it no longer.
Anarchy!
2/10 L.S. is patronizing me -- I think he had E.T. sus me
out to see where my branch loyalties are. I resent
this -- that boy could use some Bakunin. I suppose
the opposition flattered my anarchism by design last
night, but I do appreciate being taken seriously for a
moment and not being beaten back by argument. P.O. is
giving lectures on anarchism -- hold me back, I' 11
brain him.
2/11 I just got off the phone with L.S. -- I got him mad by
quoting Bakunin at him. Serves him right.
2/26 I am so disgusted. At the end of a charade of a
branch meeting we were voted down. I don't think it's
settled because the existing branch leadership isn't
going to make things any better than before for o.c.
and J .A. Now I know why I was confused about the
branch c01111ittee proposal: it is a decentralizing
concert that is being used by L.S., E.T., and P.G. to
conso !date their power.
Then, after the meeting, E.T. panned Mephisto, a
metaphorically political film, for not being blatant
revolutionary socialist propaganda -- for not "calling
for a revolutionary party." What an idiot. What am I
doing with these people? Even the RCP has some
fucking imagination about art.
Also -- I have been in the BSP voluntarily and I
do not want to hear about "discipline," etc. I
already went through twelve years of Catholic school
and I never want to deal with that shit again. They
can kiss my anarchist ass.
2/27 Today I was thinking that I want to stop coasting and
get serious politically. I want to know about the
world. If the branch keeps on as It ls, r . can't
continue to be a socialist •uch longer -- I can be a
poser, though. The time has come to stop fucking
around.
3/5 At the branch meeting, I was fed up and bored. L.S.
and company never cease to amaze me. Ecstatic
dogmatics.
3/10 I am ecstatic, boy a11 I ever I The day began this
evening when I went to the Anarchist Switchboard. Had
a nice chat with the (weird) comrades. Offered to do
a flyer for them -- they took me up on it. Read
Malatesta on the way home but it was just too
exciting, really wonderful.
3/17 I was over at the Anarchist Switchboard tonight. Bill
K. wasn't there, but Joe told me straight what the
Switchboard is about. They are serious anarchists -they'
re not just fucking around. I started to panic
what have I gotten myself into?! It's just
something new.
3/18 I met Bill . K. from the Anarchist Switchboard this
afternoon to give him the flyer. Over lunch in an
3
atmospheric midtown dive I asked him eight million
questions about anarchism, and got answers to
seriously think 'about. I don't want to be "looking
for a home on the left• (as McG. put it), but I want
to know if anarchism is a viable alternative.
3/19 It's almost 2:30 am. I've done this before -- it's
hard for me to relax and sleep after BSP meetings. I
think it's because it's becoming more and more clear
to me that · I'm not with them. I used to think that
Marxism and anarchism could peacefully co-exist in my
mind, but the actions of the BSP contradict the ideas
of anarchism. I don't like how the BSP treat their
members like stupid children. I left my parents' home
once -- I guess I have to do it again. I don't like
thinking about leaving. The BSP were the first people
to ever listen to me when I spoke, and to actually
take me seriously. They will ever be in my heart for
that. But I must think of my happiness and peace of
mind.
3/20 Like so many other days, I felt awful (but gradually
better) due to the BSP meeting the night before. I'm
so tired of all the shit: L.S. and his complacency -- ·
you couldn't pry him out of his position with a tire
iron. It's doing him no good.
3/21 Went to the Switchboard Dave said, •welcome
homet• Bill K. is making copies of •Y flyer, and Bill
M. asked me to help with a book discussion on
Berkman' s ABC of Anarchism. They are going out of
their way to make me feel that I'• a part of the
place, and they are succeeding. Went home and painted
an anarchist black star on the back of my jacket.
3/22 Tonight I told S.B. [member of the dominant faction)
that I won't do my BS Today sale this weekend •because
I don't want to.•
3/23 Went wheatpasting with the BSP, then went to the
Switchboard for the anarchism study group, where my
shyness and fatigue contributed to my not saying
anything, though I would have like to. I always think
of what to say after I've already left.
3/25 A.S. [•ember of the dominant faction who worked with
u) had a bit to huff about when she saw me reading
Emancipation on my break. The more they try to sway
me, the more firmly I stand. Just think, I might
never have pursued anarchism if they hadn't gotten up
my ass about it. ·
3/27 Went to a screening of a film on women anarchists in
the Spanish Revolution (Mujeres Libres).
Unfortunately for me, the discussion afterwards was
all in Spanish. Sat with the ana_rchists from the
Switchboard but I'm still so damned shy that I can't
talk to them. Paul asked me to do a flyer for the
squatters' demonstration on May Day.
4
3/31 Went to the Switchboard tonight and stayed a long
time, though I had planned to go home early. I was
able to talk a little more, so I felt good. I was
terribly confused when I left. I don't know what I
want. The fact that I'm so torn up over anarchism
tells me that that's what is in my heart, not
socialism. If I had any guts I'd leave the BSP
instead of staying and pretending. If I had any guts
I'd have become an anarchist long ago. Beckett: All
always better too late than never.
