What we say and what we mean is very important

[RWalker]

Slogans / mottos, and credos play important parts in organizing; just as they do in areas such as marketing.

In our freedom movement we must continually re-evaluate the slogans/mottos and credos to assure that we are serving the proper vision and pursuing the proper mission.

Let us take for example the concept of African Renaissance. As used by Nkrumah it was essentially indicative of the political revolution in Africa sparked by the achievement of independence in Ghana and in particular the role of authentic African history in the achievement of the goals of the African political revolution. (See "Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare" and "Consciencism..."

In the lexicon of ANC leaders such as Pres. Mbeki, it has come to stand for a basic set of contradictory things:

First and foremost a condemnation of all of Africa for the actions of some Africans; including settler populations in Africa, and neo-colonial stooges in Africa. (See for example Mbeki's article:
"The African Renaissance Statement of Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki", at: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/histor...998/tm0813.htm )

On the other hand Mbeki's solution to the problems of African created by imperialists' immense centuries-long slave commerce; general colonial; settler and neo-colonial agencies is to give the imperialist a prominent -- indeed the leading -- role in his version of the African Renaissance. (See Mbeki's presentation,
"Briefing at the World Economic Forum Meeting - Millennium Africa Renaissance Program - Implementation Issues, "Davos 28 January 2001,
at: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/histor...01/tm0128.html)

This kind of logic is precisely where the ridiculous and danger idea and concept of NEPAD and associated reasoning originates. It flies in the face of the concepts and precepts posited by President Nkrumah. Whereas his understanding of African Renaissance sought to liberate Africans the ANC version is intended to perpetuate and strengthen the exploitation and oppression of Africans.

Clearly we must fight for the proper definition of African Renaissance.

Let us take another example Speak Truth to Power, a phrase that is used by many people, particularly in the liberal and civil rights areas. It has become sort of a badge that people pin on themselves as evidence that they are relevant, to use a sixties term. Far too many people think that speaking truth to power means speaking to those who are in power, i.e., those in reactionary society who are the perpetrators of the evils that plague humanity.

But if one looks carefully at the larger meaning of Speak Truth to Power, we see that it is not primarily oriented to addressing those negative forces in power. Take for example the American Friends Service definition of the phrase -- keeping in mind that the AFS is by no stretch of the imagination a revolutionary organization, nor do they pretend to be.

"Our title, Speak Truth to Power, taken from a charge given to Eighteenth Century Friends, suggests the effort that is made to speak from the deepest insight of the Quaker faith, as this faith is understood by those who prepared this study. We speak to power in three senses:

* To those who hold high places in our national life and bear the terrible responsibility of making decisions for war or peace.
* To the American people who are the final reservoir of power in this country and whose values and expectations set the limits for those who exercise authority.
* To the idea of Power itself, and its impact on Twentieth Century life."


from "Speak Truth To Power"
http://www.quaker.org/sttp.html

Note bullet item 2 which clearly states that it is the people who are the final reservoir of power...this is essentially the same thing as SNCC's observation of the need to speak the language of the people rather than the language of the oppressors as far too many of our organizations do.

It is perfectly valid to inform Pharaoh that he should release the captives; however, in the final analysis the critical thing is what you say to the captives, not to Pharaoh. Far too often, individuals who wear the badge of Speak Truth to Power, are merely disguising the fact that they never really speak to the people, only to those criminal elements in power. In this sense, such individuals are very much like those who ignore the African people in the organizing of the African political economy, spending all their time and energy discussing it with the IMF, World Bank, the Club of 10, the G7, G8, the wheeler dealers in New York, Washington DC, London, Paris, Lisbon, Ottawa and so on.