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NEWS & LETTERS, December 2001READERS VIEWS
WELFARE 'REFORM'One wonders how Michigan Republican Governor John Engler's spokesperson fixed
her mouth to say that changes in welfare rules would "help more families
make the transition from welfare to work." The new rules require single
parents to work 40 hours per week (currently it's 20 for parents of babies and
30 for parents of school age children). There are no more exemptions for parents
caring for disabled children or for their own aged parents. I know no one
working a poverty job who knows from week to week what their hours will be, and
they rarely work 40, even with two jobs. The mouthpiece said work exemption
requests would be reviewed individually hey, who can even reach their caseworker
in a timely fashion? Observer FOOD NOT BOMBS FOR AFGHANISTAN On Thanksgiving weekend 30 of us took to the streets in Memphis to a blustery
Food Not Bombs (FNB) Parade. We wanted to show solidarity with starving people
all over the world, especially those facing peril in Afghanistan this winter.
Our signs said "Food is a right not a privilege." FNB has been
salvaging good food discarded by grocery stores and cooking free vegetarian
meals for the hungry for several years. The chant made up by our youngest
helper, a five-year-old, showed wisdom the men in power seem to lack: "Food
Not Bombs, because bombs hurt people." The money spent on weapons in one
week around the world is enough to feed all the people on earth for a year. How
can we afford to spend another dollar on war when so many people are starving? Andrea Bouardee *** Katie Sierra is a 15-year-old student who tried to start an anarchy club in
her high school in West Virginia and lost her case in court. She also lost the
right to wear a T-shirt that opposed the bombing in Afghanistan, as well as one
that protested racism, sexism and homophobia. The judge who ruled against her
said, "I don't think anybody disagrees that in America the right of free
speech is sacred. Sierra has the right to believe anything she wants to believe
and to express those beliefs. However, in a school educational setting, those
rights are not absolute." Sierra's lawyer plans to appeal the ruling to the
state Supreme Court. Angry Katie supporter North Carolina ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRONT All of a sudden, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are talking
only about bioterrorism. They only care about something when it starts affecting
white America. People of color have been terrorized by the U.S. government and
industry all our lives. The terrorism is in our communities where we've been
exposed to toxic chemicals, but they want to put pollution on the back burner. I
recommend that they put environmental justice, community health and community
clinics in every bill about terrorism because the industries have terrorized our
communities. Environmental justice activist Tennessee *** Big Oil didn't make a grab just for the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Hoping
Michiganders wouldn't notice, on Sept. 14 Republican Governor Engler's Natural
Resources Commission lifted a four-year suspension on directional drilling under
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Fortunately, the federal water and energy bill
signed into law in November carries an amendment that halts Great Lakes drilling
until 2003. The National Wildlife Federation, opposing "slant
drilling," cited ecological concerns such as wellhead leaks, conflicts with
recreational use of the shoreline, and insufficient protection of critical
fragile biological areas like wetlands and sand dunes. The state's own records
revealed 89 oil or gas leaks last year. Urban gardener RAWA AND THE LEFT I heard Tahmeena Faryal speak at Mills College. She is very courageous. She
talked about how much women risked to just have a school for girls. They
represent a genuine alternative for what Afghan society could be but I wondered
if she herself saw the tremendous power of that stance when she focused on
appealing to the UN for help. Hundreds and hundreds showed up at her events and
hundreds more were turned away. I think people turned out because they wanted to
express their solidarity with that alternative she represented. They wanted to
hear an opposition to the Taliban and to the war that was about humanity, a
viable response beyond bin Laden and Bush. Women's Liberationist *** What was shocking was how totally the organized Left groups were missing from
all the RAWA events held in the Berkeley area. It must be that they are so
defined as being against this war that they didn't want to discolor the purity
of their opposition by being for someone who is opposed to Bush's enemy. It is a
warning that we have to be careful not to get locked into opposites that aren't
opposite. Student of Marx and Hegel *** RAWA's historic existence contrasts dramatically in important respects with
that of Marxist-Humanism, the philosophy of the organization that sponsored
their tour in New York. The philosophy of N&L is presented, argued,
contended with among virtually all other philosophies and further developed on
these bases in numerous books, pamphlets, journals and articles collected
wherever people struggle for freedom throughout the world. It is a philosophy
that has emerged in an ongoing global battle of ideas since the 1950s. It might
be argued that it is only this mode of existence that permits the fullest
appreciation of the historic, global significance of a group like RAWA. Marxist-Humanist *** Editor's note: We are proud to present a voice of RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, speaking for themselves on page one of this issue. COVERING THE CONGO WAR I can't forget the column John Alan wrote on the war in the Congo from 1998
to 2001, where it is claimed that three million people lost their lives (N&L
June 2001). Compared to the coverage today on Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, or
in the past on Serbia/Kosova/NATO or even the Gulf War of 1991, there was
virtually no coverage of the Congo events. Thus a major world event went
unreported and the public, including N&L readers, are unaware of it. I see
this as institutional racism promoted by the State Dept. and media censorship.
