Update on Samuel Trachtenberg

It seems now that Sam no longer has a stance on the issue and has conceded that David Walters and Robin Palmer is misinformed.

Samuel Trachtenberg of "Revolutionary Regroupment": Another Apologist for Lynching

I had recently wrote about David Walters of Socialist Organizer being an apologist for the lynching of disabled children and the child killer and fascist front-man Robert Latimer. I also denounced the fascistic redneck Robin Palmer. Well it seems there is a new member of the syphilitic chain, Samuel Trachtenberg of the grossly misnamed "Revolutionary Regroupment".

Samuel has fallen a long way since he left the International Bolshevik Tendency (a group I am a sympathizer for). He has recently been defending the fascistic redneck Robin Palmer, and has defending David Walters for his apologies for Robert Latimer. Saying that regardless of whether David Walters supports Robert Latimer that my criticism are un-Marxist. So clearly Samuel Trachtenberg doesn't care that Robert Latimer murdered his own daughter for being disabled. He doesn't care that Robert Latimer's actions and the support he receives from the mainstream media encourages further violence against those in the disabled community. He doesn't care that Robert Latimer sits back an lets Nazis speak for him.

I think it is fair to say that it is anyone who would be in de-facto bloc with the far-right and fascists who is un-Marxist.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1592954937605924/permalink/1596093987292019/

David Walters of "Socialist Organizer": Lynch-rope "Socialism"

Ablest Terrorist and Fascist Front-man Robert Latimer already has the support of the dubious opportunist Svend Robinson of the NDP as well as the political bandits of the "International Communist League - Fourth Internationalist". But now another opportunist leftist can be added to this list, David Walters of the misnamed "Socialist" Organizer.

David Walters as it turns out associates with a Fascistic redneck and Robert Latimer support Robin Palmer. David Walters is well aware of Robert Latimer sitting back and letting fascist Nazis support him. Yet he still expressed grotesque apologies for Robert Latimer.

He ludicrously describe my remarks as "unscientific". "Mercy killing", unlike euthanasia (the latter requiring consent) has always and still is connected with fascism, nazism and eugenics. I guess David Walters considers Nazi ideology and eugenics to be sound science.

David Walter's only rather flimsy leg to stand on was the mistaken notion that she was in "constant pain". I ripped this notion to shreds. After this he went abruptly silent. If he regrets his words and actions, I urge he have the courage to say so publicly.

David Walters recently had a hand in purging the Marxist Internet Archive User Discussion Group. He falsely smeared Steven Argue of the Revolutionary Tendency as a "homophobe". I'm bisexual and know Steven Argue quite well and know he is not a homophobe. Even if it is true, David Walters is a proven bigot. And worse yet he is dangerous. He also stated that he intended to knock out Steven Argue. David Walter supports violence and even killing of leftists, workers and the oppressed and perfectly content blocking with fascists.

There is a famous union song with the refrain, "which side were you on?". As for David Walter, if he answered honestly (which I would highly doubt since he is such a pathelogical liar that he doesn't even know when he is lying) he would say "why the deadliest forces of reaction, of course".

https://www.facebook.com/Trotsky0321/posts/10152479080315977

An Update and Analysis on the Political Bandit Cult Spartacist: Ablest Bigotry, Anti-Semitism and Collusion with Fascists and U.S. Imperialism

In the times of yore, long before I was born, the International Spartacist Tendency (now the International Communist League) was a force for worker's revolution. The party was degenerating in the seventies and by the mid eighties they were dead as any force for revolution. For most of the eighties and nineties they made programmatic overtures that were typically sectarian or reformist (or just plain weird). But starting in the latter half and last decade and now this decade they are actually crossing the class line. When in the past they typically flinched under pressure they make overtures even when there is no pressure.

