More of the same — wars, domination and imperialist aggression Clinton’s Policy for the “New World Order”

By BARRY SHEPPARD work, the backing off of it doesn’t have the same kind of international concerns” he shift from Bush to Clinton oc­ as when the Soviet Union existed. In other curred without the slightest dis­ words, more risks can be taken. turbance to the foreign policies of T Behind the War Against Iraq the outgoing administration. The missile attacks and bombing of Iraq The fact that the transition from Bush initiated by Bush right before the transfer to Clinton has been so smooth does not continued through it and after Clinton took mean there cannot be shifts, even dramatic the helm. The invasion and “pacification” ones, as the situation changes. An example of Somalia proceeds according to plan. was the shift under the Bush administra­ Clinton stiffened Bush’s policy of refus­ tion from the Carter-Reagan-Bush strat­ ing entry to Haitian refugees by throwing egy of backing and arming Iraq against up a blockade of the island nation. The Iran during their long war in the 1980s, trade blockade of Cuba has been tight­ U.S. Marine kicks Somali youth away from to waging war against Iraq. ened with the new President’s vociferous the gates to Mogadishu’s port. But both the backing of Iraq against Iran support. Possible intervention into Yugo­ and the subsequent war against Iraq were slavia continues to be weighed. the demise of the Soviet Union this bipar­ The common policy of the Republicans tisan policy was carried out under the Continued on page 20 and Democrats regarding these hot spots watchword of anticommunism. While this reflects their overall bipartisan foreign slogan can be utilized again, and still is in policy that has been in effect since the the case of Cuba, new slogans and excuses Second World War. are being put forward to justify imperial­ INSIDE: This bipartisan foreign policy has been ist aggression. based upon defending and extending the These include cynical use of humani­ interests of the handful of very rich U.S. tarian aid, as in the case of Somalia, or of ABORTION RIGHTS PAGE 8 families who are the real rulers of the United “stopping aggression” by Iraq, or of fight­ States. They seek to dominate as much of ing the horror of “ethnic cleansing” by IMMIGRATION AND the world as they can, to control raw ma­ Serbia, etc. TRADE UNION POLICY PAGE 1 0 terials, dominate markets, and secure ar­ In his confirmation hearings before the eas of foreign investment. In this endeavor, Senate Armed Services Committee, they are in fierce competition with their Clinton’s new Secretary of Defense, Les LENIN ON MARXISM PAGE 1 6 counterparts in the other “advanced” Aspin, explained that the situation fol­ capitalist countries, especially Germany lowing the “cold war” meant that the U.S. M A L C O L M X andJapan. could step up its use of force around the PAGE 2 4 This policy includes the use of force world. against any peoples who attempt to break “Maybe you use force not to achieve ENVIRONMENT PAGE 2 8 out of such imperialist domination or out something but to punish people for doing of the capitalist system altogether. Up until certain things, “ Aspin said. “If it doesn’t CONTENTS

C linto n's P olicy for the N ew W orld Order T he T hree S ources and T hree C omponent Parts of M arxism Barry Sheppard...... 1 V.l. Lenin...... 16

V iolence Against Homosexuals on the Increase A ustralia C onference: S ocialism N ow M ore T han Ever Tasso Geist...... 3 Malik Miah...... 19

California D rywallers S core M ajor V ictory for Labor C risis C reated By W ashington Adam Wood...... 4 Leonard McNeil...... 21

S tudents and Native A mericans Fight to S ave H istoric Garden A n A narcho-C o m m u n is t V iew po in t: David Turpin, Jr...... 5 W orking T ogether for Liberation Mo Harry...... 23 New Directions For UAW Caroline Lund...... 6 M a lc o lm X and the Fight Against Racism LeeArtz...... 24 T he A bortion F ig h t: W here A re W e N ow? Claudette BBgin...... 8 A S trategy for Environmental A ction Democratic Socialist Party of Australia...... 28 Im m igration and T rade U nion P olicy Carl Finamore...... 10 Ga ys, D emocratic Rig h ts, and the M ilitary C. Titus Clark...... 29 S outh A frica: La n d, Ra ce, and Revolutionary Politics Barry Sheppard...... 12 Letters...... 31

Russian Labor Activist Tours S.F. Bay Area Big Business M edia S teps U p C uba-B ashing Interview with Kiril Buketov...... 13 Mo Harry...... 32

JOIN Activists for Independent ^INDEPENDENT I Socialist Politics Jpuncs We are entering the worst capitalist crisis dependent Socialist Politics (AISP) seeks in over 60 years. The collapse of the So­ to rebuild the socialist movement in the viet Union only exacerbates this process. United States through collaboration and Independent Politics is a socialist magazine Sudden and severe international and do­ democratic discussions with other activ­ founded in 1992. Signed articles reflect the views of their authors and publication of an article does not mestic conflicts are inevitable as the rich ists and groups fighting for fundamental necessarily mean agreement with its content. Unless compete with each other for control of social change. We are activists in trade otherwise stated, all materials in Independent Poli­ markets and resources, tightening screws unions, feminist groups, Black, Latino and tics may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Please on the poor to raise profits. The bulk of Asian groups, student groups, and other send reprints. © Independent Politics 1993 the economic and social burden falls im­ movements for social change. Closing News Date: February 2, 1993 mediately and most heavily on the working If you agree with this approach and you Editor: Malik Miah people and oppressed of the world. In the would like to participate in effective po­ Editorial Committee: Alex Chis United States, increased attacks on working litical activity in the central social struggles Claudette Begin people in general are disproportionately of the day, collaborate through open and Suzanne Forsyth affecting women, African-Americans, democratic discussions with other activists Alan Hanger Mo Harry Latinos, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Native and groups in the unions and social Lee Artz (Chicago) American Indians, and youth. movements, and work to rebuild a non­ Kathleen O’Nan (Los Only a consciously organized and sectarian, fighting American socialist Angeles) militant mass response can resolve the movement, contact Activists for Inde­ Design and Production: Blue Dog Design deepening crisis in the interests of the pendent Socialist Politics for more infor­ Business Manager: Alan Hanger Printing: Howard Quinn immense majority of humanity. The key mation. Write to: All correspondence and requests for subscrip­ is independent political action by the AISP tions, single issues, or bundles should be mailed to: working class. We need to break out of P.O. Box 78241 AISP, P.O. Box 78241, San Francisco, CA 94107. the framework of the two party system San Francisco, CA 94107 Telephone: (415) 337-7959 controlled by the rich. Activists for In­ (415) 337-7959

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 2 Spring 1993 Violence Against Homosexuals

n both legal efforts On the Increase on his promise to pre­ and random acts vent discrimination of violence, attacks against gays in the I By TASSO GEIST targeting gay and lesbian military. Gay soldiers people are on the in­ who are “out” and those crease in the United States. A report by roommate were murdered by a who have been forcibly outed are stand­ the San Francisco-based group Commu­ firebombing by skinheads. The Gay and ing up and trying to fight back. But the nity United Against Violence indicates that Lesbian Community Center of Colorado issue has exposed gays in the military while nationally attacks against gays and lesbi­ has documented 166 cases of anti-gay at the same time offerring them no real ans have been on the rise in the 1990s. In violence and harassment in 1992. The legal protection. Consequently, bashing 1991 a total of 1,822 incidents were re­ against gays in the military has also been ported to agencies in five cities. Compared on the rise. Recently, one gay sailor was to 1990, reported anti-gay incidents in­ beaten to death by shipmates and his face creased by six percent in Chicago, 11 left unrecognizable. percent in San Francisco, 17 percent in Clearly then, regardless of who is New York City, 42 percent in the Boston president, we have to continue to orga­ area and 202 percent in Minneapolis/St. nize independently of either party to ad­ Paul in 1991. Taken together, there has equately fight for gay rights. This is cru­ been a 31 percent increase in these hate cial right now in the face of the increase crimes since 1990 and a 161 percent since nationwide of gay-bashing, job discrimi­ 1988. nation and the failure of the health-care In Oregon, a group called Citizen’s delivery system to care for AIDS victims. Alliance attempt to pass Prop 9, an anti­ Grassroots groups like Community gay initiative, lost in November by only a United Against Violence have attempted narrow margin. The failed proposition to fight back against gay-bashing with­ would have amended the Oregon State out much support from police or govern­ Constitution to prohibit state and local mental agencies. One response in San governments from using public money Francisco and New York has been the “to facilitate homosexuality” and linked formation of gay patrols such as the Pink it automatically with pedophilia and sa­ change marked an 87 percent increase in Panthers who teach self-defense and domasochism. The initiative went so far reports of these crimes over the 1991 fig­ physically stop anti-gay hate crimes. Gay- as to propose that all public educational ure with the greatest increase occuring focused groups like Queer Nation are institutions teach that gay sex practices after the election. A San Francisco gay- organizing anti-bashing efforts through are “wrong, unnatural and perverse.” The oriented newspaper reported that bash­ a sub-group called IRATE. initiative was defeated only through the ing has increased 400 percent in Colorado Hate crimes and discrimination against independent organizing efforts and edu­ since the passing of Amendment 2. gay people are clearly a fact of daily life. cation campaign of grassroots gay rights Over the course of his presidential Efforts to organize against them as well groups with union support and not campaign Clinton vied with Bush as the as introduce legislation against attacks are through any major support on the part of “real” pro-family candidate, but he was motivated by real threats. Yet these ef­ Democratic or Republican politicians. pushed by grass-roots groups to take pro- forts are mispresented by right wing and A similar right-wing “pro-family” ef­ choice and pro-gay rights positions. ACT- conservative groups. They have made gains fort to repeal local gay/lesbian and bisexual UP exposed the fact that Clinton did little in various states both by getting anti-gay anti-discrimination laws, named while governor of Arkansas about AIDS. politicians elected and by fostering reversal Amendment 2, succeeded in Colorado.The During his presidential campaign he of rights legislation. They win by making measure rescinds a standing state execu­ mouthed a promise to make it a priority. the bogus claim that anti-discrimination tive order barring bias with regard to sexual However, already hardly in office, Clinton and anti-bashing laws are based on the orientation. has made appointments who continue to desire of gay people to promote a homo­ The efforts of these right-wing funda­ neglect the real issues of concern to the sexual “lifestyle” and extend special mentalists, regardless of whether they working-class. Under fire to live up to his privileges to homosexuals at the expense succeed or not, provide miseducation that promises, Clinton has called these real of heterosexuals and the “traditional” serves to further incite violence against needs, expressed by women, gays and nuclear family. gay/lesbian and bisexual people. lesbians and people of color, as “bean­ The rightist argument appeals to the In Oregon, on the eve of the defeat of counting.” Prop. 9, a Black lesbian and her gay male Clinton has angered gays by waffling Continued on page 30

Spring 1993 3 INDEPENDENT POLITICS California Drywallers Score Major Victory For Labor ast fall, David membership. Also, the beat Goliath in drywallers had things to By ADAM WOOD LSouthern Cali­ teach the California fornia. Over 4,000 strik­ construction unions in ing drywall workers won a summer-long Community backs fight particular. battle to organize a union. Some 90 per­ California’s construction unions were cent of the strikers were Mexican immi­ The determination and militant tactics dazzled by the commercial boom which grants, and many were undocumented. of the strikers forced the whole commu­ began after the 1981-82 recession. New Their strike involved a fight against the nity to sit up and take notice. Picket lines skyscrapers shot up in major cities, building contractors, the police, the INS formed every workday at job sites in changing the skyline and providing months (Immigration and Naturalization Service), Ventura, Orange, San Bernadino, River­ of steady work for union members. These and the initial suspicion of a union side and San Diego counties. At one job jobs provided unionized contractors with movement accustomed to thinking of site in Orange County, strikers physically huge profits and required little activity “them” as “scabs.” removed scabs from the building and shut by the union. Many union officials were down the job. content to sit back and watch the dues Origins of the Movement This action resulted in the largest mass and initiation fees rolls in. arrest in Orange County history. Over 150 However, while the unions focused on The drywallers’ movement began in the strikers were arressted. While in jail, the the downtown areas, home construction fall of 1991. Nicolas Munoz and Jesus INS deported a number of the strikers to began to slip away from organized labor. Gomez, longtime friends and workers in Mexico. Eventually, after a strong show Contractors in the neighborhoods and the the industry, decided that something had of solidarity by the Latino community and suburbs began to employ non-union to be done about the terrible wages and other supporters, the charges against most workers at low pay. Many of these work­ working conditions of drywall workers. of the strikers were dropped. Others plea- ers were new immigrants, like the The average drywall installer in Southern bargained, but spent no time in jail. The drywallers in Southern California. California made $300 a week for six to strike continued. In 1989, the bottom fell out of the con­ seven days’ work, without benefits. The existing unions began to get more struction boom, both in housing and in Munoz and Gomez asked a local Car­ involved. The Carpenters’ union helped commerical areas. Except in San Francisco, penters’ union for the use of their hall organize support for the strike and pro­ where earthquake repair briefly interrupted and organized a meeting of their fellow vided meals for strikers in its meeting hall. the downhill slide, the work situation in workers. Most of this core group came Finally, the building contractors in every construction has gotten steadily worse. from the same town, El Maguey in Mexico. county except San Diego agreed to rec­ Now the unions find themselves cling­ Many had been involved in an unsuccessful ognize the union and negotiate a contract. ing to the sinking downtown areas with strike in 1987. The contractors had So far, negotiations have resulted in a pay no lifeboats in the neighborhoods and promised wage increases if the strikers increase from $300 to $500 a week. The suburbs. Ten years of low activity and no gave up their demand for a union. They drywallers, now organized in the Car­ new organizing has robbed the union did, but the wage increases never penters’ union, have won a major victory. leaderships of the will and experience to materialized.This time the workers agreed Contractors in San Diego county have organize the kind of fight the drywallers they had to hold out for union recognition. vowed never to recognize the union, so are leading in Southern California. After months of organizing, the strike strike actions have continued there. began on June 1, 1992. Strikers organized a march onjanuary 23 Not all non-union workers are The local Carpenters’ union allowed the which rallied strikers and supporters at a scabs drywallers use of their hall, but did not non-union contruction site. The union is Combined with the economic problems throw themselves into the strike at first. confident that the San Diego contractors is a mistaken view held by many in the During the recession of 1982, these same will eventually cave in. union officialdom that their task is only striking drywallers were used by both to find work for their members and their union and non-union building contractors An example for all of labor contractors. All non-union workers are to undercut unionized drywallers and The militant mass picket lines and strong seens as competitors, as “scabs.” break the union. community support for the drywallers’ A scab is someone who sabotages a Inl992, drywallers made less than one- strike set an example for the whole labor union, someone who crosses a picket line. third of their 1982 wages. The strikers movement. The struggle, echoing back When the union fails to lift a finger to learned first-hand the cost of working to the fighting union movement of the organize a group of workers, it is wrong without a union and were determined to 1930s, points the way out of these dark to label them as scabs and assume they fight for new organization. days of concessions and dwindling union are hostile to the union. In fact, the ex-

