Posted by Mike E on March 31, 2011
High five Jeremy. The MSNBC left-liberal commentator Ed Schultz on Gaddafi is indistinguishable from George Bush on Saddam Hussein.
“You wanna call me Ollie North, then go ahead.”
Ok, we will. Turn up the heat on imperialism’s liberal laptop bombardiers.
Posted in >> analysis of news | 19 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 31, 2011
by Mike Ely
Gregory Lucero’s essay “Thoughts on Student Organizing” produced an engagement here on Kasama over how we communists do our work — how we connect our communist dreams with the people, their concerns and struggles.
In my own response to Greg, I mentioned that there is a historic trend that imagines revolutionary work as “leading day-to-day struggles of the workers, plus talking socialism.” This has deep roots in the socialist movement of the U.S. and took shape as the early Communist Party USA’s “left economist” approach (until their major right turn in the mid-1930s).
I wrote:
“Left economism does involve some public discussion of socialism and communism. It is an approach that attempts to be revolutionary — and that disdains the crass rightism of ‘hidden’ socialists. But while an attempt at revolutionary work, left economism involves a built-in inherent disconnect between that talk of socialism and the dynamics emerging from its particular expectations from immediate struggles.
“It assumes that we will lead people in their struggles (and win their trust), and we will creatively promote socialism as an idea — and out of that mix, the people will adopt our views and become pro-socialist. In fact, history shows that this is not how things come out.”
Soapbox responded:
“when you say that we resolve the disconnect between immediate struggles and final goals by “considering all our work . . . in terms of that final goal . . .” what does this concretely mean?”
For the moment, I can just list a few points because of time constraints.
Posted in >> analysis of news, Black Panthers, comintern, communism, Mike Ely, V.I. Lenin | 1 Comment »
Posted by Mike E on March 31, 2011
This is one of the rare revolutionary anthems that puts forward the need for a radically new and different society.
Yes, we need to sing our own song.
Posted in music, UB40, video | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Mike E on March 30, 2011
If you were one of the four people in the U.S. who missed the Alexandra Wallace viral controversy — go watch her video first.
There are many layers to this whole episode and many things brought out: Just the fact that there was a positive, immediate and extremely powerful revulsion against what was seen as an overt and unapologetic racist rant…. that itself says a lot about what is now considered acceptable, tolerable or normal terms of discussion. People just weren’t having it.
One thing I haven’t seen discussed much is the claim that Alexandra meant this as a joke or parody (and was not speaking in her own “voice” when she mimicked Chinese speech in a racist way). Obviously many people watching it assumed it was “straight,” or else didn’t care if she meant it straight. Perhaps it is just not funny (or tolerable)?
The following commentary chips away at the simple claim (often by conservatives, but not only…) that all racial comments are the same, and that a single set of level standards should be applied.
As in: “If Black students can have a Blacks Only dorm, why can’t white students have a whites-only dorm?” and so on ad infinitum. “If Black people constantly fume about stupid white folks, why is it a big deal when i say….?” or “If Black people can call each other “niggaz” why cant we….?”
It appeared on People of Color Organize.
* * * * * * * *
A comment by Chris in the recent Alexandra Wallace discussion highlights an interesting debate on the Left related to race and power.
The Alexandra Wallace controversy has stirred up much debate. In the original post, I mentioned an unexamined matter is the defense of Alexandra Wallace and how it has been used as a way of bringing up white opinion on her correctness and, by extension, “double standards” applied to whites and the like.
Posted in >> analysis of news, anti-racist action, racism, video | 10 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 30, 2011
Friedrich Engels was 24 and living at home, when he wrote the following to his friend Karl Marx. It comes at the end of a long sophisticated discussion of communist philosophy and controversies (which were always the heart and soul of their collaboration).
Just now I’m leading a real dog’s life. The business of the meetings and the ‘dissolute conduct’ of several of our local communists, who I, of course, consort with, have again aroused all my old man’s religious fanaticism. And that’s been further exacerbated by my declared intention of giving up the huckstering business for good and all — while my public appearance as a communist has also fostered in him bourgeois fanaticism of truly splendid proportions. ….
