Tuesday 12 January 2010

1354 1960's Trotskyite Enterism

20.00 Friday 25.04.2008 There is so much whirling around in my head to-day that although I switched on the oven half an hour ago when I went to take out the slice of wild salmon with a top coat of Provencal style herbs which included tarragon, pepper onion and garlic, I discovered I had forgotten to put it in. I have enjoyed my food over the past week which has been much taken up with Blog writing, sorting out all my records and documents in relation to my birth and care mothers, and me, including family history and the correspondence related to my father. There are so many gaps, missing links and questions where there is little prospect of finding new information upon which to write with certainty about several important issues. More on this and the development of the day later in this writing

Yesterday for my midday meal there were two slim pieces of rump steak covered with Italian seasoning and on Wednesday two Breams, as they had become so frozen together I could not separate but I went without any vegetables as a consequences. There was a prawn and olive omelette on Tuesday and on Monday I used the rest of the Sunday pork joint, including some stuffing and roast potato slices to make a curry. Tomorrow there will be Kentucky style chicken pieces if I can remember to defrost before going to bed or a pizza which can be baked from frozen. There has been two prawn salads, one day a soup and two others, sandwiches, of cheese and salami, although if I remember correctly I also had a soup with one of the single sandwiches. I could not find any more of the nutty brown bread which was disappointing and I engaged in a mutual moan with gentleman of similar years who also could not find his favourite which was interesting because he like me finding our usual inexpensive house brand was no longer available had started to experiment with various continental styled loaves now on offer at anything from £1 to £1.40. It I always comforting to find someone with similar approaches and reactions, especially when they are strangers. The rise in rice for an important daily food has led to a new interest, but obviously for those of us with these means. I am always aware of those who do not have the means which reminds that I should complete the Summer season books of charity lottery tickets. I must also renew my membership of the local heritage centre in Wiltshire.
After finding it difficult to get out early enough to ensure I was able to collect British Wartime film DVD's from the Daily Mail last week I have got into my stride this week which is just as well as such has been the demand that a further week of films has been added. Tomorrow may be a problem as I have to stay until my digital camcorder is returned as the first attempt was made today when I was out inspecting my mother's available medical records. So far I have 1)The Battle of the river Plate where I watched an anniversary documentary earlier in the week, 2)The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, the much shown 3)Heroes of the Telemark and 4)a Matter of Life and Death which had a affect in in childhood, along with 5)the Way to Stars and 6)Morning Departure; 7) Above us the Waves: 8) Aces High: 9) All quiet on the Western Front which affected me when I first saw in theatre: 10) I was Monty's Double:11) Ill met by Moonlight; 12) The Long and the Short and Tall where the original stage play affected me greatly, and 13)Tunes of Glory. Next to come are 13)Carve her name with Pride shown his week on daytime TV which I intentionally missed; 14) Malta Story which I already have on DVD; 15)We dive at Dawn; 16) The Lion has Wings; 17) Appointment London; 18) The Way Ahead; and 19) 49th Parallel; I did not mind missing 20)Escape to Athena which I saw on TV recently and thought it was an awful film and should not have been included in the same company as the others; 21)Reach for Sky the Douglas Bader Story I also missed together with 22) In which we Serve and 23) Went the Day well, all missed because of the demand and not getting out early enough.

Progress in the writing this evening is even more slow than usual as I watch the American Idol results show and enjoying a Butterscotch whip and a pint of iced water. The Pepsi Cola supply has ended and I am not buying any more until I have reduced weight to sixteen stone once more and may hold out until 15.7. Three cheers for the American Idol public who cast 38million votes rebelled against the judges. They voted in Jason Castro who I thought did an interesting and enjoyable performance of Midnight after his confidence was affect by Lloyd Weber but was savaged by two of the judges and Brooke White who fluffed her opening and started again and presumably got a sympathy vote. Carly Smithson was voted off, the married Irish lass with one of the best voices but has failed to live up to expectation and performed an unattractive rather shrieking Jesus Christ Superstar. Incidentally, of all the guest coaches Lloyd Weber was the most critical and destructive, just as bad as Simon can be when he is trying to live up to his former reputation.

A lot of to day was spent finding things, first the keys to my top floor were not in their usual place, then I could not find the set files on family history and previous files about my background, but by the evening I believe I have identified everything, in three by four draw filing cabinets. This involved moving things around and took several hours with the consequence that I forgot to do my on-line entry for the Euro draw this week. I will need to check the results and hope that I did not miss out, given the lack of success over the past six months. A reminder to ensure that I get the tickets as early as possible in the week.