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 4 Spring 1993 ample of the drywallers shows that these Asjose Medina of the Instituto Laboral a shopping mall! A current proposal plans non-union “scabs” are potentially the best de la Raza in San Francisco put it, “It’s for inclusion of the garden area in a 22- fighters the labor movement has seen in slavery, pure and simple.” acre business and residential project years. The solution seems simple. The unions known as the West Village Center. The present impasse is creating a ri­ need members and immigrant workers Could it be possible that the university diculous situation. For example, in San need a union. But the unions need to drop is hoping to bypass existing environmental Francisco, the Painters’ union lost over the view of their organization as a “job impact procedure by first removing the 170 members in 1992. Of the remaing900, trust” if they are going to get out there garden and then building the mall atop a only about half are working. This is down and organize the non-union workers. useless parking lot? No one would object from about 2,000 members 15 years ago. It took the explosion of the drywallers’ to building a shopping mall atop a park­ On the other hand, at several locations strike to wake up the Carpenters’ union ing lot. Concrete is concrete. in the city hundred of painters, mostly in Southern California. Hopefully the The university claims, in its initial Study undocumented Latino immigrants, as­ shockwaves from that explosion will stir and Negative Declaration for the tempo­ semble every day hoping to be picked up the construction unions throughout the rary lot, that there will be no damage to for temporary work by non-union con­ state into motion. or alteration of any historical sites. In fact, tractors and individuals. Once hired, they Send financial support to: Drywallers its impact statement does not even rec­ will work for anything offered, even be­ Strike Fund, c/o AFL-CIO Region 6,611 ognize the land as being historically sig­ low minimum wage. One contractor, Shatto Pi., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA nificant. However, in the 1988 proposal Kenneth Marconi of Northern California 90005. ▼ for the construction of parking lot G, only Association Contractors, stands accused a few yards away from the gardens, the of hiring several immigrant workers for Adam Wood is a member of Painters Union university recognized that the lot would months and paying them nothing at all. Local 4 in San Francisco, Calif be constructed over a site where burial remains had been discovered. The pro­ posal stipulated that the site was to be “capped”, covered over, to protect its Students and Native Americans historical value. While some of the gar­ deners claim that the site was not properly Fight to Save Historic Garden “capped”, the statement reveals that someone in the administration knew the By DAVID TURPIN, JR. atop the community of Puvungna, an area site was protected. sacred to the Gabrielino people. Vera Rocha, chairperson and chief of he administration at California As a consequence of their listing in the the Gabrielino Nation, writes in a letter State University, Long Beach, has national register, the sites are accorded to the administration, “it appears that a been forced to make concessions protection from unscrupulous develop­ failure to disclose recorded archaeologi­ toT a coalition of students attempting to ers such as bureaucrats with affinities for cal sites on campus, as well as to . . . as­ save a garden given to them 21 years ago blacktop. California Governor Pete sess the impact towards sites not yet known by the university for Earth Day. Pressured Wilson’s executive order (w-26-92) states has already led to the disturbance and by a coalition of Native Americans and explicitly that “each state agency is di­ destruction of some sites. This unfortu­ gardeners, and troubled over the discovery rected ... to administer the cultural and nate development may have placed the that the site has historical significance, historic properties under its control in a university in violation of federal and state the administration has agreed to recon­ spirit of stewardship and trusteeship for laws.” In a second letter Rocha writes that, sider its proposal to pave over the organic future generations....” Ironically, future “The Gabrielino Nation views the garden garden and construct a temporary park­ generations won’t even be able to “enjoy” as compatible with Gabrielino cultural ing lot. the parking lot because it is to be torn up values,” and that it “deserved to be pro­ Previously undaunted by the shame of as well. tected.” paving over a meticulously cared-for The most obvious question which Speaking for the university, Roman garden in order to construct a temporary confronts any intelligent person is, “Why? ” Kochan expressed concern about the po­ parking lot, the administration has been What rational reason could be given for tential presence of cultural artifacts on forced into negotiations by the possibil­ paving over a garden enjoyed both by the proposed site. “W e.. .have decided,” ity that it may be in violation of the law. students and the community at large? The he said, “to commission a comprehensive The proposed parking lot, the Japanese university claims it plans to build the review of the presence of cultural arti­ Gardens, and the adjacent parking Lot G temporary lot to provide space during facts, and specifically to examine the va­ are all located on an area listed in the Na­ construction of a new parking structure. lidity of earlier archaeological surveys tional Register of Historic Places. It was However, the existing parking facilities which suggested that there were signs of in that area that Chungishnish, god and are not used to their full potential. The cultural artifacts on the site.” Yes, Mr. lawgiver of the Gabrielino people, was answer to this riddle lies in what is to be born. In fact, the entire campus is built constructed after the blacktop is removed: Continued on page 7

Spring 1993 5 INDEPENDENT POLITICS New Directions for UAW

he life of an By CAROLINE LUND top union leadership’s assembly-line policy of concessions T worker has and “cooperation” always been one of forced overtime, speed­ The defeat at Caterpillar and the steady with the auto companies. up and a high number of injuries. Such decline in membership has opened a de­ A central leader of New Directions is wretched conditions are why unions were bate among the UAW’s ranks on what Jerry Tucker, former Region 5 Assistant organized in the 1930s. Strong, militant should be done. The top UAW officials, Director. Tucker helped lead a series of unions were needed to give auto workers like their counterparts in the other AFL- militant and successful contract fights in dignity, decent wages, and better work­ CIO unions, fear the rank and file. It is Missouri and Texas in the early ’80s. These ing conditions. the most important reason why they struggles were won using in-plant mass Some 50 years later, workers and capitulated at Caterpillar. They knew a action tactics rather than strikes. The management continue a daily class war. mobilized membership would begin to workers organized broad “solidarity But workers’ main defense, our union, is demand effective leadership to win the committees” to promote “working-to- in the weakest shape it’s ever been. The strike. Such a dynamic could lead to their rule,” refusal of all overtime, and other weakness reflects both a determined of­ replacement by more militant leaders. actions designed to reduce production and fensive by the auto barons and a wrong That’s why they threw in the towel. force the bosses to reconsider their de­ strategy followed by the top union lead­ mands for concessions. ership in response to those attacks. Reverse course Major layoffs The goals of New Directions represent Between 1979 and 1991, 600,000 auto a reversal of course for the UAW. The workers lost their jobs. That amounted caucus calls for: to 40 percent of the membership of the • Fighting concessions and returning United Auto Workers union (UAW). to “adversarial, solidarity unionism.” This At the end of 1992, General Motors means the union must stand up and fight announced it would raise to 23 the total for its members’ interests rather than falling number of plants it would close over the for company “team concept” or “jointness” coming years, meaning 80,000 additional schemes. jobs lost. Workers in the remaining plants According to the companies, workers face speed-up, longer hours, and more and management are on the same “team” injuries. and have the same interest in making the In response to this company war against company more competitive. auto workers, the UAW top leadership Once a union falls for this line, it gives has been pursuing a strategy of concessions Jerry Tucker, National Organizing Coordi­ up fighting for the needs and rights of the and accommodations with the owners of nator of UAW New Directions. rank-and-file workers. As Jerry Tucker the “Big Three” to supposedly “save jobs.” puts it, “You can’t fight and hug a com­ The weak-kneed policies of the UAW New Directions Movement pany at the same time.” officialdom culminated last April in the This concern about a future rank and • The right of the membership to vote defeat suffered by the nearly 11,000 work­ file rebellion against the entrenched directly for international UAW officers. ers involved in the strike against Cater­ leadership in Solidarity House (interna­ They are currently elected by convention pillar, Inc. tional headquarters of the UAW in De­ delegates which makes it much easier for After the company threatened to hire troit) is not without foundation. the existing leadership to perpetuate it­ scabs, the UAW leadership caved in and In the context of a decade of setbacks, self. sent strikers back to work under the same a bright spot for the rank and file exists The right of the membership to vote company-proposed conditions they had in the continued development of the New for officers was a key demand of reform struck against five and one-half months Directions Movement. New Directions is movements in the Teamsters and United earlier. These conditions include a two- a nationwide caucus within the UAW that Mine Workers unions, among others. tier wage scale, with new hires getting only is challenging the defeatist policies of the • A fight for a shorter work week and $7 an hour, and the right of the company leadership and proposing the union mo­ an all-out union organizing drive, both to impose 10 and 12-hour shifts with no bilize its members and allies in a serious nationally and internationally. premium pay for weekend or holiday work. fight back. • Reaching out to allies among minor­ Caterpillar has also stopped dues check­ UAW New Directions was formed in ity communities, women, environmen­ off to the union and has stopped paying the late 1980s as local union leaders and talists, etc. full-time union representatives. rank-and-file activists began to resist the • Pursuing independent political ac-

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 6 Spring 1993 C aroline Lund/Tndependent Politscs Historic Garden Historic erpillar. Cat­ at struggle continuing the about vember conferencelast No­ Directions New the at 111,Decatur, the at spoke Caterpillar plant) 751Local UAW of (president Soloman Larry us they were kicking us out.” In its haste haste its In out.” us they kicking were us discussion the that university has had with gardener, Jeff ^Trexel, “Thelamented, One only point. this to up given a fair hearing meeting meeting with the informational student senate an (in)... have early to “going is and of tribe”the representatives with directly claims can evaluated. be until postponed Continued page 5 from nia State University,nia State Long Beach. over stumbled have may university the told .they . was. Gardeners Organic the the gardeners, who claim they haven’t been February,” explained Kochan. explained February,” Kochan, time to begin damage control. damage begin to time Kochan, oeseeos ▼ skeletons. some people. working “The university is proceeding to meet meet to proceeding is university “The Bohm, a co-chair of New Directions, noted a national movement in 1989.At the as fourth founding its since conferences annual tion and a new political party. political anew and tion have gone through a test of the union union the leadership’s of line of “teamthe “jointness,” test a through gone have national conference last November, Suman that over the past 10 years auto workers workers 10 past auto years the over that This should come as to come news welcome should This David Turpin,is a studentfr. atCalifor­ been now have plans Construction The New Directions Movement has held • International solidarity among among solidarity International •

been systematically eliminated, making making eliminated, systematically been suffering and faster and “We’reharder working said. she today,” off worse are “Thosecompany. of us who still the have for jobs best what’s doing and concept,” it more difficult for injured or older workers have jobs Lighter-duty injuries.” more its founding. its has asince been member New Directions and how the UAW leadership again and and again UAW leadership the how and Caterpillar strike Caterpillar working. keep to ags fteCtrilrpat. Solomon largest of Caterpillar plants. the second the IL., 751Decatur, Localof in conference was Larry Solomon, president solutely no preparation or explanation as or explanation no preparation solutely UAWofficialsor­ workers, replacement plants. working to plants struck the from work This expanded. enabled Caterpillar to send the at began strike The egy was applied. of power true the bring to refused again tieadterraiest hw soli­ show to readiness their and strike over Caterpillar the stakes the in workers from other unions was mounting. was unions other from the though strike even had remained ordered solid, was and work solidarity to turn re­ The plant. the in back do to what to ab­ with work to back strikers the dered later and only, plants Peoria and Decatur strat­ “selective strike” the how prob­ lem was One strike. the behind union the a top-down operation with little attempt attempt little with operation top-down a the pressure to tactics slow-down plant” never was sentiment mobilized. this But darity. of floor testifying co­ the to deep concern the from spoke country the around from company. But Solomon company. said it was largely “in-of campaign a conducting presently to involve the rank and file. and rank the involve to A keynote speaker at the November November the at speaker keynote A He told the story of the Caterpillar strike h A nentoa edrhp is leadership international UAW The New Directions conference participants Then after Caterpillar to threatened hire sufferinginjuries.more have jobs are worse off areworse have jobs “Those of “Thosestill of who us harder and faster and harderand faster oa. We’retoday. working Spring 1993

7

IN D E P E N D E N T in the caucus’s ideas. Rather he saw it saw he asit Rather caucus’s the ideas. in Beiber. and courage of lot a takes it workers, again.” unionism repression against New Directions New against by Directions the repression the and bosses, the of stance aggressive the jobs, their losing over workers auto from the climate of stemming fear among to of a due was lessening this interest not thought he said Tucker Jerry Organizer ones. past than smaller was conference Walter Reuther consolidated its grip in in grip its consolidated Reuther Walter Historical perspective Historical repressive bureaucracy headed by Owen Owen by headed bureaucracy repressive powerful, the of against course unionism a militant for up stand to conviction In the absence of a mass fightback by auto real some to back get can we the until fort hold to need “We it, put plant GM senting Local 306, Budd Company, De­ Company, Budd 306, Local senting at­ who retiree UAWa Bauer, Erwin by New Directions Movement was expressed top union officialdom. union top itself.” sustain to finances sufficient and body, an elected program, leadership a rounded developing half years, a and four self for tively small layer of the UAW membership. will make it easier for militant workers will to it make easier for workers militant troit. repre­ conference November the tended lowing the convention. the lowing fol­ out die and conventions between up the spring “Mostwould in gone UAW,”Bauer. said and come have that cuses tion caucus has been able to maintain it­ maintain to able been has caucus tion Box St.(314-531-6876, 63144 Louis, MO course. find their way to an effective class-struggle have, its existence might New Directions the the late 1940s, have many cau­ there been a 24a e UnitedManufac­Motor New at cal2244 Directions, New write to:Directions, P.O. turing (NUMM1)turing inFremont, CA. 90 ▼ 2900) As one delegate from the Lordstown Lordstown the from delegate one As Directions New November The A more historical appreciation of the the of appreciation historical more A New Directions still represents a rela­ a represents still Directions New Whatever limitations or weaknesses weaknesses or limitations Whatever For For more about information UAW New by headed bureaucracy the “Since Caroline Lund isa member UAW of Lo­ opposi­ an that time first the is “This POLITICS The Abortion Fight Where Are We Now? oday, after more The major women’s than a decade of By CLAUDETTE BEGIN rights and pro-choice T attacks on abor­ groups are reshaping tion rights, the pro-choice movement re­ children. And the cutback in the number their strategies in relation to the new joices at the end of the Reagan and Bush of public employees and public facilities Clinton administration, hoping to administrations which led those attacks. has contributed to the decrease of teaching reintroduce federal protections. The They rejoice because of Clinton’s re­ hospitals that train in abortion procedures. Washington, D.C. Pro-Choice Coalition versal by executive order on January 22, Where public hospitals are the only sources (PCC), a national coalition of the major 1993, of the “gag” rule, which said that of abortion services, access has been re­ pro-choice groups, is poised to introduce abortion couldn’t be mentioned as an al­ moved. and lobby for the Freedom of Choice Act ternative at any institution that received The requirement of parental consent, (FOCA),which will guarantee the right federal funds. The “gag” rule forced the which the Supreme Court has let stand to abortion. They are also preparing a bill closure of clinics that received a signifi­ in state law, has placed a terrible burden in response to the recent Supreme Court cant amount of their funding from the on terrified young women. It is a burden decision, which all but completely barred government. that has resulted in deaths. Young women federal judges from stopping abortion The reversal of the ban on abortions at considered too immature to make a deci­ protesters who try to block women’s ac­ military hospitals was also greeted with sion on their own are required to go cess to abortion clinics. Previous to this joy. That ban had left most women at through a judicial maze by themselves. decision, pro-choice advocates were able military facilities outside the borders of The assumption that their “immaturity” to argue in federal court for injunctions the United States unable to obtain abor­ is not a problem in bearing a child is a against the anti-choice terrorists, using tions. glaring contradiction. A well-educated arguments based on a 19th Century law The promise to reconsider the current teenager with her own funds may find it protecting recently freed slaves from rac­ U.S. ban on the import of RU-486 is also possible to go through judicial bypass, but ist mobs interfering with their constitu­ important. will a teenager without real access to funds, tional rights. But the Supreme Court held who works at MacDonald’s or doesn’t work that women as a class weren’t covered by Is the Right to Abortion Won? at all, be able to do that? this law. This leaves little legal recourse However, these changes, welcome as The 24-hour waiting period, another in many areas, because the state and lo­ they are, don’t guarantee the right to an restriction allowed by the Supreme Court, cal courts are unwilling to issue injunc­ abortion. Eighty-three percent of coun­ is especially cruel to poor anil working tions. ties in the U.S. have no abortion providers. women. This restriction necessitates ex­ NARAL (National Abortion Rights Many of these counties are rural, though tra travel, extra time off work, and time Action League) has announced it will fully one-half of all metropolitan coun­ away from other responsibilities, which broaden and strengthen its efforts to pro­ ties are represented in this statistic. That combine to create a prohibitive burden mote family planning as well as abortion translates into one-third of all women in in many cases. rights. The National Abortion Federation the U.S. having no abortion providers. The mandated anti-choice presentation, (NAF) plans to push for removal of state Even where there are abortion provid­ a restriction disguised as “informed requirements for a physician’s license for ers, women who are dependent on state consent,” is pure intimidation. It is an abortion, allowing abortions to be pro­ or federal funding for medical care often invasive method to demoralize and frighten vided by nurse-practitioners. cannot get their abortions paid for by those women away from taking control of their funds. This is true in 38 states. Thirty states lives. The Issue of Access don’t allow Medicaid funds to be used for Because the Supreme Court decided that The leaders of these major pro-choice elective abortions even in the case of rape states were allowed to set up these re­ organizations recognize that even with the or incest! strictions, women’s groups and pro-choice passage of the proposed Freedom of Choice The cumulative legacy of Supreme Court organizations have been forced to fight Act and the clinic bill, the major problem decisions — beginning in the late 1970s on a state-by-state basis against these laws. of access will not be solved. They don’t during a Democratic Party administration This continues today. In California, leg­ expect to be able to do more than begin — allows federal and state administrations islation requiring parental consent is being the process of re-enlisting the power of and legislatures to erode our reproduc­ appealed. The governor of Alaska has the federal government to safeguard tive rights. The denial of state and federal signed a bill cutting off state funding for abortion rights. They are not certain how funds has meant a double standard for abortions. In Oklahoma, an attempt to far Clinton will go to defend abortion women on state or federal aid. In some put an initiative for a total ban on abor­ rights. The previous effort to get FOCA states, those same women are also finan­ tions on the ballot was foiled by that state’s passed last summer while the so-called cially penalized for having additional Supreme Court. pro-choice Democratic presidential

