It’s time to be blunt. Much (though certainly not all) of what is loosely termed the political “left” in the United States, has a stymieing and self-inflicted Achilles heel known as sectarianism.

The American Heritage College dictionary defines the practice of sectarianism, in relevant part, as “Adhering or [being] confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination.” Sadly and dangerously, significant segments of the left in this nation are integrally afflicted with this self-defeating, disuniting, and disempowering methodology.

In the name of supposed ideological correctness, certain sectarian leftists do not hesitate to utilize the very same kinds, or similar, U.S. government COINTELPRO [Counter Intelligence Program] tactics to misinform, “expose, discredit, disrupt and neutralize” others in the left whom they perceive to be their political and/or ideological rivals. This of course invariably serves to weaken the political effectiveness of the entire left collectively.

Many of the factions, fractions, and tendencies within the U.S. left unfortunately expend an inordinate amount of time, resources, and energy in the pursuit of destroying one another, rather than finding common ground as leftists genuinely and (without hidden sectarian agendas) actively working with one another in those areas of political agreement. Thus, the U.S. left is often rendered impotent to the masses of people, while sectarian leftist zealots revel in their own intellectual snobbery and self-ascribed ideological adulation.

All of this, of course, inevitably enhances the deadly effectiveness of the very real political repression upon everyday Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow people, while simultaneously harboring both distrust and ineffectiveness on the part of the left as a whole. Thus, it is no wonder that our collective and important message as leftists is consistently muffled and distorted. We must acknowledge responsibility and radically adjust our course.

Moreover, the most actively sectarian elements of the U.S. left , more often than not are, organizationally, the most racist and authoritarian. To deny this is to deny reality.

The political left in the United States, if it is to be both for-real and effective, must be steeped in the present day realities of everyday people - offering viable alternatives to this corrupt, politically bankrupt, and despicable, racist, capitalist system. The left must unflinchingly dispense with sectarianism, as it speaks in clear, concise, and clearly understandable down-to-earth terms to the needs of everyday common people.

David Walsh correctly noted in his recent article titled, The Apologists for Obama and the Republican “Resurgence’’ that, “Two years ago, a variety of ‘left’ and liberal forces strove to convince those sections of the population over whom they had influence that the Obama campaign represented a watershed in American politics and that under his administration the policies of war, attacks on jobs and social programs, and the shredding of Constitutional rights would come to an end.” (Reference http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/nov2010/pers-n06.shtml)

Of course this is precisely what did not occur, as is now crystal clear in this year of 2010. However, it should be noted that there were a relative handful of Black leftist writers, who began three years ago (in 2007), to repeatedly warn that the so-called ‘Obama phenomenon’ was a cynical and dangerous systemic ruse by the U.S. oligarchy of empire. But what was a significant part of the U.S. left doing? It was busy with sectarian infighting and/or it was succumbing to the euphoria of systemic madness. Had the U.S. left, over two years ago, overwhelmingly and collectively sounded the alarm to, and on behalf of, everyday people the political landscape and consciousness of the people might be very different today. The left must learn well from its failings, otherwise it will become our bane and that of the people as a whole.

The economic, social, and political predicament of the nation and the planet today is far more precarious than it was a mere two to three years ago. It is time to stop the infighting, stop the hidden (and sometimes blatant) sectarian agendas, and stop the insipid intellectual masturbation! It is time for the left to bury its sectarian differences, and come together as a powerful, collective, political force. There is too damn much at stake to continue the insanity of sectarianism on the left!

Remember the words of Frantz Fanon: “There is a point at which methods devour themselves.”

Come now and let us create a new world from the very ruins of the old! Onward my sisters and brothers! Onward!

BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board Member, Larry Pinkney, is a veteran of the Black Panther Party, the former Minister of Interior of the Republic of New Africa, a former political prisoner and the only American to have successfully self-authored his civil/political rights case to the United Nations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In connection with his political organizing activities in opposition to voter suppression, etc., Pinkney was interviewed in 1988 on the nationally televised PBS NewsHour, formerly known as TheMacNeil/LehrerNewsHour. For more about Larry Pinkney see the book, Saying No to Power: Autobiography of a 20th Century Activist and Thinker, by William Mandel [Introduction by Howard Zinn]. (Click here to read excerpts from the book). Click here to contact Mr. Pinkney.