Boxing-and profits

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2nd International Sessions on: Crisis of Imperialism;

world economic crisis: Stalinist Reconstruct the Fourth International For more details write to: WSL, BM Bo but beats up his wife and is generally vicious.

Most reviews, including the Morning Star have said that this is enough to turn people off boxing, and that there is no way anyone could identify with this character.

Well portrayed

But what they mean is there is no film reviewer who would identify with him.

La Motta did reach the top in protessional boxinggoing so lar as to beat the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. But even after he ends up splitting from his second wife and from his manager brother-after beating him up-Scorsese still ends the film with a religious statement to the effect that "we are all sinners"

La Merta's attitude to women is well portrayed. He beats up both his first and second wite, and treats both entirel! as his personal property.

Between fights he spends his whole time thinking his wife is having aftairs-even Is Raging Bull boxing film?

Certainly the fact that La Motta actually won the world title detracts from it playing such a role, though it is true that he ended up penniless, proving that in those days only the mob and the promoters made real money out of boxing.

The film in no way compares to John Huston's 'Fat City' as an indictment of boxing. Huston's film concentrates on a fighter who never gets very far at all. But "Raging Bull' avoids the glorification of boxing depicted in 'Rocky', , where the hero revels in beating his fellow man into a pulp.

The best anti-boxing displays however come in watching the real on television-where, tor instance, close friends like Sylvestre Mittee and Clinton McKenzie wind up trying to knock eachother senseless.

Professional boxing is only organised for the money. Boxers only take 19-26 July 1981 part for the money. As John Conteh's wife said, "he didn't want to fight"

Recent revelations in the world of professional boxing -with the President of the crisis; Central America; and World Boxing Council Jose Sulaiman accused of taking bribes to arrange world title fights-indicate that Scorsese got it right.

A boxer, for all his sacrifices, cannot make it on his own. And the biggest money 5277, London WCIN 3XX is made by hoodlums and parasites who never step into the ring.

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PRESS A key debate at this year's STUC at Rothesay beginning on Monday 20 April must surely be that on economic strategy when the course of action to be adopted in the struggle against the Tory government must be decided upon.

Resolutions and amendments from Cumbernauld, Stirling and Moray Trades Councils all demand a more positive stance than that generally favoured by the trade union leadership.

Whereas the TGWU only call for "the continuance of the TUC campaign to bring pressure on the present government" Stirling's amendment wants "a programme of mass action aimed at forcing a General Election and returning Labour government" whilst Cumbernauld and Moray favour the calling of a General Strike to bring Thatcher down.

Clearly these trades councils have drav 1 the lessons of the Tory defeat at the hands of the miners and see the necessity to deliver a knock-out blow to a reeling Their approach contrasts sharply with that of the STUC leadership, whose Scottish Convention on unemployment earlier this year could only bring down upon them the ridicule and contempt of militant workers.

No churchmen That feeling is conveyed in the resolution from Edinburgh and District Trades Council on unemployment which specifies that this cannot be fought "by inviting Conservative, Liberal and Church people to Conferences."

Obviously the strategy of forcing the resignation of the Tories renuires a ronsistent build up of the forces of resistance at a local level and the resolutions from Edinburgh and Falkirk Trades Councils calling for the establishment of Centres for Unemployed Workers and Unemployed Workers Associations point the way forward on that vital front.

At another level, that of cuts in local government, the NALGO resolution that the General Council should convene "a meeting of affiliated unions in the Local Government sector and Local Authorities who are opposed to the government's policy" , is a worthwhile contribution which should be built upon.

An occasion for debate of more than usual interest must surely be the resolution that follows from the FBU which "calls upon the movement to discuss with the Labour Party, at local and national level, the possibility of a no cuts, no rate rises" policy.

The adoption of a principled position on rates would be a major step forward by the STUC.

A keynote resolution in the section on international affairs must be the Dundee Trades Council call for a declaration of support for the Palestinians in their struggle for "an independent sovereign state"

Courageous The courageous stance of the Dundee Labour Council on this issue deserves the fullest backing of the Scottish trade union moveapparent. The only resolution on Northern Ireland is that from • ASLEF which speaks of "an end to... the ... search for a military solution to the crisis" • but stops short of a call for withdrawal of British troops and contains no mention of the demand for political status for Republican prisoners.

Poland also figures on the agenda in a resolution from USDAW which tries to square the circle by on the one hand welcoming the free trade union movement, whilst on the other, hoping "that the warm and friendly relationship which has existed between the Polish trade union movement and the STUC will be maintained."

Attempts by the mover of the motion to reconcile these two incompatibles should prove an absorbing balancing act.

Criticisms The Conference promises to be the occasion for some sha which the Scof ith trade mn walen tne union leadership has conducted itself over the past year.

Many militant trade unionists have been unimpressed by such activities as the undermining of the strike at Hunterstoun Marine Construction and the weak-kneed Scottish Convention EDUNDANT McVicar BE ABLETO BUY AGAIN WHEN I SCHOOL DAD?

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