If I get a letter it’s sniffed all over before it reaches me. As they’re all known to be communist letters they evoke such piously doleful expressions every time that it’s enough to drive me out of my mind. If I go out — the same expression.”
If I sit in my room and work — on communism, of course, as they know — the same expression.
I can’t eat, drink, sleep, let out a fart, without being confronted by that same accursed Lamb-of-God expression.
No matter whether I go out or stay at home, …remain silent or speak, read or write, whether I laugh or whether I don’t — do what I will, my old man immediately assumes this lamentable grimace …
Posted in Fredrick Engels | 18 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 30, 2011
This is a translation into Farsi, of Arundhati Roy’s The Poverty of India’s Trickle-Down Revolution, which was recently published here on Kasama.
The best way to read this piece in Farsi is to print it in pdf format.
On behalf of the Kasama project and our international readers: thanks and respect to Kasama’s tireless translation team.
Posted in >> analysis of news, Arundhati Roy, CPI(Maoist), India, Maoism, Naxalite, peoples war, revolution | 5 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 30, 2011
This image provided by NASA is the first ever obtained from a spacecraft in orbit about the Solar System’s innermost planet, Mercury. The image was captured early this morning, at 5:20 a.m. EDT,Tuesday March 29, 2011. The dominant rayed crater in the upper portion of the image is Debussy. The bottom portion of this image is near Mercury’s south pole and includes a region of Mercury’s surface not previously seen by spacecraft. On March 17, 2011 (March 18, 2011, UTC), MESSENGER became the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. (AP Photo/NASA)
Posted in >> analysis of news, >> Science, astrophysics | 3 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 30, 2011
Recent rally for immigrants rights in Utah
“This means you must have faith not only in your fellow students and activists, but also the conservative catholic immigrant, rightwing construction worker, and the republican retail cashier. One should not mistake that they are ‘Really on our side but just don’t know it.’ Instead, one should recognize that we can win them over through proper argument, action, and line.”
Greg shared this with us. It sketches methods that have contributed to the communist work around the RSU in Salt Lake City — developing a radical core, developing their knowledge of communist theory, engaging in active mass work, energetic public discussion around communism, and defense of immigrant workers. It also appears on Greg’s personal blog, Red Flags Over Utah.
by Gregory Lucero
I’ve prepared some thoughts on the student organizing I’ve done. These, of course, are not complete. However, I’ve been asked to provide some introductory advice for those seeking to start a student movement within their area. As I’ve started one up in the most conservative city in the United States, I have some general advice that I feel can help most American student organizers. The advice is split into the personal and the organizational. I’ve listed the personal first because it’s the one you can immediately put into effect, but one should understand the vital nature of both the personal and organization principles remain vital.
I will give some suggestions below for starting up.
Posted in communism, Gregory Lucero, immigrants, organizing, students, working class | 9 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 28, 2011
This article first appeared on Counterpunch.
By GARY LEUPP
Touring Spain over Spring Break last week I didn’t have much time to follow the news about Libya; I was in a plane over the Atlantic as the “coalition” strikes began and kept up by watching al-Jazeera, BBC and CNN in Madrid and Barcelona hotels. Back home I’m just now trying to understand the chronology of recent events, and put it all into perspective.
The crisis began six weeks ago, slowly building to the confrontation last week. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, there was a demonstration in al-Bayda against poor housing conditions, while the arrest of a lawyer and human rights campaigner named Fethi Tarbel (or Fathi Terbil) sparked protests in Benghazi. Tarbel, who had represented the families of prisoners killed in the suppression of an uprising in 1996 in Tripoli’s Abu Salim prison, had been arrested in Benghazi at 3:00 p.m. the day before, questioned then released Wednesday afternoon. According to the Libyan newspaper Quryna, he had been detained on charges of spreading false rumors about Abu Salim being on fire. Meanwhile 110 Abu Salim prisoners belonging to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group were also released.
Posted in >> analysis of news, Gary Leupp, imperialism, Libya | 4 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 28, 2011
The following gives a sense of how some secular left forces are seeking to fill the new political vacuum and exploit the new political openings. It appeared first in Al Masry Al Youm.