4/1 I had a dream this morning that Alexander Berkman was
at the Switchboard, and he was agonizing over a
decision he had to make. Joe, Bill, Dave and
everybody were standing around him, saying, "Don't
worry -- try it and if you don't like it you can
always go back to them." Berkman said, "No, you don't
know them. I can't go back." Now, what do you
suppose that means?
All day, feeling increasingly better -- I am an
anarchist. At home, reading ABC -- it's beautiful,
written by a person with heart-aitd soul. I'm afraid
to like it as much as I do -- L.S. would say it's
ahistorical. Am I a failure as a Trotskyist? Then
fuck it -- I'll be a success as a human being. It's
time to stop being afraid of espousing anarchism.
Otherwise -- afraid to feel, I will be condemned to
think (Paraphrased from Anatole Broyard).
4/2 Felt a good deal of alienation at (and after) the
branch meeting. I have lost patience with these anal
retentives. I can't sit through these meetings any
longer.
4/4-5 Went to Chicago for the BSP national meeting and this
is what I did: I stood around at parties, I was
terribly confused, I had a few brief moments of
understanding, I argued, I was depressed, I slept, I
ate meat for the first time in months, I didn't fuck
G.P., I felt unconnected to everyone, I made myself
aloof, I was not talked to, and I thought about the
anarchists I left behind. I don't know why I should
stay in the BSP and deal with their shit. The
discipline and theoretical narrowness that they say is
called for to build a revolutionary party is not only
unnecessary but stultifying for an individual. I have
a life to live, comrades, so excuse me while I go live
i~ happily. @ is all.
4/20 I wheatpasted with some of the Switchboarders for
three hours this evening. We had a lot of fun. We
went all over the Village, rambling around and ripping
it up. They bought me pizza. They are wonderful
people.
5/1 This was my May Day: I dressed in my black star jacket
with a red and a black star pinned on the front. I
went to Union Square to see what the CP was up to. I
talked to old Howard, who hawks the Daily World around
NYU. I ran into Bill K. and Laure and raised some
When, as it's said, consensus is "blocked," a problem
that must be worked out has arisen within the process
requiring more discussion and compromise to reach a full
consensus of the group of individuals. I think there ' s a
real problem in the thinking that uses the term "blocked" in
the first place. It implies to me approaching consensus
like a rigid system of yes or no, not unlike voting, where
there's an overall emphasis on all coming to a single
agreement, and the process merely equals a long way to get
to "yes." I think consensus ought to be seen as a process
of creation, rather than a product. To simply disagree with
a proposal being discussed shouldn't constitute a problem in
itself. It's from this point that the process of discussion
and negotiation just begins.
But for one ·to deliberately "block" consensus is to
negate the whole point of freely and wholly participating in
group decision making. When one member of the group merely
says "no," applying a voting strategy to consensus, it's
said consensus is "withheld." To "withhold" consensus is to
withhold one's opinions, ideas and input in the group
process, denying the essence of the process. As an
alternative to voting, which allows minimal freedom of
individual expression, consensus allows each individual the
freedom to fully express their ideas. So to "withhold"
consensus is to withdraw oneself fro• the very nature of the
process, thereby negating oneself froaa the group, and
constitutes a refusal to move sincerely with the group
towards its common purpose. This is simply not a strategy
consistent with the aims of anarchy or the consensus process
itself; it's an authoritarian maneuver used by a minority to
impose its will over the rest.
In a "freespace" collective, anyone has the right to
involve themselves in the collective' s decisions by
consensus, which has the advantage of allowing those that
are affected by the decisions to participate in making them,
since everyone is actually a member of the collective if
they choose. But it has the disadvantage of allowing
hostile adversaries to intervene and stop any decision fro•
being made by withholding consensus. It's mostly an
authoritarian world out there, not an anarchist world. Any
time there are conflicts of interests within a collective,
the authoritarian fringe can raise its head, and no
environae·nt is more open to divisive tactics than consensus
in a "freespace" collective.
An affinity group, or a closed collective of
individuals that come together for a COlllllOn purpose, is not
answerable in a strict sense to anyone outside the
collective, but it does have the responsibility to act
through its decisions with the consideration of those
affected. An example being a theatre collective responsible
not only to themselves and the art but to the audience as
well. The show must go on. The paper must be published.
The food must be grown so that people don't starve. Anarchy
emanates frOll each individual who comes together with other
individuals in a shared conviction. This shared conviction
is the urgency to work collectively.
8
When we feel bound by the rules we create to aid us in
working together freely, rather than bend to the dictates of
those rules, we need to bend the rules to better fit our
needs. We mustn't be subject to our rules and allow the
rules to speak for us, deferring our voice to our vote.
Each individual's voice should be heard above the law. If
one chooses not to participate in that vocal process, yet
claims •by the rules• to be a participant, thereby making
non-participation an act of participation, one places the
law above oneself and every other member of the group.
Freedom of expression becomes a freedom granted by the
rules. When our rules hinder our individual freedom to be
heard by seeing the collective result as greater than the
individual process, we need to rearrange our priorities.
