Anarchism in America

I haven't felt well for a couple of days, but I'm bouncing back, and it's a pleasure to introduce a free video worth watching. The 73-minute 1980 documentary Anarchism in America at Google Video has much relevance today, particularly in its dispelling of many myths about Anarchism, such as the tenacious one that says that Anarchism is about chaos and violence (a misconception promulgated by its enemies and the unread).

It helps clarify, I believe, some relationships (historical and ideological) between Anarchism and such traditions as "right-wing" libertarianism, American individualism, anti-authoritarianism, Marxism and Marxism-Leninism (Communism), Republicanism and the workers' cooperative movement, to name a few.

There's a nice bit of poet Kenneth Rexroth, and American folksinger Woody Guthrie with a paean to Anarchist martyrs Sacco & Vanzetti. Hell, in a past-blast, you can even catch the Dead Kennedys doing California Uber Alles with a 1980 stage dive.

In the doco can be found interviews with, or overviews of, great Anarchist thinkers such as Benjamin Tucker, Emma Goldman, Josiah Warren, and the recently deceased advocate of "post-scarcity Anarchism" and "bioregional Anarchism", Murray Bookchin -- and more.

Tagged: anarchism, anarchy, usa, progressive