VoJ. 1. No. 1 May 1, 2005 revcom.us $1

After^eJ^e i From the|| of Siria^ by Micbaeirs 7

Rememberttii the Gates by Dre^il Sp REVTOLUnON I revcom.us j May 1. 8005

Welcome to Issue No.1 of Revolution Newspaper!

To our readers: We are extending the contest we announced,several This special May 1, 2005 issue of our newspaper weeks ago for new masthead designs. marks the end of 26 years of Revolutionary Worker/Obrero Revoiucionario—and the beginning of REVOLUTION DESIGN A NEW MASTHEAD FOR Revolution/Revolucfon. REl/OLL/r/OA/NEWSPAPER ' In This Issue In a future issue, we will lay out more fully the thinking Design elements should include: behind the change from RWto Revolution. But in Title: REVOLUTION Editorial: Introducing REVOLUTION short, we believe that the new name more fully Subhead: Voice of the Revolutionary Communist reflects our revolutionary communist ideology and pol Party If You Want to Change the World, itics, and the enriched vision of a tribune of the people Website: revcom.us You Need to Know Bob Avakian that has been pioneered by RCP Chairman Bob Issue info: volume number, issue number, date, Avakian. and price Masthead designs should be printable in three color Wanted: As part of the new transformation we have embarked A Massive as well as in black and red. on, we are working to create a fresh graphic look that Entries should include mastheads for both a newspa Movement captures the spirit of revolutionary communism in the to Drive the Bush per and magazine format, in English and Spanish. Regime 21st century. Submit as many entries as you like. from Power Send entries to: 5 Our graphic look is still "under construction." In partic ular, this May Day issue has a special masthead on email: [email protected] All the Reasons Why "We Can't the front page. The masthead is a very important ele by mail: Revolution Redesign, c/o RCP Publications, Leave Iraq",., ment of any publication. The masthead that appears in PO Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago IL 60654 and Why All Those Reasons Are Revolution No. 1 is a work in progress. We invite peo Wrong ple broadly to be part of the process of finalizing the Include printout, camera-ready copy, and file on disk masthead in the coming weeks. in any common graphic format. Indicate program info Los Angeles: on disk. There is Something Beginning Here We would like to hear from artists, designers, design First prize: A set of five historic full-color revolutionary students, and others. Send in your comments on the posters special masthead that appears in this issue; sugges Three runners-up: Full-color historic May 1st, 1980 The Revolutionary Communist 4 tions for variations or modifications; or different ideas poster Speaking Tour for the Revolution masthead.

Aft:er the Sea Stood Up - From the Tsunami Zone of Sri Lanka by Michael Slate 7 Create Public Opinion for RevGiution Changes in the World and the "Clash of Civilizations"— Within This Civilization on a Grand Scale by Bob Avakian We encourage you to join in the special May First Remembering the Gates effort to distribute by Dread Scott 10 100.000 copies of this issue of Revolution newspaper", and Late Night 5,000 copies of the DVD samplers of Bob Avakian's talk "Revolution: Under The Gates Why It's Necessary. Why It's Possible. What It's All About" by Alice Woodward • Contact RCP Publications or your local Revolution Books to order bundles of Revolution and stacks of the DVD 11 samplers. • Organize your friends and comrades to make and carry out plans to get Revolution out broadly—among the proletarian people and all strata of society. Scenes from • Develop networks for expanding waves of distribution throughout this summer and fall, so that Revolution becomes a Nepal: reference point for millions. The Daring of • Contribute generously to make this effort possible and successul. Revolution, The Shoots of the Future by Li Onesto 12 An Open Letter: The People of the World Need the Truth— What was Communism's Past? VVhat is Communism's Future? by Penny Brown 13 From the CoRIM: May 1st. 2005 - Communism in the 21st Century 14

In the period ahead, our website will be going through further changes. At the same time, we want everyone revcom.us to know that our old address (rwor.org) will continue to You can now use this new address — revcom.us — function—now and on into the future. We will not This special issue of Revolution will to reach Revolution Online, the web edition of cause existing links to break. And we- intend to keep be on the streets for two weeks. Revolution newspaper. the full archives of the Revolutionary Worker available Issue #2 of our weekly newspaper online. People who have bookmarked our site, its will be dated May 15, 2005, and will Help us promote this address and our website every "what's new" page, and specific articles will continue to appear in print and on the web dur where. Link to it online. Put it boldly on leaflets, signs connect, ing the week of May 9, 2005. and wherever it can be seen. May 1, 2Q05| REVOLUTION j revcom.us

