Joe Higgins and SP dis-respects Comrade Bill Webster.

international | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis

Monday September 01, 2014 17:41

by sean throne - Facts For Working People.

SP claims Bill Webster as own in spite of him resigning in protest many years before.

Sectarianism has many aspects to it. One is to seek to use any opportunity to try and gain advantage for your own group or organization irregardless of the interests of the movement, or irregardless of paying respect for other workers and activists.

I was very sorry i could not be present at the funeral of my friend and Comrade Bill Webster. I understand that it was well attended and Bill's life was commemorated. I would just like to raise one point. I think in situations like this it is important to be precise and principled and respectful. I see that Joe Higgins spoke at Bill's funeral. My understanding is that, and this would have been inevitable, Joe Higgins by speaking was doing so to associate Bills achievements and principled life with the CWI and the Socialist Party of which Joe Higgins is a leading member. I believe that Joe Higgins acted in a disrespectful manner by speaking at Bill's funeral. Bill had many years previously left the Socialist Party and the CWI. He did so because he concluded that it was no longer a principled organization. Specifically he did so around events at the time of the expulsion of myself and the small faction i was part of. At that time he traveled to Chicago to see if what Joe Higgin's organization the CWI and the SP was saying about me was true. He concluded that what was being said was not true and that I was the target of lies and slanders by Joe Higgins organization. He returned to Ireland and against my advice resigned in protest from the CWI and the SP. It was unprincipled and disrespectful of Joe Higgins to speak at Bill's funeral. It was another example of the sectarianism of that man and his organization. They will do whatever they think furthers the interests of their own organization irrespective of what this means to other people reputations and lives. In this case Joe Higgins and the CWI disrespected Bill.

Sean Throne.