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 8 Spring 1993 Alex C his/I ndependent Politics recent Supreme Court decision to remove the basis for federal injunctions against these anti-choice attacks will only en­ courage their proliferation. Our Rights Must Be Defended Women’s rights supporters must ac­ celerate our mobilization against the rightist organizations that would deny our rights. We need to travel to the more iso­ lated areas under attack, such as Redding, California, the home of a clinic which has been bombed three times, where pro- choice forces rallied on January 30. It is time to expose the anti-choice fa­ natics and demand federal investigations and prosecution of the terrorists who bomb, set fires, and use butyric acid. Au­ thorities are complicit by not treating these Pro-choice march in San Francisco. attacks seriously. campaign was in full swing was bogged and men would gather at clinics at 6:00 Efforts to increase the availability of down by the accumulation of restrictions on Saturday mornings when attacks were other family planning methods must be on the bill, introduced by both Demo* expected, defended the clinics and escorted supported, as should the NAF proposal crats and Republicans. women who wanted to use the clinics’ to allow physician assistants and nurse FOCA, as presently written, would services past the harassers and blockad- practitioners to perform abortions. We legislate the reversal of only some of the ers. can’t forget the key aspect of reproduc­ Supreme Court decisions abridging So effective have these defenses been tive rights — the total availability and abortion rights. The main changes would that in most large cities Operation Res­ accessibility of abortion. be the removal of the 24-hour waiting cue has retreated. Except for the first at­ The major pro-choice marches in San period and informed consent, and an end tack in Wichita, Kansas, the national at­ Francisco and Washington, D.C. in 1992 to the constraints against the use of pub­ tacks have been soundly defeated and rivaled the size of the demonstrations seen lic hospitals and public employees. Pro­ out-mobilized by the women’s movement. at the height of the anti-Vietnam war hibition of federal and state funding would The victory of the pro-choice movement movement. The one million men and still be permitted and parental consent in Buffalo, New York against anti-choice women marching in Washington, D.C. would still be required. terrorists made national news. Pro-choice proved that widespread pro-choice sen­ Encouraged by the Supreme Court de­ activists from around the country (in­ timent exists. Armed with this support, cisions, anti-choice fanatics have organized cluding from California, 2,000 miles away) we must build a movement that goes be­ a continuous assault to restrict and re­ rallied there to rout the anti-choice big­ yond the fight to make abortion legally move access to abortion services. Since ots. Anti-choice attacks in New York City available. We must wage a fight for ac­ the founding of Operation Rescue (OR) and Baton Rouge, Louisiana were also cess for women of all economic levels and and the proliferation of rightist funda­ defeated. in all geographic areas. mentalist groups allied with OR’s politics In the wake of those defeats, Opera­ It is time for the women’s movement and tactics, women seeking abortions and tion Rescue, the Lambs of Christ and others to go on the offensive. We can’t be con­ the clinics and people providing the ser­ now are targeting clinics in areas away tent while restrictions to access exist. We vices have been harassed. We saw a cre­ from major cities. They are also targeting need to educate about the effect of each scendo of these attacks in the national the individuals who work at the clinics, restriction and about the need of every mobilizations by Operation Rescue in 1991 including the doctors, harassing them and woman to equal access. We can’t count and 1992. their families at their homes. Arson, on the government to do the job for us. bombing and butyric acid attacks are We need to continue to demand that the Clinic Defenders Fight Back applauded by these organizations. government remove obstructions to our An entirely new dimension of the pro- The combination of all of these attacks reproductive freedom. With pressure on choice movement was developed to are calculated to demoralize the dwindling the current administration, we may win physically defend clinic staff and clients ranks of abortion providers. The statis­ back some of our rights. But we have much against harassment by Operation Rescue tics show they have had some success, work to do to win full reproductive free­ and others. In most major cities, women especially in outlying areas. The most dom for all women.. ▼

Spring 1993 9 INDEPENDENT POLITICS Unity and Solidarity: The Only Answer

he current Immigration and Trade Union Policy skilled and un­ wave of skilled. The “One newcom­ Big Union” advo­ By CARL FINAMORE ersT to our shores is cates often referred so big that we now to Gomper’s AFL as have the largest number of foreign-born The “Father” of American Labor the “American Separation of Labor.” residents ever. Nearly 32 million people Since the mass of immigrant workers living in the United States do not speak As late as 1919, Samuel Gompers, were unskilled, the “industrial union” English at home. founder of the American Federation of approach gave the UMW tremendous Most new immigrants are no longer from Labor (AFL), could fondly recall “pro­ advantage in uniting America’s diverse Europe but from Asia and Latin America. tective measures” taken “in support of workforce over unions like the craft-ex­ The United States now has the fifth larg­ Chinese exclusion” because otherwise “the clusive Amalgamated Association of Iron, est population of Spanish-speakers. whole [cigar] industry would soon be Steel and Tin workers. Demographic analysts predict this ac­ ‘China-ized.’” Both steel and mining industries em­ celerated trend to continue with a mod­ The protective measures Gompers wrote ployed large numbers of immigrants. The est eight percent increase of white men about, of course, only “protected” one UMW treated the new Americans as equals, entering the work force compared to a 58 section of the working class against an­ respecting their culture and offering full percent and 60 percent rate for Asian and other, the most oppressed immigrant union participation and representation. Hispanic men by the year 2000. (“Work­ section. The employers took advantage The Amalgamated did not. ing Age,” 1992 Special Issue on Cultural of these conflicts to lower wages for ev­ The UMW thrived while the Amal­ Diversity and the Aging Workforce) eryone, intensifying the misplaced anger gamated withered away. Later, in the This trend may even accelerate because against the Chinese and other oppressed 1930s, it was actually the UMW which the North American Free-Trade Act minorities. provided the impetus for the successful (NAFTA) will have a devastating impact Minus the openly racist bombast, today’s organizing drive of steelworkers. on Mexican farmers because of the in­ “Buy America” and “protectionist tariff’ The earliest and most spectacular creased importation of U.S. corn. Flood­ campaigns project the same divisive demonstration of the industrial “One Big ing the Mexican food market “could push message. Gompers would have been proud Union” strategy was the 1912 textile strike up to one million people off the farm and when a United Automobile Workers victory in Lawrence, Mass. This struggle across the border.” (LosAngeles Times, Aug. (UAW) shop committee in Michigan is­ forged unbreakable bonds of unity never 13,1992) sued a leaflet attacking the Japanese in­ before seen among the first large wave of stead of General Motors’ owners after the pre-World War I immigrants. Push and Pull Theory of announcement in late 1991 that 21 plants The radical Industrial Workers of the Immigration would close: “When Japan bombed Pearl World (IWW) led the strike of 20,000 Over 50 million people left Europe be­ Harbor—we went to war!.. .we must go unskilled workers for nearly 10 weeks tween 1820 and 1924, a majority of them to war again—with a complete boycott despite widely divergent cultures and settling in the United States. For the most of all products not made in America!” languages. The AFL-affiliated United Textile Workers of America turned its back part, these desperate millions were pushed A Different Brand of Unionism out of Europe by a saturated labor market on the bulk of workers by just organizing and pulled to America by the promise of But there are also bright episodes in the skilled layer. greater economic opportunities in agri­ American labor history that contain As a result of the mass, non-exclusive culture and industry. positive lessons for today. Unions which policy of the IWW, they won undisputed decided to fight the employers, and not leadership of the strike. A score of na­ North America’s advantages remain a other workers, scored some major victories tionalities participated. Each nationality magnet for the impoverished of the world. at a time when other unions were taking had their own union branch but all were The social and economic considerations a beating. united in the strike committee. The which compel people to uproot themselves, One of the most successful unions at Lawrence strike provided the first con­ endure family separation, risk failure and the turn of the century was the United clusive victory for labor in the 20th cen­ confront ignorance and prejudice in a Mine Workers of America (UMW). “ The tury. strange land have not changed in the last coal you dig is not Slavic coal or Polish century. coal or Irish coal,” the union president Craft vs. Industrial Unionism Unfortunately, neither has the reac­ said, “It is coal.” The racist, conservative AFL approach tionary attitude of trade union officials The UMW, in a singular departure from was inherent in its narrow, craft-union toward immigrants changed much in that the mainstream craft-oriented AFL, em­ orientation. There are far too many ex­ time. phasized the combined unionization of amples of the AFL either directly exclud-

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 10 Spring 1993 ing immigrant labor from skilled jobs or tion Reform and Control Act of 1986, Clothing and Textile Workers have also tolerating the establishment of dual track terming it an attack on organized labor. been building ties with sister unions wage scales as they often did on the U.S.- (Labor Notes, No. 159) throughout Latin America. Mexican border. The law fines employers who hire David Arian, President of the Interna­ Employers set up “Mexican wages” and workers without legal papers. While ex­ tional Longshore and Warehouse Union, “Mexican jobs” and “Anglo wages” and perience shows penalties are seldom en­ said it this way: “We’ve got to do more “Anglo jobs.” The industrial-oriented forced, employers still use the threat of than just throw up our hands and com­ Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers union deportation to discourage union activity plain about how low-paid Mexican workers began organizing on the border in 1939. and to pressure undocumented workers can take our jobs. We’ve got to actively The two mining giants, Phelps-Dodge and into accepting inferior wages and horrible support them in their struggle against AS &R, made huge profits by paying working conditions. exploitation because in doing so, we protect workers in the Southwest far less than in Other unions, jolted by severe job losses ourselves and our families.” (The Dis­ other parts of the country. This divided when U.S. companies head south for $4 a patcher, Dec. 17, 1992) the work force and ultimately served to day wages, are linking up with Mexican There is a developing awareness that lower the bargaining power and wages of labor. The Teamsters General Executive an increase in the wages of super-exploited all the workers, including the white, skilled Board resolved in April 1992 that they workers would significantly reduce self- workers. would “support organizing and collective defeating competition between workers The union utilized to its advantage the bargaining efforts by the workers at the in different countries. race and ethnic differences in the area. Mexican operations of U.S. and Canadian If this message of unity and solidarity Close links were developed with the companies.” ultimately prevails, the combined power Mexican labor movement. Rallies were The Communication Workers of of the international trade union movement organized on Mexican Independence Day America, United Electrical Workers, will make seismic changes in the quality and other holidays of cultural significance United Farm Workers, International La­ of life for everyone. ▼ to Mexican-American workers in the dies Garment Workers and Amalgamated Southwest. Alex C hls/I ndependent Politics. These steps strengthened the union’s base and helped it succeed in breaking down the dual track Mexican-Anglo wage system. The union called for equalization of wages for common labor throughout the copper mining industry. A long, bitter national strike in 1946 delivered a crippling blow to the “Mexi­ can wage” system and raised the wages of all the workers to an all-time high. The union proudly declared that it “wrested from the corporation’s hands one of the most vicious weapons in their anti-labor arsenal — the discriminating wage dif­ ferential designed to keep common labor rates at oppressively low standards to bolster the old employer myth of racial and national inequality.” These are but a few of the powerful “Outside the Republicrats: Independent Political Action in the ‘90s,’’ a forum sponsored by lessons from our past. No labor strategy the Bay Area Committees of Correspondence, drew 200 people to the Hotel and Restaurant can succeed without attention to this Employees Local 28 union hall in Oakland, CA., on January 22. Speakers, from left to right, are Tony Mazzocchi. Presidential Assistant, Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers legacy. Union (OCA W) and founder of Labor Party Advocates (LPA); Leanna Noble, Political Ac­ tion Director of the United Electrical Workers Union (UE), speaking for the New Party; New Labor Trends James Vann, National Co-Chair, National Committee for Independent Political Action Today, of course, no union excludes (NC1PA) and Northern California Coordinator of the Ron Daniels 1992 Presidential Cam­ workers on the basis of race. Some are paign Committee; and Malik Miah, chair of the evening’s meeting, a member of the leader­ ship committee of the Northern California Committees of Correspondence. Not pictured are even breaking away from the pack and Laura Wells, from the Green Party, and Marsha Feinland, from the Peace and Freedom relating to the ever-changing composition Party. The meeting generated a wide range of discussion, and the tables did a brisk busi­ of the work force. ness, with new members signed up for both the Committees of Correspondence and Labor For example, five international unions Party Advocates, and the other party tables distributing literature and collecting many are calling for the repeal of the Immigra­ names for mailing lists.

Spring 1993 11 INDEPENDENT POLITICS C edric Bdnn/I mpact V isuals Meeting of farmers in Makhatini sistent Mogopa clan has become the first Flats, North Eastern Natal, in Black group to win back land seized dur­ February 1989. They were pro­ ing the decades of apartheid. testing their displacement from farm land due to a government ‘“We are happy to be back on our land,’ decision. The lack of land for the said Joseph Kgatitsoe, a leader of the Black majority population re­ Mogopa, who bought their property in mains a big issue in South Af­ 1911 and built a self-sufficient farming rica. The right of Blacks who community 5,000 strong. ‘But we have want to farm to own their own land is a central question facing lost our animals and our tools. It will a democratic South Africa. take a long time to recover. “Land disputes are an explosive issue and could become one of the country’s most contentious and protracted problems as South Africa moves from apartheid to a non-racial democracy. population of Ciskei (an ‘in­ “The Mogopa, who live on an isolated, dependent homeland’ created drought-stricken patch 90 miles west of by the South African govern­ Johannesburg, are among scores of Black ment, for instance, is less than communities that have been battling for four percent peasant.) the return of land. “Significantly, social “White farmers, who hold much of the struggles and political demands land, are among the most conservative have reflected the changed groups in the country.” social composition of South The impetus behind the demand for African society. Campaigns for land was the forcible expropriation of human rights, political free­ Black-held land under the apartheid re­ doms and economic issues gime. The AP article noted, “The land crisis have predominated since the worsened for decades as the government South Africa 1960s. While demands for forcibly resettled some 3.5 million Blacks land have been raised peri­ from 1950 to 1984, moving many from Land, Race, and odically, and appear in the land that had been in the family for gen­ Freedom Charter, the trans­ erations and dumping them in remote, Revolutionary formed social structure would barren territories where the soil was poor indicate that ‘land to the and jobs were scarce. Politics peasants’ does not reflect ob­ “President F. W. de Klerk’s reforms have jective conditions. included repealing laws that reserved 87 “‘Land to the peasants’ in percent of South African territory for the By BARRY SHEPPARD 1992 would require re-creating a peas­ white minority. And now Blacks are de­ antry out of the working class.” manding their land back.” n the fall issue of Independent Politics, It is true that this great apartheid land Lee Artz initiated a discussion on the Popular demand grab resulted in the “proletarianization” Irevolution in South Africa by posing We should first of all note that every of the evicted Blacks, in the sense that a series of questions. However, he also liberation group in South Africa supports they were rendered propertyless and forced strongly implied answers to some of them the demand for land to those who wish to try to sell themselves on the labor that point in the wrong direction, in my to farm, not only the African National market. But this does not mean that many opinion. Congress in its Freedom Charter. This of them no longer wish to farm. The One of these questions concerns the fact should give outsiders pause before Mogopa are a case in point. demand that land be provided to all Blacks they dismiss this popular demand. who wish to farm. A recent AP dispatch throws some light Not yet hereditary proletarians Lee states: “At least since the early 1970s, on the subject: There is a difference between the pro- the Black population has been over­ “MOGOPA, South Africa — The old letarianized Blacks in South Africa and whelmingly proletarian and primarily stone houses have been smashed to rubble, the working class in the United States or urban. Agriculture in South Africa is al­ the dusty farm land has lain fallow for other advanced capitalist countries. Here, most exclusively capitalist — food is years and the impoverished Black com­ most workers are third or fourth genera­ produced by farmworkers, not share­ munity faces more legal battles with the tion or more from working-class families. croppers or peasants. Few African peas­ white government. They are what Marx termed “hereditary ants live outside the homelands. The “But after an eight-year fight, the per­ proletarians,” who expect their lot in life

