interesting conversation. I'm blown away by Amir's radically different
views :^) must admit at least are not predictable and daring to go
further than what we see. But I just don't think conflict is the
solution...

On Wed, 16 Sep 2015, Jonathan Valiente wrote:

>    If the people are prepared to organize that's one thing, but an
>    unorganized mass with an impasse of ideologies sounds like a recipe
>    for disaster. Noticing whats happening with the Arab Spring, it
>    seems a power vacuum doesn't necessarily lend itself to benevolent
>    organization.

you clearly make a good point here, I can witness by having followed
fairly close all the process starting on the 6th of april 2008 when I
was in Cairo and up to today - while visiting now and then for different
reasons. Last time I was shattered all of a sudden by seeing Amir
televised in an interview on Al-Jazeera from the TV in my hostel room
:^D I think it was again the 6th of April, coincidence, but 2013

however yes, your analysis here is not to be overlooked, even anarchy
has short legs without a plan. not only the power vacuum, but the
vulnerability to manipulation. networks of trust are always necessary,
but privilege must be shared liberally and out of one's close network.
I think this is one of the biggest errors Morsi has made...

>    I am of the opinion that government is a higher level of
>    organization, that, when done correctly, allows for useful systems
>    properties that are unattainable otherwise. Perhaps I am just not a
>    true anarchist at heart. 

sounds a bit trolling :^) "done correctly"... also using terms like
"truth" and "anarchy" in the same phrase is calling for an oxymoron

"mostly"... anarchists do not believe in judgments and... "mostly" are
opposed to a single notion of truth. *injustice* is probably the notion
closest to "truth" for an anarchist. a conversation like this now can be
still regarded as anarchist, as long as we don't paternalize each other
with a notion of truth, or who is "the real anarchist".

and speaking of powers: there are no good powers anyway.
or maybe in Rojava?...

we do have a 'statue dedicated to anarchists' here in Amsterdam, I must
admit it looks quite silly to me
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Domela_Nieuwenhuis#/media/File:Ferdinand_Domela_Nieuwenhuis_monument.jpg
wikipedia reports him as a socialist, but at the time of the IAA...

BTW have you seen the statue to Assange, Manning and Snowden?
http://www.euronews.com/2015/05/01/snowden-assange-and-manning-statues-unveiled-in-berlin/
wondering what you think about it. I quite like it, especially that
there is an empty sit besides.


ciao