The reason for the information gathering is that I need to piece together the family addresses from 1938 to 1968. I was able to view the GP records of my mother but alas there is nothing prior to 1968. However there was a bonus as there was valuable information which support the case in relation to the premature and preventable death of my aunt. The next step is to try and locate the missing records. There are two major letters to write this weekend plus a third which has become a priority. Then if I have not heard from the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman before the end of April I will ask for a completion forecast and consider approaching national politicians about why it has taken over five years.

I had intended to write at some length about the allegation of Trotskyite enterism of the National Union of Teachers. Trotskyism is similar to Al-Qaeda in that it is an umbrella alliance of individual and groups holding broadly similar aims and methods. They also have in common the belief that the end justifies the means However there is no suggestion that in the UK Trotskyites' have considered let alone used physical violence including bombings, suicide bombings, or physical assassinations and any measures directly threaten human life although I have personal experience of organised mobs, terror threats, the use and manipulation of good people with genuine grievances and a blatant disregard for the consequences of industrial action.

This is my strongest objection because the tactics often undermine what are genuine grievances but sometimes one suspects it is no more than opportunism by a trade union to gain an advantage over other unions, and exploit the run up to a national or local government election and a Government under real pressure. Number 10 has been dropping hints that Gordon is planning a Ministerial reshuffle after the Local authority elections to establish his authority and position. If this is so do not be surprised to see Frank Filed in the frame. The threat should force Cabinet "colleagues" to shut up or put up.

I first encountered the Trotskyite Social Labour League by accident in that I was asked to man a Houseman's book stall associated with Peace News at one of their rallies held in London at which Pat Arrowsmith, then fieldworker for the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War was invited to speak. The books were weighted towards pacificism and unilateral nuclear disarmament, anti racism, the amelioration of poverty as well as trade unionism and social equality and human rights. I don't think a book was sold although some delegates may have bought the odd pamphlet or two. In order to listen to what Pat Arrowsmith had to say I had to complete a delegates card, and this led to a recruitment visit and a I shocked the called by saying that my position was Christian socialist based a la Sermon on the Mount and I thought what their leader had to say about the retention of a worker/s bomb outrageous. I had stayed after she left and listened to what their then leader, Gerry Healey, had to say about what she had said and also about the direction of this particular group of activists would be taking within the broad labour and socialist movement. In relation to nuclear disarmament a clear distinction was made between the capitalist and the workers bomb. Everything should be done to support the unilateralist movement and persuade the UK government to give up nuclear weaponry. However it was essential for socialist governments to maintain their position because they would have no defence against the capitalist drive to destroy the march of socialism to communism. The meeting was held around 1960 and enterism priority would be the machine tool industry.

Enterism is the tactic where selected activists move into an organisation, political party, trade union, work place, industry or social body and gain popularity and position as quickly as possible, supporting grievance and causes. The objective was to create as much unrest as possible and ideally bringing out the work force into prolonged strike action. Winning the original strike aims was not the objective, but a bitter struggle and a humiliating defeat. The angrier and more disillusioned the individual workers the more likely they could be turned into new effective activists who understood that it was only by exposing the inherent fascism of capitalism would a socialist worker led revolution take place. Under this perverse kind of thinking a Labour or socialist government is more dangerous than a conservative one, and the more right wing a national government the better. Hence dialectic materialism is really about making change through the clash of extremes. There would be casualties and generally in a strike the workers do not member recover the money lost through the action. Fixing ballots, intimidation to force workers to join the strike and to returning to work and changing demands, saying one thing and doing another were all legitimate in the long term objective of showing that capitalist employers are anti worker, and to the bringing down of capitalism and getting closer to the day of universal socialism. The aims of a fair and just society with equal opportunity according to work and abilities will be shared by many, and the all the main political parties in the UK, but the use of use of unscrupulous means where often idealistic individuals and their families will suffer is unacceptable to me and to many others, although to openly explain and challenge will create real and dangerous enemies. You try saying no when the "security" providing firms offer their services or suggest you switch between firms. I was branded anti trade unionist years later when first I persuaded local colleagues not to join in a Trotskyite type strike where it was evident what ever gains the long term damage in the eyes of the public and the local government employers would be considerable and it was, and then when I confronted the leaders of a cleverly organised but vicious residential care strike which placed the welfare of children in the public care of the local authority at risk. Fortunately years later New Labour was willing to be open about the likes of Derek Hatton and add his organisation to those prescribed. Those who takes stands arouse long term hatred, which becomes worse if they are proved right and the enemy within is always more dangerous that those who identify themselves.

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