The solution is in the problem. If one person's
uncompromising objections to a proposal makes it evident
that there are separate objectives within the total
collective body that can't be resolved, the group needs to
recognize that there is obviously no common purpose to the
group and split into affinity groups. No one's ideas should
be denied to come to their fruition. One may be a member of
the overall collective body, yet be incompatible with the
specific aims of any particular project. Already consensus
is so open to each person's unhindered expression that its
essence is simply that each member of the group express that
freedom. The only thing inconsistent with the process is to
act like one's freedom of expression is denied and of fer
nothing, because to claim this right by the rules is to
clai• the power to negate everything for everyone.
Discussions should be free and open to all, and should
not involve consensus, or any other kind of group decision
making, because in an open collective there should be no
group decisions to make. This would force a system on a
group of individuals from the outset that may, in thei-r
individual ideas and opinions, be irresolvably diverse.
Instead there should only be individual by individual
agreements to form voluntary alliances with others in
pursuit of some common purpose.
When it's clearly recognized that an affinity exists
among particular individuals by their voluntary agreement to
work together toward a particular aim, they obviously
already constitute an affinity group. A name is simply
being applied to a living association of individuals that
has coae about by their natural inclinations, and doesn't
involve any coercive force of rules. When the rules are
utterly · superfluous, we have anarchy. Using the consensus
process only in affinity groups fits the rules to the needs
of individuals . and alleviates the problem of conflicts of
interest within the group. This entirely voluntary
association seems far more prone to work with the consensus
process without power struggles, clash and competition,
relationship& which inevitably result in an environment of
divisiveness.
0
A collective must feel that urgency to create something
new in the moment, the vital necessity to think of the
opportunities at hand, and the immediate need to act in the
moment, as a unified conviction. Reliance on a system makes
a collective something immortal like the gods: therefore, we
mortals, individuals in a collective, are not really· the
collective. That collective is a system and a symbol. It's
a theory and a dead thing. It has no urgency. Such -a
collective is phony, a paper ideal. We don't feel that
urgent intensity that radiates from original creation, if we
don't recognize in one another's faces the mortality of this
moment we share. If we can't fail in our struggles against
the fates, we can't succeed. We each must assume the
responsibility to create something out of the blackness.
Meditations
On Atheism
Kimberly Stratton
I remember first being introduced to Anarchism and
anarchist thought on religion. I agreed whole-heartedly
that religion is just a means of pacifying the masses,
offering them something better in "Beaven" if they put up
with their situation on earth: preaching that poverty is
punishment, somehow deserved by the poor: and the best
still: Wealth equals Piety you can buy your own
redemption.
I rallied for Atheism in my consciousness and often
verbally as well. However, I always felt a nagging urge to
pursue the Occ~lt, or more precisely, Witchcraft. My first
introductions to "The Craft" were filled with admonition
against theoretical hypocrisy. As I continued to
investigate, however, I began to see a common thread:
Witches also condemn "organized religion" for brainwashing
and manipulating the public -- using religion as a means for
power and wealth. Witches believe that spirituality belongs
to each individual and should be practiced according to each
person's will. Witchcraft does not preach a long list of
"Thou shalt not's" or "Thou must's," but instead offers a
simple law:
An it harm none, do what ye will.
Witches do believe in Karma not as a rule of
punishment and reward, but more similar to physics: every
action has a reaction. The cosmic law of cause and effect .
1 0
The more I read, the more I began to realize that
Witches are anarchists and vice versa. Witches revere a God
and a Goddess not as lords over our destiny but as
archetypal images of the yin and yang, the force and form,
the male and female energies that are essential to life.
Inherent in this belief is sexual equality -- the Goddess is
equal to the God, each assists the other. Witches consider
themselves to be the caretakers of the Earth. They worship
Mother Nature and direct their energy toward healing and
preserving her. The Earth is viewed as a multi-racial,
international organism. All of which sounds rather
anarchistic to me.
Concerning Magic: Witchcraft maintains that we cred t e
our own reality: we have the power to control our lives.
Magic is the use of Imagination, Concentration and Will to
manipulate universal energy of which all matter is
composed. In other words: if you can think it, it can exist
and does exist in another dimension called the mental
plane. Magic is making it real on this plane. (This is
where Karmic responsibility plays a significant role.)
So now, almost a year after my first introduction to
Witchcraft, I am a practicing student of Wicca. During this
time I have seen more and more similarities and congruencies
between Anarchism and "The Craft." Not only are they
similar but they are both essential for social change. Many
an anarchist debate ends with: "Well maybe it's a nice idea
but when are people going to be so enlightened as to make it
work." The answer is, not when all the world practices
Witchcraft, but when spirituality becomes a significant
influence in people's lives. When people really accept that
"Love is the Law." Then "Do what thou wilt shall be the
whole of the law."
~.
( ~,;-·
~,.-· ~~. ,
::.. t' . , .-
l l
J
,..,.,,,.