GC Invitation

Ui to Revolution

On this occasion of the May 1st holiday—we in the dispossessed dying of AIDS in Africa: Revolution will American vigilantes hunting immigrants on the border?! Revolutionary Communist Party are proud to introduce vividly bring to the surface the life-and-death stories and Revolution will show how all these oppressive things the first issue of Revolution newspaper! What you have conditions of those on the bottom of society—around the are lied to a particular system that is based on exploiting in your hands is no ordinary newspaper. world—the hidden realities that reveal a scandalous sys the labor of billions of people all over the world...a sys This newspaper is the voice of the Revolutionary tem and the potential of the people. tem that isfundamentally worthless. Further, Revolution Communist Party.USA and exists for no other reason Our motto is "no secret upsurges": We aim to be a will show how all this is particularly outrageous, since than to play a role in the emancipation of humanity. vehicle for news of every outbreak of protest and rebel the world doesn't have to be this way. As comrades and students of RCP Chairman Bob lion in every sphere of society. Revolution will also reveal the true natyre of different Avakian we are passionate about the truth and we are We are internationalists. Revolution will feature the events in society, the different and conflicting class inter passionate about revolution. Our press is objective— stories of people fighting for liberation throughout the ests and class forces involved. Take the Terri Schiavo committed to the idea that only by confronting reality as world—often against our own rulers in the U.S.—com case—what did this tell us about the rise and power of the it is can the masses of people know and change the world. bating the slanders and reporting the true goals of insur Christian rightwing fundamentalists? Where is this trend And we are partisan—committed to the idea that the peo gencies. Stories in the tradition of widely-read series fea toward imposing religious standards on all of society ple can free humanity from all kinds of enslaving eco tured in the Revolutionary Worker such as Li Onesto's heading? Or take the last presidential election—why is nomic and social relations and enslaving ideas. the Democratic Party fundamentally unable to answer the !i< demands of its base, who largely opposed the Iraq war and the bible-based moral crusades of the right-wing? Formerly called the Revolutionary Worker, Revolution Millions of people are raising huge questions regard is coming out swinging—hitting the streets with 100,000 ing the nature and direction of society. As old assump copies and daring to dream of a whole different world. tions are torn apart. Revolution will be in the mix, This first issue comes in a time of great polarization in stretching a line to different corners of society, making U.S. society. the case that what is fundamentally needed is a revolu The promise of unending war on the world made by tionary transformation of society—yes—a revolution and George W. Bush and company is being delivered with a a whole new organization of society.. vengeance. One hundred thousand lives and three hun dred billion dollars later, there is no end in sight. At the An Enriched Understanding same time powerful rightwing Christian fundamentalist forces are aggressively seeking to transform the U.S. into of the Reuoiutionary Press a high-tech theocratic state. The mission of Revolution is not just to tell it like it There are millions who oppose all of this. Still, there is is, as important as that is. The mission of Revolution is a major battle to be waged over what kind of world we also to enable its readers to make a scientific assessment will live in. It is our analysis that if the people do not and analysis of all events in society and the world. Its oppose the current direction of society with massive mission and role is to enable its readers to see how all dif resistance, and things are left in the hands of those in ferent strata and classes respond to the events of the power, we could be living in a world where old tradi day—the big earthshaking events and the things that peo tional shackles meet new technology, where rotten fun ple are talking about in whispers. damentalist ideas serve and legitimate an insatiable In this way, an ever-expanding network of conscious bloodlust for profit. This horrible vision would be a soci thinkers, dreamers, and fighters will gather around this ety where modem-day U.S. imperialism would be run by newspaper, and we will be able to prepare—not only to religious fanatics. Your worst nightmare meets your take the streets against the outrages of today, but for a worst nightmare. REVOLUTION time when a real revolution is possible. This is a basic But today, at the very moment we are haunted by a new communist understanding of the role of a revolutionary "Dark Ages" mentality, the communist project is going newspaper, and through his works, method and approach, through a Renaissance, as Bob Avakian has reimagined the Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, the process of socialist revolution. Bob Avakian, has deepened and enriched this under We have a fighting chance for another future. This standing of the role of a revolutionary newspaper and future could take human potential and human societyto communists generally. untold heights. An impossible dream? No. If we get way Revolution aims to be a tribune of the people—a liv up on the mountaintop of history and look down on the ing link between all that we are domg now, the work and march of humanity, the potential for such a world struggle against the injustices of this system at any given becomes clear. From this sweeping vantage point we can point and our final goal of a communist world. In this see that there is the basis for a world without classes, sense. Revolution plays a role of not only keeping peo without oppressive social divisions. A communist world. "Dispatches" on the people's war in Nepal and Michael ple's "eyes on the prize" of a communist future, but also Revolution newspaper dares to imagine just that. Slate's series on the "War Stories" about South Africa. where we are at in the game. While society today is deeply polarized—and some have At the same time Revolution aims to engage with Revolution aims to bring the masses of people into the even talked of a pre-Civil War atmosphere—there is a artists, scientists, progressive thinkers and writers, for whole revolutionary process —to be at the center of a big need to recast this polarization, to repolarize society so ward-looking intellectuals and innovators—young and conversation about what is the core problem in the world that real solutions are increasingly contending with reac old. Through the pages of this newspaper, readers will be and the essential solution to that problem. How is that tionary forces and ideas, to repolarize society so that the able to leam about different fields of inquiry, like the solution achievable, and how can it be achieved? How are interests of the people are a much stronger, battling force. stunning series on evolution in the Revolutionary Worker we going to get to a revolutionary situation? How will we From the standpoint of making communist revolution by Ardea Skybreak, and those making new break know when such a time is right? What will revolutionary and transforming the world this repolarization is essen throughs—amazing us with their works and challenging society look like? And how will people be fit to run soci tial. Central to this is the role of Revolution newspaper, traditional ideas. As communists, we see this process of ety when the revolution comes? as truth in preparation for revolutionary struggle and the engaging in discussion and learning from those who hold transformation of society. different views as vital to our whole project. But how does a mere newspaper play such a role? Is it Revolution will be enriched by the writings and talks Revolution has very ambitious plans—we plan to really that central to the resistance of the people and of the leader of the Revolutionary Communist Party, change the world! Corresponding to the radical future we beyond that bringing into being a new kind of society? Chairman Bob Avakian. His works—which challenge aim to bring into being we see the role of a newspaper Who should be checking out such a newspaper? and inspire, provoke and break new ground —will appear like this as critical. In times like these, the need for such regularly in this press. And this press will also fight to a newspaper takes on an even greater role. And Up on the Mountain and reflect this far-seeing, scientific outlook, method and Revolution will assume even greater importance as the approach—cutting edge, poetic, and fun. revolutionary situation develops, when people in their Down on the Ground millions will be looking for guidance on how to live and We aim to surprise you. Exposing the Inner VUorkings of an how to die, and when the changing shape of public opin In these pages, you will find a unique mix of the fasci Outmoded System ion will have very direct implications for the timing of a nating and must-read "life and death" questions con revolutionary uprising. fronting the people and the planet: science, economics, Revolution takes as its mission sharply exposing the ***♦ politics, philosophy, art, sexuality, women's liberation, inner workings of this so-called "best of all possible worlds." Breaking the spell of misinformation, lies and We invite you into this process. We invite readers into national oppression, atheism, religion, ecology, episte- this critical discussion over the very future of humanity. mology—and a new morality for a revolutionary people. deceit that cover over the true nature of the U.S. system, this newspaper will pull no punches. We invite readers to dream with us, struggle with us and One of the few weekly bilingual newspapers in the learn from us. We invite readers to get to know our U.S., Revolution aims to be a vehicle that gives voice to What about the devastation of the Iraqi and Afghani people—where are those weapons of mass destruction?! Chairman, Bob Avakian, and why we hold him in such the voiceless. high regard. We wish to learn from you as well and look From prisoners to people in the housing projects to the What about the kids in the ghettos and barrios whose lives are snuffed out by trigger-happy cops?! What about forward to your thoughts and criticisms, suggestions and immigrants along the U.S./Mexico border, from the ideas. young women caught in the international sex trade to the government-sanctioned torture of prisoners from peasants trapped in the sweatshops of Sri Lanka to the Guantanamo to Pelican Bay?! What about the all- 4 1 REVOLUTION j revcom.us [ May 1, 2005 If You Want to Change the World... You Need to Know Bob Avakian