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 12 Spring 1993 is to be workers. call for forcing Blacks one way or the other, The fact is that the great majority of In South Africa, the robbing of the land but demands that land be given to all who the liberation forces have moved beyond from most Blacks is recent enough that want to farm it. the “Black majority rule” slogan to the the injustice still smarts deeply, and the This doesn’t prejudge how many Black idea of a non-racial South Africa for defi­ desire to win the land back runs just as farm workers would want to run their nite reasons. deeply among many Blacks. farms collectively, or divide up the large One is that the non-racial slogan makes We should also remember that for many capitalist farms into individual plots, ei­ it clear that the Black majority has no Blacks forced to sell themselves on the ther. intention of suppressing the white popu­ labor market, they have not been able to All such questions will be decided by lation. This not only further exposes the find work on anything like a stable basis. the Black masses themselves, and through racism of apartheid, and extends the moral Many are brought into work in the mines, the struggle. Many will make up their superiority of the liberation movement, for example, for only a certain period, and minds only in the course of the battle it­ it also helps to divide the whites and win then have been sent back to their “home­ self, as the overthrow of apartheid opens a section to the struggle. lands,” possibly never to work in the mines new possibilities for them. It also makes it clear that the liberation again. There is another aspect to the revolu­ movement intends to abolish the fake Black While there has been the creation of a tionary demand for land to those who wish “homelands” and attempts by the white large Black urban work force that can be to farm it. Unemployment and underem­ rulers to utilize tribal holdovers to divide ployment among the Black masses is the Blacks. rampant. Unemployment is something like We should also recall that the Pan Af­ Every liberation group in 50 percent for Blacks. While this in part rican Congress came out of a split in the South Africa supports the reflects the economic downturn in South ANC over this question. The PAC is op­ Africa, even in “good” times industry does posed to a non-racial South Africa. In demand for land to those not provide enough jobs for Blacks. the past year its members have gone fur­ who wish to farm, not A major land reform giving land to ther along this line by raising “one [white] only the African National Blacks who want to farm will unleash this settler, one bullet.” While this sounds potential productive power and produce tough and militant, it plays into the hands Congress in its Freedom more food for the population as a whole. of the white minority regime by making Charter. Every revolution must confront the the liberation movement look unreason­ question of food production and distri­ able. In the face of President F.W. De bution. Putting the unused or Klerk’s stance of being for negotiations called a “hereditary” working class in the underutilized labor power of the masses to end apartheid, the slogan for a non- factories, there still remains a very large to work through a land reform will help racial South Africa exposes the resistance marginalized sector thirsting for either in this area as well. of the white ruling class to such an ob­ work or land. viously just and democratic demand. Of course, it would be the height of Non-racial South Africa Lee raises other questions that we should bureaucratic folly to forcibly “re-create a Land reform is one of the two major get to in the course of this discussion, peasantry out of the working class.” But tasks facing the South African revolution. and he has helped by framing the issues it would also reach the same heights of The other is the establishment, for the clearly. T bureaucratic folly not to recognize the land first time, of a true South African nation hunger among millions of Blacks by de­ for all its people. The apartheid state is ducing that this land hunger doesn’t exist based upon the forcible denial of citizen­ because Blacks have been made proper­ ship to the majority of its people. The Bulletin In Defense tyless. slogan for a “non-racial” new South Africa, of Marxism It is not a question of taking polls to with equal rights for all, encapsulates this see exactly how many Blacks want to farm perspective. A monthly Information, Education, and Discussion Bulletin their own land versus how many want to Lee Artz recognizes this thrust of the dedicated to clarifying the remain or become workers following the slogan for a non-racial South Africa, but program of revolutionary Marxism overthrow of apartheid. But it is impor­ then goes on to say, “Nonetheless, ‘Black tant to recognize that this is a burning majority rule,’ may still find a place in Subscription Rates: question in South Africa, and one that pits the rhetoric of the revolutionary forces. 1 Year $24 the Black masses against the white ruling It seems largely a tactical question related 6 Months $ 15 class that today owns much of that 87 to the concrete situation — especially 3 Month Intro $5 percent of the land reserved for whites. considering the move by Colored and Mail and make check payable to: Indian radicals to call themselves Black.” Bulletin IDOM Land to all who want to farm it This confuses the question, and ignores P.O. Box 1317 N ew York, NY It seems to me that the correct position the historical development of the debate 10009 is taken by the Freedom Charter. It doesn’t in South Africa around the two slogans.

Spring 1993 1 3 INDEPENDENTPOLITICS Kiril Buketov Urges U.S. Workers To Support Workers of Ex-Soviet Union Kiril Buketov, an edi­ Russian Labor Activist Tours about 300 million tor at the Workers’ and people. It’s great. And Trade Unions’ Move­ San Francisco Bay Area we can organize the ment Information Center, publication of articles Kas-Kor, in Moscow, and of workers in the big­ co-producer of the weekly radio program CLAUDP.TTE B ec,In /I n d l p £:NDENT Poi.lTlfs gest newspapers in Russia. And we help “Workers Chronicles” on Radio Russia, workers to organize the base for publish­ toured the San Francisco Bay Area the first ing their own newspapers. two weeks in December. He brought a more We are not a trade union. We are not a “grass-roots” view of what’s happening in political organization. We are an infor­ the former Soviet Union than we usually mation center in support of the workers’ get in the U.S. news media. He spoke to the movement. LaborTech Conference ’92, held in San Francisco December 5-6, where discussions IP: How old are you and what is the aver­ were held on how labor can best use the age age of those working in Kas-Kor and latest technology for communications. in the new workers’ movements? The following are excerpts of an inter­ view with Buketov done by Alex Chis for KB: I’m 23. In Kas-Kor the average age is Independent Politics in San Francisco on about 27. Usually in Russia workers’ or­ December 7,1992. The interview was con­ ganizations are not so old, because for ducted in English and has been edited for old people it’s very difficult to change their space and clarity. viewpoint. So young people can under­ stand better and are more active. IP: When was Kas-Kor founded? IP: What about state services, unemploy­ Kiril Buketov: Kas-Kor was founded in ment, healthcare, etc. Are they still oper­ 1990, in the beginning of summer, when Kiril Buketov, editor, Kas-Kor ating? in the USSR there was a big mineworkers’ strike. It was a big problem for strike KB: Many state services are in crisis. For committees to organize an exchange of KB: Kas-Kor is an independent center. A example a lot of enterprises in Russia will information and how to cooperate because lot of left people work with us, not only close in the future, a minimum of 25 per the USSR was a big country. When in one people with a political point of view but cent of all enterprises. So those workers city the strike only started, in another city also people without political opinions, who in future will lose their job. My mother the strike was finished. It was a very big are only trade unionists. They work in lost her job two months ago. Her enter­ problem to organize a coordination of Kas-Kor too. Democrats too, and organi­ prise was closed. She’s 50, and she can’t activity in different cities. And our offi­ zations which support [Russian President find work, but the special program for cial newspapers and magazines and ra­ Boris] Yeltsin, and organizations which unemployed is not good. About 10 per dio and TV gave only false information. are against Yeltsin and against reforms cent of unemployed can receive money In this situation some strike commit­ work with us. We have a good relation from the government. All other persons tees and some new trade unions decided with all independent trade unions in Russia must find a new job. to create an independent information and with some old official trade unions, But my mother is old. Normally if she center for the workers’ movement. And and with the majority of workers’ politi­ was 55, she could finish work and receive so we started our work. We collect infor­ cal organizations, with strike committees a pension. But she’s only fifty, and now mation every day and spread it in our radio in different cities, with the miners’ move­ she doesn’t know what to do. For two program, in some big newspapers and we ment, with the air traffic controllers’ months she doesn’t receive money. 1 work started to publish a special information movement. for all my family. My family is four per­ bulletin for workers’ organizations every We are an organization which gives sons. My mother hasn’t a job, my baby is week, and spread it in all the republics of workers the opportunity to go to the ra­ little and my wife can’t work because she’s the ex-USSR. About 500 organizations dio, to go to the TV, to go to some news­ with the baby now. So I work for all the receive our bulletin every week, and they papers, and we organize and spread this family. give us information for the bulletin. information for all the republics of the Trade union specialists every month ex-USSR. For example, our weekly radio think about the living level for Moscow IP: Who works in Kas-Kor? program in Radio Russia can be heard by for one month, and last month they de-

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 14 Spring 1993 Our main aim is to cided that if you want to live in Moscow organize a strong We haven’t tradition, we haven’t experi­ you must receive about 8,000 rubles for ence, we haven’t materials about how to one month. But about 75 per cent of the movement, because only organize a workers’ struggle. So it’s very population of Moscow hasn’t such money. the workers’ movement important to exchange our experiences So there are poor people, really poor can defend the interests from the West to Russia and to Eastern people, and not only in Moscow, in all Europe. cities in all regions in our country. Social of the workers. Then, if you ask me about concrete help, service they don’t know about such all workers’ organizations in Russia have problems, because we haven’t had such a very big problem with money because problems for 70 years. defend the interests of the workers in this if one worker receives only $20 in a month, hard situation. So we need a strong a workers’ organization can’t buy a fax, IP: Are there homeless people in Mos­ workers’ movement. can’t buy a computer, can’t buy other cow? technical things. It’s very expensive in IP: How can we in the United States help? Russia. KB: Yes, there are a lot of homeless in I think we can organize concrete ways Moscow. There is only one night house KB: Of course we need international soli­ of financial help. I think it will be best if for 30 people in Moscow. Every day they darity. For example, some time ago there we can establish contacts between trade die because they are hungry, and the was organized an all-Russian strike of air unions in Russia and trade unions in the weather in Moscow is very cold. traffic controllers, with big oppression from United States — for example, between the administration and government. It was trade unions of rail workers. I think that IP: Is it getting harder and harder to live very difficult for them to continue the representatives of the American Federa­ for the average person? struggle. It’s a big trade union and very tion of Labor in Russia, they’re not really strong and a lot of other trade unions workers. I think that it’s important to KB: Yes, much harder. There is a crisis of supported their struggle. But it’s very dif­ establish direct contacts. If these contacts production. For example, my personal ficult. are created the workers can discuss what example, when my wife was in the hospi­ In Russia it’s very important when the help we need in Russia and what help your tal it was necessary for me to buy milk, government receives letters from foreign trade union can give to Russian trade but 1 can’t buy milk. There was no milk organizations. It’s very important because unions. So these are concrete bridges. I in Moscow for one week. It was a crisis. I Yeltsin hopes that foreign governments think that this is very important. ▼ couldn’t buy it in the state shops. I couldn’t will give money for reforms and when he buy it in the market. Periodically this cri­ sees that organizations in the West know For those interested in finding out more sis happens with food and other goods in about this situation and want to help this about Kas-Kor, a monthly digest in English Moscow. trade union, he thinks that this is 23 of their stories about the Russian workers’ Inflation is very bad. For example, be­ a question of receiving money from the movement is posted on the computer bulletin fore perestroika I can go to the state cafe governments. board service Peacenet on the reg.ussr and can receive a good dinner for one ruble. For example, one Canadian trade union conference. Peacenet can be contacted at It was great. Now, if I want to have a din­ sent a letter to the Russian embassy in (415) 442-0220. The U.S.-Soviet Workers ner in the state cafe I must pay 200 rubles. Canada in support of the struggle of the Information Committee (USSWIC), P.O. Box If I go to the commercial cafe I must pay air traffic controllers’ and they wrote that 1890, NY, NY10009, makes available printed about 2,000 rubles for dinner. But I re­ Yeltsin said that he wants to build a new copies of the digest. ceive only 10,000 rubles in the month. democracy but his government organized So inflation grows up very quickly. Now an operation against democratic trade one dollar in Moscow costs 500 rubles, unions, against free trade unions. So they so my wage in Moscow for one month is wrote that if Yeltsin doesn’t want to es­ October 1917: Coup d ’etat or 20 dollars. tablish real democracy in Russia, we think Social Revolution — The that our Canadian government shouldn’t legitimacy of the Russian IP: What must be done now? give money to Yeltsin. For Yeltsin it’s not R evolution a question of workers’ struggles, it’s a by Ernest Mandel KB: Now we have a big problem with the question of receiving money and it’s very 64 Pages workers’ movement because it’s not strong important because one letter from the West and normally it can’t influence the policy to Moscow has a very big importance for Send $8.00 to: of the government. Our main aim is how our struggle. A.I.S.P. to organize a strong movement, because Then there’s the question of the ex­ P.O. Box 78421 only the workers’ movement can defend change of experience. Our workers’ San Francisco, CA 94107 the interests of the workers. Who else will struggle has only been going for some years.

Spring 1993 1 5 INDEPENDENTPOLITICS FEATURE LENIN ON MARXISM

The Three Sources And Why Read Lenin Now? Three Component Parts In light of the historic changes in the world communist movement over the last four years, Lenin’s article is timely. Of Marxism As he explains, Marxism was then under attack by liberals and others as a “pernicous sect.” He replied that Marxism has nothing to do with “sectarianism,” but instead outlines The following article was written by V.I. Lenin, the central leader the line of march for humanity to free itself from exploitation of the 1917 Russian Revolution, in March 1913. It was dedicated to and oppression. the 30th anniversary of Karl Marx’s death. (Reprinted from Lenin’s Today many former communists and socialists claim Collected Works, Volume 19, Progress Publishers, Moscow) Marxism is no longer relevant. Capitalism has proved to be stronger, and more adapatable, than anyone ever thought. By V.I. Lenin The collapse of the Soviet Union, they argue, proves it. Many of these “exs” now back a “market socialism” or “democratic capitalism.” hroughout the civilized world the teachings of Marx Other socialists have not given up and are trying to rebuild evoke the utmost hostility and hatred of all bourgeois the communist movement here in the United States, in Rus­ T science (both official and liberal), which regard Marx­ sia, and other countries. That’s the perspective of Activists ism as a kind of “pernicious sect.” And no other attitude is to be for Independent Socialist Politics. We support socialism and expected, for there can be no “impartial” social science in a seek to work with others having that goal. society based on class struggle. In one way or another, all offi­ The most significant development moving towards a broad cial and liberal science defends wage-slavery, whereas Marxism socialist regroupment in the United States since the collapse has declared relentless war on wage-slavery. To expect science of Stalinism is a new organization formed in 1992, the Com­ to be impartial in a wage-slave society is as silly and naive as to mittees of Correspondence (CoC). The CoC was formed at a expect impartiality from manufacturers on the question of whether national conference on “Perspectives for Democracy and So­ workers’ wages should be increased by decreasing the profits of cialism in the ‘90s” held in Berkeley, California, July 17-19. capital. Some 1,300 people attended the conference from 35 states. But this is not all. The history of philosophy and the history While the main leaders of the group come from the Commu­ of social science show with perfect clarity that there is nothing nist Party, U.S.A., the organization includes a majority of resembling “sectarianism” in Marxism, in the sense of its being socialists and radicals from other traditions — Maoist, a hidebound, petrified doctrine, a doctrine which arose away from Trotskyist, anarchist, social-democratic — as well as inde­ the high road of development of world civilization. On the con­ pendents. trary, the genius of Marx consists precisely in the fact that he In the Committees’ founding “Declaration of Principles,” furnished the answers to questions which had already engrossed adopted at the conference, it states: the foremost minds of humanity. His teaching arose as a direct “We are motivated by the profound conviction that our and immediate continuation of the teaching of the greatest rep­ resentatives of philosophy, political economy and socialism. The Marxian doctrine is omnipotent because it is true. It is in institutions and ideas, materialism has proved to be the only complete and harmonious, and provides men with an integral philosophy that is consistent, true to all the teachings of natural world conception which is irreconcilable with any form of su­ science and hostile to superstition, cant and so forth. The en­ perstition, reaction, or defense of bourgeois oppression. It is the emies of democracy therefore tried in every way to “refute,” legitimate successor of the best that was created by humanity in undermine and defame materialism, and advocated various forms the nineteenth century in the shape of German philosophy, English of philosophical idealism, which always, in one way or another, political economy and French socialism. amounts to an advocacy or support of religion. On these three sources of Marxism, which are at the same Marx and Engels always defended philosophical materialism time its component parts, we shall dwell briefly. in the most determined manner and repeatedly explained the profound error of every deviation from this basis. Their views I are most clearly and fully expounded in the works of Engels, The philosophy of Marxism is materialism. Throughout the Ludwig Feuerbach and Anti-Duhring, which, like the Communist modern history of Europe, and especially at the end of the eigh­ Manifesto, are handbooks for every class-conscious worker. teenth century in France, which was the scene of a decisive But Marx did not stop at the materialism of the eighteenth battle against every kind of medieval rubbish, against feudalism century; he advanced philosophy. He enriched it with the ac-