,A, .,..: : ... • • • r~~ .... ,.1159 ••• ..... - "" ...
,..JC .. _... .• •. •. • • • ·.~ T---------- • • • ••
~·u. ·. ·,, . · ...·. 1 ••• . . . .. -.
~Al(E up y~w" O'N
EV,ltYOlflE IS A Wi rH
0 GAJ'l\S' t
• •
. _.c.ycc.•: -•"•,•..c ••I '•~--
Lirr~tt:
• •
• • • •• • •
•• • • • • • • • •••• • • • ••••
Le•• Ar••"-·
• • • • •
• • • •• • • • •• •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
'" ""A YS TO p£,~ y ...
NN6/( f
. f;me a3()in.
A"o+h~r
c.."1 r c.v .S ,
i\no+he..r
''c.ho .oce."
bdwe.e.n
inc.o.m.pe Je."i s.' ~'
c,anpol i tic..a.I pariie.~
be. trusted ?
Of c.ovr~~ not !
L 4
The Spirit Of
The Times
Has Altered
Here we go again.
Joe Braun
Once again we are being told that political freedom
takes the form of going to the polls every four years.
American democracy, born in revolutionary struggle, has
wilted, and all that remains is a series · of A or B
choices. Coke or Pepsi, butter or .. rgarine, "lethal" or
"huManitarlan" aid, Republican or Democrat. This is what's
left of "freedOll of choice." And if we choose not to
participate in the farce, we are chided and castigated by
liberal and conservative alike.
It ls nothing short of amazing, the emotional response
I get from people when I say, "I a• an anarchist. I do not
vote." People are horrified. They tell me: "But don't you
want to have a say? You are relinquishing your voice and
your power. You are copping out." And "You can't very well
complain about the results if you aren't even interested in
influencing the process."
But I don't see it that way. On the contrary, I see
suffrage not as an empowering "right," but as the voluntary
relinquishment of individual power to the oppressor of your
choice . I also believe that if you participate, and
complain only if you lose, it isn't right. If you don't
like the rules of the game, you shouldn't play.
It may be that 200 years ago, in the age of feudalism
and monarchy, libertarians were justified in pursuing the
experiment of representative democracy. It is now time to
abandon this method and seek new and creative forms in the
continued search for freedOll and justice. Thomas Jefferson
could not have been more prophetic when .he said:
"The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our
rulers will become corrupt, our people careless
From the conclusion of this war we shall be going down
hill. It will not then be necessary to resort every moment
to the people for support. They will be forgotten,
therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget
themselves in the sole faculty of making money, and will
never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their
rights. The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked
off at the conclusion of this war, will be heavier and
heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a
convulsion."
l · 5
Puppy And
Kitty Prison
Tek Luxx
Natalie entered Friendly's Pet Emporium to spend
another of her lunch hours watching the animals. She had
been coming to Friendly' s every working day for the past
three months, and by now she could not ever imagine not
coming, it was such a pleasant respite from the mundane
pressures working against her at the office. Today she was
impatient to see a recently arrived litter of kittens
presently up for sale. Moments before she had been
anxiously waiting up the block, waiting for Friendly to
leave the store to gorge himself at the diner on the
corner. Leaning against the granite facade of the bank,
Natalie was hating him and his foul, brutish manner. Under
her breath she had called him names, things she would never
be able to say to his face. She thought him crude,
offensive, obscene. And he was mean to the animals. He was
always puffing on big, fat cigars, and when Natalie first
started coming by she had seen him blowing smoke into the
animals' cages and flicking ashes into their water.
Friendly disgusted her: he made her flesh crawl, she felt a
biological repulsion, and physically could not bear his
presence, but she loved the animals, the little puppies and
kittens, so still she came by, at the same time every day, a
time when she knew Friendly would be gone, out to lunch.
Friendly was a high-pressure salesman. During
Natalie's first visits he had always stood behind her while
she looked at the animals, pressing his belly into her back,
pretending there wasn't enough room, forcing her closer and
closer to the cage. Breathing on her neck he had urged her
to consider one animal or another, describing their
particular virtues, and the joy a pet would bring to her
empty life. Very quickly Natalie learned that Friendly
didn't like browsers, another of the reasons she avoided
him, for Natalie never came to buy.
Natalie strode to the cage containing the kittens she
had taken an interest in. One of them was missing. Sold,
she realized, and wondered about the price on its head. She
gazed at those remaining, now curled into furry, little
balls, fast asleep, dreaming of mice and trouble. She
watched them breathe in their tiny cage, saw their round,
tiny forms expand and contract. Friendly's assistant sat at
the counter in the back, behind the cash register, reading a
book on dog grooming. He paid Natalie no attention: he was
used to her visits. This pleased Natalie. She liked to be
left alone with the animals, to silently commune with them,
certain the animals appreciated her as a kind human.
1 8
Friendly's assistant was nicer than Friendly, and
Natalie knew that he truly loved animals. But to work for a
man like Friendly was something she could never forgive, and
she harbored a secret resentment he probably never felt.