In 2008 I left the ICL protesting their de facto bloc with fascists over the lynching of disabled children.   They supported Robert Latimer a fascistic and ablest terrorist who murder in cold blood because he saw her as a burden. His actions and the mass hysteria in his favour whipped up by the bourgeois (capitalist) press has created an environment where killing disabled people is seen as a viable option and more disabled people are being killed. It has also created an ideal climate for fascists (including the Stormfront White Nationalist Community, the Vanguard News Network and the Phora) to crawl out of their holes and rally behind Robert Latimer. Latimer merely sits back and lets these fascists speak for him. As I stated in a letter to the ICL at the time:

"Everyone in your party I have spoken too has nothing but support for Robert Latimer a sociopath and ablest, fascistic bigot who lynched his severely disabled daughter. Neither the fact that Robert Latimer has the support of outright fascists nor the fact that Latimer has sat back while these forces of death, terror and genocide rally behind him has caused you to waver. Instead one of your drones tries to smear me as a Zionist. Needless to say his arguments blew up in his face.

Your utter disregard for the desperate grievances of the disabled completely discredits you and undercuts any of your claims to be a tribune of all the oppressed. I suggest you do the honourable thing and admit and repudiate your wrong-doings. Making excuses, slandering me and screaming hysterically will only discredit yourself further."

http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2009/10/on-icls-de-facto-bloc-with-fascists.html?m=1

One of the fascists groups that supports Robert Latimer, Stormfront, actually tried to rally in Vancouver. Fortunately an effective counter rally which included the Black Bloc and the Anti-Poverty Committee thwarted their rally. The Sparts however were strangely absent from the anti-fascist counter-mobilization and they made no mention of it in their press (see. http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2010/05/canadian-fascism-on-riseand-icl-is.html?m=1)

More recently I got another screed from a Spartacist representative saying, that the disabled people being killed by "mercy killing" (which is exactly what Robert Latimer did to his daughter) in the Nazi Euthanasia program, was "no big deal" and "not significant or noteworthy". They seemed to be argueing that the only victims worth acknowledging are Jews and Communists. In other words they think victims who were disabled, mentally ill, gay, bisexual, Roma (gypsie) etc. should be forgotten and their suffering should be made invisible.

 They then proceeded to try and smear me as a "historical revisionist" by pitting the memory of the disabled and mentally ill holocaust victims against the memory of the Jewish holocaust victims. If this isn't abusing the memory of the holocaust I don't know what is. It should be noted that the ICL's peerless leader, Jim Robertson, has waltz into restaurants in Germany and ordered "steak a la aushwitz" and referrs to comrade in Germany saying "hiya comrade, Heil Hitler!" I think it is obvious that the Sparts really don't care about ANY holocaust victims whether Jews, disabled or anyone else (see. http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2013/11/reply-to-this-member.html?m=1 and  http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2013/11/a-response-from-another-ex-spartacist.html?m=1).

Ironically the ICL has backed Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, an anti-semtetic and fascist frontman, right. When the line was declared NO ONE challenged it. It took them a month to repudiate it. (see. http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/1039/france-censorship.html and http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/1041/dieudonne.html)

As for their support for Robert Latimer, they have yet to repudiate that stance. When I initially expressed opposition to Latimer, back when I was a supporter of the Sparts they subjected me to brutal "critism/self-critism". They tried to make me repudiate my views by breaking me psychologically.

In 2009 the ICL wrote an article about anti-vaccine hysteria. They denounced Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey, Generation Rescue, Age of Autism, the National Vaccine Information Center and PutChildrenFirst.org for their opposition to vaccines and so they should. What they didn't criticize was these people deep insinuation with ablest and anti-autistic bigotry (Jenny McCarthy even compared autism to cancer). In fact the echoed much of the same bigotry. They talk about people "suffering from austism", Autistics having "brain damage" and autism being a "neurological disorder" (see. http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/948/vaccine.html).