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 16 Spring 1993 LENIN ON MARXISM FEATURE

arbitrariness that had previously reigned in the views on history and politics gave way to a strikingly integral and harmonious country needs a humane alternative to the anti-human sys­ scientific theory, which shows how, in the consequence of the tem of capitalism. . . .We view socialism as the struggle for growth of productive forces, out of one system of social life democracy carried to its logical conclusion. This vision is another and higher system develops—how capitalism, for in­ not a utopia, but a practical response and solution to the stance, grows out of feudalism. contradictions of capitalist society. We will continue to Just as man’s knowledge reflects nature (i.e., developing mat­ participate in the ongoing public discussion of how to define ter), which exists independently of him, so man’s social knowl­ socialism in light of contemporary realities. We will continue edge (i.e., the various views and doctrines—philosophical, reli­ to assess the experiences, including both achievements and gious, political, and so forth) reflects the economic system of society. failures, of the first sustained atempts to build socialist societies Political institutions are a superstructure on the economic in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. We welcome all foundation. We see, for example, that the various political forms those who would like to participate with us in this explora­ of the modern European states serve to fortify the furl of the tion, while we struggle together to address the immediate bourgeoisie over the proletariat. problems of our people. Marx’s philosophy is matured philosophical materialism, which “We suggest,” the statment continues, “the following has provided humanity, and especially the working class, with characteristics for U.S. socialism: A society where the promise powerful instruments of knowledge. of democracy is fulfilled by the practice of self-government. A society of social justice, which guarantees employment, II housing, education and health care as human rights. A society aving recognized that the economic system is the which preserves and builds upon all previous economic and foundation on which the political superstructure is scientific achievements, and which redistributes the vast wealth erected, Marx devoted most attention to the study of and power now held in a few hands.” thisH economic system. Marx’s principal work. Capital, is de­ The CoC is currently in a pre-convention discussion of voted to a study of the economic system of modern, i.e., capitalist, many of the ideas outlined in the Declaration of Principles. society. Should the CoC be Socialist? Should it become a “clearing­ Classical political economy, before Marx, evolved in England, house” for progressive forces and not a new left formation the most developed of the capitalist countries. Adam Smith and promoting the views of Lenin and Marxism? Should it be David Ricardo, by their investigations of the economic system, democratic-centralist? laid the foundations of the labor theory of value. Marx continued The formation of the Committees of Correspondence in­ their work. He rigidly proved and consistently developed his dicates the positive prospects for communist regroupment theory. He showed that the value of every commodity is deter­ here and internationally. A programmatic convention is set mined by the quantity of socially necessary labor time spent on for late spring 1994 to decide the Committees’ perspectives. its production. Those not yet members of the CoC are urged to join (see ad Where the bourgeois economists saw a relation of things (the on page 27) in order to participate in this important discus­ exchange of one commodity for another), Marx revealed a re­ sion and debate. — MALIK MIAH lationship of men. The exchange of commodities expresses the tie by which individual producers are bound through the mar­ ket. Money signifies that this tie is becoming closer and closer, quisitions of German classical philosophy, .especially of the inseparably binding the entire economic life of the individual Hegelian system, which in its turn led to the materialism of producers into one whole. Capital signified a further develop­ Feuerbach. The chief of these acquisitions is dialectics, i.e., the ment of this tie: man’s labor power becomes a commodity. The doctrine of developments in it fullest and deepest forms, free of wage-worker sells his labor power to the owner of the land, one-sidedness—the doctrine of the relativity of human knowl­ factories and instruments of labor. The worker uses one part of edge, which provides us with a reflection of eternally develop­ the labor day to cover the expense of maintaining himself and ing matter. The latest discoveries of natural science—radium, his family (wages), while the other part of the day the worker electrons, the transmutation of elements—have confirmed re­ toils without remuneration, creating surplus value for the capi­ markably Marx’s dialectical materialism, despite the teaching of talist, the source of profit, the source of the wealth of the capitalist the bourgeois philosophers with their “new” reversions to old class. and rotten idealism. The doctrine of surplus value is the cornerstone of Marx’s Deepening and developing philosophical materialism, Marx economic theory. completed it, extended its knowledge of nature to the knowl­ Capital, created by the labor of the worker, presses on the edge of human society. Marx’s historical materialism was one of the greatest achievements of scientific thought. The chaos and Continued on page 18

Spring 1993 17 INDEPENDENT POLITICS FEATURE LENIN ON MARXISM

F rancisco Conde/I mpact Visuals worker by ruining the small However, utopian social­ masters and creating an army ism could not point the real of unemployed. In industry, way out. It could not explain the victory of large-scale the essence of wage-slavery production is at once ap­ under capitalism, nor dis­ parent, but we observe the cover the laws of its devel­ same phenomenon in agri­ opment, nor point to the culture as well: the superi­ social force which is capable ority of large-scale capital­ of becoming the creator of ist agriculture increases, the a new society. application of machinery Meanwhile, in the stormy grows, peasant economy revolutions which every­ falls into the noose of where in Europe, and espe­ money-capital, it declines cially in France, accompa­ and sinks into ruin, bur­ nied the fall of feudalism, of dened by its backward serfdom, more and more technique. In agriculture, the clearly revealed the struggle decline of small-scale pro­ Pro-socialist demonstration in Moscow in April 1992. Many working people of classes as the basis and the still support socialism and Lenin despite the betrayals of Stalinism and the duction assumes different demise of the Soviet Union. motive force of the whole forms, but the decline itself development. is an indisputable fact. Not a single victory of political freedom over the feudal class By destroying small-scale production, capital leads to an in­ was won except against desperate resistance. Not a single capi­ crease in productivity of labor and to the creation of a monopoly talist country evolved on a more or less free and democratic position for the associations of big capitalists. Production itself basis except by a life and death struggle between the various becomes more and more social—hundreds of thousands and classes of capitalist society. millions of workers become bound together in a systematic eco­ The genius of Marx consists in the fact that he was able before nomic organism—but the product of the collective labor is ap­ anybody else to draw from this and apply consistently the de­ propriated by a handful of capitalists. The anarchy of produc­ duction that world history teaches. This deduction is the doc­ tion grows, as do crises, the furious chase after markets and the trine of the class struggle. insecurity of existence of the mass of the population. People always were and always will be the stupid victims of While increasing the dependence of the workers on capital, deceit and self-deceit in politics until they learn to discover the the capitalist system creates the great power of united labor. interests of some class behind all moral, religious, political and Marx traced the development of capitalism from the first germs social phrases, declarations and promises. The supporters of of commodity economy, from simple exchange, to its highest reforms and improvements will always be fooled by the defend­ forms, to large-scale production. ers of the old order until they realize that every old institution, And the experience of all capitalist countries, old and new, is however barbarous and rotten it may appear to be, is main­ clearly demonstrating the truth of this Marxian doctrine to in­ tained by the forces of some ruling classes. And there is only one creasing numbers of workers every year. way of smashing the resistance of these classes, and that is to Capitalism has triumphed all over the world, but the triumph find, in the very society which surrounds us, and to enlighten is only the prelude to the triumph of labor over capital. and organize for the struggle, the forces which can—and, owing to their social position, must—constitute a power capable of sweeping away the old and creating the new. Marx’s philosophical materialism has alone shown the prole­ hen feudalism was overthrown, and “free” capital­ tariat the way out of the spiritual slavery in which all oppressed ist society appeared on God’s earth, it at once be­ classes have hitherto languished. Marx’s economic theory has came apparent that this freedom meant a new sys­ alone explained the true position of the proletariat in the gen­ W eral system of capitalism. tem of oppression and exploitation of the toilers. Various socialist doctrines immediately began to rise as a reflection of and pro­ Independent organizations of the proletariat are multiplying test against this oppression. But early socialism was utopian all over the world, from America to Japan and from Sweden to socialism. It criticized capitalist society, it condemned and damned South Africa. The proletariat is becoming enlightened and edu­ it, it dreamed of its destruction, it indulged in fancies of a better cated by waging its class struggle; it is rallying its ranks ever order and endeavored to convince the rich of the immorality of more closely and is learning to gauge the measure of its suc­ exploitation. cesses; it is steeling its forces and is growing irresistibly. ▼

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 18 Spring 1993 Australian conference discusses perspectives for socialist movement anuary is sum­ Socialism Now More Than Ever tacks on the work­ mer in Australia. ing class. The Labor Party government By MALIK MIAH and the trade union J It is a time when federation, ACTU workers take oppressed of the world. (Australia’s AFL-CIO), reached an accord their vacations and on wages and benefits in the early 1980s, socialists meet to discuss world politics Australia’s Labor Party he explained. The result of that betrayal and the prospects of building the social­ Australia is an imperialist country. It of working class interests was a lowering ist movement. is a key ally of Washington in the Pacific. of the real wages of Australian workers, 1 had an opportunity to attend a con­ The current Labor Party federal govern­ and cutbacks in social programs. ference of over 250 socialists in a college ment supports the U.S. invasion of So­ Boyle explained that the result of these town outside Sydney, January 2-6. The malia and bombing of Iraq. Some 900 setbacks has led many working people to “Socialist Activists Education Conference” Australian troops are part of Washington’s look to the out-of-power Liberals (the main was sponsored by the Democratic Social­ Somalia operation. capitalist) party. But the Liberals have an ist Party (DSP) and Resistance, the pri­ The Labor Party government has also even worse anti-labor program. The Lib­ mary left current in this country of 17 carried out sharp attacks on the working erals and their supporters recently won million people. control of the state governments in Victoria The conference included 10 major talks and Western Australia. The new Victoria on national and international issues and government, he explained, has pushed for more than three dozen classes and work­ repeal of labor legislation and the end of shops. Special international guests in­ trade unionism as it has existed in the cluded representatives from a growing left modem era. movement in Indonesia, a country where Under Australia’s parliamentary system, socialists and communists were forced new general elections for the federal gov­ underground after a military massacre and ernment are arbitrarily called by the in­ repression of the left in the mid 1960s. cumbent regime. It chooses a time when The Indonesian comrades spoke of the its chances for re-elction are best. Prime new opportunities to do political work Minister Paul Keating has called snap there. elections for March 13. The Liberal leader, New Zealand’s NewLabor Party John Hewson, and his ally, the National Party, is pressing for fundamental changes Matt McCarten, president of the in labor-govemment-employer relations. NewLabor Party of New Zealand, spoke This includes getting rid of the union shop, on the ripe political situation in his country making union membership voluntary, of 3.5 million people, south of Australia. replacing national trade union agreements The NewLabor Party is a key player in a with what’s called “enterprise bargaining,” new five party electoral formation, the and preventing workers from organizing Alliance, that is challenging the main Matt McCarten, president of the NewLabor secondary actions such as solidarity strikes. parties of the ruling class. The NewLabor Party of New Zealand, spoke at the “Social­ ists Activists Education Conference” in Aus­ The aim, several conference participants Party was formed in 1989 after a left-wing tralia. explained, is to “Americanize” labor re­ split from the old Labor Party, which in lations. government has carried out the economic people and oppressed. The Native Ab­ In this situation of growing attacks, John policies of Reagan and Bush. McCarten original people of Australia (less than 2 Percy, national secretary of the DSP, ex­ will be touring the United States in late percent of the population) are still sec­ plained, socialists call on working people April and early May. ond-class citizens. Several talks and classes to build an alternative party to Labor and I gave two talks at the conference and discussed the crisis of Australian capital­ the Liberals, the main ruling-class par­ expressed solidarity from Activists for ism and prospects to build the socialist ties. The DSP is fielding candidates in the Independent Socialist Politics. One talk movement. federal elections against both Labor and was on the U.S. political situation. It in­ In one presentation, Peter Boyle, a DSP the Liberal National Coalition. cluded an analysis of the crisis of the leader, explained that working people are Prospects of building an alternative pro- American left and the significance of the growing more disillusioned with the La­ new formation, the Committees of Cor­ bor Party because of its decade-long at­ Continued on page 22 respondence. My second talk discussed the political legacy of Malcolm X for the Spring 1993 1 9 INDEPENDENTPOLITICS New World Order high command chastised Japan for not ened imperialist interests in the whole supporting the U.S. more, pointedly re­ Horn of Africa. Continued from page 1 ferring to Japan’s dependence upon Middle A glance at a map of the region shows East oil, and claiming that Japan should its strategic importance for the Middle East two sides of a consistent policy of main­ be grateful for U.S. protection of that as well as for eastern Africa. Indeed, when taining Washington’s hegemony in the supply. Of course, he who controls the the U.S. lost its military bases in Iran af­ Persian Gulf following the overthrow of pipeline can also cut it off, if the deepen­ ter the 1979 revolution, President Carter the U.S. puppet regime of the Shah in Iran ing competition with Japan should get set up a base in Somalia with Barre’s con­ in 1979. Fearing the initial anti-imperial­ rougher down the road. sent. ist thrust of the Iranian revolution, the A recent article in the Los Angeles Times U.S. egged on Saddam Hussein to attack Somalia throws light on the question. It points out Iran. Both Washington and Baghdad as­ he root cause of the poverty in that “Far beneath the surface of the tragic sumed that the disorder in Iran’s army as Somalia, as it is in all of Africa drama of Somalia, four major U.S. oil a result of the revolution would lead to a and the rest of the Third World, companies are sitting on a prospective T fortune in exclusive concessions to ex­ quick victory for Iraq. has been the long years of imperialist ex­ This turned out not to be the case, ploitation. Britain, Italy and France sucked plore and exploit tens of millions of acres however, due to the mobilization of the the wealth of the area for decades. of the Somalia countryside. Iranian masses against the Iraqi invasion. In the most recent period, the U.S. has “That land, in the opinion of geologists The long and bloody war, while produc­ dominated. Washington armed the dic­ and industry sources, could yield signifi­ ing a stalemate, did serve Washington’s tator Siad Barre in the late 1970s and 1980s, cant amounts of oil and natural gas if the purposes by draining the Iranian revolu­ first in a war against Ethiopia. The impe­ U.S.-led military mission can restore peace tion and was a factor in strengthening the rialist-backed war fit into Washington’s to the impoverished East African nation. grip of the clergy in Iran and sapping the plans to curb the effects of the revolution According to documents obtained by ability of the masses to fight for their own in Ethiopia in the early 1970s that threat- the Los Angeles Times, “nearly two-thirds interests. Hussein, thwarted in his goal of be­ coming the dominant local power in the Gulf by crushing Iran, but now in pos­ National Sovereignty and the UN session of a formidable military machine, The U.S. occupation of Somalia has concerned about Washington going it sought to extend his power in the Gulf exposed the United Nations for what it alone. With the collapse of the Soviet by annexing Kuwait, a fake country that is: a tool of Washington. As was done in Union, they recognize that it is better British imperialism, when it “granted” the case of the U.S. bombing of Iraq and for all the imperialist powers to act as independence to the region, carved out the establishment of “no-fly” zones over one. In the December 19, 1992, issue, of Iraq to restrict its access to the Gulf. Iraqi territory, the UN has “legitimized” they call on the UN to create “specially Hussein thought he had American acqui­ Washington’s criminal actions in viola­ trained and ear-marked peace-enforce­ escence, but Bush used the takeover of tion of its own edicts supporting the ment units to be available on call” to Kuwait as the excuse to smash Iraqi mili­ national sovereignty of member nations. the United Nations. Secondly, they tary power, reassure the arch-reactionary One edict clearly states the UN op­ propose that the UN “subcontract jobs kings and emirs in the region that their poses the interference of one member to regional alliances” like NATO. These rule would be protected, and reassert country into the internal affairs of an­ two proposals, they argue, will give the American military might in the oil-rich other country. Bush was not invited into Pentagon and its allies the necessary legal Gulf. Somalia by the Somali people or any cover for their aggression. Now, while keeping pressure on Iraq, government or semi-government. He History is full of examples of Wash­ Washington is taking another look at Iran. simply declared his “moral” obligation ington, London and Paris going places Pundits in the capitalist papers have been to do so. to “help” nations. In all cases they backed raising the idea that something must be What country will be next on Clinton’s dictators or helped established new re­ done to curb Iran again. Iran has list for “moral” reasons? pressive regimes. strengthened itself following the war with The UN has a majority of Third World If Washington can invade Somalia and Iraq, and still is a thorn in Washington’s countries. But they have little say in what bomb Iraq in violation of their national plans. If possible, the U.S. would like to the UN does. “The New World Order” rights, who says the Pentagon will not return to the situation that existed under that Washington seeks is one where it use similar arguments of “morality” and the Shah, where Iran was a surrogate po­ does what it wants with its troops and “humanitarian aid” to help their clients liceman for imperialist interests in the Gulf. gets UN sanction. If the UN refuses, in Angola, Cambodia, or the whites in Another aspect of the war against Iraq Washington will go it alone. South Africa when the Black majority was to flex Washington’s military muscles The editors of the pro-imperialist gains full control of their country? for the benefit of Tokyo and its other im­ British magazine. The Economist, are — Ed. perialist rivals. After the slaughter, the U.S.