She had seen that he did treat the animals well. He spoke
to them gently and seemed to understand them. He .and
Natalie could never be friends, though, not unless he
renounced Friendly and quit. She knew this would never
happen. He was the sort that thought Friendly could be
tamed and made nice, and would always think this, no matter
that everything in his experience with Friendly should
suggest otherwise.
Although a bit disappointed the kittens were sleeping
and not playfully scooting around, Natalie chose not to wake
them, and turned to a cage containing three dogs born soon
before she began stopping by. She had watched them grow
over the months, noticed the disappearances of their
brothers and sisters, and wondered what Friendly did with
the puppies nobody wanted to buy. The runts of the litters,
the dull-witted, homely ones, the graceless, the disfigured,
the ones without the charm to captivate the simplest, most
innocent child. Were they put to sleep or exiled to some
hidden dungeon? Did Friendly sell them on the cheap to
unscrupulous butchers? Were they callously set free on the
outskirts of town, their instinct for independence and
survival and self-preservation eroded by centuries of
domestication at the hands of men like Friendly?
Natalie shuddered, thinking of all the horrible
possibilities. She pushed her finger through the narrow
space between the bars of the cage. One of the puppies
sidled over, a scrawny dog with one dead eye. He pressed
his moist nose against her finger and she wiggled it
around. He gently grabbed at it with his paws and teeth,
enjoying the game. Natalie imagined him romping around some
suburban backyard, chasing sticks and birds and insects, out
of his cage, free of a leash, far, far away from Friendly.
The little puppy rolled onto his back and Natalie began
scratching his belly, imagining dogs and cats inhabiting
huge metropolises abandoned by humans. The bell on the door
rang, announcing the arrival of a prospective customer, and
Natalie was reminded that the puppies and kittens would
never be their own masters.
A square-shouldered, aggressive woman with a powerful
military stride entered, pulling along her young son by the
hand.
"We've come for his dog," the woman bellowed to the
assistant, who was beside her in a moment. He pushed
Natalie aside and apologized, then opened the cage, and
grabbed the puppy with the one dead eye.
"This dog does have its papers, doesn't it?" the woman
asked as the the assistant pulled the puppy out of the cage.
"He certainly does," he answered proudly, holding the
squirming puppy to his ches.t and latching the door shut.
"All our dogs are registered."
1 9
20
"Let me hold him, let me hold him," the little boy
squealed, his arms outstretched.
Natalie looked at him closely and gasped. He appeared
a miniature v,rsion of Friendly, but without the cigar. Be
stepped towards the assistant, still holding out his arms.
Natalie was horrified to see he wore a button reading KISS
ME, I'M FRIENDLY.
"Let me have him. Give him over," he demanded. The
assistant obli~ingly passed him the puppy.
"Mine, mine, all mine," the little boy sang. Bis
mother and the assistant walked towards the cash register to
settle up business.
"Friendly said he'd give us thirty percent off because
the dog is sickly and has a dead eye," Natalie heard the
woman mention to the assistant.
"You belong to me," the little boy whispered, embracing
the puppy with one arm. "Mine, mine, mine," he chanted,
poking at the puppy's nose with his finger.
The little dog began gently snapping at the offending
digit as it darted in and out towards his mouth. Watching
the finger fly Natalie hoped the puppy would bite the little
boy. She imagined its teeth sinking softly into his flesh,
cutting, grinding, tearing away, severing the finger from
his hand. She saw the blood spurt out, saw the red around
the dog's mouth, saw the droplets fall to the floor. She
heard the little boy scream, his face twisting in shock,
terror and pain. Be dropped the dog and began waving his
injured hand, spraying blood everywhere, shrieking
uncontrollably. His mother rushed to his side, upset at
this simple purchase gone awry. -
The puppy, with he finger still clenched in his mouth,
darted past the advancing assistant and disappeared into the
rear of the store. Natalie handed the mother a handkerchief
and urged her to bring the boy to the hospital.
"The finger, I need the finger," she wailed, barely
audible over the tormented screams of her son.
The commotion had roused all the dogs and they were
barking furiously, frightening the kittens. Natalie slowly
walked to the back of the store, opening the doors to all
the cages as she went. By the time she reached the
assistant all the puppies had escaped and were running
around in madcap delirium, yipping and yapping. The little
puppy with the one dead eye was laying peacefully on top of
the back counter, having deposited the little boy's finger
on the keys of the cash register.
The assistant stared at the bloody finger, stupefied,
uncomprehending, seemingly unaware of the noise and animal
chaos overwhelming the store. Natalie searched the shelves
below the counter for something to wrap the finger with.
She discovered a zip-lock bag and delicately dropped in the
finger. She handed it to the assistant. He blinked a few
times, and then, like a zombie, carried the finger to the
woman, still trying to calm her son.
The bell at the door rang and suddenly everything was
quiet, except for the little boy's muted sobbing. Friendly
stepped into his shop glaring, his face flushed from too
much food and too many beers. The emancipated puppies
retreated into their corners, somehow realizing the limits
of their short-lived freedom.
