*

sisters

READ THIS_AND WINCE

Do the roots of your problems
stem from sharp contradictions?

A BIT of a laugh sensation
has been caused down in
California by publication of a
mimeographed pamphlet en-
titled Lifeitselfmanship — oF
How To Become 4 Precisely
Because Man. “Sah

By way of explanation, the
subtitle reads: “An investiga-
tion into current L (or Left-
Wing) Usage.”

The author is Decca Treu-
haft and she introduces her
work in these words: :

“The English - speaking
world has just been treated
to a glimpse into the mysteries
of English upper-class usage
by the publication of Noblesse
Oblige (by Nancy Mitford and
others). Because of its im-
mense snob appeal, this book
is fair on the way to becoming
a best seller.

The author points out that
“it is solely by its language
that the upper class is clearly
marked off from the others.
Theme of the book isa discus-
sion by the various contribu-
tors of what they call ‘U-
usage. U means Upper-class;
non-U (obviously) means non-

er-clasS ...

qctee its unlikely that
many left-wingers will either
read the book or, if they do,
find much in it of practical
value, we felt that it would be
profitable to offer a short
course in current L (or left-
wing) terminology. A spot
check survey has*convinced us
that the need for such a course
both for beginners and for
more advanced students, has
long been felt by many.”

Then follows a dozen or so
pages of jargon, cliches, appel-
lations and what have you
which most readers of Amerl-
ean left-wing literature will
instantly recognize. (Of
course, it’s academic to us Ca-
nadians who never, ever use
such jargon despite the domi-
nation of our country by Wall
Street, aided by its lackeys in
Ottawa and the cheap, deca-
dent American “kultur” that
floods across the undefended
border.)

Here are some examples
that will make some people
wince.

This phrase, “Time will tell
whether that policy was O.K..,”
is classified as Non-L. Accord-
ing to its L equivalent, it
should be: “The correctness of
that policy will be tested in
life itself (alternative, in the
crucible of struggle.)”

The author asks:“What must
we all do soberly?”

And in L-usage, comes up
with this answer: “Evaluate,
estimate, assess,. anticipate
(correct answers); go down to
the nearest bar (incorrect).”

Or this: “What is happening
to the contradictions in the
situation?” :

Answer: “They are sharp-
ening and deepening. Also un®
folding. (Sometimes they even
gather momentum with loco-

motive speed.)”

“How do contradictions get
started?”

“They either stem from or
flow out of situations. Some-
times roots of problems stem
from contradictions, a botani-
cal. anomaly.”

ot Se ° gaa °

You'll find listed under
various headings a few pet
phrases.

Some examples are given
under the heading “Aquatic or
Water Sports Section,” which
includes:

Mainstream (of American
life—we must find our way
into it).

Launching (campaigns, pro-
grams of actions, etc.).

Broad current (usually, of
political thought.)

Baby and bathwater (not to
be thrown out together.)

Liquidationism.

Flowing from.

Under her “Cheesecake Sec-
tion” there’s this all-too-fam-
iliar word: “Affairs—which in
non-L usage means an illicit
love relationship; in L usage,
fund raising gatherings. This
has been known to create
moods of confusionism and ob-
scurantism in discussions e.g.
saying to non-L people: ‘Why
don’t you have an affair and
raise some money?’” (See car-
toon reproduced from booklet,
by Pele.)

Under “Traffic Control,”
you'll find these:

Crossroads, at the (imperia-
lism, America, etc.)

It’s not accident that...

We cannot adopt a middle of
the road policy.

Driver’s seat (e.g. Dulles is
temporarily in the)

.Turns (we must learn to
make).

a: 2 a

Al Richmond, editor of the
San Francisco: Daily People’s
World, which gets all the pro-
ceeds from the sale of the

pamphlet, has this comment:

“Any one who has been ex-
posed to left-wing jargon can
take it from there, and it’s fun
.. . The booklet should be dis-
tributed with discretion. Some
of my best friends (and pos-
sibly some of yours) might be-
come sq self-conscious of their
speech that, like the Indian
mystic who recently came
through San Francisco, they
will not utter a word for the
next 15 years.”

The whole thing ought to
give left-wingers a laugh at
their own expense — though
some readers may detect over-
tones of cynicism and icono-
clasm. (Hey — watch those
cliches!) Al Richmond com-

“amid POLL =
AML bo eke f :

ments in his review:
“Author Decca Treuhaft,
following the correct policy

projected by a prominent

working class leader some
years back, has grasped the
weapon of culture, indeed has
grasped it boldly and firmly.

“As is well known, the sci-
ence of linguistics projects in
sharp form the basic issue of
the relationship between basis
and superstructure, but it can-
not be said that the author,
having invaded the linguistic
sphere, solves the problem of
that relationship — indeed it
cannot even be said that she
grapples with it at all...”

