NEW RADICALISM
43
support, these self-styled radicals and social democrats arrogate to
themselves the right to define the limits of radicalism, and use their
limited literary and political influence to attempt to disrupt and
ridicule the only significant political activity underway in America
which has the potential to transcend, and transform, some levels of
this country's politics. Rustin's charge against the new activists might
serve better as self-judgment: "I submit that this arrogance is not
new. It is a distillation of the worst catastrophist varieties of sectarian
leftism." Only substitute
accommodated
for
catastrophist.
Tom Hayden
(Note:
I thought the best way to comment on your
dis–
cussion was to keep some notes on work I did after I received an
invitation to write something for PRo They
describ~
roughly what I was
doing and what kinds of problems I thought over. They make no at–
tempt to represent what other "new radicals" are doing and thinking.)
MONDAY:
Staff meeting at 10: 00. Mike was supposed to
have found bail money for this afternoon in case we have trouble.
He didn't. Connie said she'd call her sister's boyfriend and see
if
she
could get money pledged by afternoon. I was worried because among
these new people, the organizer is expected to be "competent" (know
the law, get bail money, etc.). Behind the expectation are two things:
( 1) a sense of seriousness they feel, and they want proof that we
also are serious; (2) some fear, a natural thing when it's the first
demonstration for many of them, and they have to lead it themselves.
NOON:
Tied up with phone calls to Episcopalian
civil
rights
committee in New York; fund raising for the National People's
Conference in Newark, August 27-29. (Fund raising always hectic,
but the bills get paid.)
Finally got to 18th Avenue at 2:00 o'clock. Told Mrs. Queen,
who lives in a two-room place with no toilet or closet, about the
demonstration. Said she'd be there. Wondered whether she said it
because she wants to "please" me: today would be a test. She's
interested in the traffic light issue which people want to protest