that shaped Bob Avakian. You see how he ism," available online at revcom.us. The Coming Civil War and Repolarization for Bob Avakian is the leader of the came to be a revolutionary leader, and how Chairman gets into the great achievements, Revolution in the Present Era," now appear Revolutionary Communist Party he's managed to stay true to his revolution of past revolutions, even as he critically ing in Revolution newspaper, where the and a pathbreaking Marxist thinker. ary ideals through the challenges of over sums up their weaknesses. Beyond that, he Chairman's work appears almost every He follows the truth wherever it goes—and three decades. You come to know him as a sets forth a vision of a society moving he's not afraid to put it out there, either. He week. All of these are available at person. And you leam a hell of a lot about toward the elimination of all oppression revcom.us. calls out the powers-that-be with a fire, communist politics and ideology in the and providing the vibrancy that would And that's just the beginning. He's writ depth, and humor that is one-of-a-kind. He process! make it a place where people would really ten a host of important books and pam boldly defends the experience and ideas of The next place to go is to your computer, want to live. phlets on a wide range of subjects, includ communism...and he just as boldly criti to bum a few CDs off the Internet. Online. Some similar themes—along with a ing Democracy: Can't We Do Better Than cizes its shortcomings and points to a bobavakian.net contains speeches, com whole range of philosophical and cultural That?, Preaching from a Pulpit of Bones whole new vision for the future. He ana plete with questions and answers, focusing issues—are taken up in the new book co- (on religion and Christian fascism), Could lyzes how a real revolution could be made on religion and democracy—and resis written by Bob Avakian and Bill Martin, We Really Win? (on military strategy). in a country like this, in a time like today. tance, revolution, and liberation. You've Marxism and the Call of the Future—avail Phony Communism Is Dead...Long Live In short. Bob Avakian is bringing some never heard anyone call things out like this able from Open Court's website at Real Communism! and many more. thing really new onto the scene, and you've before. You can also listen to revolutionary www.opencourtbooks.com. A leader like this only comes along once got to find out what it's all about. journalist Michael Slate ask—and You've also got to read or hear Bob in a great while. When we get one, we need There's two places to start the process. Chairman Avakian answer—the toughest Avakian's analysis of the dynamics of the to cherish him and defend him against the The first is the DVDA^ideo Revolution: questions about revolution and commu heavy events of today, the real forces shap powers-that-be, and we definitely need to Why It's Necessary, Why It's Possible, and nism. Also, on the Revolution website, ing them...and the actual "fighting chance" get into what he's saying. That's how we What It's All About. Bob Avakian breaks revcom.us, you can hear Carl Dix interview that people may have to wrench a better see Bob Avakian. So check him out, and see down those questions on this video, before the Chairman shortly after 9/11 on war and future out of it all. In addition to the talks what you think. a live audience. You'll see him go at these revolution, and on being a revolutionary on bobavakian.net, check out the articles One last thing. Don't just read, or listen things in a way that's both very deep and and changing the world. "The Truth About Right-Wing to, or watch this stuff alone. Gel some peo very accessible. The second place is his To leam about how Bob Avakian has Conspiracy... And Why Clinton and the ple together who are also losing sleep over memoir, From Ike to Mao and Beyond: My revived and re-shaped the whole idea of Democrats Are No Answer." and "The the future. Play the DVD. Talk about the Journey from Mainstream America to communist revolution, you need to down Pyramid of Power and the Stmggle To Tum memoir. Dig into it. Debate it. Share it with Revolutionary Communist. You leam about load the talk "Dictatorship and Democracy This Whole Thing Upside Down." And everyone you know who is thinking about the people, the experiences, and the times and the Socialist Transition to Commun there's the important new series "The where the planet is headed.

