X-NUPop-Charset: English
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 14:55:02 -0600 (CST)
From: "Alan Spector" <spector@calumet.purdue.edu>
Sender: spector@calumet.purdue.edu
Reply-To: spector@calumet.purdue.edu
To: revs@csf.colorado.edu
Subject: Fw: RE: What is Helpful and Is Not Helpful
>From Alan Spector, REVS Editor:

I have decided to send Mr. Witanek's comments and my reply to the REVS
network.  His comments should have reached you by now; my reply follows:
------------------------------

Dear Mr. Witanek:

  I posted the compilation of messages because I believed that the authors of
those messages had some very powerful, important messages to get out.  I
believe that the rhetoric of "DNA programmed to fight and be a warrior"
is not true.  The heroism of the Native American people, the brilliant
military strategies and unselfish courage are examples for all fighters
against oppression to admire.  I only took issue with the rhetoric of "DNA"
programming because it is the language and rhetoric of the oppressor, and
since I was making the decision to forward the message, I felt an obligation
to distance myself from that rhetoric. If a Euro-American said that Native
American people were "DNA programmed to fight and be a warrior" we would
make a very strong criticism of that statement. I suspect that the author
was writing metaphorically, and I only offered a mild, friendly criticism
of style.

   The HIGHEST compliment a person can pay to another person is to offer
friendly, constructive criticism.  Those who are afraid to offer such
friendly, constructive criticism reveal their own condescending attitudes
towards the oppressed, believing that the oppressed are either too stupid
to understand or too weak to handle such comments.  It is a sign of contempt
for someone to not offer a friendly, constructive criticism if one is called
for.  Should we hold back criticism of various parties in the Yugoslav war
if we are not Yugoslavian; is it arrogant to side with the ANC against the
South African groups such as Inkhata, if we are not South African; can we
not side against the Mexican government over Chiapas if we are not Mexican;
can we not oppose the Contras in Nicaragua, even if we are not Nicaraguan?

  If a comment is meant to be one of constructive support, it should be made
in a way that offers constructive support.  That is what I tried to do.
It is easy to simply offer uncritical support to various groups of
super-oppressed people.  Some liberals do it all the time.  The real
struggle is to treat people as equals, as brothers, sisters, best friends,
and to actively organize against oppression.  I hope and suspect
that the author of the original letters understands the constructive,
supportive, and respectful meaning of my comments.


Alan Spector