"Lately the ICL has embraced Social Darwinist and ablest views towards autistics. In your recent article Capitalist Reaction and Anti-Vaccine Hysteria in your December 4, 2009 issue of "Workers Vanguard" you describes Autism as a "disorder", Autistics as "brain damaged" and talks about people "suffering" from Autism. I would like to point out that most Autistics, including myself, find such remarks deeply offensive. Autism rights groups such as the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/) would have a bone to pick with you about spewing such ablest venom. Have you even bothered to hear the perspectives of actual Autistics or Autism rights groups?" (see. http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2009/12/on-icls-social-darwinist-rump.html?m=1)

I later state, in the same article:

"In terms of your newfound bigotry towards Autistics it seriously cuts against some of your more commendable statements and citations such as: 

"There are broader social implications, as Gould notes: "Antiessentialist thinking forces us to view the world differently.... We lose criteria for judgment by comparison to some ideal: short people, retarded people, people of other beliefs, colors, and religions are people of full status." To put it another way, to hate and fear change and variation is a hallmark of reaction and religious superstition."    - "In Defense of Sex and Science: Kinsey", Workers Vanguard No. 839, 7 January 2005

as well as: 

"Living things—wasps, flowers, people—do not have an "immutable essence," or "ideal form" around which variations cluster. In real life, each one is individual, and that individuality itself is one of their most valuable aspects.    - ibid.

These statements which were part of a truly stellar review of the equally good Kinsey movie/documentary (There was a movie and documentary that came out around the same time) consistent with the views of Autism and disability rights groups and the neurodiversity movement. In fact when I made these statements in the times of yore (Winter 2005 if my memory serves me correctly) people in the organization actually agreed with me and was disturbed that there are groups that wished to "cure" autism. 

Alas, as the whims of your peerless leader James Robertson (who disgustingly ordered a "steak a la Auschwitz" in a german restaurant) change so must the party line. Any cadre who doesn't follow the latest whim of the peerless leader is subject to "criticism/self-criticism" which I myself have been subjected to (although I was a supporter and not a member)." (ibid.)

I then write:

"I will state again that your total disregard for the grievances of the disabled completely discredit you and undercut any of your claims to be a tribune of all the oppressed. If you are unable to muster the humility and integrity to regcognize and repudiate your revolting ablest bigotry, you can at least refrain from continuing to spew bigotry towards autistics and others people with "disabilities"." (ibid.)

Apparently the Sparts are unable even to refrain from speaking the same ablest garbage. In there most recent pamphlet, In Defense of Science and Marxism, they reprint the exact same article WITHOUT correcting their ablest and anti-autistic bigotry. Interestingly enough they have also republished the article, In Defense of Sex and Science: Kinsey (see. http://www.icl-fi.org/english/wv/archives/oldsite/2005/Kinsey-839.html) as well. The Sparts are clearly capable of speaking out of both sides of their mouths. Needless to say, they are not consistent. That being said I noticed the progressive article of theirs has been taken down from their new search engine while the reactionary social darwinist one is still readily available.

I have also raised complaints about their uncritical support for ablest bigot and social darwinist Stephen Barrett. I state in a letter to them stating:

"In Medical Science vs. Homeopathy, in WV. 947 you uncritically site Stephen Barrett of Quackwatch. First of all, Stephen Barrett does expose quacks, however he is a die hard anti-Autistic bigot. He support the "Cure Autism" Movement which has the support of outright fascists.

Respected authorities, such as Alfred C. Kinsey and Stephen Jay Gould, have pointed out that the notion of "correct" and "incorrect" genes is unscientific."

http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2009/11/on-icls-ongoing-ablest-bigotry.html?m=1

(see also. http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2009/11/on-stephen-barrett-and-autism.html?m=1 and  http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2009/12/correction.html?m=1 )

Of course, no analysis of the Sparts degeneration is complete with mentioning the Haiti debacle. As is typical of this sterile and sclerotic cult, no one challenged the line when it was declared. They stuck with this stance for months and only repudiated it due to the International Bolshevik Tendency (my group) and the Internationalist Group. To this day they are unable to explain how they could come up with such a reactionary stance and why no one in the party challenged it when it was declared.