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 2 0 Spring 1993 of Somalia was allocated to the American oil giants Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Crisis Created By Washington Phillips in the final years before Somalia’s pro-U.S. President Mohamed Siad Barre By LEONARD McNEIL was overthrown and the nation plunged tioning schools. There is no potable wa­ into chaos January 1991. ter or electricity. There are deadly dis­ “Industry sources said the companies or the second time in two years ease epidemics and nearly three million holding the rights to the most promising the United States has mounted a refugees caused by the proxy genocide. concessions are hoping the Bush virtually unilateral military op­ The geo-political interests of the United administration’s decision to send U.S. erationF under the mantle of the United States belie any notions of humanitarian troops to safeguard aid shipments to So­ Nations. The United States government motives. Somalia has two major airports, malia will also help protect their has never been committed to the United three deep water ports and a $2 billion multimillion-dollar investments there. Nations as an institution for preventive Soviet-built naval base that has served as “Officially, the administration and the diplomacy and non-military conflict a U.S. military outpost. Whoever controls State Department insist that the U.S. resolution. Somehow, it is quite hard to Somalia is closer to overseeing the Red military mission in Somalia is strictly imagine the United States using troops to Sea through which 15 percent of the humanitarian.” end apartheid in South Africa or the Is­ world’s commerce passes. Furthermore, The aid Washington gave to the dicta­ raeli occupation of the West Bank. tor Barre was used by him to oppress his Given the history of United States in­ own people, including inflicting massa­ volvement with Somalia, “Operation Re­ cres of tens of thousands of Somalis. One store Hope” can only be described as the measure of the hypocrisy of the U.S.’s result of self-righteous and impetuous sudden “humanitarian” concern was its morality. The deployment of U.S. troops silence in the face of these massacres car­ to Somalia has been presented to the public ried out with U.S. weapons. (The same in a false and deceptive manner. The os­ hypocrisy was evident when the U.S. tensible humanitarian motive can hardly turned a blind eye to Saddam Hussein’s be believed and represents reliance on a massacre of Iraqi Kurds with poison gas military solution for every crisis as the during the war with Iran.) And while we cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. One are on the subject of hypocrisy, we should has to seriously doubt that a military which not forget how the U.S. ignored for de­ was responsible for hundreds of thousands cades massive famine in Ethiopia and other of deaths in Panama and Iraq really has parts of Africa. This fact alone should give the best interests of the Somali people in us pause to reflect on the real reasons for mind. Washington’s sudden “humanitarian” In the same way that the police helped concern for Somalis. create the rebellion in South Central Los Barre’s hated dictatorship was over­ Angeles, the situation in Somalia is in­ thrown in early 1991 through a military dicative of the catastrophic consequences coup. But rival factions were unable to of foreign policy dependent on weapons form a new government, and civil war of superiority. Like most of the weapons ensued in southern Somalia. This was in Somalia, the crisis has a “MADE IN responsible for the mass starvation, along THE USA” stamp on it. four major U.S. companies — Conoco, with the effects of drought and the gen­ For 21 years the United States govern­ Amoco, Chevron and Phillips — have eral impoverishment of the country un­ ment under presidents Carter, Reagan and obtained exclusive rights to explore and der Barre. Bush supported the brutal and corrupt exploit nearly two-thirds of Somalia for Of course, food had to be rushed to President Mohammed Siad Barre who oil and natural gas. These four compa­ Somalia to stem the famine. We should overthrew the civilian government in 1969. nies are set to divide up tens of millions be demanding that the U.S. flood the Total aid to Barre’s regime was nearly $800 of acres of Somalia once the country is country with food. The stealing of relief million in the 1980s. With the help of “pacified” by the U.S. troops. food by armed gangs and the rival fac­ South African bomber pilots, Barre was The U.S. military ought to be brought tions itself is evidence of food’s scarcity. responsible for the massacre of 150,000 home. South Central Los Angeles and ur­ Flooding the country with food would northern Somalis. Barre destroyed much ban areas across the country are wonder­ guarantee that enough would get to ev­ of the inner workings of Somali society ing when their hope will be restored. ▼ eryone. including political parties, legislature, and But reports coming from Somalia in- professional organizations, and exerted Leonard McNei I is coordinator of the Peace government control over the media and and Justice Youth Outreach Program of the Continued on page 22 civic organizations. There are no func­ American Friends Service Committee.

Spring 1993 21 INDEPENDENT POLITICS New World Order population, which seized weapons dur­ tagon acting very cautiously. What it and ing the overthrow of Barre, while at the the Clinton administration fear, as did Continued from page 1 same time attempting to force the mili­ Bush, is a war with significant American tary chieftains into a common government casualties that lasts for an extended pe­ dicate that the food should have been sent that will be beholden to the U.S. The idea riod. They fear this because this is exactly in much earlier last year to have had a is to make the country a United Nations what the American people still oppose from significant effect on preventing the mass “protectorate” with the U.S. dominating the Vietnam experience. starvation. When the U.S. did go in un­ the United Nations forces. This is why the selling of the projec­ der cover of food aid, agriculture was re­ tion of U.S. military might abroad has been covering. GIs were surprised to see green Vietnam Syndrome done so carefully, to avoid U.S. casualties farm fields. ollowing the Gulf war, Bush de­ as much as possible, and to try to justify “Somalia was just on the brink of re­ clared that the opposition to the it with supposed goals that appeal to jus­ covery when the Americans arrived,” said F U.S. waging war that had developed tice and humanity, like the very real fam­ Islamic Union leader Abdurahman Alijama in the population as a result of Vietnam ine in Somalia. to the New York Times. was a thing of the past. This has turned However, every such adventure is a “The way I see it, the Americans are an out not to be the case. For one thing, the gamble that can get out of control. If that occupation force,” Jama said. “The hoopla around the Gulf war quickly faded, should happen and U.S. forces become Americans want to destroy our country and Bush was scarcely able to beat that deeply involved in a long war, we can and our religion. They want to make to drum during his election campaign. expect there to develop powerful opposi­ enslave us, and this we will fight.” But more to the point, we see the Pen­ tion to it here at home. ▼ In a cruel irony, the arrival of food at this time is having a negative effect on the farms which have revived, because it has driven down the price of crops which Socialism Now Continued from page 19 are about to be harvested. “The lower Shebeli valley, a three-hour working-class party and of collaborating attacks on education. drive from Mogadishu along rutted muddy with other third parties, like the Greens, The DSP and Resistance are also lead­ roads, normally produces 50 percent of are improving because of the anti-labor ing activists in the campaign to defend the corn grown in Somalia. During the policies of Labor and the Liberals. Although the environment. Over the last decade both famine, only a few farmers in the region a New Zealand-type split in the Labor Party organizations have made the environ­ managed to keep producing, and now most is not yet on the horizon, the DSP is con­ mental movement the center of their po­ farmers are just trying to get back on their fident of some changes, especially in the litical activity. The Environmental Youth feet and grow enough food for home unions. Workers are fed up with their Alliance provides a main arena of activity consumption. But a new harvest is being current mis-leadership. Currently 11.3 for socialist youth. The DSP trade union gathered in the next few weeks, and the percent of Australians are out of work, members are actively bringing the issue main growing season begins in April, the highest unemployment rate since the into the unions and educating about the threatening to add to the glut,” the New Great Depression. Free education— from link between the environment and jobs. York Times reports. grade school through university — has The DSP and Resistance explain that ‘“We are terribly afraid the current trends ended. Plans are also underway to cut back there cannot be socialism if the environ­ in the market will hold and that the corn other social programs. ment is destroyed by capitalism. It is not that’s planted will be valueless,’ said Wil- a question that can wait for a post-capi­ let Weeks, a staff member of the Ameri­ Big protests in Victoria talist society. The socialist movement must can branch of the charity Save the Chil­ he workers in Victoria are lead­ make defense of the environment a cen­ dren, which has been working to resurrect ing the way in responding to these tral campaign today, they explain, if it fanning in the lower Shebeli valley.” attacks, Boyle reported. On No­ hopes to lead working people to power. The danger exists that farmers will vemberT 10, some 250,000 people marched abandon fanning, deepening dependence in Melbourne and regional centers across Those interested in learning more about upon aid from the U.S. and other advanced Victoria against the state’s Liberal gov­ the DSP and Resistance and their publi­ countries, which will use this to domi­ ernment. The DSP is supporting these new cations, can write to Independent Politics. nate Somalia even more. activities. Many of its members are active If you would like to subscribe to Green Left The only real road forward for the So­ trade unionists. A decision was made by Weekly, the weekly distributed by the DSP malia workers and farmers is to break out the DSP National Committee prior to the and Resistance, write to Green Left of imperialist domination, overthrowing education conference to get even more Weekly, P.O. Box 394, Broadway, NSW the military factions and establishing their socialists into the unions. 2007, Australia. Rates: $ 115 for 44 issues own power. But it is just this possibility Resistance, the leading youth group in airmail, $60 for 22 issues airmail, $35 that Washington fears the most. the country, is involved in the fight of seamail. Or, contact Independent Politics The U.S. is attempting to disarm the university and high school students against for single issues. ▼

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 2 2 Spring 1993 gerous and undemocratic. Most socialists An Anarcho-Communist Viewpoint today agree that Stalinism was completely undesirable. But whether that bureaucracy Working Together for Liberation arose due in part to Lenin’s program or was due to the severe attack against Russia By MO HARRY by all the world’s imperialist powers coupled with a lack of food and staples Anarchists, like socialists, have many ideas them by the rich minority. after their revolution, is another debate about how to change society for the bet­ altogether. terment of all of humanity.This article Free Anarchist Society should shed light on the significance of The realization of the need for an al­ Exchange Ideas the anarcho-communist view held by a ternative to capitalism will come when What is important — for anarchists, large portion of self-proclaimed anarchists, leading voices show the validity of a free socialists and all who want to further the and the importance of activists of varying anarchist society, and because of mass rights of working people— is a discussion perspectives working together to further disillusionment with the status quo and of which anarchist and socialist ideas are human rights. its violence, wars, prisons and poverty. valid today. Ideas that are outdated or Already this disillusionment appears to undemocratic should be revised or thrown World Without Compulsion be affecting a majority of Americans, but out. Ideas that are pragmatic and just Anarcho-communists have a vision of positive alternatives to the current world should be utilized. And new ideas and a world where all people work without situation are not yet being sought out, directions for the liberation of humanity compulsion, of order without government perceived or thought possible. Most people need to be discussed. or authority and of peace without violence probably desire an anarchist or socialist Capitalism, even in its profitable peri­ and coercion. The ideas of anarchy and future, and if shown the options for ac­ ods, is inherently weak, directly depen­ how to get to such a society developed tion towards this possibility they could dent upon the very people it oppresses side-by-side with Marxism during the mid- create such a conscious society, after an and exploits. As world capitalism declines 1800s. Individuals and groups of both initial struggle with the leaders of the world and sinks to new depths to create new persuasions have been fighting many years capitalist minority. We all need to con­ profits and reaffirm its control, the time for the causes of working people for the tinue to insist that a free, positive culture is ripe for taking initiative to awaken the rights and living standards of all human­ is up to the people to create. public to what it can do to fight for its ity. When the majority does overturn the rights and its fair share. Anarchists and Marxists both realize capitalists, the direction society takes will Progressives everywhere should come that there is a wealth of materials, tech­ of course be up to those same people who together now to exchange ideas and act nology and human power, enough to make have made the revolution. But socialists on the issues facing us all. Anarchists and possible a high living standard coupled and anarchists often differ on how this socialists in particular — kept apart for with considerably less labor time per new free society will be maintained in its so long due to stubbornness and intoler­ person than the current full-time job. The initial stages. ance — should open their minds, evalu­ chaos of capitalist production and distri­ Most Marxists believe a new central ate their ideas, and act in common with bution of wealth can only be stopped by state created after the revolution is the people who do not consider themselves creating a new economic and social sys­ only thing that can protect newly-won socialists or anarchists. This should include tem based on human needs. It is appar­ freedoms from capitalist counter-revolu­ helping to build the broad left regroupment ent that the survival of life on Earth itself tion and redistribute society’s wealth to happening in the Committees of Corre­ is also dependent on the overthrow of millions in dire need. spondence, fighting for the liberation of capitalism, for as long as it exists, profits Anarchists believe that the creation of women and oppressed national minori­ for the few will come before human needs a new state will perpetuate centralized ties, building and influencing unions, and and environmental survival. power beyond the control of individuals. fighting to protect the environment. T Anarcho-communists and Marxists both They contend that if the vast majority agree agree that the majority of working people, with the goals of a free and equal society, LOVE AND RAGE along with the downtrodden, unemployed they could defend themselves in a cen­ A Revolutionary Anarchist and poor, must be the primary forces in tralized way but control their own lives News Monthly stopping the capitalist class and its gov­ and communities at an individual and ernments. When this vast majority of community level. That way, delegated Subscriptions: $13/year humanity realizes that the inherent in­ decision-makers would not be beyond the 16 pages English equality and futility of capitalism are wrong reach of the people. 4 pages Spanish and no longer acceptable, and when these Anarchists often point to the rise of P.O. Box 3 people realize the power they have to shape Stalinism after the state created by Lenin Prince St. Station society, they will shut down the system during the Russian Revolution as an ex­ New York, NY 10012 and take back the wealth sucked out of ample of how centralized power is dan­

Spring 1993 23 INDEPENDENT POLITICS Malcolm X and the Fight Against Racism Laying Down the Word The letter is ev­ tice and consequently are erywhere. From By LEE ARTZ largely dismissed by Black X • baseball hats youth. and t-shirts to theater mar­ OnNovember30,1992, IP editor Malik Mi ah and film-maker Floyd Webb On the other hand, the quees, the single letter “X” spoke on “Malcolm X: The Man, The Movie, the Message for Today” at hopeful militancy of groups summons images of slain Loyola University in Chicago. Lee Artz helped organize the forum and was like the Oakland-based Black nationalist leader prompted by the discussion to write the following article. Black Panther Party or the

Malcolm X. Ed Druck/I mpact Visuals League of Revolutionary While the current popu­ Black Workers in the United larity of Malcolm owes much Auto Workers union was to Spike Lee’s recent movie, short-lived — diverted by millions of Black youth are government repression or familiar with Malcolm X political miscalculation. through the lyrics of rap Since then, no national musicians like Public En­ movement has stepped emy, Sister Souljah and forward to consistently and Freedom T.R.O.O.P. 118. In forcefully carry on the fight fact, a recent Newsweek poll against racism in America. found that 84 percent of As Ossie Davis eulogized, African-Americans between only Malcolm X remains as the ages of 15 and 24 con­ a “Black and shining sider Malcolm X a hero. prince.” Only Malcolm The affinity that young expresses the unrelenting African-Americans have for demand for freedom — by Malcolm X should come as any means necessary. no surprise. He took apart The renewed popularity both the language and the of Malcolm X comes at a power of America. Malcolm time of economic uncer­ X laid down the word: tainty and increased racial America is racist. animosity. It comes with Of course, the political the L.A. rebellion. Unfor­ ferment of the 1960s and tunately for America’s cor­ 1970s produced other porate rulers, the resurrec­ leading opponents of racism, tion of Malcolm X reopens but most have either been an old debate over the road integrated into or appropri­ to social change and his ated by an established or­ example of Black self-or­ der which defends an on­ ganization, political inde­ going social inequality. Malcolm X speaking to Japanese Americans in 1963. A Japanese American pendence from the Demo­ Martin Luther King, for couple hosting women victims of the atomic bomb called for members of the crats and Republicans, and example, has been molded Black leadership to add their support to their call for cessation of atomic test­ anti-imperialist interna­ by politicians, educators and ing because of radiation fallout. Malcolm X was the only Black leader to re­ tionalism threatens the spond and attend. the media into a non-violent, precarious peace of capi­ politically-moderate “turn the other cheek” largely distanced themselves from what talist society. Consequently, Malcolm X minister who was tolerant of white soci­ they call the “urban under-class.” To the must be subverted “by any means neces­ ety and the slow pace of social reform. NAACP, the SCLC (Southern Christian sary.” This select view of King denies his mili­ Leadership Conference), the Urban tancy, his opposition to the Vietnam war League, and to the hundreds of elected New Attacks and his readiness to lead direct actions Black officials and other benefactors of It seems that one assassination of for immediate reform. affirmative action, American society has Malcolm X was not enough. This time King’s epigones have since been nicely been “integrated.” Removed from the daily the target is Malcolm’s image; but pull­ folded into the lower echelons of polite lives of 30 million African-Americans, these ing the life from his legacy will not come society, while current Black “leaders” have “leaders” offer no program for social jus­ so easily.

