Review of Book Fair Against Warfare

The Book Fair against Warfare at the New College of California was somewhat dissapointing and yet it was good to see anti-war activists energitically engaged in this movement.

The fair was organized by Haymarket Books as a benefit; when I first heard of the name I thought that this was a benefit for an Anarchist book vendor/publisher. However, to my somewhat dissapointment - the Haymarket Book table was filled with Marx/Engles and Socialst Review magazines.

Although, they did have many other books about important issues such as Palestine, 9/11, anti-war etc.

While I have read Marx, and Engles, and appreciate their thought, and explanation of the workings of Capitalism, I find a whole table full of their works to be a bit too much - and of questionable worth, given that they are a product of their times - and their thinking is so influenced by European philosophy of that era.

But regardless of their relative importance, perhaps more room could have been given to the wonderful writings that are now emerging regarding Global Capitalism from the "third world" from a perspective rooted in a struggle for justice.

AK press was also there - I was hoping that I would see some new works related to current Anarchist issues especially regarding a renewed interests in Anarchism by students, and especially white subarbian living high schoolers. Missing also was works regarding human nature - and it seems that writings of Anarchists have not built on the wonderful works of Peter Kroptkin's mutual aid. While Anarchist orgnaizing issues are important for movement building, just as important and critical is the need for approaching an understanding of human nature. It is in this area, that Anarchists have so much more to offer than the mechanical and linear historical view that Marxists often engage in.

I attended the How to Build an Anti-War Movement panel. Here too, I ended up being dissapointed :-( .
The buzz word I over heard in coversations amongst the activists was the need to build a "democratic movement" - and I was hoping that this would be a focus of the panel, or at least different ideas would be presented on "how to build...." Instead the panel offered their individual perspectives on four questions that was put to them by the forum moderator/organaizer. While it was interesting to hear the perspectives, it was something more suited for a teach-in rather than for a room full of activists who already have a good understanding of these perspectives.

The issue of building a democratic movement - was brought up by one or two members of the audience. I think the most important response was given by the representative of Global Exchange and SUSTAIN (a group calling for an end of US aid to Israel) : Mr. Ziad Abu-Rish. He talked about not being decided on this issue, and perhaps that there is a need for diverse and multiple groups because while there is broad agreement, there are also differences in political understanding of what an anti-war movement is to be.
Is the movement to only be a call for no war on Iraq? Or, is this to be a movement for peace and justice? Rish believed that it needs to be a movement for peace and justice - otherwise we may end up where we started - *if* root causes, and broader issues are not addressed.
The other important issue was the need for inclusion of people of color in this movement, although, he noted that there is improvement in this area.. (In my view much needs to be done in this area.)

The other panelaists basically stated that it is a good idea to have a unified democratic movement, but that there is room for all...

While the Book Fair was a good get together, bringing together activists from diverse backgrounds, and Anarchists, and Socialists - and the various anti-war coallitions... it would have been even better if 1) there had been some brand new releases that the various publishers/vendors could have released on this day - maybe even had a book release party? 2) For at least the workshop I attended it would have been a much better use of time - if there had been a focus on movement building issues - rather than a focus on views on the war, the causes etc.

Others who attended may have a different point of view, please do express them...

Thank you

This is Redwood Breeze - signing off...