the abolition of concepts

[RosaRL]

I posted this in a thread on another list dealing with 'the abolition of concepts'... the discussion focused on the use of the word 'lady' and on being 'politically correct'- I would like some feedback on what i wrote.
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First, I would not use the word 'lady'.

Bob Avakian has said that :
"The word "bitch" as applied to women plays the same social role as the word "nigger" applied to Black people.
'As for the word "lady", its social role is in general not that much better. Oh, it may sometimes seem more sophisticated - as in "disco lady, sophisticated mama" or "she's my lady" or "she's a real lady" - and it may supposedly indicate "class" ("a 'lady' does not do things like that"), but it is not too hard to see which class all this serves. It is all part of that bourgeois "style" or pretension that is supposed to be "cool" these days - part of the cynicism, hedonism (pleasure seeking), and narcissism (self love) that is such an easy and ridiculous cop-out. And most particularly, it is part of the oppression and degradation of women and their relegation to an inferior status and role. In short, in its general social usage, it is part of the arsenal of the enemy." the Revolutionary Worker, No. 198, March 25, 1983

This is a very pointed exposure of the role that the ideas behind the word 'lady' serve in this society. For communists to use this word is not to combat those ideas but rather to accept and even reinforce them. In fact its necessary to go beyond simply not using the word itself but to also call it out, and be willing to struggle for others to reach a correct view- to be willing to engage in struggle in the realm of ideas.

But also, you cant simply get rid of an idea by decree -- its not possible to simply abolish it by some kind of legalistic means. This is even more true under the current conditions where the relations of production actually foster and reinforce the ideas that you are going up against but its also remains true in socialist society where you still have divisions in society and relations left over from capitalist society.

Trying to simply 'police people's thoughts' would in fact be counter productive and shut down rather than foster the type debate and struggle needed to move society forward toward communism.

[oneshot]

what about words applied "by" people, not "to" people.

This little Avakian missive is from before the arguments about "re-appropriation" of language, eg "nigga" and such.

It seems to me that watching language is more about etiquette than social transformation. So, I've almost never heard whites use the word "nigger" in all-white environments, but I've heard plenty of justification for white supremacy.

Maybe choosing which words are acceptable and which are not is vastly less important than digging into the content of our relationships.

I agree with Rosa saying we shouldn't try to "police" concepts. I try to lead by example with this stuff -- and that includes not being uptight with people who have all kinds of backwards habits and ways of talking and thinking. Draw out the best from people and show how our highest aspirations can flower instead of spend our time picking weeds. Play to win.

[redstar2000SE]

oneshot wrote: It seems to me that watching language is more about etiquette than social transformation.

Indeed it is! And if you live long enough, the changes are quite interesting.

When I was young, the polite word for black people among southern whites was "colored people". Black people themselves used the word "Negro".

Then, in the 60s, it became black or sometimes Black.

Then, it became Afro-American or African-American.

Lately, we have returned to "people of color" -- a phrase common in New Orleans before the civil war ("free people of color" can be found in city directories of the 1850s).

These changes reflect social transformations, no doubt about that.

But it raises problems that "Miss Manners" never anticipated. Use of the "wrong term" will offend the individual and perhaps even whole communities that you are trying to reach.

Address a group of young feminists as "girls" and watch the excrement make contact with the air circulation device.

To be honest, we lack good words (words that convey respect and solidarity) to use when addressing our female comrades.

"Sister" implies a degree of intimacy that may not only not be reciprocated but may even be considered presumptuous.

"Lady" does indeed have overtones of class superiority.

"Woman" is neutral but rather cold...it's respect without solidarity.

Curiously, I've occasionally overheard small groups of working class women addressing each other as "guys"...an unconscious or semi-conscious rejection of their inferior status, perhaps?

I wonder how a group of women would react to a male speaker who began his address "good evening; I'm really honored that you guys have invited me to speak to you tonight."

Thorny problem.

PS: There's a note in the latest issue of Harper's Magazine that the Mickey-Maoists at MIM have recently decided that "under capitalism, all women are ho's".

"Good evening, guys and ho's"?