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 24 Spring 1993 At the time of his assassination in 1965, the major media portrayed Malcolm as a The Nation of Islam After Malcolm X “twisted man” with a “ruthless and fa­ cial separatism and self-help relieves the natical belief in violence” whose life was After Malcolm’s death in 1965, the government, its corporate structure and “pitifully wasted” because he did not “seek Nation of Islam went into decline. It the entire socio-economic system from to fit into society or the life of his own folded after Elijah Muhammad died in responsibility. Malcolm X, on the other people” (New York Times 2/22/65). Carl 1975, when his son, Warith Deen hand, increasingly held white capitalist Rowan, a prominent Black journalist, said Muhammad Muhammad rejected the America and its government responsible Malcolm X was no more than “an ex­ sectarianism and cultism of the “Black for its crimes. convict, ex-dope dealer who became a Muslims.” Warith Dean soon founded During his last year, Malcolm X moved racial fanatic.” a religious organization based on the away from the sectarianism of the Na­ Such distortions of Malcolm X could traditional teachings of Islam. Today, tion of Islam. He took a political pil­ not lay him to rest nor will they be any Muhammad’s group numbers almost grimage from the Black Muslims to Is­ more effective this time. 800,000 members. In the late 70s, Louis Farrakhan (a lam and politics, to a Black nationalism The limited, but nonetheless real, gains former aide to Elijah Muhammad) re­ with an international perspective. For created his own Nation of Islam based more than two decades, however, Spike Lee misses the po­ on Elijah Muhammad’s teachings — Farrakhan has stood still. He has even “Yakub’s white devils,” racial separat­ kept his distance from Malcolm X. In litical trajectory of ism, economic self-reliance, and politi­ fact, Farrakhan has yet to retract his Malcolm’s last years. He cal non-engagement (except to support public statement that Malcolm X de­ omits Malcolm’s trip to some capitalist politicians). The Nation served to die after he split with the Na­ of Islam under Farrakhan has champi­ tion of Islam. Africa, where he met with oned a narrow nationalism which largely Certainly, Farrakhan articulates a le­ Nkrumah, Nyrere, restricts its political critique to whites gitimate anger, but Malcolm X ended Kerryatta and other anti­ (especially jews) as super-human dev­ with a legitimate anger based on hope ils. and political action. With his Nation of imperialist heads of state. Farrakhan has spoken out forcefully Islam, Farrakhan has only revived a re­ against apartheid South Africa, racist ligious sect. Malcolm X founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity of the civil rights movement have modi­ police violence and Black poverty. But Farrakhan and his Nation wear blind­ to build bridges for social change — by fied what can be said publicly— too many ers; valid criticisms of racism are not any means necessary. — L. ARTZ Americans reject blatant racist stereotypes, enough. The Nation’s emphasis on ra­ too many “Negroes” have become “Afri­ can-American,” too much is known about the FBI and CIA surveillance shown in Malcolm X, too many have benefitted from to avoid. As Lee says, “I want to show all the movie. affirmative action, too many politicians the stuff that Malcolm talked about 30 Instead of a thorough portrayal of a depend on Black support. years ago is still here today.” political thinker developing and struggling In short, times have changed. Demo­ But because the movie follows the typical with international issues, questions of cratic and Republican politicians, reformist Hollywood format for biographies — organization, program and action, we are Black leaders, educators, the media and narratives, personalized anecdotes, psy­ treated to the personal saga of a frustrated, other liberal or conservative defenders of chological reflections, limited social harried, isolated man who somehow seems the social structure must find new ways context — Spike Lee misses the political to overcome his strident segregationism to attack Malcolm X. For now, they seem trajectory of Malcolm’s last years. He omits and mellows with age and experience. to have settled on two complementary Malcolm’s trip to Africa, where he met approaches: conservatize Malcolm or with Nkrumah, Nyrere, Kenyatta and other Conservative Makeover marginalize him. anti-imperialist heads of state. Unfortunately, Lee’s accurate but lim­ Lee omits Malcolm’s 1965 visit to Selma, ited account allows movie critics and Malcolm X: The Movie where he promised student activists that political pundits to concentrate on Limiting the meaning of Malcolm X to he would be back to help. Nor does Lee Malcolm X’s personal growth, while dis­ a story about self-improvement provides explain the importance Malcolm gave to missing his scathing critique of racism as a most effective emasculation. Ironically, the OAAU (Organization of African an aberration he eventually overcame. the initial assault is delivered in the very American Unity) and its program, which Accepting Lee’s interpretation as valid, a vehicle which revives Malcolm X in the was to be annoqnced the day Malcolm bi-partisan, bi-racial chorus sings praises public consciousness— Spike Lee’s movie. was shot. to a de-politicized image of Malcolm X. Certainly, Lee’s movie has opened a By ignoring Malcolm’s political devel­ The Wall Street Journal begins by fa- public discussion of Malcolm X and racial opment, it is even difficult to understand inequality that many would have preferred the significance and motivation behind Continued on page 26

Spring 1993 25 INDEPENDENT POLITICS Malcolm X X “preached family, education, self-help unimportant novelty of a distant past. Such and respect for life” giving us all “a sym­ shizophrenia recalls a popular Malcolm Continued from page 25 bol of the human ability to change through X metaphor of the wolf and the fox — self-discipline” (11/18/92). neither can be trusted. Malcolm X did vorably reporting on “Malcolm X, Con­ not recant his opposition to racism nor servative Hero” (11/10/92). The New York Perry’s Revisionism come to some accomodation with liberal Times adds its review of a Malcolm X who While attempts to incorporate Malcolm society as recent commentary would like became “a powerful humanist, repudiat­ X into the American dreamscape have to suggest. Malcolm X did not become a ing racial exclusivity” (11/15/92). Former predominated, a parallel effort to conservative integrationist. White House Chief of Staff John Sununu marginalize his importance has appeared. Similarly, attempts to downplay goes so far as to suggest that if Malcolm X Bruce Perry, author of Malcolm: The Life Malcolm’s importance in the African- were alive today, “he’d be a Black Repub­ of a Man Who Changed Black America, has American liberation struggle are un­ lican.” recently offered a revisionist biography. founded. Sununu notwithstanding, Black On his CNN talk show, Jesse Jackson Republicans do not get assassinated in the puts his own spin on the re-creation of United States. Malcolm, arguing that his life portrays the The prospect of a charis­ Malcolm X would probably be the first power of “education and self-pride.” matic, articulate Black to admit that as a Black Muslim he acted Malcolm should be emulated for his leader with an indepen­ little and talked much. But that is pre­ reading, not his politics. cisely why his break with the Nation of Dozens of conservative Black ministers dent Black organization Islam is so important. As he wrote to the and college professors have been quoted undoubtedly frightened American Nazi Party injanuary 1965, “this in papers from Atlanta and Houston to America's corporate and is to warn you that I am no longer held in New York and Chicago, citing Malcolm check from fighting white supremacists as a model for good citizenship. As au­ government rulers. by Elijah Muhammad’s separationist Black thor and scholar Alvin Pouissant asserts, Muslim movement. . .” Likewise, after Malcolm would tell kids today “to stay Perry theorizes about Malcolm’s inter­ his break with the Nation, he visited with out of crime and drugs” and he would be nal turmoil over self-identity, charges that civil rights students in Selma. When “strong on young people getting an edu­ Malcolm lied about the Klan attacks on Malcolm returned to Harlem, the OAAU cation and disapprove of rap musicians his father, suggests that Malcolm may have decided to undertake an action program advocating violence.” firebombed his own home as a publicity in support of the Selma campaign. In other words, most of these prominent stunt and argues that Malcolm X had little commentators completely ignore influence in his time. Political Threat Malcolm’s insistence that the social sys­ Such charges aren’t new, nor particu­ As a Muslim, Malcolm X was an irrita­ tem breeds inequality, instigates social larly clever. Years ago Bayard Rustin tion, not a threat. American capitalist unrest and promotes “anti-social” be­ slandered Malcolm with similar attacks society can withstand criticism; it can even havior. on his “macho facade” and denied that incorporate moderate reforms. It cannot Despite various nuances, most of these Malcolm’s assassination was anything more abolish racism, inequality and oppression. “favorable” reviews of Malcolm X ignore than a typical Saturday night of “Negroes And, as the OAAU charter said, Malcolm his political intransigence against a racist slashing Negroes.” X would accept nothing less than total social system. For instance, Democratic Also long before Perry, civil rights leader “freedom from oppression.” Congressman John Lewis summarizes James Farmer claimed that Malcolm X’s Thus, the prospect of a charismatic, Malcolm’s life as an example of how “one influence was insignificant because articulate Black leader with an indepen­ person can overcome odds and emerge Malcolm “had no program and no stom­ dent Black organization undoubtedly as a force for good.” ach for organizing.” frightened America’s corporate and gov- Such a narrow assessment of Malcolm Without the popularity of the movie emmentrulers. Unlike the NAACP,SCLC, X conveniently discounts the crushing and rap music, Perry’s book would likely CORE or other organizations fighting for weight of Jim Crow segregation which have passed unnoticed. Instead, his claims civil rights, the OAAU was not dependent could not be “overcome” by individual have been repeated in the Chicago Tri­ on liberal whites and Democratic politi­ will-power. Such a reading of Malcolm X bune, San Francisco Chronicle, The New cians. also neglects the real “forces for good” York Times and other media as a counter­ In fact, Malcolm X widely proclaimed employed by thousands of African- punch to Malcolm’s memory. that he would never organize a Black Americans, women and others in the person to be a Democrat or Republican. successful social movements of the ’60s Wolf and Fox He discussed the possibility of a Black and ’70s. The media battle over Malcolm’s im­ nationalist party and a Black nationalist Perhaps USA Today best summarizes the age is unsettling. In one breath, Malcolm army. Malcolm X’s strategy for social conservative “personalization” of Malcolm X is promoted as a model of conservative change was based on the independent X’s legacy in commenting that Malcolm discipline. In the next, he appears as an political action of African-Americans and

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 2 6 Spring 1993 their allies— including international allies to “humanize” the civil rights struggle. He would likely tell them — as he told an in Africa and Asia. audience in Rochester, New York just a In short, as a leader of the OAAU, Can’t Legislate Liberation few days before his death —“We’re in a Malcolm X was more dangerous than a Malcolm X never retreated from his society that preaches brotherhood, but dozen Elijah Muhammads, Martin Luther insistence that liberation must be won; it doesn’t practice brotherhood . . . We are Kings, James Farmers, Whitney Youngs cannot be legislated. This puts Malcolm living in a society which is by and large or Black Republicans. X and his present day youthful admirers controlled by people who believe in rac­ In the end, the only way to appreciate at odds with the all the Democrats and ism, practice segregation and discrimi­ Malcolm X is to understand continuity Republicans, all the conservatives and nation and racism . . . we [must] realize and change. Malcolm X changed dra­ liberals, all the believers who hope against that the problem facing Black people in matically in his last years; yet his funda­ hope that justice can be talked into exist­ this country is so complex and so involved mental commitments remained constant. ence. and has been here so long, unsolved, that He left religious sectarianism and narrow The OAAU program calls for nothing it is absolutely necessary for us to form cultural nationalism behind. He expanded another organization.” his spiritual vision to a better, more hu­ During the L. A. rebellion, when many mane world and extended his Black na­ To a growing number tears were shed for damaged property and tionalism to inter-nationalism. He con­ of American youth, a truck driver, Malcolm X would have said tinued his militancy, his commitment to Malcolm X is more to Pouissant andjackson and Sununu and Black liberation, his opposition to the racist all the others, “1 heard no voice of com­ hypocrisy of the American social system. popular, even in death, passion for the hundreds of people killed He did not falter. He did not mellow. than those leaders who in Grenada, or gunned down in Haiti, or Despite the personal and political criticize frustration and assassinated in Nicaragua or the thousands slanders, Malcolm X could not be intimi­ bombed in Iraq. Why was there no out­ dated, diverted or placated by the powers anger, but offer no hope. cry? Why was there no concern?” And that be. As San Francisco State Black without waiting for their sophisticated, Studies professor Oba T’Shaka says, “they less than a Declaration of Condemnation convoluted answers, Malcolm X would did not tame him.” for acts perpetrated by the United States lay down the word: racism. against African-Americans and a Procla­ That’s why, to a growing number of Black Nationalism mation of Restitution to the victims of American youth, Malcolm X is more alcolm X remained a Black racism. Token civil rights bills are dis­ popular, even in death, than those lead­ nationalist. He recognized that missed out-of-hand. The OAAU program ers who criticize frustration and anger, MAmerica’s racist social structure reasserts the right of self-defense and the but offer no hope. Malcolm offers hope. could not be reformed, saying, “we aren’t right to achieve justice “by any means He offers dignity and pride and struggle. trying to win the affection of those ex­ necessary.” That’s why the image of Malcolm X is so ploiters.” Membership in the OAAU was Contrary to Alvin Pouissant, and other important for the struggle against racism. open only to “people of African descent would-be conservators of Malcolm’s Malcolm X was a freedom fighter, and in the Western Hemisphere.” memory, Malcolm X would not castigate we need more freedom fighters. That’s However, Malcolm came to believe that African-American youth for refusing to why, whenever I see a Black youth sporting “any kind of movement based solely in submit to intolerable conditions. Yes, he a baseball hat or t-shirt adorned with “X,” the U. S. is doomed to failure.” So, as he would educate them, but in his own way. I salute. ▼ said in one of his last speeches, this was an “international, rather than national” Black nationalism which aimed at “direct Join the Committees links, direct contact, direct communica­ INTERNATIONAL VIEWPOINT o f C orresp on d en ce tion with our brothers and sisters all over the earth.” A revolutionary Marxist monthly Join a non-sectarian Malcolm’s Black nationalism identified magazine with news and organization of individuals the European colonial states as the analysis of the international from many tendencies that are “common exploiter, common oppressor” class struggle. struggling for a democratic and of Africans and Asians, a common op­ socialist society. pressor which practices the same “rac­ One year subscription: $57 ism in Asia (Vietnam), in the Congo and Send $25 to: Send to: 2 rue Richard Lenoir in Mississippi, Alabama and New York.” 93108, Montreuil Committees of Correspondence Malcolm X integrated a worldwide revo­ FRANCE 11 John Street, Room 506 lutionary perspective into his Black na­ New York, NY 10038 tionalism. He sought to “international­ ize” the African-American struggle and