How to Get Works by Bob Avakian Book Release Celebration

Richard Aoki, social activist • Bob Marxism and the Bloom, Attorney • Larry Everest, Author, Revolution: Why It's Necessary, Call of the Future Revolution correspondent • Gabe, DJ Why It's Possible, What It's All CoflMTSatfoRS on Hisioiy, and PtVitm Riddm (Funky Riddms) • Yuri Kochiyama About • Barbara Lubin, Middle East Children's Three Q Productions Alliance* • Tanya Mayo, Not in Our $34.95 4- $4 shipping Name' • Refa One, Oaklandish • Mary a Check/MO to Three Q Productions Prophet, Women for Peace* retired edu Specify format; DVD (Eng/Spa); rym cator • C. Zadick Shapiro, Attorney • VMS (Eng):orVHS (Span) -H . Nima Shokat, Analog Bookstore, Three Q, ■ Berkeley (*for identification purposes 2038 W. Chicago Ave, #126D, only) Chicago, IL 60622 Invite you to a special evening of read Or order online at ings, reflections, music, installations, threeQvideo.com and video—from "back in the day" til now—to celebrate the national release of Bob Avakian's new memoir. From Ike to Mao and Beyond: My Journey from Marxism and the Call of the Mainstream America to Revolutionary Future: Conversations on Communist. The evening will reflect the Ethics, History, and Politics From Ike to Mao and Beyond: My people, places, times, experiences, and by Bob Avakian and Bill Martin Journey from Mainstrea America to culture chronicled in Bob's memoir; the Open Court Press Revolutionary Communist unique mix that created 1960s Berkeley; $37.95 Insight Press the struggles he and many of us were Available online at www.open- $18.95 part of; the music and culture that courtbooks.com (Illinois residents must add 8.75% helped shape his—and our—lives; and Also available online at sales tax) the timelines of what Cornel West calls Amazon.com and at Borders, Available for ordering online at Bob's "powerful story of commitment." Barnes & Noble, and other Amazon.com Coming from diverse outlooks and bookstores Also available at Revolution Books perspectives, we are proud to serve as stores and outlets honorary hosts for this celebration—a multimedia evening of poetry, jazz, exhibits, anecdotes and insights from Could We Really Win those who've known him and watched Phony Communism Is him grow. Berkeley and the San Dead...Long Live Real Francisco Bay Area play a vital role in Communism this story of dedication, and today it's Preaching from a Pulpit of Bones PHOW crucial that progressive and alternative Democracy: Can't We Do Better voices be heard. So there's no better place—or time— for this celebration. We Than That? tOMW ...and other books and pamphlets 01^0350 hope you can attend on May 6. are available from PGR Friday May 6th 7:00 p.m. Publications (PC Box 3486, LONG UK BUT NormNOT rAAWTWNiU King Middle School Auditorium Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL ds 1781 Rose St. (at Grant), 60654) and at Revolution Books Berkeley stores and outlets CONMUNISM! Doors open at 6 p.m. A bob avakian $5-10 sliding scale Download audio files of important No one turned away for lack of funds talks by Bob Avakian from Sponsored by bobavakian.net. Bob Avakian Promo Committee 510-467-3426 A wide range of articles, essays, and serialized writings are available online at the Revolution newspaper web [email protected] site: revcom.us. Audio of the interview by Carl Dix—"Bob Avakian Speaks Out On War and Revolution, On Being a Revolutionary and Changing the World"—is also available on this site. May 1, 20Q5 ] REVOLUTION| revcom.us | 5 Wanted:

A Massive Movement to All the Reasons Drive the Bush Regime Why "We can't leave Iraq" from Power