"Get these dogs back in their cages," he ordered the
assistant as he brusquely pushed past the woman and her
son. He swaggered to the back of the store and glanced
contemptuously at Natalie.
"How about an Abyssinian, missy7" he asked.
Natalie shook her head no.
"A fine pedigreed cat is the perfect pet for today's
single woman," he reminded her.
Natalie remained silent. Friendly stepped behind the
counter and roughly pushed the puppy down to the floor.
Ignoring the blood on the keys he opened the cash register
and began counting his money, his cigar clenched between
stained teeth.
The assistant hesitantly approached him and pointed to
the woman and her son.
"She says they don't want the dog anymore. They want
their money back."
Friendly snorted and gestured to the sign hanging on
the wall behind him. It stated ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS OR
EXCHANGES.
"But, but, wh-what should I tell her?" the assistant
stammered. "She said, she said that she would sue."
Natalie watched Friendly's face turn especially sullen
and mean. Be blew smoke into the assistant's eyes.
"You tell her ••. you tell her ..• you tell her, caveat
emptor."
2 l
The loalion for the &lllw:ri .. has beu 1tt b the 519 11lae lie~~ Q .. Uilt in coordiMlifl& rides IO
Chun:hSLComm,..iiyCeftue. Wortshopswouldbehddllere • ..S llldf.-IM~.llldai11helpwidlcnllli!p1Ceforsaopowas
space for the benque1 is being looted i11101coupleolbloclll 1Way. ' ..... 111Cny. Alloil~~·or•i..tlol)'Oll. '-e1.,c1r11:
High Part. which coven 1 l1r1e ore&. will be med• 1 loalion b ClllKllft 11111111 die~ M II bell IO C011111C1 Ill~ JOUf
Sundly's ICUVities. rqioMI aJllCICl. Tllil ... a..e Oii )'Oii< ~ ..... m•li111 COIU.
A ie~ve •endl has heal set for the "'*"'9d. Tllln- - · -
day. J1111e 30. will be 1 wdcoming s-ny in the evaiill1•519 a.di ,
S L.1nd1check -i11poin1fordlolecomin1in11110W11111di~llinclheir ;
bearings. Friday will be 1 day ol wortshops. followed bJ a vepUr-i
ian banquet. SMurday will be 1 dly ol-worbhopl. followed bJ j BORDER CROSSING
1 concen - the Llylbouu Ind MDC have e....,... ....... ill
playing. Suncby will be ltt mide for 1day ol necwortinl. llleddaih :
ol which wen: discuaed in Adanla. Projects IUCll • a>-piblilllills. ·
computrr. prison and py networb would be followed 'IP Oii M '
day, as well IS.,, ocher groups dlM wen:..._. ill fCJnllins
ne1works. See the new issue of M"""'1 for detUt. "'- - llm
afoot to hold., outdoor music fc:lliftl ill die - pmk Oii Swidlly.
This evelll would begin mid lflaftlQI., • .. ..,denct ,.._ ...
iniended for lhote will! 1 inore .rioul .,..,._. ,..,,..,. will be the
Day Of Aclion, I day 1C1 aside 10 pnJYide M oppcMlilllily IO .,,.
iheory inlO pnclde. .
Due IO the pal~ in Ille lype8 o( llCtioM pl......iwill
ll'y 1 beasir.s-ed •paaibleformiys._.. ... ..,..anesu
bul providi111 for jail ~etc. il.....-y. Toq9111el'nllll
lasl ,_-·s Mimeapolil ~ "We feel confldall 11111 if inldll-
1ena: is used lhisacUollCMbeuuy....,.one. Sincc-rpiqlle
will llOI know mch other itilviul dmtnerytiody .....__..._the
C011"'"1-.Cesof.,yolourKlianlwilcomecloww011nerytiody."
We ult people 10 bring blil 11111f19 if possible, .Ind .,y .vdlic~.
bicycles or wiebouds you mi1ht have. Mole .,f_ wtdl I
m8"' 11111 leg1I info. will be 1vaillble • the pdlerins. _ ,
REGIONAL CONTACTS
We'd like to lhlnlt lh09e people who hive offend 10 be
n:1ional ooni.cts:
VMCouvu 8 .C.· Chaolic Oislribulion 604-291 -2314
Arpn1a. B.C. Did: Mmnin 604 -~110
icms-. Ont. Pmn llld ""* 61l-S44-2ll2
Oaawa. Ont. S-Ind Clwllel 705. 749. 71 )()
~. Quebec Soci81ilme Ol Libene 514-344-3207
AlllfU.GA. Cin:leA 404-373-5991
New ~.LA Ji-y Md'llerDI 50' -523-I 7115
Minrapo1is MN 8.:k Room Boob 612·1170-700I
Monte Rio. CA Feral F- P.O.Bo• 411, Monte Rio. 95462
Mesa. AZ N8Dlfti G.-i 7927 E. Gamet. 8S02!
2 2 .
