Oct 27th: Launch of Bella Caledonia newspaper
The launch of Bella Caledonia at the Radical Book Fair was a lively affair with around forty people sharing ideas on such things as Scottish radical history, combatting sexual repression, redefining democracy, land refrom, and an alternative approach to drug policy. As starts go it was a positive one. This is the first time I've been persuaded to get involved in a publishing venture since Rebel Inc ended in 2001. It was worthwhile as there really is "fresh thinking for a new republic" (as the event was billed).
By-and-large the remnants of the old centralist left stayed away, some even sitting outside the event, rather than facing the prospect of coming face-to-face with dangerous new libertarian or Scottish republican ideas that havent been vetted by Marxist or Trotskyite dogma. I guess a large swathe of the Marxist left are still paralysed by Sheridanitis. Or are afraid to engage with the libertarian or horizontalist left. Or perhaps the one-trick pony of Marxist denunciations of all heretics has run its infantile course.
Bella Caledonia is now available from Word Power book shop in Nicholson Street. And its free! Other outlets will be announced here when I've got a full list.
posted by Kevin Williamson at
8:00 PM
8 Comments:
it was good. and the beer was cheap too.
i got completely f*king soaked on the way home though.
12:15 PM
Is there a website for it?
12:53 PM
good to meet you michael. it was a good night.
no website yet darren. taking it one step at a time.
2:16 PM
Positive - and progressive. Will check it oot, likes.
4:33 PM
Maybe not Marxist but just as hopelessly utopian by the looks of things..
9:14 PM
yes my dear everything is just soooo hopelesly utopian. apart from nail varnish.
9:37 PM
Good luck Kevin, it looks like an exciting new venture.
I think that largely the lack of attendance from the left might be down to lack of publicity, I didnt know about it until an email a day or so before the event and no-one else I knew knew about it.
I suppose I must be one of the "sheridinistas" that is paralysing the left? Unfortunately I dont agree as my experience since leaving the SSP is of far more engagement with other groups than before and a much looser and less rigid way of working. All members conferences, OMOV, regional and branch devolution of powers etc mean that the caricatures that you assign to us are less likely to apply now.
I would say though, that if you want to encourage the left to support the paper then "sheridinista" and other stereotypes is not the most welcoming language.
Well done though, good start and hope it's a huge success.
Jim
9:50 AM
is this going to be distributed in glasgow? sounds interesting
6:22 PM
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home