We received thefollowing from comrades who see an This country now stands before the world and history urgent needfor a major leap in the people's resistance. with a president who condones torture. No wonder the .... and Why All Other countries have driven hated regimes from subjects of the new empire in other countries feel they should have had a vote in this election. This is an utterly power—why not here? Is there any country whose direction has a more disproportionate impact on the intolerable situation and one that growing numbers of people are ready to massively repudiate—including Those Reasons ftiture of the whole planet? thousands if not millions of people who voted for George Too Radical? Bush and are waking up to the ugly reality of what they Today,just six months since the November election and the "revolution" called for by Bush's right-wing Christian bought and what it's wrought. This regime has to be driven from power and it coiild are Wrong supporters, we are witnessing the most radical assault on happen! It is important to recall the millions who were the separation of church and state that this country has ever cific invasion plans of March present in the streets with people across the planet to The cold injustice of the experienced. In a word: this countiy sits on the verge of U.S. invasion of Iraq 2003. He's obviously looking oppose the Iraq war and that just six months ago millions theocracy. Yesterday's "lunatic fringe" now sits securely in stands out starkly. The at Iraq from the global inter the halls of power. When powerful senators threaten engaged in a groundswell of hopeful political activity to justifications for war were ests of the U.S. government . drive Bush from office through voting. But no vision, no federal judges on the Schiavo ciise and then to go on to lies: Iraq had no nukes or and capitalists — and .so single out a Supreme Coun justice for citing international coherent alternative to Bush was ever on the electoral bio-wcapons. It had no ties "stability" means arrange playing field. law in a recent decision barring the execution of minors, with groups like al-Qaida. ments that serve these inter- The world can't wait until 2008 to put a halt to this. you get a whiff not just of flagrant hypocrisy but the stench The British medical journal We don't want to tell future generations "we were of crimes against humanity and where this agenda is The Lancet estimates waiting for the pendulum to swing." We want to tell them headed. 100,000 Iraqi civilians have Bob Avakian remarked we were the people who said NOT IN OUR NAME! These are not ordinary Christians or Conservatives but died in this war—while over that living in the U.S. is Christian Fascists and they are stalking not just the red What is needed is to launch the kind of massive 1,500 U.S. troops have also a little like living i;t resistance that can drive this regime out. states for the control of people's minds. Under the now been killed. And there is no Tony Soprano's hou.se. People November 2, 2005, the anniversary of Bush and famous "moral values" exit polls of 2004 lurk traditional end in sight. have some idea that all tliis Cheney's re-election. How will the first year of the values that have uniquely American strains of piuitanism, The people of Iraq over stuff in the house has some slavery, and genocide. These are theocrats who actually Christian fundamentalist "revolution" look? Will the whelmingly see the U.S. as thing to do with what he does country continue to pitch more and more to the right, with believe that God is speaking through the presidency of brutal occupiers—and these "out there"—but they don't opposition so ineffective that there will be no choice but to George Bush,and Bush has appointed them at every level sentiments fuel the armed generally confront the details be swept along? Or will the whole world witness the of his administration. They intend to put their stamp on resistance. On April 9, over of all that. opening rounds of an upsurge that can conjure up the society and everyone in it—and they have already gone 300,000 people in Baghdad But we clearly can't just specter of Spain and tlie Ukraine, the fall of the Berlin very far. Whether they succeed or fail to get their demanded that U.S. forces look away. We have to dig Wall, or Nixon? It can—if people conceive of themselves "nuclear option" today, they are a monster demanding to leave their country—many (rather fearlessly) into pre as politically at war in an all-out battle for the future. be fed who will not stop until their agenda of theocracy from the city's massive cisely those fundamental Anything less is not commensurate with the challenge power and property relation is fulfilled. Shi'ite slums. we face. Whether they get their way depends hugely on if And yet...within the ships that define our world. We in the RCP are approaching this as repolarizing people face what is unfolding and snap out of a denial U.S., it Is far too common The key problem facing society for revolution, and we are sincere about learning to hear people say,"The humanity is that all the that such a thing could happen here. History is far too from and uniting with people from many different haunted with the memories of people from Germany to invasion was wrong, but we wealth and technology is perspectives who also see the need to rid the world of the Rwanda who never thought that neighbors living side by can't Just leave before stabil controlled by a very few and Bush regime. We can tell you from our personal side and intermarried for generations could possibly be ity is restored." is used in their interests (not experience, talking to people across the country as we on opposite sides or taken off in the night. This meshes closely with in the interests of the vast passed out millions of the statement "The Battle of the majority of people). That is Writing in The New York Times, cultural critic Frank the main remaining claim of Future Will be Fought from Here Forward," that people why incredible oil wealth can Rich aptly put it this way, "the majority of American the Bush administration are waiting for the next wave of protest to be be pumped out of the ground colonists didn't believe in witches during the Salem trials itself—that U.S. troops are unleashed...but they want to know that it will really make in Iraq and the surrounding either—any more than the Taliban reflected the views of bringing "freedom" to Iraq a difference. regions, while the people live a majority of Afghans. At a certain point, and we seem to and so must stay until pro- Very Radical! in bitter poverty. be nearing that point, fear takes over, allowing a mob to U.S. forces are strong enough Let's talk about how to make it happen—contact us at U.S. troops won't "make bully the majority over the short term.(Of course if you to take over. Former [email protected] the people of the U.S. safe," think the end is near there is no long term.)" Secretary of State Colin or "make the people of Iraq Powell has said all along that a conquered Iraq would free." Thai's not what those armies are about. They are "crack like a goblet" and has precisely about enforcing this argued for the Pottery Bam control by the few—specifi Rule: "If you break it, you cally those few who rule the own it." U.S. and have ambitions of What a convenient ruling the whole world. "rule" for aggressors who This occupation of Iraq go around breaking things! emerged from decades of Break enough, and you can scheming to more tightly "own" the whole friggin' dominate the .strategic world! Persian Gulf a/it/ to dictate Leading Democrat terms to those countries (like Howard Dean recently France and Japan) that rely argued for a very similar on the Gulf's oil resources. view: "Now that we're That is why occupied Iraq so there," he told an ACLU quickly became a launching audience, "we're there and pad for bullying neighboring we can't get out." Iran and Syria. Dean argued that an early Why did this occupation pullout could endanger U.S. lead to torture in Abu Ghraib interests: by allowing a pro- and the massive burning of Iranian Shiite theocracy to Fallujah? Because this U.S. come to power, by creating invasion is not about "mak an independent Kurdistan ing the people free" but is that destabilizes Turkey and opposed to the deepest inter Iran, or by creating potential ests of the people of this base areas for al-Qaida-like region. forces. And yet...people still Dean's imperialist world- sometimes say "Isn't a U.S. view nakedly upholds the occupation better than civil right of the U.S. to conquer war or victory by Islamic — even while he quibbles Continued on page 15 Tens of thousands protest at the Republican National Convention, NYC, 2004. over the wisdom of the spe The Bible Taken Uterally is A Horror ^6 1 REVOLUTION { revcom.us| May 1. 20D5 The Revolutionary SpeakingCommunist 4 [RC4)^