And..,.,:....,._ the bonier (for you ...c..adi·
->· AJ f• • llwl .,, wi.t'1 i11ep1 ill the-• el~ is
......ily illesll here. 11lil .-eapecillly for waplllS. wllicll -
illepl to brifll-· If 709 llllwe c...,._ awailin1 you a& lloltle or
hen: ii problllly ilfl'I die bell idmlOame. They mishtc:lledt you
on the rompu1m •die bonier ..s a.s 111ese saeo '°"' lloliday f•.
The border c~ has acca1 ID llodl the <:...-. Md U.S.
potitt files. If you.,.. to have lou al }'(S f.-.ile.....,.
wilh you 10-..-.. the bell idm ii IO ............ ld send
ii 10 the ptherUls lddrem ... ii will lie wliq for you Oii }'(S
llrivll. ~llallwta_.i..,_1111voidMlpoil-.
Some piq11e ..,... rqisled llllil ar auier jllll IO be esn
ccnain ii pa llae. ll'a 'IP 111 yooo llow you mail ii. blll doll'• uy Ill
brill1 ii - die bolder. If they find ii. they could conf ..:ae ii .....
lhey mi1ht - ii as si-m IO n:f- you etUy.
,.. f• • wllich bolder cruai111 ii be .. we11 ;..c look 111
map and lake '°"'pick. They - Ill more or tea !he - · B11ff
llot'Niapra Falls. DellOil. Pllrt H.-. 11-IMd lslMdl <Ki111sion.
Onl) or Moncrul - lllOtl likely to be Oft JOW l'OUle. If
you - Comins from OOll - · ii IMJ be I sood idol Ill Cl'I* over
out then:, or.,,... other-. poilll. Thal w1y they won'l ISIOCi·
11e you wilh Toronto.
If you - tumed 11.:k Mone ennncie. you cmi Wlil liU
shifts c'-le Ind uy 1pin. or he8d a bi1 funha' down lhe r09d Md
uy then:. Suppoaedly lhe bell lirne1 for aoasin1- jllll befon: !llifl
chanaes. 11111 donl1 Nsh hour. Hlvifll • sood Slllr}' wilt lldp. If you
""'really havifll lnllabla painl acmas.1 sood ~ mep
will show 11-ftlllla. or you can live 1111 call and wc •islll be
able 10 work tometlli .. ooa widl rqionll a!llllCIS.
Mollo( all, jolll ... your buns here II> WC (;all ... down IO
getling rid of borden 011Ce Ind for all.
N ANARCHIST UNCONVENTION
TORONTO 1988 JULY 1-4 !!!
ORKSHOPS
Since oar la mailout we have receiwd many proposals
r worbhops. The ones lisied below we confirmed. meaning
•people have commiued to doinl them, and hlove 1Cnt us
~ines o1 whM e.:11 will encompeu. tr you 're inltft:SU:d in
P1izi,. a worbllop thal is not on lhil list. lend us a pmpo"'1
•id April a the .ay 1-. Yoar propoul should include a
r description ol rarm and COlltall, as well • whether you -
a diJCussion poup,., aff111i1y poup or a skills workshop.
we would like your proposal by the end or April, there
be lime 1tt aside on the agenda ror ...-workshops.
- a WOlbhop on this list thal IOUllda like whal you were
ins. or that you would like to wort on, set in conlKt with
penon who IClll 111 the proposal. You an set their name and
rrom Gory care or the Gatherins rickftss.
.,.,,,o,,,,:
Pri9Dllen and prisons, Animal libenlion, Spirituality.
Aid I altemaive economics, People oC colour, Quett
isu, Back to the land: smvival, East bloc mlidarity
cwsio11 group:
Stra&egies in the lllaldlist lllOvemall. Ecoreminism,
oC aliemalive politics, Anarcho-pcifisrn, Worker owne4/
industry, Iroquois thou1hl and !JOCial ecoloCY, anarchist and
savu1e. Y oulh libenaion
-1:s11o,,
Facilitation , Radio. Crulive performance, Usina scrap!/
(dumpsler divine). Squaiin1. Wimmins' se1r dermsie.
dleala, Wimmins' health skills, Resistance to medical
The ro1Jowinc is a list oC propmed workshops lhlt have
beat confirmed. Concem - expreaaed a various events/
· lhlt these IDpics need ., be run11er e1plonxl and
We are -kins iniercsted people to take on the
ibility rar racilitalion.
IWioll f'O"I':
Non·ideolosicil llNIChism, Music oC llNIChism,
hisrn and ' third world' struute. Labour issues, Coalition
and llNIChisrn, lndigenou.s survival and -.:hism, Ccnlt:ll
imperialism 8lld anarchism, Schools, Youth Liberation,
ualily, Dealing with nazis, AIDS,
1worl:sltop1:
Food l'rq9raljon. Food co-ops, Health (nallllal healing),
rood. Pllysital skills(Tai Chi, dance), Sheller, Direct
· , OOlhing (knitting, beading, cheap clothes, eel), Educa·
, Animal care. Wilderness skills, Communications. Home-ing
beer
tr you would like ., contribute malCrial that you reel
Id help with the workshops, then feel free ID send it to us. c/o
workshop committie
<)l LSI 10'\'\ \llH.