The posting of this piece does not reflect an endorsement of its views by Kasama — we share things we think will be of interest to our readers.
by Alastair Beach
Gehan Shaaban has come a long way since her youthful days as a radical Trotskyite student.
In the early 1990s she joined forces with a small group of far left political activists in Egypt and founded an organization called the Revolutionary Socialists.
They were inspired by radical Palestinian-British politician Tony Cliff, who was born in 1917 to a Jewish family living in the Holy Land and became a fervent anti-Zionist after emigrating to the UK.
In those days, said Shaaban, things were very bad for the left. “There was no movement at all,” she said. “In the 1990s it was a time when you could not say the word “socialism” because it was the era of the new liberalism and the end of the USSR.”
But now things are beginning to change: With the fall of former president Hosni Mubarak a new political left is emerging in Egypt.
Posted in Egypt | 10 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 28, 2011
The main organized forces in Egypt prove to be the military — who were already in power under General Mubarak. Another already organized force is only recently legalized Muslim Brotherhood. The two apparently seek mutual accomodations after Mubarak’s fall.
According to this piece from the New York Times, the new military government (and its search for allies) is threatening to marginalize the secular movements of youth who played such a role in the recent upsurges.
By MICHAEL SLACKMAN
CAIRO — In post-revolutionary Egypt, where hope and confusion collide in the daily struggle to build a new nation, religion has emerged as a powerful political force, following an uprising that was based on secular ideals. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group once banned by the state, is at the forefront, transformed into a tacit partner with the military government that many fear will thwart fundamental changes.
It is also clear that the young, educated secular activists who initially propelled the non-ideological revolution are no longer the driving political force — at least not at the moment.
Posted in Egypt | 1 Comment »
Posted by onehundredflowers on March 28, 2011
aa
a
a
Posted in >> analysis of news, art, organizing, politics, Stephanie McMillan | 1 Comment »
Posted by Mike E on March 27, 2011
Dave wrote in a comment here on Kasama:
“On behalf of the Illinois Labor History Society, I designed a poster to promote a Haymarket 100th Anniversary Mayday concert at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. Here’s the link.”
Posted in labor history, working class | 5 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 27, 2011
The Paris Commune, the world’s first socialist revolution, lasted only from March 28-May 28, 1871.
Each year we remember and tell their story. Vive la Commune!
by Mike Ely
It was a rainy morning. But it was the only day I had in the city and I wanted to pay my respects.
My walk took me slowly up the streets of Belleville, the old working class district on the eastern edge of Paris. The neighborhood was still poor. Sidewalks and cafes were full of Arab and African immigrants. The cops appeared only in groups, heavily armed.
And so it was not hard to go back to 1871 in my mind, and imagine the fighting, up those narrow streets. The skies had been lit by flames and heavy with smoke as the Communards retreated before troops, block by block, in fierce fighting, until the last of revolutionary fighters were cornered in Pere Lachaise cemetery.
Posted in Mike Ely, Paris Commune | 1 Comment »
Posted by Mike E on March 27, 2011
Here is a second document connected to the new 5th Conference of CCOMPOSA. Last week we published the press statement that announced the event.
We would like to remind our readers, however, that we still do not have a number of crucial details — including which parties attended. This means that it is still unclear who these documents are speaking for. We will post more details as they become available.
(Thanks, once again, to banned thought).
On the Current Situation and Tasks
Since the 4th Conference of the Co-ordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA) held in 2006, there have been significant developments in the world and in South Asia. These changes have given rise to both challenges and opportunities. Guided by Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, the unity among the constituents of CCOMPOSA and their joint activities will surely strengthen the revolutionary struggles and initiatives going on in the different countries of South Asia and be a catalyst in facing up to these challenges and seizing the opportunities. This has a significance going far beyond the boundaries of South Asia.
Posted in >> analysis of news, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Communist Party, CPI(Maoist), India, Maoism, Naxalite, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UCP Nepal (Maoist) | 4 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 27, 2011
This song is told by the ghost of a young girl killed by the U.S. nuclear bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. We remember it because of the threat of nuclear death in Japan today.
