I know I shouldn’t...."From: Owen Jones To: socialistyouth@lists.riseup.netCc: XXX and XX
: Tuesday, 29 January, 2008 2:08:59 PMSubject: [socialistyouth] Resignation Comrades,I'm writing to you to let you know I'm resigning as Co-Chair.Recently I betrayed the trust of SYN's other Co-Chair, XXX. This has caused an irreversible personal breach which I don't think is going to be healed.
To quickly explain: Both of us were preparing for the upcoming public meeting on Islamophobia. Originally we were going to invite a speaker from the Muslim Council of Britain, possibly to be balanced by the AWL's speaker suggestion. X had objections to this because of the MCB's stance on LGBT issues and therefore I agreed with her objections and disinvited her. Bob Pitt of Islamophobia Watch then made it clear he was going to decline to speak. X and I subsequently debated the original decision to invite the MCB and X once again made clear her entirely legitimate objections and strongly opposed an invite.
In a moment of total but unfortunately unforgivable stupidity,I forwarded our debate to Bob Pitt on the basis that I didn't have answers to her objections and therefore requested a response from him to them on the MCB's positions on LGBT issues.This was a total betrayal of X confidence on my part and as a result she no longer feels able to continue working alongside me.
Understandably she feels both hurt and betrayed. Given I caused this problem, it is my responsibility to resign from the organisation.This is very sad for a number of reasons. X has been my closest comrade for over a year and a half. We've worked together extremely on numerous issues and campaigns. I'm very sorry that I've ended our close political partnership and indeed our friendship.I also want to say that it's been a genuine pleasure. I've got to know some great comrades through SYN. I think the future of SYN is starting to look very bright.
From now on, I've got no doubt that SYN will be an activist-orientated organisation with a number of public meetings,campaigns and protests coming up. Comrades have come up with some great ideas about how to take the organisation forward. I think there are a number of really talented comrades who want to be involved and make SYN a massive success.
It's up to SYN members who they have as their replacement at the upcoming Conference. However, I want to suggest XX as an excellent candidate. I think that he's an activist who has the support and respect of everyone in SYN, who operates in a non-sectarian fashion and would take the organisation forward as it expands and develops. I hope comrades will give that some thought.I know there are some of you who will be very glad to see me go but,regardless of whatever political differences, it's been a privilege to work with many of you and I wish you all the best. I hope to stay in touch with many of you in the months ahead.Finally, I'm sorry to have let both X and all of you down. In solidarity,Owen
13 comments:
Posted with no comment?
Isn't a blog meant to be your views on subjects?
You treat us to your views on everything else so come on john let rip.
Hi Anon
You can’t beat Schadenfreude
Bit confused here. Do you know Owen or Marsha-Jane? What reason have you for indulging in schadenfreude?
I get schadenfreude when I see the mess Brown is getting us in.
Dont want to say told you so but........
Hi Jackson
MJT is an old UNISON and Newham Labour Party comrade (of a sort!). While I have had a very frank and full exchange of views with Owen Jones in the past.
Hi Ian
Remember the song “things can only get better”?
Sorry I'm new to this and I don't know what MJT means or who it is? What does MJT have to do with this post?
Hi Anon
She is the one about to sort out OJ for his betrayal - http://www.socialistyouth.org.uk/news.php
I think NJT is more intrestead in being in/with TU officials to do anything
Seems like a decent enough letter of resignation. Peter Hain should have taken some tips.
Btw, I know we're off your political radar but I don't think the SPGB should be listed under Trotfest on your sidebar. We're many things, but vanguardists isn't one of them.
cheers,
Darren
Hi Darren
Good point(s) – I’ll move to Cpers?
BTW – why did Robert Barltrop (a favourite columnist in my local rag) leave the SPGB? Not having a dig, just curious.
Cpers?
The SPGB argued that the Russian Revolution wasn't socialist from 1918 onwards. I think it (we) deserve are own section. ;-)
Not sure why Barltrop left. Bit before my time. He was originally a member of the SPGB from 1945 to 1960, and then rejoined the Party in 1970 but drifted out - rather than resign - around about 1982.
According to his postscript in the Monument, he left first time round because the post-war period didn't pan out politically for the SPGB and the 'You've Never Had It So Good' era had resulted in increasingly diminishing returns. I think he was in one of the old East End branches - maybe Hackney branch? - which had been one of the leading branches for many years, and they must have all thought the same 'cos I think the whole Branch left/resigned soon after.
After ten years of activity in the emerging new left in various capacities, he rejoined the SPGB in 1970 because he reached the conclusion that he still supported in the SPGB's politics. (Again, I'm going by his words in the Monument.)
He was regular writer and speaker for the SPGB in the seventies, and was also on the editorial committee of the Socialist Standard for a few years but he became less visible in Party activities from 78/79 onwards.
I understand that it was a period where there was political differences within the SPGB which overlapped with personal and generational differences, and it may have been the case that he was caught up in that and drifted out a few years later because of it. But that's just my speculation.
When I first became interested in the SPGB as a callow youth way back in the late eighties I briefly corresponded with him, to ask him a few questions about both the Monument and his biography of jack London, and though he was kind enough to reply in detail you could sense he was a bit irritated by my questions.
Apologies for the long version. Anybody would think that I'm procrastinating whilst half-watching the Portsmouth/Chelsea game on Fox Soccer Channel ;-)
cheers,
Darren
Hi Darren
Thank you for your comments on Barltrop. He writes a weekly column in the Newham Recorder. Mainly on East End social history. I have never met him although he lives quite close to me. I always hope to bump into him one of these days.
I appreciate that you have reservations about being put in CPers, but I can’t have too many sections.
Hope the weather in Brooklyn is ok and that you enjoyed the footie.
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