In order ror 111 10 plln for your saimodllion, u.rpoe ...
lion and diellry needl we t.ve pat IDgedler a tilde qaesionnlire.
Your respon1e ro dae ~ wiU give 111 a beller idea ol
whal to e1pect and wt.I., plln for. At this point we~ live
you 811Y ..... tee lhll all your wiahea will be fulrdled, but we
will do our be9L We would very much ippftlCiale it ii J011 aiuld
fill this - and retum., 111 as 900ll as possible. Simply tick off
the appropriate boxes.
Montral .... already offered ., plOYide fmlcll-slish
interpelltion 8lld we h8ft one penon who an provide lip
lmguage. Manual wiU aim be givins 10mC wortJllops in mnch
at which they wiU tnnslale IO englisll.
r-AcroMO'MiloN---------1
I 0 I hlove made my own llftlllClllC"U I
1I 0 I need accomodalion II l 0 I prefer lmOte-free 0 •imal-fttie I
I 0 wheelchair ma:essible
I
I 0 11 ive in ToronlO 8lld an provide holllins
for how m•y people 7 ............................. .
type (pleme specify) .................................. .
0 I need childcare
for how m•y children 7 .......................... .
11'fJERPRET A TION
0 I need in~lllion to E,.lish
from what imllQIF 7 ....................•. --······-
0 I need sisn-i.nsuase in~
0 I C811 provide inierpre .. tion or lip llnpase
which or what t.npge ? ....................... .
DIET
0 lamavesm
0 I am a vegetarim
Lg_!~~~~------~----~
A Survival Gathering
P.O. Box 435 Siii. P
Toronto. Ontario
MSS-2S9
2 3
May Shefley
How is it that I only fall in love with anarchists?
What is the decree my heart ignores to stalk stability
within the lonely wretched norm? To rent in Queens, make
the car payments, and dutifully wear the diamond that binds
your soul and sense?
I grew up in Brooklyn. I went to Catholic high school
but my uniform was always untidy. I didn't join the crowd
before the girls' room mirror to smear on make-up. I didn't
go out with Vito because his Cadillac was nicer than
Sal's. I didn't get pregnant either, because I didn't fuck
around .
Why did I have such an unusual youth in Brooklyn?
Because my head was somewhere else. I wanted anarchy.
Anarchists don't ignore you. Anarchists don't treat
y9u like you're weird. Anarchists understand that you know
best how to fill your own needs. Anarchists know that you
want a world where the pressure is off. Anarchists listen
because anarchists care.
Anarchy does not tolerate anything but patience and
kindness among those who part i c i pate. Anarchy comforts
those who have been pushed out or around. Anarchy accepts
everyone, invites all to share in happiness (increase
others', thereby multiplying your own). . Anarchy does not
reject. Anarchy loves.
Anarchy is love, but not for one's self alone. rf--:1.j .·
'li~-
Lr ./
2 4
ANARCHISM 102
Essay Questions
1. Meaning ,of Anarchism
Mr. Thedford
When Anarchism went through its leader killing phase it aqulred
a reputation as a dangerously violent sort of thing, Connotationally
this was an additional dark texture to the established popular notion
that Anarch1 meant a terrible condition of lawless chaos where the
chains are off and the strong pre1 on the weak.
Of course Anarchists themselves have always been ver1 clear that
true Anarchism meant people living in a state of voluntary cooperation.
Which is of course the way it should be. Anarchism looks at the world
and sees the rulers and the ruled and thinks it shouldn't be like that.
Anarchism ls thus a term with very different meanings for different
people. In common usage Anarch1 ls terrible chaos, For Anarchists
it 1s the rule of voluntary cooperation, which is of course the way
people should live together.
Is this a problem? Should Anarchists be . concerned that common
understanding of Anarchism is so different from their understanding?
Or is it enou~h to understand it oneself?
2. Marxism Anarchism and Power
Marx of course takes economics as what drives the class struggle
which drives the wheel of history end so forth. Anarchism hes a very
different emphasis, Anarchism is most of ell concerned with power,
the power of one pernon over another, one rroup over other groups,
Thus Marxism permits or actually encourages coersive movements which
come to power as coersive systems. Stalin is famous for carrying
coercionist Marxism to its logical extreme, Anarchism of course
condemns the coercionist revolutionaries as it condemns the coercionist
old regime, and for the same fundamental reasons,
Eut though Marxist Leninist theory is based on economics, Marxist
Leninist practice as it operates in the world is entirely end with a
ruthless realism that Anarchism could never get that hong of based on
power. Not economics, So they create systems that hold power very
well but create economic messes as bad in some ways es the pirtte
cepitolism of the west.
Protabli no one is surprised that Anarchism which clearly sees
that power is the big problem has shown no greet aptitude for risln£
to power in a real world revolutionary situation, but why should
Marxism be so good at comin£ to power? Must Anarchism necessarily
concede e revolution in progress to ruthless Marxists? Can't we
s omehow win by stret cfy?
;/
50¢