The song is based on the anti-war poem Kız Çocuğu (The Little Girl) by Turkey’s great communist poet, Nazim Hikmet (1901-63). This version is translated by Jeanette Turner — and exists in many version.
Posted in Japan, music, nuclear power, video | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Mike E on March 26, 2011
by Mike Ely
Leonard Weinglass died this week — and we have all lost a friend and champion. Kasama has posted an obituary that gives a sense of his life’s work defending revolutionary people from repression and death. We salute him. Here I would like to talk about one important and brilliant episode of his life.
I want to speak about Leonard’s special role in imagining and then building a vibrant and living mass movement to free Mumia Abu-Jamal during the 1990s. It was a rare bright spot that put revolutionary politics on the map publicly over the last few decades — and intersected in many ways with other efforts to build revolutionary currents and promote revolutionary politics.
Leonard was not just a lawyer in this case (masterly fighting through a hostile Pennsylvania legal system to free his client from execution). But he played a creatively brilliant role as one of the key figures who created a broad mass movement to free a Black revolutionary who had been convicted of killing a white Philadelphia cop. This is a remarkable achievement, he accomplished together with a core of other key people: Mumia himself (of course, with his charismatic intelligence and his ability to represent and communicate), Pam Africa (of Mumia’s MOVE family), and Clark Kissinger (who was always gifted at combining his own Maoist politics with broad unities).
Posted in Mike Ely, MOVE, Mumia Abu-Jamal, organizing, political prisoners, repression | 18 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 26, 2011
Britain's attack on Gaddafi's headquarters
We have received Rosa’s latest article with great interest and will publish it in both English and Spanish. Thanks to LG of the Decolonial Translation Group for helping bring this to our Kasama readership. Rosa’s other Kasama posts can be seen here. This is a Kasama translation from the original French.
By Rosa L. Blanc
Massacres by the West go unpunished. There is no international institutional mechanism to prevent that. In just the last few days we have already begun to see more and more civilians killed by the bombs of Western empires.
The hegemonic discourse of Western imperialism is always the same. The same formula is repeated. First you accuse your opponent of being on the verge of committing “a genocide” (no matter this is real or not), while denouncing their alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction or their indiscriminate killing of their own population.
Posted in Kasama translations, Libya, Media, oil, Rosa L. Blanc | 4 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 26, 2011
We have received Rosa’s latest article with great interest and will publish it in both English and Spanish. Thanks to LG of the Decolonial Translation Group for helping bring this to our Kasama readership, and for providing this Spanish translation fro the original French.
por Rosa L. Blanc
Las matanzas de occidente se realizan impunemente. No hay mecanismo institucional internacional que lo impida. Ya comenzamos a ver en tan solo unos días la cantidad de civiles asesinados por las bombas de los imperios occidentales.
Posted in Kasama translations, Libya, oil, Rosa L. Blanc | 3 Comments »
Posted by Mike E on March 26, 2011
Leonard Weinglass (right) -- with David Dellinger (left) and Jerry Ruben defendants of the Chicago 7 trial 1969.
Want to know how to live a life that serves the people? Want to put your skills and labors to good use. Here is one example, in the life of Leonard Weinglass. From the Refuse & Resist website.
1994: The defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal, leading spokesperson for the African- American commmunity and broadcast joumalist, who was sentenced to death in 1982, He has been on death row in Pennsylvania for over a decade and is the only political prisoner on death row in the United States.
1994: Advisor to the Aburto family regarding the assassination of Presidential Candidate Colossio, who was allegedly killed at the hands of tbeir son, Mario,in Tijuana, Mexico.
1994: The defense of 160 Americans who travelled to Cuba without the prior approval of the U.S. government and in defiance of the embargo.
1993: The defense of 200 students at Brown University who seized a building in protest over the Vniversity’s policy of discrimination against the admission of poor students.
1993: The defense of Marjorie Peters, an aide to the first African American mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, charged in a politically motivated prosecution brought by the Bush Justice Department.
Posted in death penalty, political prisoners, repression | Leave a Comment »