Each African who lost a life should be as worthy of being recorded as each
Afghanistan or Sept. 11 victim. The problem is the separation of the African
victims from ourselves. Basho *** For all those "anti-imperialists" who don't seem
to understand what is going on today, let me pass along this wonderful story
about what former heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, said when he
visited the ruins of the World Trade Center and CNN reporters came running up to
ask him how he felt about the suspects sharing his Islamic faith. Ali responded
pleasantly, "How do you feel about Hitler sharing yours?" I would say
the Champ never lost his punch. Chicago *** Lower Manhattan continues to be extremely depressing. Eleven weeks after the
World Trade Center attack, we still smell the fires most days, see a cloud of
smoke and dust, and feel the irritants, which no one believes are harmless
despite government assurances. Immigrant vendors hawk T-shirts with images of
the twin towers, and tourists with cameras crowd the streets. Subway service is
disrupted indefinitely and security measures slow walking and driving and
entering buildings. Unemployment is staggering, with 80,000 laid off in October
alone and food kitchens keeping thousands alive. Some capitalist pigs try to turn the tragedy to their advantage. I know a
group of tenants who have been on rent strike for several months over serious
conditions in their building who recently came home to find a sign in their
lobby from management, stating: "In light of the recent events throughout
the country, we are asking residents when entering or leaving to make sure all
exit doors are securely closed behind you." In other words, if there is
another terrorist attack, it will be the tenants' fault? That is a logical
development of the landlord view that every problem is the tenants' fault. Renter *** Thousands were killed on Sept. 11, more thousands injured and millions
emotionally damaged, and the damage to the economy and the Constitution
continues. Opportunists of every kind are capitalizing on the moment to further
their agendas. The 19 terrorists are dead but these Americans have picked up the
torch and seem determined to burn away our hard-fought and well-earned freedoms
while they mouth the world's "safety." Those who would prefer to be
"safe" rather than free are doing what the 19 terrorists never could
destroy our Bill of Rights. Imprisoned citizen *** Fundamentalism is much worse than the regime in the U.S. Here we can talk
openly and write what we want. What happens in Iran is that a paper like N&L
would have to be underground. Even finding a book can be difficult. When I talk
about fundamentalism with other leftists here they say they are anti-imperialist
and forget about important issues in the Middle East. I'm anti-imperialist, too,
but want to know what ideas those leftists have to offer to the people in the
Middle East who are struggling against their own rulers. Iranian revolutionary *** Bush's war against terrorism and bin Laden is very unusual. When has the U.S.
ever carried on a war against an individual? Bush does not want to upset
relations in the Middle East. It is an extremely reactionary war. World War II
had a slogan projecting it as a war for liberation. Bush doesn't try to do that.
In seeing the kind of "collective" government he wants in Afghanistan,
you can see he wants the old conservative forces back in power. He is for
counter-revolution in permanence. Black writer *** We will never forget that Bush & Co. stole the election and our democracy
a year ago. We will not accept an illegitimate administration pursuing immoral
policies. JB and DB *** FDR said the only thing to fear is fear and now Bush is telling us to just go
on with our lives as if everything were normal. Those of us who belong to the
"other America" have never lived a normal life except under fear. Bush
needs permanent fear to keep up his permanent war. Asian-American *** We heard a lot about anthrax threats since early October, but it wasn't until
Thanksgiving weekend that I first heard a single report about the 500 Planned
Parenthood and other abortion providers which had been sent threatening letters
about anthrax, all of which have been hoaxes. Talk about a conspiracy of
silence! Does anyone have ideas on how we can mobilize to stop this kind of
terror, and its support by a silent media? Women's Liberationist *** Seattle did seem to change the world two years ago. While everyone else was
talking about the movement being dead, people were emboldened by Seattle. It
looked as though the Left was gathering momentum. Then came Sept. 11. All that
confidence in numbers evaporated. The Left had to come up with a new laundry
list to rally around as a united front. We were supposed to shut up for the sake
of unity. All that does is keep ideas out of the discussion. Activist *** Nowhere were the "two worlds" of capitalist America that N&L
talks about more evident than in the drumbeat to reopen the Wall Street stock
exchange in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks. It was also seen
in Giuliani's order to defend his policy of giving up on locating the remains of
the thousands still missing before they began scooping up and dumping them in a
landfill. He even had his police attack firefighters who were demonstrating
opposition to that plan. Those rescue workers opposed not only Giuliani but
their own department head. The firefighters had a different agenda entirely from
Giuliani's, which was to wrap up the "rescue effort" that he had
sucked clean of all its political benefit and get on with re-establishing the
business potential of the devastated sites. Counselor *** What happened in New York reminded me of the earthquake in Mexico a few years
ago when new unions, new organizations, new communities grew in the solidarity
of the struggle to save lives in the aftermath of that disaster, as the state
stood by idly. In New York we saw Giuliani self-destructing in his fight with
the firefighters. Radical lawyer *** In recalling the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts, John Alan's column in the
November N&L showed how to bring those two words together. The Sedition Act
is Ashcroft's posture exactly. A lot of what he is doing is to go on TV and
reiterate that if you fit the profile of this alien and seditious person we will
do whatever we can to hunt you down. This kind of state harassment is
reminiscent of what Black and Latino Americans go through in this country every
day. As Alan wrote, the African- American press constantly pointed out during
World War II that they couldn't be fighting for democracy abroad if there was no
equality at home. It shows how far back we've gone. Hospital worker IDEALISM, MATERIALISM, AND MARX The piece by Raya Dunayevskaya on "Marx's concept of praxis" in the
November issue made me see for the first time that Marx's concept of praxis
comes out of his first thesis on Feuerbach, where Marx wrote that abstract
materialism fails to grasp that "human activity is itself objective."
