Aware. this often provides a happy hunting ground for being beaten in argument being lost in the meanargument, the weakest link in a time. chain of points bearing the full and get back to the main point, at If this is reasonably skilful, brunt of the attack. In such circum- the same time stating that the other side will be drawn into disstances, give one opinion and one example was an illustration and no cussion on the subject. only and make that the main point, more.
Also try turning the tables by ask- 10 The red herring mirage (b) ing them for a string of general comments but DON'T attack the other side which is raised with the weakest point, deal with the one deliberate intention of foisting it This then makes an outright attack which is most relevant. on the conference as the main line 5 Quick off the mark of discussion.
Where an important point is that, instead of suggesting it onemade, an academic will be quick self, it is held out as dialectic bait of dealing with each case on its off the mark to follow on once the for the unwary student. The reason previous speaker has finished and for its separation from the first type centrated on this cuts you out. The only remedy of mirage is that it seems to be technique loses its importance. is to do the same, though obviously more successful in leading one off Remember: One discussion - One this needs skill. If necessary, one the track. Again it is totally irrele- subject The academic foxtrot DAVID TRIESMAN This is the clever trick of concedthe impression of being reasonable. beginning of June, the University Aci Essex was either in a state of on another point appear less un- portial or total disorder. The conThe difference is reasonable. The basic method of stituted authority of the instituavoiding this is to adopt the attitude tor had the most tenuous contact with "control", and even that link merits. Also. if attention is con- It had all started when Enoch added to the Statutes, we would be reliable.
main issues, this Powell, making the sort of speech we usually call "inflamatory", actually inflamed us. Apart from efforts to decapitate him with an iron bar, several other serious oftences pouring beer over the chairman of the Conservatives, and the University decided to resort to its disciplinary functions.
We stopped them from doing so.
From then till the sending down of ary group in the country. But in three students in May, for their the past we have been in the olym. part in an anti-Porton Down demonpian position of being a small stration, no one was really certain act, we must expect Essex militants minority group. Now we must shed that the University had any discip the liberal element before we can linary control at all. Indeed, the move forward as anarchists to the students and staff struck until the revolution." three were reinstated, in effect ending any pretence at buraucratic Many felt that any collaboration control within the University.
organisations working Of course, the root problems still the same for both groups - the change state policy from within was exist, and they will until fundimenan indulgence to be borne with tal social issues are revolutionised. complaints, if, indeed, at all. The Th disciplinary controls have to conference added up to a conclu exist If they are to control dissision which has lessons for all, The dence, even dissidence about disliberal wing will not budge. But -cipline. because dissidence will reither will the hard men. The finally and inevitably disrupt the British anarchist movement will production of the quintissential consolidate itself into a small group capitalist utility, the skilled techof active and certainly dangerous nica! manager. And discipline is as men (that is to say — they repre- much maintained by the exam sent a real threat to the state - no system, which also has ultimate men of sraw). The others will once selection functions, as by tribunals. more find themselves out in the One thing, then, is clear: it is cold — looking for another CND. around the control of the student's go back is impossible: we have another gang of do-gooders, another life, hrough rules exams and the matey old-school-tie introduction of streaming in some curses, and the control of their content that will be at the centre first actions at places like Essex. If we saw these struggles as purely internal issues, as matters In reform to be easily accomplished winning a seat on Senate or having some bogus legal jargon POLITICS AND SPORT fighting bourgeois issues. But the militants at Essex have gone a long way beyond that point, have drawn thr. conclusions about the links between the outside controls and were committed, like production demands and the inside encourages right-wing tendencies mode of organisation. By making and is exerting a powerful influence the links explicit, that is, by show- over the working class as an Ine them to exist in action. the opiate, are, seen objectively, nature of the demands to break obviously accurate. There is no down the control of capital, is a doubt that the ruling class is divertrevolutionary act, at least, poten- ing the workers' attention from politally. tical issues to purely recreational issues—-but is it not rather a stimuBeing a potentially revolutionary Plant to the workens' natural inclination to avoid politics. It has been lo themselves move outward into community, careful co. increasingly evident recently that operation with local trades councils the working class whose power you and other workers' organisations. are trying so hard to wield, cannot There are many areas of life where absorb the broad conceptions of Marxist thiaking which involve a contradictions are manifestly clear realisation of the connexion control of land and property prices between conflicting forces in the precludes the possibility of a fair world today. Men with below averchance in the rentier market for age intelligence-atl east, below poorest sections in a town like average thinking capacity because Colchester. of the lack of suitable education, cannot be expected to understand That section contains the poor principles which do not directly and worker, the pensioner, the widow, swiftly affect their own financial the medium income worker with a large family AND the student, position. As you know, man is innately conservative.
No one can doubt the feeling in the air and this year, 60 miles Sport. then is north east of London, the long forced. Do your "democratic' ideas cold winter has to mark the period of a big step forward. To of an individual what his intellect other tendencies.
should enjoy? Be practical. Man to take the only road that's that he has done so for thousands have no financial support from any I read Peter's article on the of years does not necessarily prove wealthy individual or organisation. Mexico Olympics with some reser- anything, it does suggest that the Tha other candidates Baroness Elliot and the Very Reverend Lord some time! Sport is used as a MacLeod are, well political panace but it has at least supported and unlikely to meet one point in its favour: it provides any serious financial difficulties. an outlet for man's innate aggres- This is not our case. We would be sive instincts (these cannot be dis- very pleased, therefore, if as much puted; they are essential to the publicity as possible could be given very existence of the human race to our campaign, and would be which have previously manifested grateful if our article could be pubthemselves in the holocaust of war. lished in Black Dwarf.
Man's nature is eternal. Don't This campaign is not an end in waste time trying to change it; itself; our intention is not merely bear it in mind, and use it. Think to obtain a good rector. but to positively. abolish the entire system of educaPENELOPE TEATHER, cation which exists at present, and 2 Cawcliffe Drive, to replace it with something better. Brighouse, Yorks. It is most important that we are successful.
COHN-BENDIT FOR Although we already have the verbal acceptance of Cohn-Bendit,, RECTOR we are unable to contact him to Dear Comrades, As you know, Daniel Cohn-Bendit obtain a written formal acceptance. has been nominated for the rector- If you know of his whereabouts, or ship of Glasgow University, and a how to contact him, please let us committee has been formed to sup- know. port him. This committee comprises We hope Black Dwarf continues members of several groups; G.U. to flourish, and that it will make a Independent Socialist Club, Radical contribution to the revolution and welcomed not Students' Alliance. Glasgow Com- the defeat of imperialism.
munist Movement (Marxistextend as far as deciding on behalf Leninist), and individuals from KEITH ATKINSON Eg.u. Cohn-Bendit Rectorial Many expenses are incurred durenjoys sport and although the fact ing a rectorial campaign, and we
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From the end of February to the This is an example from the ing on a small issue which gives
vations. His arguments that sport situation is likely to continue for of course,