For more on the Haiti debacle see the following:

From the International Bolshevik Tendency (IBT):

http://www.bolshevik.org/statements/2010-02-08Haiti.html

http://www.bolshevik.org/statements/TL_Haiti_forum.html

http://www.bolshevik.org/Leaflets/ibt_2010_sclerotic_spartacists_unravel.html

http://www.bolshevik.org/1917/no33/ibt_1917_33_11_icl_capitulation_to_us_imperialism.html

From the Internationalist Group/League for the Fourth International (IG/LFI): 

http://www.internationalist.org/slbackshaitiinvasion1001.html

http://www.internationalist.org/sltwistshaiti1004.html

http://www.internationalist.org/sliclrepentantsocialimperialists.html

http://www.internationalist.org/haitiearthquakecapitalism1007.html

From Myself:

http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2010/03/icls-latest-smears.html?m=1

http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2010/03/mumia-opposes-us-invasion-of-haiti.html?m=1

The International Communist League (ICL)/Spartacist (i.e. the Sparts) speak for themselves:

http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/951/haiti.html

http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/952/haiti-ig.html

http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/953/BT.html

http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/955/haiti.html

http://www.icl-fi.org/print/english/wv/958/haiti.html

As the Internationalist Group points out to the Sparts:

"Your basic argument is that you repudiated your support for the U.S. imperialist invasion, and indeed “savagely” attacked it, so that supposedly proves you are still the revolutionaries. As in the Catholic church, it seems you can confess to all sorts of venial and even some mortal sins, but as long as you admit all (and don’t question the role of the Catholic church as the one true representative of Christianity), you can be absolved. But unlike religions, revolutionary politics is not a revealed doctrine and self-enclosed movement of the elect. The vanguard party has a dialectical relationship to the proletariat, representing both the fundamental interests of the class and the revolutionary program that is the product of historical experience. It has to earn its spurs by providing revolutionary leadership in the class struggle.

This was at the core of the fight over the ICL intervention in Germany, where you proclaimed the ICL was the (self-anointed) revolutionary leadership and declared comrades apostates for saying that we were struggling to become it. With your position of vociferous support to the U.S. invasion of Haiti, you grievously misled whoever still believed that you were the revolutionary leadership, which mercifully is not very many. Despite your pious proclamations today, how is one to know that what you say tomorrow isn’t a continuation of what you said yesterday? The only way to tell is if there is a revolutionary consistency to the program, but the ICL has been anything but consistent over the last decade and a half (just reread what you wrote about your last two conferences). And the program must be carried out."

http://www.internationalist.org/sliclrepentantsocialimperialists.html

As Anton Szandor Lavey, the  founder of the Church of Satan (who I by no means give blanket endorsement), observed working as a carnival performer, every evening, people would sleep with prostitutes, then go to the chapel to repent, only to sleep with prostitutes the next night (paraphrased from The Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor Lavey). So to do the Sparts prostitutes revolutionary Marxism, then repent, only to prostitute Marxism again. 

At best like the ICL are moribund as a left group. At worst they have left the worker's movement altogether. Like Gerry Healy and the SLL/WRP, like Tim Wohlforth and the Worker's League, like David North of the ICFI/SEP, the ICL sinks deeper and deeper into the black hole of political banditry, cynicism, cultism and irrelevance.

Michael Gregory,

Sympathizer of the International Bolshevik Tendency and Revolutionary Trotskyist

http://www.icl-fi.org

http://www.bolshevik.org

http://www.internationalist.org

Reply to This Member

I never denied that Jews or Communist were major victims of the holocaust. Suggesting that I do so I is a pernicious slate of hand and vitriolic slander but such baseless venom is to be expected from the Sparts. As for lynching, what Robert Latimer did was an act of violence against the disabled which has terrorized the disabled and encouraged further violence against the disabled. Robert Latimer has the support of outright fascist but sits back and lets them speak for him. The ICL knows this but has yet to repudiate their garbage. Actually Tracy Latimer being lynched is not a one time thing. Disabled people being killed happens quite a bit in capitalist society and now more because of the support Robert Latimer gets from the bourgeois press.

