PUBLISHED BY THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA

RELIGION AND SOCIALISM

--plus-- + Mark Levinson on the Economy + Joanne Barkan on Sweden DSA Convention Meets To Map Out Future Celebrates Doubling of Membership

BY GINNY COUGHLIN

he 1991 DSA National Convention met and observers met for a one-day Leadership at an unprecedented time in the history School to discuss our vision and organizational T of American democratic socialism. Just mission. Speakers included Harold Meyerson, as the world was declaring the death of socialism editor of the LA Weekly; Joanne Barkan, author and the triumph of capitalism, DSA was cele­ and member of the editorial boards of Democratic brating its largest membership ever -- 10,000 Left and Dissent; Todd Gitlin, author of The Six­ members. Over 200 delegates and observers ties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage, Kurt Stand, DSA participated in what many called the best DSA National Political Committee (NPC), and Penny convention ever. In the face of communism's Schantz, former Youth Section Organizer. NPC collapse, it was a convention charged with fun­ members Jack Clark of Boston DSA and Suzanne damental and challenging questions about our Crowell of DC/MD/NoVA DSA provided a vision of democratic socialism and the organiza­ closing to the day and later presented a summa­ tional mission of DSA. tion of the Leadership School to the convention. Delegates The convention was hosted by Chicago DSA, On Friday evening over 900 people attended perform the and was attended by delegates and observers an outreach event with riveting presentations by "Wizard of Howe· from all over the country and abroad. People Comet West, chair of Princeton's Afro-American skit. (1. to r.) Julla Fitzgerald, came from as far away as Paris, Alaska, Califor­ Studies department and DSA Honorary Chair; Terri Burgess, nia, and Virginia; and as close as Minnesota, Bernie Sanders, U.S. Congressman from Ver­ Dinah Leventhal, Indiana and Wisconsin. mont; Nancy Riche, President of Canada's New Sherri Levine. Prior to the convention, over 100 delegates Democratic Party; and Jo-Ann Mort, trade un­ ionist and member of the DSA NPC. The convention was called to order on Satur­ day morning by DSA Vice Chair Christine R. Riddiough. DSA National Director Michael Lighty then presented his State of the Organiza­ tion, which was followed by local and Youth Section chapter reports. Many delegates and ob­ servers were pleased to hear the vast amount of organizing that locals are doing around health care, reproductive freedom, electoral politics, labor support and many other issues. "I was impressed by the level of activity in many locals," said Craig Salins, a delegate from Seattle DSA. "Hearing about ether DSA locals spurred me to reenergize our local." The convention featured two major plenar­ ies. The first focused on the sweeping interna­ tional changes of the last few years and the persistent problems we face at home, including racism and a declining standard of living. Inter-

12 DEMOCRATIC LEFT Below: OSA Rl9ht: Cook County Honorary Chair Commissioner Danny ComelWest Davis welcomes speaks at the delegates and Convention observers to outreach event. Chicago.