Los Angeles There is Something Beginning Here

"Losing My Religion." He is a writer, The following is from a correspondent in Los Angeles: poet, rapper, and actor. Akil is currently Panning tJie city of Los Angeles from afar, your eyes studying for a masters degree in linguis are drawn to the many bright centers—not a massive tics and writing a book on Black culture. downtown business district like New York or Chicago, J06 Veale: Joe Veale is the but pockets of tall buildings .sparkling on tlie skyline. ► '"I but I also see all the way through spokesperson for the Los Angeles Panning away from the bright lights reveals vast stretches branch of the RCP. Joe arrived in L.A. of dilapidated neighborhoods—old houses and stucco I all this shit, all the contradictions during the '92 Rebellion determined to apartment buildings dotted with churches, liquor stores, in society—I actually see a force link up with the courageous fighters and run-down markets. Lining the edges of these neigh in this society that, if it were there and fuse their determination to borhoods are factory and warehouse districts—not the I developed into a revolutionary confront injustice with the science of huge factories of the 1970s, but small mini-factories people, actually could have a go MLM and the cause of communist revo where people do work like packaging coffee, making at it, could have a real chance of lution. Joe is a veteran of the Black furniture, sewing clothes, or assembling machine parts. making revolution, of being the We received thefollowing from Carl Dix Panther Party. In the most impoverished places of the city there is backbone force for revolution, when the and Comrade X. almost nothing you can see from a far-away glance—and conditions were ripe. I see a force of mil Revolution? when you focus in and move down into these neighbor lions and millions and millions—youth In these dangerous times, we need to On the tour we will also be dealing hoods you feel the oppressiveness of the surroundings. and others—for whom this system is a kick off a big conversation about the dire with some things that are really vexing A young Black security guard lives in one of these situation we are confronting and what horror." the people: for example, what's up will neighborhoods and works at a warehouse some distance The RC4 tour is aiming to connect needs to be done. Is revolution really all those crucifixes—gold or other away. He takes the train and the bus to work, always lis that potential and creativity with revolu possible? What does it mean to emanci wise—that are so popular? Why is the tening to the beats in his head that he's dreaming up to tionary science—a powerful combo that pate all of humanity and what does that "Preacherman" speaking for and repre rap over. He works and supports a family and is a firm could actually mean that we would have have to do with Black people's experi senting Black people, including some believer in Islam. a fighting chance to really change things. ence of slavery and oppression which preachere who are hanging out with the Today his backpack is full of leaflets—in English and We are revolutionary communists and continues down to today? Why is com Christian Fascists and the Bush crowd, in Spanish—of the statement from the Revolutionary we do not believe in gods or saviors. We munism the answer and what does it skinning and grinning and spreading that Communist Party: "The Battle for the Future Will Be look reality in the face and we are pas mean for people to be communists and poison among Black people? Fought From Here Forward." to get involv^ in a communist move sionate about changing the world. We What about all that dissin' and dis- On his way to work he stops at the gas station where ment? respectin' the sisters and all that "man he always picks up snacks. The cashier smiles and Interested? Well, the RC4 Tour is Carl Dix: RCP National Spokesperson. hood" shit? Why do young women with warmly welcomes him as he opens his backpack to take headed your way. In 1970 Carl was one of six active duty so much creativity and potential think out the leaflets. Her first language is Spanish, but she What kind of leadership do we need? GI's at Ft. Lewis who refused orders to that the only thing they can do in life is says in English that he's come just in time because she's How do you judge revolutionary leader Vietnam. A veteran revolutionary politi to make babies? run out of Spanish leaflets. She points to the counter ship —is it based on nationality or is it cal activist, Carl was formerly with the What about all that hip-hop capitalism where there are some English ones left and an empty based on a vision of where we need to go Black Workers Congress and ^e African and entrepreneurialism? How can the space where the Spanish had been. He stacks the refills and how we look at people and the Liberation Day Support Committee. He masses change the world if the very peo for her and tells her he'll bring more Spanish next time. whole process of getting out of the represented the RCP,USA at the founding ple who need revolution the most are She explains that the trucker from Mexicali came to pick nightmare and into our dreams? press conference for the Revolutionary caught up in all that "bling-bling" and up more than usual for the truck slops on his route. He Is communism a European ideology? Intemationalist Movement in London in "gettin' paid and gettin' rich" and asks if she's watched the DVD of Bob Avakian, Are Black people too much into religion 1984. And he helped co-found the "pimpin' and playin' " and "bangin' and