Letter to Tim DeChristopher

What follows is a letter to Tim DeChristopher. If you haven't heard of his case, I recommend you look through the news. I also suggest that, in solidarity, you write a letter to him as well.

Dear M. DeChristopher

I have loosely been following your story in the media. I think it is amazing what you have done. I am also facing some legal troubles. I was arrested with the Drone Resisters in Syracuse, NY 22 April. That was my first “real”¹ activism outside of local issues and High school organisations. I want to assure you, as I'm sure it's already very clear to you, that there are many people out here in support with you.

The Anarchist Recipe Book (Crimethinc) states that all who face arrest or jail are heroes. They are the Joe Hills, Saccos, Vanzettis, and Haymarket martyrs of our movement. Luckily, martyrdom these days doesn't usually entail execution. Just reminding you that you are indeed a hero.

In his book We Have Been Invaded by the 21^st Century, David McReynolds writes that “every last mother's son and daughter among us, rich or poor, wise or foolish, has the inalienable right to be jailed for his beliefs.” With that understanding, I'd like to thank you for your will and your boldness to defend the Earth and protect the human species from the dangers our society is creating.

Reminding you that you are a hero,

and in Solidarity,

Ian William Schlom

1Viz. national.

More notes on Proudhon

I went back to the library after I had returned What is Property?, and transcribed all the notes I had made in it. For some reason I am going to post it up here. While I was scanning it, I forgot to make a picture scan, so it's just a pdf and available here. So that's that.

Notes on Proudhon

I had to give back What is Property? to the library, and thus tear out the notes I had put on the pages. In an effort not to lose them, I am posting them here.

Then Proudhon was not free, for he was a "victim of erroneous opinions."

This is about Proudhon being racist. In What is Property? he says that people with an erroneous opinion are not free, ergo Proudhon is not free from his Anti-Semitism, not to mention all the other European Chauvinisms.

The capitalist is stealing the value the laborer created... Property is theft.

This is about the part in Chapter 3 where Proudhon creates the picture where by calling wages a proper exchange for the value that workers create, the capitalist steals from the workers the values they had added to whatever substance they labour on. Thus while it is not exactly accurate to say that Property is Robbery, the contemporary system of property is indeed theft.

St. Simon coined this maxim!

This refers to where Proudhon quotes a version of the popular maxim "to each according to his capacity; to each capacity according to its results!” Of course, this is not the Socialist form of "From each according to their ability; To each according to their need." It caught my eye nonetheless.

Chomsky - [On] The IWW and Anarcho-Syndicalism

This is some email communication I had with Mr. Chomsky. I'm putting it up here because it ought to be up here. I sent this while I was reading the Industrial Worker, and also wondering about the Cornell ISSE and if it could play any role is actually contributing to any change in workers' rights in Ithaca NY, or just be another college reading circle. Chomsky's response follows.

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Ian Schlom ...	Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 5:23 PM
To: Chomsky...
Dear Professor Chomsky, I've heard rumor (Wikipedia) that you are a member of the IWW. Do you think that the IWW is a viable means for bringing worker justice or even anarcho-syndicalism? If it's not too much, I'd also love to hear your position on strategies that are openly socialist, like Socialist parties or organisations, if those tactics are "too early" and put off people. Thank you, Ian Schlom

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Noam Chomsky	Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 5:51 PM
Reply-To: chomsky... To: Ian Schlom ...
Yes, I’m a member. The IWW was quite significant a century ago, before it was wiped out by Woodrow Wilson. It’s be slightly resuscitated in recent years, and is doing some good things, but it’s a collection of very small groups. The problem with Socialist organizations right now is not choice of strategies, but bringing them into existence. Right now most of the battles are defensive: trying to preserve what was once achieved. If that doesn’t change soon, it will be too late. NC