Don't call me a socialist

I am constantly discussing the merits of listening with good friends. Their argument is there is no point in listening to the other side when it is so obvious how distorted their views/beliefs/solutions are. Before I argue their point, I would like to concede how tempting it is to simply dismiss an argument as being extreme, improbable or downright ridiculous. However, history has taught us that the other has not always been defined in such innocuous ways (a disconcerting blog entry regarding one's political affiliations is tame in comparison). In fact, typically the other has been defined along race, gender, sexuality and class lines -- and this has often been met sustained with oppressive and violent actions.

Hence the premise of my point -- at what point do we get to decide the validity of the other? In a nation (and continent) dangerously split along contentious political lines, it is important to stop the labels and start the discussion.

And along comes Zinn.

First a kudo to Howard Zinn. At present Zinn's play, Marx in Soho, is being performed in select theatres across the country. This week, Toronto was priviledged enough to observe Zinn's perspective of the god-father of socialism defending his beliefs (while calling to task the dogmatism that has infiltrated politics (and beliefs) today). As a one-man show (with no scenery changes and few props) it's hard to believe that writer Zinn could actually adapt the dry material of political economy into an engaging one-hour show. But he did.

For most of the show, Marx reiterated that the failure of communism did not denote the failure of socialism AND that the apparent success of capitalism had to be re-examined in the light of ever-increasing division between the have's and have-not's and the constantly growing poverty population. Yet, for me, the most profound moment in the play was near the end. After explaining and defining the importance of socialism (then and now) Marx states, in one truimphant sentence, that we must forget the labels -- forget the divisions and the theoretical debates -- and work together to achieve what we all want: universal health, abundance and happiness for all.

Amen to that brother. Amen to that.

For more information (or tix) to Marx in Soho (in Toronto) go to: www.socialjustice.org
For more information on Marx go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx
For more information on community building and communication go to: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/citizens-handbook/ OR http://www.communitytools.net/cbi/