---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 14:48:49 -0800
From: radtimes <resist@best.com>
Subject: From Port Huron to Kent State [Alan Haber]
From Port Huron to Kent State
From: Alan Haber <megiddo@umich.edu>
Subject: From Port Huron to Kent State
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 11:46:12 -0500
to: old friends and new, x-sds, seniors for a democratic society, survivors
for a democratic society, veterans of the movements past and activists of
today.
hello
notes introducing a discussion,
Many people have suggested "we" need, for now, what "the port huron
statement" did in the 1960's, a manifesto of our times by young people of
all ages, ready and engaged in action. A "new" port huron statement now
would have to bridge many generations and represent better the diversity of
the world and engage better some of the unresolved controversies of change
the world politics.
A new port huron statement would probably be some combination of a
compendium of experiences by those who did and learned what many dreamed
about, and new assertions of perspective, free from the shackles of
experience, responding to new conditions, rooted in the many fronts of the
struggle now all over the world.
What should be said in a new statement, of use for action, helping
cooperation and focus?
A conference is planned at Kent State University, Ohio, May 30-31, June
1-2, 2002, in part, to evaluate the response to this question.
i agreed to be "a coordinator," gathering words and reflecting them back,
extending the invitation to participate and helping get a process together,
trying to be a model of collective writing and participatory democracy.
The idea to start with is to start with "the port huron statement" of june
1962. Read or reread "the port huron statement," or skim it, get a sense of
the scope of what we might conceive.
What holds up, what was all wrong or some wrong, what was left out, etc.?
Your comments can be directed to the document as a whole, to a specific
section or paragraph, to the beginning of a whole new text, or to the process.
Some ideas have been promised in writing on participatory democracy,
reclaiming the commons, worker democracy. The invitation to participate is
going out widely through face to face networks and the internet.
Please take initiative to extend and forward this invitation wherever
appropriate.
Depending on what happens and how voluminous the response is to this "call
for words," i or some drafting committee, will prepare a "draft" for
discussion. If we can even come to an agreement on a "preamble" to a
statement, that itself would be an accomplishment.
Several planning and discussion meetings have been held, at kent state and
at toledo, another is set for february 16 in youngstown, and there will be
another april 6 and/or 7 in ann arbor.
a web site is set up to receive your comments and words:
http://porthurontokentstate.tripod.com
"the port huron statement" as a whole and part by part is available on this
web site. Until April comments will be listed in the order received.
Conference details also will be on the web site.
this 2002 is the 40th year since port huron. the movements have grown
immeasurable since they fragmented after the kent state and other killings.
perhaps this is a time to attempt a reconvergence, a getting together,
wider and deeper. perhaps we could think together about what is to be done
the first weekend in june would not be to soon to try
i hope you find this endeavor of interest and potential use. extend it
where you think it needs to go.
if you want to discuss this, and have ideas to help, call at 734-761-7967
or write at megiddo@umich.edu or use the "comment" section of the web site.
alan haber
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