national presenters were DSA Vice Chair Bogdan Denitch and the NDP 's Svend Robinson, the only openly-gay Member of 10,000 Members and Growing Pa rliament in Canada. Domes­ The following is an excerpt from DSA Na­ the junk mail without first reading it. I tic speakers were independent tional Director Michael Ughty's State of tlze feel like perhaps DSA is the ray of hope candidate for president Ron Orga111zat1011 address at the 1991 National we have been waiting for." -- A.A. Daniels and trade unionist Convention "We have been DSA for years but Roberta Lynch. did not know it. It is the only thing that The second plenary pre­ Thanks to our highly successful di­ sented a discussion of DSA's makes sense. It is more Christian than rect-mail efforts ... we have doubled our any other view. I've been an active domestic agenda wiU1 DSA membership since the 1989 convention Presbyterian for fifty years. I want to members Michael Dyson, Chi­ in Baltimore. Though it may sound cago Thoelogical Seminary, get more involved " - V.S. cliched, our greatest asset is our mem­ "I agree with every line of your Christine Riddiough, and Jo­ bers. I want to share with you :>Orne of seph Schwartz, NPC m ember knowledgable letter. I will be ninety the responses people sent to us and tn Ed years old next week. I heard Eugene and Temple University pro­ Asner, wlw :>igns the [direct mail] letter, fesssor. Debs make the speech that landed him when responding to the direct mail: I Saturday night featured a in jail. have been a socialist ever "Thought you'd never ask!," and "fi­ since." - E.A. banquet dinner with a keynote nally someone has the courage to call "I address by Irving Howe, co­ am now seventy-five years old, themselves socialists -- Bravo!" editor of Dissent and DSA and want to make my last days pro­ I want to share with you a taste of ductive to help this world we live in, Honorary Chair. Danny Davis, some excerpts from longer letters: but you have to admit it is discourag­ Cook County Commissioner "I threw away the envelopes and ing. I am making copies of your Janu­ and forme r candidate for contribution form, because I just can't ary 1991 letter and giving them to mayor of Chicago, welcomed give away money these days. I am a friends ..." -- C.L. DSA to the Windy City. The person with AIDS working part-time as "Fur as long as I can remember I eveningwas hosted by Chicago a barber. Today I read your letter and have considered myself a socialist. I DSA Co-Chair Aimee Horton. found myself in near total agreement.. . am active in the Democratic Party and Political discussion at the your letter came in the nick of time .. . the trade union movement. J have been convention centered around Enroll me in your, at worst, articulate searching for a democratic socialist the future ofDSA's health care efforts." -- R.H. organization.. . Thanks for asking me project, the collapse of commu­ "I'm glad I didn't just pitch your to 1om.· ·I . . am a I most't" nme een. -- nism, and our domestic and letter in the recycle bin with the rest of D.W. international political priori­ ties. Delegates debated a nd

jl\NU.'iRY/FfBRUARY 1992 13 m i! m (

] w l! w

Clockwise starting with top left: Jose Laluz gives his closing speech; Joseph Schwartz speaks at a Conventton plenary; Marin OSA delegate, Meyer Baylln Joins In singing "The Internationale;" Nancy Riche, NOP President, speaks at the outreach event.

approved many resolutions, including a state­ ment of our international perspectives, a blue­ print for our health care organizing over the next humorous skit on our vision of socialism called two years, proposals for fighting racism, an elec­ "The Wizard of Howe." Amy Bachrach, chair of toral politics project, a media system reform task New York City DSA, starred as Joanne force, proposals to make DSA events more acces­ (Dorothy), who was searching for the true mean­ sible to deaf people and thedifferentlyabled,and ing of socialism. Harold Meyerson starred as the reaffirmations of our commitment to reproduc­ Wizard of Howe, who gave Joanne and her tive freedom, feminism, and gay rights. friends articles from Dissent as answers to their The Convention elected DSA's leadership questions. for 1991-1993, reelecting the Honorary Chairs Delegates and observers left the convention and adding Harold Meyerson to the slate of Vice with a renewed commitment to their activism Chairs. Delelgates also elected a new NPC. and a better sense of the mission and vision of Delegates and observers got a chance to DSA. "I enjoyed myself more at this convention engage in small-group organizing sessions fo­ than at any other DSA convention," said Claire cusing on several areas of work, including repro­ Kaplan, at-large delegate and co-chair of the Les­ ductive freedom, the urban crisis, membership bian/Gay /Bisexual Commission. recruitment/leadership development, and the Jose LaLuz, Amalgamated Clothing and 1992 presidential coampaign. Textile Workers Union (ACTWU), gave an in­ The Anti-Racism Commission held a very spiring and challenging closing presentation. He successful outreach event with Ron Daniels, urged convention participants to build a more while the Lesbian/Gay /Bisexual Commission multicultural movement. "This whole question also held a well-attended outreach meeting with of what socialism means is not about winning a Svend Robinson. victory here or there or prevailing in a certain But the convention wasn't all serious work. century. It's about transforming the very culture A troupe of DSA'ers presented a creative and in which we live." ml

14 Dr.MOCR.ATIC Lr.FT