Spring 1993 27 INDEPENDENT POLITICS A Strategy for Environmental Action

erhaps the newest addition to the live. Environmental and health standards Every aspect of the nuclear power in­ “American Ethos” is a concern for must be established by working people dustry, from the mining of uranium to P the environment. More and more and communities with full access to the disposal of radioactive waste prod­ people from both the working and “middle" technical information and based on con­ ucts, is fraught with lethal and insur­ classes see the value of environmental pro­ sultation with experts of their own choice. mountable dangers. The party opposes any tection, and many are willing “to do their attempts to establish a nuclear power part" to ensure a clean, environmentally Form Committees industry in Australia and demands the stable future. Despite this rise in environ­ Community committees must be em­ immediate cessation of the mining and mental consciousness, reckless destruction powered to decide directly on projects to export of uranium. of the world’s oxygen sources and mass pol­ establish factories or use industrial pro­ lution continues, if not at full-throttle. The cesses that may adversely affect the local Health Over Profits question then stands: What strategy should environment. Such committees must be Just as they must reject the false di­ environmentalists employ in the struggle empowered to gather full and accurate lemma of having to choose between em­ against destructive and polluting industries ? information about the relevant ecological ployment or cuts in wages, working people Considering the economic basis for envi­ and health issues, and to make their de­ must reject arguments by the capitalists ronmental destruction, environmentalists cisions on the basis of this information, that they cannot afford to take the mea­ must strive for ecologically pure industries not out of concern for corporate profits. sures necessary to clean up and protect through mass political action with working The poisoning and destruction of the the environment, or that workers’ jobs people based in their communities and trade environment is a crime that threatens will be threatened by environmental pro­ unions, aimed directly at corporate profits. human survival, and should be treated as tection measures. Working people cannot This strategy would be most effective sim­ such. Corporations that violate environ­ afford bosses who put profits before the ply because both the welfare of working mental standards should be forced to pay health of their employees and the com­ people and the protection of Earth’s ecosystem the full cost of cleaning up the damage munity. Such companies should be na­ must be won at the expense of the capitalists. they have caused and fully compensating tionalized without compensation (except Australia’s Democratic Socialist Party all whose health has suffered as a result for small stockholders) and placed under recognizes the need to protect the world's of such violations. These corporations must the control of workers’ committees pro­ natural resources from harmful exploita­ be forced to install pollution control vided with complete access to the gov­ tion. Its program provides an excellent ex­ equipment and prohibited from passing ernment funding and all the technical ample of how working people and their on the cost of this to consumers through information required for meeting the communities can fight for environmental higher prices. Companies manufacturing requisite health and environmental pro­ standards in industry. chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers tection standards. The Democratic Socialist Party of Aus­ should pay a levy to finance the develop­ Where environmental protection can tralia aims to stop harmful exploitation of ment of environmentally safe fertilisers only be achieved by the closure of an in­ labor and our environment by educating and and methods of pest control. dustry, as in the case of uranium mining organizing for mass political action. By and the nuclear power industry for ex­ pushing the mass organizations of the Public Works ample, governments and employers must working class, such as the trade unions, to A large-scale program of public works, be forced to provide alternative, training adopt environmentalism as part of their funded by increased corporate taxes, and retraining, and where appropriate, political campaigns, and forming commu­ should be introduced to clean up our land, compensation to employees and com­ nity-based organizations to fight for envi­ rivers, and coastal waters, to carry out re­ munities affected by such closures. ronmental protection, working people can forestation projects, and to establish While partial victories along these lines effectively work to sustain our planet. publicly owned plants for recycling in­ can slow the slide to environmental catas­ Whatfollows is the section of the Demo­ dustrial and household waste. trophe, ultimately this problem can only cratic Socialist Party of Australia’s program The habitats of rare or endangered be resolved through the replacement of the which deals with environmental protection species of plants and animals must be de­ capitalist system with a worldwide system and explains their attitude and strategy. clared national parks, and an extensive of democratic socialist planning. Mass po­ — MATTHEW DORAN. program must be introduced to restore litical action aimed at winning concessions the ecological balance of these areas. from the capitalist ruling class can play a Working people are entitled to full in­ Communities currently based on the crucial role in raising mass consciousness formation about, and control over, the economic exploitation of such areas must of the need for such a radical social trans­ environmental conditions that affect their be guaranteed compensation, job re­ formation, and in organizing the social forces health and survival where they work and training and alternative employment. that can carry it through. ▼

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 2 8 Spring 1993 Gays, Democratic Rights, Bigotry and Racism and the Military Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, a lead­ ing Democrat, is opposed to lifting the By C.TITUS CLARK a Navy officer discharged for being gay, ban on gays in the military because their his reinstatement was ordered by a U.S. mere presence would lead to a break­ District Court judge. At first, the Navy down in morale and discipline. Simi­ he U.S. military has a long his­ refused the court order but later complied. lar comments were made by a Georgia tory of racism, sexism and Reactionary proponents of the ban on Senator nearly 45 years ago when the homophobia. In 1988, an inter­ gays in the military claim that homosexuals T U.S. military was instructed to end its nal Defense Department study found that are targets for blackmail by enemy forces racist segregation. 44 percent of Black candidates were and will disclose top-secret information, Compare the comments of Nunn dropped from officer-in-training programs will create a rampant spread of AIDS today and Richard Russell, then chair compared with 15 percent of white can­ throughout the armed forces and make of the Armed Services Committee. didates. Many male sailors and officers straight men uncomfortable. These Nunn and Russell used almost identical are still serving even after brutally violat­ arguments actually seem like better rea­ arguments (maybe they had the same ing enlisted women in the Tailhook inci­ sons to lift the ban than to keep it. If open speech writer?) to defend bigotry and dent. Several open lesbians and gay men lesbians and gay men are allowed to serve, the status quo. were allowed to fight and die in the Viet­ the blackmail argument becomes obso­ Nunn: “Members of the armed forces nam War, only to be discharged at the lete since there are already gays in the are subject to the involuntary assign- war’s end. Currently, open lesbians and military, though they are forced to be ment(s). . . that require living and gay men are not allowed into the mili­ closeted. working in close proximity with oth­ tary, and are immediately discharged if Whether ethical or not, the military does ers under conditions that afford little they decide to come out while serving. not allow HIV positive people to serve. If or no privacy.” He added, “The au­ The message: stay in your closets and hate anything, gay sensitivity training, through thority to separate homosexuals (from your sexuality because homosexuality is a lift of the ban, will help eliminate ig­ the military) has been in effect over a morally wrong and ignoring it will make norance about the causes of AIDS per­ lengthy period of time.” it go away. petuated by the military. Sensitivity On June 8,1948, Russell said: “There In 1988, a report filed by the Defense training about the lives of gay service is no more intimate human relation­ Personnel Security Research and Educa­ people could help make gays and straights ship known to men than that of en­ tion Center (PERSEREC) titled “Non- in the military get along better. listed men serving together. . .. They Conforming Sexual Orientations and The Coalition to Maintain Military eat and sleep together. They use the Military Suitability” concluded that les­ Readiness is a widespread fundamental­ same sanitary facilities. . . . They are bians and gay men pose no special secu­ ist group that has launched a grass-roots compelled to stay together in the closest rity risk and that sexuality is “...unrelated and media campaign to maintain the ban association.” He added, “There have to job performance in the same way as is on gays. The coalition consists of the always been separate units in which being left or right handed.” The report Southern Baptist Convention, the the races of this country could serve also stated that homosexuals display American Legion, the Reserve Officers’ their nation.” military suitability that is “ ... as good as Association and others. This is the first Nunn and Russell both raised con­ or better than the average heterosexual." time that military, family rights, and reli­ cerned about mixing. Fistfights would Pentagon officials first denied any gious groups have officially worked to­ break out. Total chaos. Russell quot­ connection with the study but PERSEREC gether on such a political issue. ing Dwight Eisenhower said: “If you is conceived, financed, and overseen by The importance of resistance to such have a dance for your soldiers, you have the Defense Department. The study was homophobic forces is essential to the a problem.” And Nunn said, “What then suppressed. Pentagon officials ordered struggle for gay and human rights. Cur­ about displays of affection that are a rewriting of the report to reflect the op­ rently, grass roots efforts of anti-dis­ otherwise permissible . . . such as posite information. crimination and gay rights groups in­ dancing at a formal event?” In 1989, a gun turret exploded on the cluding the ACLU, the Human Rights New York Times columnist Anthony battleship Iowa, killing 42 sailors. Navy Campaign Fund and Queer Nation have Lewis had a good reply to sexual big­ investigators invented a story about a gay made lifting the ban on gays in the mili­ ots: “If sexual conduct were the real sailor who sabotaged the gun turret be­ tary a campaign issue in the recent concern of the critics, they would fo­ cause he was upset over a homosexual presidential election. cus on the clear and present problem. affair. When the accused dead sailor’s Many gay rights groups have also mo­ You don’t have to be a genius to know family pursued the truth, the Navy later bilized to make sure President Clinton admitted to fabricating the story. what that is: assaults on women in the armed forces.” — Ed. Recently in the case of Keith Meinhold, Continued on page 30

Spring 1993 2 9 INDEPENDENT POLITICS Anti-Gay Violence anti-homophobic, anti-racist and anti­ Gays in the Military sexist struggles and successes as the source Continued from page 3 of the decline in the quality of life, rather Continued from page 29 same logic as the bogus “reverse dis­ than the effects of capitalist society. crimination” argument that attempts to It is in the interests of the majority of keeps his promise to lift the ban. It is im­ claim that the meager results of affirma­ working people to fight for better living portant to note that if the ban is lifted, tive action programs are “racist” against standards for the working class through this will not condone the activities of the white people. They want whites to believe such measures as family leave legislation, U.S. military. But the fact is that dis­ the reason they are losing out economically accessible child care, reproductive rights crimination based solely on sexual ori­ is because Blacks and other minorities are and recognition of gay and lesbian rights entation must not be tolerated there, no advancing. and partnerships. These are the kind of matter what the use of the military may But the current system harms all measures that can benefit all the types of be. Fighting against the ban is part of the working people while disproportionately families that make up our society. fight against injustice anywhere, much of affecting Blacks, gays, women and other The National March on Washington which is organized by the military. The oppressed and marginalized groups of the Committee is planning a March in oft-divided gay community, with the working class. Without a perspective of Washington, D.C. on April 25,1993. The support of straights, must realize that the class solidarity against racism, homophobia March will either celebrate the passing of basis of this ban on gays in the military is and sexism, white working people fall into a National Gay Civil Rights Bill or protest homophobia and we must fight that a self-destructive trap of misidentifying the failure of Congress to adopt one. ▼ wherever it exists. ▼

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INDEPENDENT POLITICS 3 0 Spring 1993 LETTERS

We have received a number of electronic communications and think your publication will be Peacenet today. It also men­ letters to IP and to members of Activistsfor Independent Socialist a good addition to our collec­ tioned that I could get a sample Politics since publication of our first issue. Independent Politics tion. copy of Independent Politics if posts most of its articles to various conferences on the computer Paula Davidson I write to you. bulletin board Peacenet. Many of these articles are then re-posted The Alternative Reading I would appreciate a sample by readers to other computer bulletin boards, and make their way Room, Asheville, NC copy of this and related pub­ around the world. Independent Politics can be reached by Email lications. With thanks, (electronic mail) at on Peacenet or from other networks. Peacenet can be reached at 18 De Boom St., International Nidhi Srinivas San Francisco, CA 94107. Many of these “letters” came to us via Readership Montreal, Canada Email, as readers responded to various articles. Below are excerpts I gave the first issue of In­ from these communications and letters. Independent Politics has dependent Politics to my Ira­ Electronic Readers bundle rates and consignment terms. Please inquire for details. IP nian friend who read it and Write would be happy to arrange exchange subscriptions with other peri­ passed it on to a British stu­ odicals. dent at Alliance Francaise. Can I have seen an article from I be sent five or six more cop­ Independent Politics that was ies of the first issue at the above posted to the ACTIV-L Freebies? address. I have people in mind Activist’s mailing list by NLNS. A copy of Independent Poli­ I read your article on to show it to here. Thanks. 1 am going to send $8 for a tics and your cover letter came Chevron organizing in Philly subscription to IP. I am also today. “IP” is quite impressive. and am interested in receiv­ Dan Rosenshine going to send a copy of last Enclosed is a check for $2.00 ing a free copy of your maga­ Paris, France month’s Alternative Orange, a for first issue and postage. zine. student newspaper at Syracuse Could you send us three cop­ University. Marty Bigos ies on a regular basis as a New Party Robert Cymbala San Francisco, CA bundle or consignment. Please Syracuse, NY inform as to financial ar­ I really enjoy the articles rangements. posted on ACTIVE-L, in par­ Regarding the article, I read the article you sub­ Bill Breihan ticular, articles on organized “Creating a New Society” from mitted to the gen. socialism Milwaukee, Wisconsin labor. Independent Politics #1,1 would conference on Peacenet and Are you covering the New be very interested in a sample was impressed by the clarity Vote for Unity Party? Too bad they are copy of your magazine. of your political positions. I shunning the socialist label. Adam Bogacki I found your magazine well- would like to subscribe to In­ They’re organizing now in NSW, Australia written for both those knowl­ dependent Politics, I am a stu­ Madison. The various left/ edgeable of politics and new dent at UCSD and a group of progressive parties are coa­ activists. I only hope that those us will be sharing the issues. lescing under an umbrella New Reader Support of us who support the F.I. Thanks, (Fourth International) can group called Progressive Dane Yesterday I received a unify our efforts instead of (for Dane County), like is be­ Antigona Martinez sample copy of Independent remaining separated. I am ing done in Milwaukee. La Jolla, CA Politics! Thanks a lot! enclosing a small contribution. Keep up the good work. Today I send the request for Please send me future issues Your subscription price is right I read an article from Inde­ the subscription. I am a of your magazine. and your analysis right-on! pendent Politics on NAFTA graduate student at George which came to me via the Mason University, originally Bennett Satinoff Susan Vilbrandt ACTIV-L mail list and, pre­ from Puerto Rico. New York Madison, Wisconsin sumably, Peacenet. I found it I want to know more about Malcolm X for very interesting and would be your organization and posi­ Alternative Reading grateful for a sample copy of tions. Please send subscription From Montreal your magazine. Hasta la vista! info and a sample issue of In­ Rick Kuhn dependent Politics. I just read I saw an article on the need ACT, Australia Elio Ramos-Colon the piece on Malcolm X & for change in the strategy of Fairfax, VA Black Politics on Peacenet and activism in South Africa on

Spring 1993 31 INDEPENDENT POLITICS W orkers W orld Big Business Media Steps Up Cuba-Bashing

By MO HARRY embargo and blockade. The mainstream media also refuses to he big business media has had litde describe the incredible resourcefulness of coverage on the historically sig­ the Cuban system. Though faced with dire T nificant Caravan to Cuba that shortages of basic necessities due to the succeeded in breaking through the U.S. 33-year U.S. blockade, Socialist Cuba is blockade against that country in November still able to feed and clothe every person 1992. Instead, there have been a rash of on the island. Cubans use bicycles to help defy oil short­ reactionary articles about how little “de­ Virtually ignored, news about the 15 ages. mocracy” exists in Cuba. tons of humanitarian aid collected by U.S. The Baltimore Sun (Dec.21,1992) titled citizens for the Cuban people consisted, $200,000 fine for violating the U.S. an article “Cubans Show Little Enthusi­ at most, of two-inch articles buried in the “Trading With The Enemy” act. Five asm in Vote.” It states that Cuba is now newspapers. This same news made head­ people, including a CNN reporter, were allowing political parties outside the lines all over Mexico and Latin America. arrested at the border by Laredo police Communist Party to run candidates for U.S. media failed to mention the diffi­ on petty charges that were later dropped. office and that one in five candidates ran culty in crossing the border into Mexico Federal misdemeanor charges are still campaigns independent of the CP in re­ with the aid, or when U.S. federal agents being pressed against one caravan par­ cent municipal elections. The article nearly turned the caravan back. But they ticipant. Some of the aid to Cuba was mentions that 80 percent of eligible vot­ were forced to let the aid through due to confiscated by U.S. authorities but most ers took part in the elections (an almost the thousands of calls and telegrams from of the supplies, consisting of much-needed unheard of amount in the U.S.) but that around the world in support of the cara­ medicine, wheelchairs, bicycles, and food “few Cubans were excited about them.” van, and to the perseverance of the 104 did reach Cuba. All the mass media stories about Cuba caravan drivers. These volunteer drivers It is apparent that the major press in have had a Cuba-bashing slant to them. converged on Laredo,Texas from around the United States is falling in line with The recent stories of defectors from Cuba the U.S. for the crossing into Mexico, where the federal government’s agenda in pro­ to the U.S. make big news. Headlines cry the supplies were loaded onto ships for pagandizing against Cuba. How the U.S. out about individuals forsaking “social­ Cuba. rulers’ plans will unfold in their attempt ism” to embrace “democracy.” Caravan organizer Tom Hansen, of the to restore capitalism to Cuba in the com­ The stories that never seem to make Cuba Friendshipment Project, said the ing years remains to be seen. President the mainstream news, however, are those drivers were “brave and doing what’s just; Clinton has promised to see so-called about the U.S. role in trying to starve the following their consciences”. They faced democracy reinstituted in Cuba against Cuban people into submission through a potential of 10 years in prison and the will of the majority of the people there who support the progressive nature of their SUBSCRIBE country. As opposed to the United States, the Please clip and mail to: aisp Cuban people regularly rally in defense P.O. Box 78241 San Francisco, CA 94107 of their country, where their combined To call AISP: (415) 337-7959 efforts maintain the basic necessities of I Name______employment, housing, health care, edu­ cation and nourishment for every indi­ I Address______vidual living there. | City/State/Zip______The Cuban people have persevered I Organization/Union______Telephone through three decades of U.S. harassment and do not seem willing to give up their I □ I want to SUBSCRIBE to Independent □ I want to join Activists for Indepen­ autonomy to the interests of world capi­ . Politics for $8.00 for 4 issues dent Socialist Politics. Enclosed is $15 tal now. They have remained steadfast I (including $______postage). (including $ ______subscription). in their desire to maintain a society dedi­ | □ I want to SUBSCRIBE at the $15.00 □ I want more information. cated to supporting all of its people. I international rate. □ I want to support your efforts. . □ I want to SUBSCRIBE at the $24.00 Enclosed is $______contribution. We in the United States must demon­ I institutional rate. □ Keep me informed of your activities. strate solidarity with the people of Cuba Enclosed is $______for mailing costs. as they face new attacks from the U.S. L government. ▼

INDEPENDENT POLITICS 32 Spring 1993