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Re: RAT Scabs and other wounds in need of healing

To: rat-list@whirl-i-gig.com
Subject: Re: RAT Scabs and other wounds in need of healing
From: jonoh1@juno.com
Date: Sat, 20 May 2000 11:49:08 -0700
Dear Ken,
  McCarthyism was an abuse of power. I haven't the kind of power that can
stop a Richard Carter from working. I can't frighten or intimidate
Richard Carter's current or potential employers with threats of appearing
before a public hearing and convicting them on implication and/or their
lack of cooperation. Where is the McCarthyism here? The only "power" I
have in this situation is my communication with peers and the public.
And, if by spreading it around that Richard Carter accepted work on a
struck production, and actively walked through a picket line to do so is
abusing that power, then let it be so.  There is no blacklist without a
position of power.  You say that "the whole tone smacked of
blacklisting". May I offer that "smacking" of blacklisting is a very
different thing from blacklisting itself. I'm dealing with facts here,
not a broad brush rendering of something that "smacks" of something else.
Everything can "smack" of something. Shopping for a hat could "smack" of
an act of racism if you connect enough dots. And that's where McCarthyism
really starts to come in. Reread The Crucible. Actually, your post is far
more McCarthyesque than mine. Guilt by implication and general
statements. 
   As for the purpose: as I said in my original post on Richard Carter:
"If Richard Carter works for your theatre, or if you know him personally,
please let him know just how deeply he is driving the knife into the
heart of our union for the sake of personal short term gain."  Exactly
where is the threat in that?
  You state that I denigrated Richard Carter and wrote of Richard Carter
in a pejorative manner. That's not true. Reread my original post. I said
nothing against Richard Carter personally. I don't know Richard Carter. I
only know what Richard Carter did. And, for what Richard Carter did,
Richard Carter is held accountable. Richard Carter had, if you will, the
courage of his convictions. Misguided as I find them, I'd fight to the
death for Richard Carter's right to cross a picket line. Just as I'd
fight to the death my right for calling Richard Carter the scab that he
is and spreading Richard Carter's name around with a clear, clean
conscience.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Jonathan - union actor

On Fri, 19 May 2000 15:28:30 PDT "ken johnston" <kken19@hotmail.com>
writes:
>
>
>What was the purpose of your posting against him?... it certainly 
>wasn't for 
>him.... the whole tone smacked of blacklisting... ergo the McCarthy 
>reference... you were also denigrating him for a personal moral 
>choice... 
>much as was done to members of the communist party, alleged or 
>otherwise... 
>hence the McCarthy reference... you are seeking to intimidate by 
>publishing 
>in a pejorative manner the name of someone who doesn't act in a way 
>you 
>approve of ... once again, nice job Senator McCarthy
>
>...and just for the record, I support the strike but NOT the opinion 
>that 
>every one should even if they must be intimidated to do so
>
>
>>From: jonoh1@juno.com
>>Reply-To: rat-list@whirl-i-gig.com
>>To: rat-list@whirl-i-gig.com
>>Subject: Re: RAT Scabs and other wounds in need of healing
>>Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 12:53:35 -0700
>>
>>Ken,
>>   You're right. Richard Carter, not being a SAG member,  is under 
>no
>>legal "obligation" to honor our picket line, but there is a moral 
>one. I
>>was under no obligation to honor the picket lines during the 
>janitor's
>>strike. But I did. It's not McCarthyism, Ken. My refusing to work 
>with
>>someone I consider inhumane, uninformed and selfish, and asking 
>others to
>>do the same, is not akin to seeking out perceived subversives and 
>then
>>publicly asking them manipulative questions designed to intimidate 
>and
>>incriminate. Richard Carter's choice was simple, clear and evident. 
>He
>>crossed a picket line. End of debate.
>>   Neither SAG, nor I are manufacturing evidence to prove our case.  
>We
>>don't need to.
>>   We also didn't ask him to name the names of other union or non 
>union
>>members who were crossing picket lines and/or, failing that, make up 
>a
>>list of names to save himself from any kind of retribution or 
>punitive
>>action.
>>   Actually,  "McCarthyism" is more clearly defined as making broad
>>accusations using emotional catch words (like McCarthyism) to 
>silence
>>true debate and slander innocent people. McCarthyism, like most 
>things,
>>is many layered. For this particular soup, let's peel the onion 
>before
>>tossing it in.
>>Jonathan
>>
>>
>>On Thu, 18 May 2000 23:25:15 PDT "ken johnston" <kken19@hotmail.com>
>>writes:
>> >
>> >If this person is not a member of the union he is under no 
>obligation
>> >to
>> >support the strike.
>> >But good job on the name taking, Senator McCarthy.
>> >
>> >
>> >>
>> >>An "actor" by the name of Richard Carter helped the ad agencies 
>in
>> >their
>> >>attempt to break the actor's union today by shooting a principal 
>role
>> >for
>> >>a U.S. Cellular commercial in Culver City. A production SAG was
>> >actively
>> >>picketing. Richard Carter is a man of about 28, a little heavy 
>set
>> >with
>> >>very dark hair. If Richard Carter works for your theatre, or if 
>you
>> >know
>> >>him personally, please let him know just how deeply he is driving
>> >the
>> >>knife into the heart of our union for the sake of personal short
>> >term
>> >>gain. Richard Carter's is a face I will never forget. According 
>to
>> >one of
>> >>the production personell, Richard Carter was quoted as saying: 
>"This
>> >is
>> >>nothing. I did another commercial shoot last week." The 
>production
>> >person
>> >>called him "King Scab".
>> >>Kicking ass and taking names,
>> >>Jonathan Harris - union actor
>> >>________________________________________________________________
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>> >
>> 
>>_______________________________________________________________________
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>>
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>
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>

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