And with a few more para-
graphs of same, says: “If you
have read this far and winced,
you should read Miss Treu-
haft’s booklet as a delightful
pleasure. If you haven’t winc-
ed, then you should-read it as
penance.”

If it serves to dispel some of
the jargon of the left-wing
movement,it will have served
a useful purpose. In addition
to which, remember that old
cliche: “Laugh and the world
laughs with you... ?” If you
want the full course, you can
send 60 cents to the author at

OPEN FORUM

Insult to injury

N. C. Cascade, B.C.: I read
Hal Griffin’s column on roads
in the Pacific Tribune of Au-
gust 31, and he has my sym-
pathy.

I have had the same thing
happen to me, oily in my case
our kind provincial govern-
ment added insult to injury.
I had to get rid of a sedan
which would not take the
abuse and get a half-ton truck
to haul myself and my tools
from job to job. For that I
had to pay another $7.50 on
my license.

So there is little wonder
that our highways minister, P.
A. Gagliardi, would sooner
travel by. plane at the tax-
payers’ expense.

Some three or four years
ago the powers-that-be were
bothering about a _ suitable
slogan to put on our license
plates. Well, _here’s one I have
drawn up for them which I
think is very fitting for the
times:

BRITISH COLUMBIA 1956
THE PROVINCE OF
TAXES, LICENSES, PER-
MITS, RACKETS AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
GIVEAWAYS

000-000

After all this there are still

no roads!

‘Cult of the individual’

B. M. WHEELDON, Squa-
mish, B.C.: It seems to me that
the current references in the
capitalist press to changes in
Soviet policy are being repeat-
ed solely with the intention of
confusing the workers again;
those, that is, who have not
kept themselves informed
through the years. except
through the daily press.

The trend toward more col-
lective leadership is just as
desirable surely, in the Soviet
Union as elsewhere. The
earlier attiude, now referred
to as the “cult of the individu-
al” was inevitable in the early
days of the revolution to a
people who for generations
had been permitted no initia-
tive, and like all subject
peoples had been accustomed
to taking orders. To build up
a personality in whom the
people had confidence was.al-
most an essential for a while,
until education had brought
them to a point at which it
was possible for them to make
collective decisions unswayed
by sentimentality or hero-
worship.

Such an attiude would not
have succeeded among peoples
who, like ourselves in Canada,
have been accustomed to the
idea (at least) that we make
our own domestic decisions,
and who must struggle con-
tinually to keep this democr-
acy. But then the whole idea
of linking the trends and atti-
tudes of Eastern Europe to any
similarity of political ideas in
this continent, is an invention
of the anti-socialists to con-
fuse those who know that the
present system is doomed but
are not too well informed as

574-61st Street, Oakland, Calif. to an alternative.

a
SEPTEMBER 21, 1956 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE ~~

History, tradition,
of living, economic con®™
are all different to t
Europe. Neither the #
ment of a socialist gove
nor its application in thé
stages could possibly be
ar here to what occult
Russia. Would Drew wet
St. Laurent wish it dh
sumed that their chosé
tem of government
duplicate of that of Fram
Spain?

What about LPP

J. MUIR, Fruitvale, By
your Open Forum 0 ot
7 there was a letter fr
Vigor of Kelowna st
now was the time t0 nf!
all-workers party to DIS
socialism to Canada. ot?

Itewould seem H. Wi
never heard of the La) gh
gressive party, which iy
according to my U2 aif
ing, all workers.
this party is real 5°
for Canada and its nS

I would suggest ‘neo
read the preamble ® 130!
stitution of the LPF: 7 ai
projected program a
formulated at the Ja
national convention: 1
after doing so, he W?

sett" q

found the answers
is advocating in his

More on GBS a

0
an!

N. E. STORY, Vg
B.C.: The article yo.
George Bernard Shaw
teresting and valu@ ofl
many of the stater
quite helpful and V@

However, it is ¥ of
aggerate the lucidity 7
socialist thought, 4°
of the article re cor

No more tellin :
in this regard is aves
ic which he be
estate worth more
lion dollars to he
phonetic scheme
hardly the most pres
cialist or social req. gt!
England at the pres” iw,

Let us not forget
people speak a
with their money.
their mouth. Neith,
forget Alick West's PA
summing up of she
ed in the title of
Good Man Fallen
ians.

Let’s have more?

0. STEPHENS: ine
B.C.: I’m glad to Seucitl /
ic Tribune is intt” cin
humor and satir® for™
adopted your ne
went to 16 page ida!
joyed Loggers’ BY ving
had an authenti€ oj
and I also like ine yo

Mike Quin, whi®

f
opr |

what the paPer — jot!

Did you eve? sict0
most great men 4 old
a sense of humo! sim
carbuncles €2V© gp
time, but Freddie
a gay dog.