Open letter to the WSA, LBC, AJ Muste Memorial Institure...
Feb 28 2008 18:56
#32
I don't know Moose that well, but always found him to be pretty okay politically and on a personal level... at least from afar (we were both in the AAC network in the '90s). Definitely wouldn't put him in the same boat as scumbags like Bob Black. That said, he messed up and definitely owes people (WSA, NYMAA, etc) an apology and retraction.
Feb 28 2008 19:10
#33
I would like to apologize to the WSA, LBC, the Muste Institute and all those associated with this controversy I have foisted upon the movement for the callous and insensitive way that I single handedly attempted to allay a situation that was neither mine to solve nor any of my business, nor, for that matter, much of a situation.
I was wrong in my haste, tenor, and very fact of the letter and hope that I have not irreversibly damaged the good names and solid reputations of any individuals or long-standing groups. For this all criticism of my behavior is warranted and just.
The letter was my opinion alone and did not represent in any way the opinions of NYMAA or any of its members. Simply put, I was far out of line.
moose
Feb 28 2008 19:16
#34
What are NYMAA's dues, anyway? Could raising them bring the resources to bear so that they could get a larger office. I know that space is hard to come by in Manhattan, but it's a bit easier in the other boroughs. Ofcourse, I'm speaking from Baltimore where we have thousands and thousands of vacant units.
Feb 28 2008 20:24
#35
From a former user of the space, back in the days when it started up (25 years ago)...
Guys,
This is REALLY PATHETIC. The anarchist movement has lots of problems, quarrels, etc., but objectively this one, although it may seem to you worth our international attention, doesn't need to be solved through the publication of an open letter.
The room is in not too great shape to be sure, but respect to the fact that some people have been keeping it up for years. I'd like to know how many other people are still around from those days. (Answer : small fraction.) It was always also a fact that back in my day, only a handful of people took care to make sure the bills were paid and there were always more people interested in "using" than "contributing". So that should be kept in mind first of all.
Please get yourselves together. Listen, we have A LOT LESS money than you, and fewer people, less space available, but we manage to have 3 anarchist spaces, a couple of cafes and a squat going in our little city of Warsaw where we have a bigger challenge than you, despite your crazy NYC rents. If you have all those little groups / collectives running, you should be able to organize yourselves and get a decent space. Stop whining and organize.
Feb 28 2008 22:31
#36
Apology is a good start. Now everybody sit down and talk this out. Yay.
Feb 28 2008 22:41
#37
guydebordisdead wrote:
Apology is a good start. Now everybody sit down and talk this out. Yay.
Too bad. I was looking forward to harboring Tom and Mitch...
Feb 29 2008 00:35
#38
I don't know about Tom, but Mitch doesn't get upset. He gets even. Jersey even.
Feb 29 2008 02:18
#39
Glad this is being resolved -- all I want to say is, I know I'm not the only "younger" anarchist comrade with a stack of fucking amazing photocopies, courtesy of the WSA archives, dating back to at least the 20s. This is not "detritus" that should be "thrown in the recycle bin".
I can see how the lack of space / high rent can be a frustration in NYC (it's bad enough here in Boston!), but y'all need to think realistically about how to expand the anarchist footprint instead of cannibalizing what you already have. (Maybe if "younger" NYC anarchists hadn't been quite so obsessed with hanging out in temporary autonomous zones for the last 20 years, there would be a couple more semi-permanent semi-autonomous ones?)
Feb 29 2008 02:27
#40
Folks---this is a copy of an email sent to the NYMAA Comms Group on their statement concerning Moose's letter.
Speaking for NY WSA members, I can safely say "thank you" for the quick Comms Group reply. Your ability to quickly and cleanly and in a most comradely fashion in addressing the problem shows NYMAA's decency. For that, we should all say thanks.
The WSA looks forward to continued and better relations with NYMAA. The positive work NYMAA has done far outweighs the negative.
WSA look's forward to getting to know many of you better in the weeks and months
ahead---and you to get to know WSA better.
Perhaps this incident should highlight the need for better and direct communications between NYC anarchists, rather than a failed effort at one-up wo/manship.
Let the Red & Black flag fly high, mightily and without rips, tatters and unsoil ed throughout NYC----and the globe!
In solidarity,
Mitch
Feb 29 2008 02:35
#41
To all the friends and comrades who posted supportive emails--- I want to personally thank you for your astute comments and solidarity.
To Moose, I acknowledge your apology and the taking down of the photos.
Yours for a better world....and one where we kick some capitalist butt, not each others!
Mitch
Feb 29 2008 02:53
#42
On the lighter side, ya'll are killing me with the cartoons and graphics....wait, hold on, I need some help...... Ida, my pace maker needs a charge, and get me the jerotol while you're at it.
Jeezuz, a freakin' scooter....and age elimination ... why not throw some chattering false teeth in their (which I'm sure someone will, now that I said that).
Anyway, on to better things.
Feb 29 2008 03:05
#43
Feb 29 2008 03:07
#44
I knew it! 
I would've bet the whole lot of them false teeth it'd be either you or STRB 
Feb 29 2008 03:18
#45
Feb 29 2008 03:55
#46
WSA National Headquarters
Feb 29 2008 04:11
#47
Ok Duke......actually this looks a bit like the old Love & Rage HQ. I mean it seem liked they had stuff, computers and so forth everywhere...ok, their floor was cleaner.
Anyway bro., time to move on.
Feb 29 2008 04:14
#48
syndicalist wrote:
Ok Duke......actually this looks a bit like the old Love & Rage HQ. I mean it seem liked they had stuff, computers and so forth everywhere...ok, their floor was cleaner.
Love n Rage coulda had a palace for an office but I have a personal rule against joining any organization that'll let Mathias in.
Feb 29 2008 04:21
#49
syndicalist wrote:
Anyway bro., time to move on.
Fine but I didn't even get to make my WSA.A.R.P. joke. 
Feb 29 2008 04:27
#50
OK, one last one Duke..... what's the WSA AARP joke? 
PS: I got it Duke, I got it. 
Feb 29 2008 13:34
#51
Wow, by the time I get around to responding it's resolved. I'll still take a sec. to thank first the NYMAA coms group for distancing themselves from the irresponsible publication and then Moose for seeing reason.
Ps
Also thanks to thuggy, the nefac crew and everyone else for the support, and jokes.
i know that moose and the "friendly comrades" like to think of themselves as young and hip and something totally new, but the fact is, their irresponsibility and lack of accountability is nothing new at all but is a long-standing problem in the American anarchist milieu, with its longstanding individualist tendencies. there were recurrent problems of this sort throughout the '60s, '70s and '80s. an example would be Bob Black's successful attempt to get the Process World collective evicted from their illegal office space by reporting it to the city building department circa 1984.