Another home run for Compact Mag after a few weeks of bunts and fouls. John Judis writes a comprehensive and clear article on the New Left in 1969 vs the New Left now. He agrees with what I saw then. Judis was more of an insider, while I was just a random protester, but I remember the moment Judis describes. Before the takeover, leftist groups like SDS were socialist or Marxist. After the takeover the groups were Maoist and identitarian. I gave up on SDS when I realized it was discussing Palestine instead of Vietnam.
Judis says that a foreign emphasis is not the best way to attract domestic support from non-extremists, which is EXACTLY what happened to me.
BUT: In fact the net result of the Vietnam war WAS a free Vietnam. The ordinary protesters got what they wanted, more freedom in the world. (But not here.) The theorists got what they wanted, total Maoism HERE. So both of the movement’s goals succeeded in an Emersonian way.
Vietnam and China played the “communist” game for a while, then after Mao’s death both China and Vietnam returned to their own nationalist ways. Now both are prosperous and extremely capitalist, while we (the unconditionally surrendered loser) are impoverished and Maoist. Our central planners are in Palo Alto and NYC, not DC.
Zuck and Fink are the true inheritors of Mao and Ho.
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Later note for clarity: The opposite side in the current protests is equally anti-American. Christians and Repooflicans and “establishment” Dems have no interest in America at all. They do what Israel wants, not what America wants.
Polistra's Mill 