/* Written  1:36 pm  Oct 29, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:p.news */
/* ---------- "Purpose of This Conference" ---------- */

           "Progressive" News & Views/poetry
                Hank Roth, Facilitator

P.news & p.news are multiracial conferences for
internationalists, communists and fellow travelers; which
also includes Maoists, Marxist-Leninists, Trotskyites, etc.,
Socialists, Anarcho-Socialists and Anarcho-Syndicalists, Social
Democrats, Feminist-Socialists, Peace & Justice Activists; and
other political "progressives."

P_news on Fidonets and p.news on PeaceNET provide an alternative
for those who are interested in *LEFT* wing "progressive" issues
(from the "Liberal" Left to the "Ultra" Left).

The object of these conferences are to provide a cross-fertilization
of ALTERNATIVE *LEFT* PROGRESSIVE views, to present positions that
challenge prevailing views; and to advance the cause of PEACEFUL
(when possible) RESOLUTION of matters that greatly concern us, ergo:
Economic and Social Justice; and the utilization of CONFRONTATIONAL
POLITICS to vehemently oppose chauvinism, sexism, gay bashing, racism,
antisemitism, etc.

We discuss a myriad of issues in an effort to provide better
understanding for root causes and agendas around these issues.
As facilitator, if and when the discussion wonders too far afield,
I will provide focus and direction.

These conferences serve to bring *PROGRESSIVES*
together as a COALITION, as an AFFINITY GROUP for SEEKING
JUSTICE and COMMONALITY; as well as providing moral support and
camaraderie.

 P_news on Fidonets and p.news on Peacenet are based
on the proposition that all men and women are entitled to certain
basic rights, to-wit: good and affordable health care, food, shelter,
liveable wages, equal rights and opportunities and both conferences
will examine those issues that cause despair and alienation.

These two conferences are also be for the purpose of sharing
experiences and feelings, to provide news and information of
interest and as a way to learn and gather strength from each other.
While both conferences are not necessarily forums for debate, they
are a platform for *LEFT* wing positions and for the discussion of items
of interest from various *LEFT* wing sources. Be prudent. Let us have
reasonable, intellectual discourse and let us keep it progressive,
NOT regressive.

We shall attempt to build SOLIDARITY and a COALITION for
peace & justice (though not necessarily a consensus on all matters).
And be forewarned, verbal abuse will NOT be tolerated.

We will explore positions together from a *LEFT PERSPECTIVE* but,
we are not about to fall into any kind of First Amendment trap
that says all views are welcome.  They are not. There are many
conferences (on Fidonets) where red-baiting anti-Communist,
anti-progressive, and *RIGHT* right wing positions and temperment are
welcome, including harassment, racial terrorism, etc., and in many of
them, very little of substance can cut through the mud slinging. That
is counterproductive and not acceptable. So while those kinds of
reactionary positions are clearly evident and sport on many other
conferences, I REPEAT: they are NOT welcome here. And if that is
someone's game, let them join some other conference.

P_news and p.news also serve as a conduit for information from
Left Wing sources, to-wit: Z Mag., Dissent, International Socialism,
Living Marxism, Monthly Review, Rethinking Marxism, Socialist Review,
New Left Review, Labor Notes, The Progressive, The Guardian, The Nation,
ITT, ET AL; and from various organizations, i.e., ATC, SOC, PWW, FIT, SL,
ISO, WW, IWW, WV, M-L, SWP, SP, Solidarity, NLNS; and crossposted from
other networks, info from ftp sites; and from other *LEFT* sources.

The best of P_news and p.news is archived at the University of
Michigan and files are available via ftp to etext.archive.umich.edu.


              Hank Roth, Facilitator