Dunayevskaya argues that for Marx, "praxis" was not a matter of
intellectuals handing down a line for workers to follow, but the expression of
"revolutionary, critical-practical activity." That is, when workers
break through the rigidity and false sense of reality which surrounds everyday
life, the idea of freedom which idealism first developed, "albeit
abstractly," comes to life as praxis. Student of dialectics *** Gramsci once wrote that the distinction between idealism and materialism
belongs to "past societies" Ñ that is, societies preceding the
transcendence of capitalism. I believe that implies that transcending the
separation of idealism and materialism calls for a philosophy of a new type.
Those who reject philosophy in the name of "Marxism" always end up as
either one-sided abstract idealists or equally one-sided
"materialists." Peter Wermuth CHARLESTON 5 VICTORY The demonstrations and possible worldwide port shutdowns that were to take
place on Nov. 14 were cancelled to celebrate the victory of the Charleston 5
instead. Their battle with the state of South Carolina had been going on ever
since Jan. 20. That was when 600 riot-equipped police had been unleashed against
dockworkers who were picketing against the use of scab labor in Charleston, and
five of the workers were charged with "inciting to riot." Their case
won the support of unionists around the world as well as organizations like the
Black Radical Congress, since it was clear that the state of South Carolina was
really aiming to cripple ILA Local 1422 which was known for helping to develop
Black working-class power in the port city of Charleston. After almost a year
living under the threat of severe jail sentences, the five were allowed to plead
no contest to a magistrate-level offense and walk away with $100 fines.
Considering what they were stacked up against, they considered it a tremendous
victory. Union supporter I read the new issue of Hobgoblin (issue No.4) with much interest. The
articles in these 48 pages on current world events along with the searing
critiques of such radical tendencies as Situationism, Anarchism and Leninism
were well done. It's rare to come across such a combination. New subscriber *** Editor's Note: The Hobgoblin is published twice yearly by the London
Corresponding Committee which works in solidarity with Marxist-Humanists
internationally. A subscription for two issues costs 5 pounds. For information
or to order a sub, write to NEWS & LETTERS or directly to the London
Corresponding Committee at BCM 3514 London WC1N 3XX. ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS The situation continues to be grave in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
This is the worst Ramadan in many years. Prime Minister Sharon demands
"seven days of quiet" before entering into negotiations, while making
sure that these seven days never happen. His policies towards Palestinians
constitute a string of provocations and brutal oppression. While the rest of the
world was looking and acting elsewhere after Sept. 11, the violence in this
region escalated. In parallel, peace activism reached intense levels. Women in
Black vigils have sprouted in new locations in Israel and throughout the world
as well. A major international event is being planned for Dec. 28 by the
Coalition of Women for Peace. In Jerusalem, we will hold a silent and solemn
march of Women (and men) in Black, followed by a concert for peace. People from
all over the world are invited to join us in any way they liken to be with us
here or to organize or attend a vigil in your own city. For more information see
www.coalitionofwomen4peace.org. Shalom/Salaam. Gila Svirsky *** Despite all the new evidence of Mumia's innocence, Pennsylvania State Court
judge Pamela Dembe refused to hear it, claiming she had "no
jurisdiction" in the case. She chose 3 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving, to
announce her ruling, hoping we would be unable to mobilize an emergency
demonstration to demand that Philadelphia Federal Judge William Yohn now hear
the new evidence. Dec. 9 marks the 20th stolen year Mumia has spent incarcerated
and on death row for a crime he did not commit. His life now hangs by a thread.
We are asking everyone who cares about Mumia and about justice to SHOW UP AT 12
NOON IN PHILADELPHIA ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8! International concerned family and friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal After Judge Pamela Dembe gave her ruling on Nov. 21, we have to speak up. I
am not an attorney or a paralegal but I can see there is an old-fashioned
lynching, a premeditated murder, an assassination coming from Uncle Sam through
the state of Pennsylvania, courtesy of the city of Philadelphia. The fact that
Pamela Dembe is of African descent bothers me. What is going on in that part of
the United States could set four white male officers free from the Amadou Diallo
case after 19 shots hit him and 22 missed him! Now we see Pamela Dembe literally
trying to seal Mumia's death. As an African American of Haitian descent, born in
Chicago, the most racist city in the U.S., according to Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., I want to tell brother Mumia that whether or not he will be with our
ancestors soon, courtesy of the system and a sister, he should know that among
his family and supporters, he will live as long as one of us can utter his name. Nouveau Toussaint |
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