Revolution: Why It's Necessary, Why It's Possible, to be attracted to communism? What October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police slangin'"? What's It All About, that he brought her last time. She about spirituality: is it true that commu Brutality in 1996. Our beautiful sisters and brothers says it's great and that she's passing it around to her fam need to start "fighting the powers that ily members. nism is cold and devoid of soul? Comrada X: in 1990, the Revo What future does the Bush team have be"—"sang it" Public Enemy—and I asked this young spreader^of-leaflets how he hap lutionary Worker newspaper published a start being revolutionaries and commu pened to connect with this immigrant woman at the gas for the youth in the ghettos and barrios? lengthy interview with Comrade X. As a Military uniforms and prayer books— nists and emancipators of humanity! station. He said that after some conversations, she told young man Comrade X spent many years killing people like us in other countries, This tour is right on time. We are rest him he wasn't like most of the Black people she sees behind bars in "correctional" institutions dying for an empire that is treating us less and we are ready to hit the road. So come through there. Her impression of Black people had and became a revolutionary while in look out, here we come, dropping sci been that they don't like to work and they don't like like trash and getting down on our knees prison — leading prison rebellions and to thank a non-existent god for it. And ence as we travel from one end of the immigrants. When she said he was different, she meant other political activity. Influenced by the country to another. because he works every day and because he treats her as what's up with Bill Cosby's tirade about revolutionary leaders and movements of personal responsibility and why is he We need big funds right away to an equal. He talked to her about the history of Black peo the 1960s, including Malcolm X, George make this important speaking tour a real ple in this country and how Black people and immi objectively playing the role of a flunkey Jackson and the Black Panther Party, Mao for the ruling class (the powers-that-be) ity. We call on everyone—masses in the grants from Mexico have ended up in the same poor and the Great Proletarian Cultural ghettos and barrios, youth and students, neighborhoods together, oppressed by the same system. with all that drivel? Revolution (GPCR) in China, upon his Can we really rise up and actually get and revolutionary-minded people in the He told her that Black people need to fight not just for release from prison Comrade X met Bob arts, sciences, sports, hip hop, the Black our freedom? themselves but for everybody and that Black and Latino Avakian and recognized in him unique media, teachers, lawyers, doctors—to people need to learn each other's histories. He was draw These are all big questions. And the and special qualities as a leader and also RC4 tour is hitting the road, coming donate generously to make it possible ing inspiration from one of his favorite parts of the your way to get into all this and more— his enormous sense of humor. Comrade for this speaking tour to happen. Get in Revolution DVD. X's writings for the revolutionary press touch. Help us spread the word. And with no holds barred. In a neighborhood nearby, a Black high school stu range from an essay on Martin Luther invite us to your town. dent is studying another part of that DVD, which he got If we are going to be liberators of King and the Vietnam War to commen humanity, we gotta have a revolutionary, Contact: from his uncle in the projects. He's already seen it once. tary on Muhammad All and boxing to a But when his teacher gave an assi^ment to write about scientific way of looking at the world major analysis of demographic changes The Revolutionary Communist 4 and approaching all questions. We need Speaking Tour a leader he looks up to, Avakian was the first one to in the 1980s, "Class Polarization Among come to mind. So he's going back over some parts of the the leadership of Bob Avakian, the Black People." P.O. Box 941, Knickerbocker Station Chairman of the Revolutionary New York, NY 10003-0900 DVD to write the paper. Communist Party. We say straight up Akil BomanI: Akil Somani is a Email: [email protected] The student's uncle is also fairly young and wants to that Bob Avakian is a visionary and cre member of the Chicago Revolutionary Phone/Fax: 866-841-9139 x2670 help move people in a revolutionary direction. When he ative revolutionary communist thinker Writers and Artists Collective and a cor read the "Battle for the Future" leaflet, his imagination Watch the Internet for our website. and leader who is serious about leading a respondent to Revolution newspaper. took flight. He answered with a resounding "YES!" to revolution in this country. Listen to the Growing up in the streets of Chicago in You can al.so contact Carl Dix the question posed at the end: "Are YOU ready to moke love he has for the people: the 1990s with his Pentecostal mom, c/o Revolution Books, 9 West 19th a real difference—to not only spread the word of resis "One of the things that I see, some Akil searched for answers. He speaks Street, New York, NY 10011 tance and revolution, but make that a real alternative in society?" thing that I haven't lost sight of, is this: I powerfully to how he came to be a revo or call 866-841-9139 x2670, see all the strength of the ruling class. lutionary communist in his article or email [email protected] Continued on page 15 the Sea Stood Up

