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NEWS & LETTERS, August-September 2007

Readers' Views

Contents

ANTI-WAR ASSEMBLY  IN JAPAN

We express our thanks for your message last year, and would be happy to again receive a message from you to Japanese workers and youth to be read at our 45th International Antiwar Assembly. The Assembly's central meeting in Tokyo and regional meetings in Sapporo, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa will be held on the same day, August 5, 2007.

--Executive Committee ,International Antiwar Assembly, Tokyo, Japan

Editor's Note: We have joined in solidarity with the anti-war assembly since it's founding, in commemoration of the infamous bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S. six decades ago. Our greeting this year will again include sharing with the assembly our Draft for Perspectives for Marxist-Humanism, 2007-2008, published in this issue.

NATIONAL WOMEN'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Sandra Cisneros' talk at the National Women's Studies Association's annual conference reminded me of D.H. Lawrence's observation that a truly great work of literature escapes its author. Cisneros read several of her pieces, dedicating two to the late Gloria Anzaldua. Her last reading was an exploration of her own family history that was both personal and universal. Although Cisneros does not project a role for herself in developing political theory, her work about the realities' of Latina's lives is an inspiration for working out revolutionary theory and practice in today’s world.

--Susan Van Gelder, Michigan

The panel on "Women's Studies: Past, Present and Future Feminism's for Women of Color" explored the problematic relation between feminism and poor women and women of color, who view it as a white middle-class concept disconnected from their lives. One important conclusion was that having feminist women of color as leaders and teachers could make a difference. But the struggle to bridge this gap is by no means easy, especially in a time of reaction.

--Women's liberationist, Detroit

At the panel on "The tangled threads of backlash against feminism in contemporary Japan," presenters told the story of how an official ban on gender discrimination, which was supposed to make Japan "gender free,"backfired when anti-feminists equated feminism with one celebrated case of a boy whose penis was cut off during circumcision. While a psychologist recommended he be raised as a girl, claiming nurture is primary over nature in identity development, the boy eventually chose to live as a man. Feminists were blamed for "suppressing" the outcome of this "experiment," as though it proved that sexual difference is biologically determined. Feminists were charged with wanting humanity to be "hermaphroditic snails," and eventually the ordinance banning discrimination was repealed. The last speaker in this session compared "gender free" with "race free" and brought in the Supreme Court decision, which she said equated race free with race blind.

--Urszula Wislanka, California

--Barbara Ransby had responsibility for one of the four "Engaging Scholarship Sessions." She said her 2003 biography of Ella Baker inspired her current work on a model of pedagogy called "Ella's Daughers." She envisions "teaching like Ella did, by quilting strands together" among the academy and the community on the move for freedom. Ransby's concept puts academia at the service of grassroots leaders and movements; she quotes Baker saying, "strong people don't need strong leaders." Although I would say strong people do need strong leaders, I see in Baker's statement her concern that there is a separation between leaders and ranks. But if leaders remain rooted in the movement their strength remains ours.

--NWSA participant, Michigan

NUCLEAR GLOBAL WARMING

Dying to make money off global warming, the nuclear industry and its shills have been touting nuclear energy as the "clean" alternative. The July 16 earthquake in Japan reminds us of the truth. The company that runs the biggest nuclear power plant in the world said it found over 50 problems with the plant, including a radioactive leak into the ocean, and possibly other leaks. But at first they denied everything, as usually happens with nuclear accidents. This is supposed to save us?

--Long-time environmentalist, Tennessee

LABOR FIGHTS BACK IN SOUTH AFRICA

The month-long strikes in South Africa that took place throughout June are now over, but the importance of what was gained should not be passed over. After refusing for months to listen to workers’ demands for higher wages, the ANC-led government was forced to give in and grant the public service workers a 7.5% wage increase. Even more important than the pay increase was the spirit of solidarity that developed from the strikes. This is bound to have further ramifications in the future.

--Observer, Illinois

It was great to see so many in-person reports from workers and women in the June-July issue of N&L. I had no idea that there was such a ferment of struggle and ideas taking place in that land. Printing these kinds of in-person reports is central to revolutionary solidarity.

--Longtime Marxist, New York

AMERICAN REALITY

The contradictions in the American economy are multiplying and worsening. Take the simple fact of pay equity—it has gone down to women making 62 cents for every dollar a man makes, from 69 cents 10 years ago. High-paying jobs are gone. We have more speed-up and pauperism. There is speculation in the Detroit Free Press that Michigan might become a right-to-work state! It reflects the weakened labor unions ripple effect. We are also seeing give-backs of pensions and health care benefits. Gains were made when unions were strong. Now it is not a question of giving concessions, but "how much?" The rate of profit goes up and the executives make millions, while the gap is widening between rich and poor like during the Great Depression.

--Ex-miner, Detroit

If anyone is going to get a better sense about value theory, they have to confront what is going on in this country the way the Lead article in the June-July issue of N&L presents it as "Spying campaign provokes distrust in Bush' agenda." I've been following the factory takeovers in Latin America but I wish they were happening here so I could be a participant. We have to keep focusing on things happening in this country so we can confront the reality. There was just a decision that anyone who uses an internet server relinquishes all privacy rights. The Supreme Court turned "Brown vs. Topeka" on its head using the language of "Brown." If the court is now willing to be that reactionary it is very scary. We won't have any rights in a few years.