As for Robert Latimer, he regards modern medicine as "mutilation". He turned down a feeding tube for Tracy, hip surgery, a permanent place in a group home and a place in a respite home. As for Tracy, her caretaker at the group home said that she is a smiling happy girl and that there was no indication that she was in agony or constant pain. Tracy's mom wrote a diary of her life and yet made virtually no mention of her being in pain. Clearly you are completely ignorant on this issue and I would advise you not to rant about things you know nothing about.

I would imagine that the ICL would be quite irate with you as they tend to be extremely fearful of unofficial representatives of their organization.

Comradely, Michael Gregory, Sympathizer for the Bolshevik Tendency

A Response from Another Ex-Spartacist Member

I feel compelled to respond to your political positions as outlined by the numerous emails you've sent and your website "spartacistwatch".

Let me just make it clear that although I speak for myself and not the Trotskyist League, I defend them, the ICL as well as Jim Robertson. Tynan is in fact quite right when he characterizes your position on the Latimer case as trivializing lynching, primarily because in making that statement, you equate the systematic oppression and terror faced by black people in the United States with the death of a young, white, disabled women. What's worse is that in an article on your website, you falsely claim that disabled people were the main victims of the Holocaust, which is an unabashed revision of history that not only trivializes the monstrously barbaric murder of 6 million European Jews, but is an affront to them as well. Although disabled people were targetted by the fascists, it is widely known, even within bourgeois institutions, that Jews and Communists were the main and overwhelming targets of fascist terror. That you should make this false claim is not a mere accident--the Holocaust is one of the most well-documented events in history--this is deliberate.

Diabled people face (and have faced) gross oppression and abuse at the hands of capitalist society. For years, brutal and tragic practices were carried out on people who suffered psychological and physical difficulties in psychiatric institutions and facilities and these continue to this day. They are preyed on by many in this society and are often unable to voice the injustices they face because this is a society that for the most part, would rather not listen to them. Even when they are in the care of socially-conscious, courageous and decent people, they continue to suffer because capitalism is unable to relieve them of some of the pain and suffering they endure. I think that this is a point you fail to grasp.

Note: This member has since cut ties with the ICL and retracted their statement. Although there is no doubt in my mind this represents the views of the ICL.

Canadian Fascism on the Rise...............and the ICL is Nowhere to be Found‏

As I have wrote the ICL criminally championed fascistic bigot Robert Latimer who 

lynched his own disabled daughter in cold blood. 
 
The ICL hasn't stated this in their press, however, when I told the ICL that the 

proletariat must defend the disabled from such bigots and that the proletariat 

must be mobilized to smash the Free Robert Latimer Movement, I was subjected to 

"criticism/self-criticism". They also reaffirmed their support in two nasty screeds

sent by one of their mindless drones Andrew M.
 
Like I predicted the fascists have reaped benefits from the Movement to free 

Robert Latimer. The fascists had attempted to rally in the Greater Vancouver area. 

Fortunately, this rally was prevented from taking place by an anti-fascist 

counter-demonstration. The ICL was notably absent from the counter-rally. 
 
There was also a fire bombing in BC of an anti-fascists activist's house, which 

was probably done by fascists. There was also a cross burning of an interracial 

couple in Nova Scotia. Notably none of these three events was mentioned by the ICL 

in Spartacist Canada or Worker's Vanguard. 
 
The ICL  has had time to smear the Bolshevik Tendency and the Internationalist 

Group and reiterated their criminal support for the U.S. Of Haiti (although they 

have back peddled on this).
 
It would seem that the rise of Fascism in Canada isn't important to the ICL. This 

is quite telling since they share responsibility in creating an environment for 

fascists to thrive. The ICL helped created this problem and the disabled, the 

working class and the oppressed will suffer for it.