--Mitch, California

The June-July Lead traced the national security state as having been in reserve since the days of the Palmer raids. It has always been there to bring out the repressive power of the state when capital is in crisis.

--Ron, Bay Area

The Supreme Court’s decision on school desegration effectively restores the myth of “separate but equal.” Its real meaning is shown by the outrage being perpetrated every day in New Orleans, where activists rightly call the “reconstruction” a privatization—a massive takeover by elites of whatever they can grab from Blacks and all the poor and workers. This disaster is not caused just by Hurricane Katrina plus corruption and neglect in maintaing the levees, but by an ongoing racist attack, which is at the same time a class war against the poor. Keep your eye on the fightback, which is not heard in the media but has never stopped.

--Environmental justice activist, Memphis

REVIEWS FROM IRAN

I especially liked the two reviews in the June-July issue written by Iranians of Raya Dunayevskaya's Marxism and Freedom, which has just appeared in a Persian language edition in Iran. One of the reviewers critiques Dunayevskaya for being too philosophical, but he explains why she is philosophical and encourages the reader to dig into the book. It is the kind of review that would have convinced me to read it.

--Reader, San Francisco

STATE EDUCATION?

After 100 years of state education, something is very wrong here in Britain. It is estimated one in five of the population could be called illiterate and about 15 million cannot add simple sums. This is at a time when there is an overflow of information. It's exactly the time when more resources should be allocated to developing adult literary and numeracy skills. The government's response is to cut library books and services and, in some instances, libraries as well. The fascists burn books, but what to say of governments that restrict ideas, books and association? Poorer families are further penalized. It is shameful for a Labor government to act in such a mean and stupid way.

--Outraged, London

VOICES  FROM WITHIN PRISON

I would like to congratulate you on putting together a newspaper with insight that is informational. I like the fact that it isn't just a U.S. paper, but focuses on issues around the world.

--Prisoner, Iowa Park, Texas

It's great to know there are movements teaching about Marxism. I've been teaching for years to anyone who will talk with me about the evils of the capitalist system: 1) Capitalism is based on profit; 2) Profit is based on greed. 3) Greed is a psychological disorder. Bill Gates has $50 billion and at the same time thousands are starving every day, with half of them kids 15 years old or younger. For a man to have billions and yet stand back and watch other human beings starving to death has got to be a psychological disorder.

--Prisoner, Pontiac, Illinois

Your publication serves as a vital component of Marxist education and development. It is a pivotal expression of the theoretical foundations of the new society and new social relations that must be forged and cemented out of the ashes of modern industrial global capitalism and its vulturous tentacles of imperialism.

--Prisoner, Jefferson City, Missouri

VALUE PRODUCTION AND CAPITALISM

On the column by Dunayevskaya in the June-July issue of N&L: tracing the categories of labor power, surplus value, value, etc. to their prehistoric and/or pre-ancient world forms is eminently feasible, as hinted at by Engels—and a certainty in the mind of Marx (see the Ethnological Notebooks).

--Jason W. Smith, California

As Marx always insisted—not only in Capital but also in his “Notes on Wagner” (one of his last writings)—his analysis of value production was meant to apply to capitalism and capitalism alone. The production of a surplus product, which existed before capitalism, is not the same as surplus value. A life and death issue is involved here. If value production is held to be the universal law of society that precedes capitalism, it follows that it will continue after capitalism. Which means alienation is here to stay in perpetuity!

--Marxist theorist, Chicago

FIGHTING BUSH'S AGENDA

When I was on vacation in Rome I attended a demonstration against Bush's visit. There were many youth and tremendous anger. Some had placards indicating  they knew there was "another America."

--Composer and Pianist, New York

In writing on the chapter in Capital on "The Working Day," Dunayevskaya said Marx concluded that the simple workers’ question, “When does my day begin and when does it end?” was a greater philosophy of freedom than the bourgeois Declaration of the Rights of Man. I consider U.S. democracy today as more than "pompous" when Bush uses it to justify his war on Iraq, but not pompous when used by civil society or the ACLU to struggle for freedom of speech.

--Asian American, Los Angeles

The streets run red with blood in Baghdad but no WMD’s are to be found. Just like in Nixon's war in Vietnam, criminal advisors are raking in billions while the cost to U.S. taxpayers is also billions every month. War is a racket for the rich as the poor suffer just as it has always been. Today is worse than Watergate with the world waiting for a justified impeachment. We get a scandal per week from the criminal White House. Is any realization close at hand?

--Disgusted Veteran, Illinois

Bush and company are leaders in corruption and bloodspill. They clearly belong in prison.  N&L continues to contain more information in a few pages than one could get out of the corporate media or anywhere else in months. Please don't stop putting it out. I enclose a small contribution to help out

--Supporter, Louisiana

Editor’s note: Many thanks to our readers who responded to our Appeal for your help to allow us to continue publishing N&L and to expand our activities with all the forces of revolt as we try to work out Marx's Marxism for today. Have you sent in your contribution to help us keep going?

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