A man pointing to how high the flood waters reached in his house, Galle. Introducing a new series from the tsunami zone of Sri Lanka by Michael Slate

/ fmve been back inside the U.S.for less than a meters high. day. Over the last six weeks I traveled all over "I ran far before the water reached me. My Sri Lanka and talked with all kinds ofpeople wife and child were with her brother inland about the tsunami and the oppression and suf and were safe. I was eaten by the sea. I found fering that is still unfolding —four months myself on top of a coconut tree after the after the giant waves smashed the .'shoreline tsunami. My village was destroyed. We were and the lives of hundreds of thousands ofSri a small village, but now there is nothing, not Lankan people. even tents for shelter. Our village is gone, and To celebrate the birth o/Revolution newspa now the government says we can't rebuild per, I wanted to contribute afew paragraphs because there is a law that says we can't live to introduce a new series of articles and to in a house so close to the beach. My boat was complement the photos taken by my traveling destroyed so I have no work." companion, the photographer Mukai. Ramasamy pointed to a huge tree trunk— maybe 20 feet long with a diameter of about 4 There is a beach just north of the town of feet—and explained that it appeared on the Trincomalee on the northeast coast of Sri beach about a month after the tsunami. Lanka. It's one of the most beautiful beaches "People came to look at it, and they said it in the world with miles of soft white sand, the came from Indonesia. Then came the body of warm waters of the Indian Ocean, coconut a little girl. She also came from Indonesia. trees and monkeys. During low tide you can Then came coconuts, Indonesian coconuts; walk hundreds of yards out into the ocean there were coconuts all along the beach. The across a soft sand seabed and still be .standing government said we shouldn't eat them, that in water only five feet deep. they were dangerous. We were hungry and On a hot evening I stood talking with now we have nothing, so many of us ate the Ramasamy, a boatman who lived in a village a coconuts." m couple of hundred yards away from a beach As nightfall crept up, Ramasamy's two front resort hotel. Ramasamy is Tamil, an friends joined our conversation. They showed oppressed nationality in Sri Lanka. He talked me photos of their families and pointed out a about his life as a boatman—sometimes carry wife, an uncle and a child lost to the tsunami. ing cargo along the coast, or local people to One of them pointed to his village and then to other villages, and sometimes operating coast urilffrom I the hotel. In an angry voice he demanded to esia ihat^ j line tours for tourists. Business was never know why the village was destroyed and why

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8 j REVOLUTIDN| revcom.us | May 1. 2005

EDITORS' NOTE: This is part of a series of excerpts on various subjects—drawn from conversations and discussions, as well as more formal talks, by Bob Avakian—which we will be running in this newspaper over the next period of time. This has been edited for publication and footnotes have been added. dynamics are going to change dramatically / Just briefly, let's talk about the dialectical again. Some people, including some generally relation between the international and the progressive people, leff to their own devices, domestic dimensions of what is going on, and are perhaps going to join the Christopher what has gone on over several decades. Let's Hitchens' in deciding to cast their lot with the look at some key conjunctures and nodal points. Christian theocratic fascists of U.S. imperial Where did all this stuff that the '60s was part of come from, what was the underlying basis of ism rather than the Islamic theocratic fascists. Now, that is a metaphor for saying that a lot of that? It was the resolution of World War 2, and the forces who right now don't think they can what arose out of that on an international scale, live in the same world with these Christian and what became the principal contradiction in Fascists will, in those circumstances (of further the world—between the oppressed nations of attacks on U.S. soil) be inclined to go under the the Third World and imperialism—and other umbrella of whatever the government in the things we've analyzed in connection with that. U.S. is, even if it's a Christian Fascist one, to The transformations in the southern U.S. were protect themselves. If we allow that dynamic to related to that—the changes in southern agri go on, things will become worse, even much culture and related political, social, and cultural worse, than they are now. And, on the other changes—and this, in tum, was related to what hand, not only progressive people but even peo was going on in the world as a whole, both eco ple like Andrew Sullivan, who is gay, should be nomically but also superstructurally (in terms of reminded of the Niemoller statement (in Nazi politics, ideology, and culture). There was the Germany: First they came for the communists, civil rights movement that arose in that context, but he was not a communist so he did noth and the Vietnam war also arose in that context. ing...') and think about whose wing they believe In other words, without being mechanical, they can crawl up under. there's plenty of international dimension that That was tlie point that came up sharply in a has played and ultimately is playing a deter recent Bill Maher show—in particular the com mining role in all this. ments by D.L. Hughley, who insisted: I believe And then go to the situation today. What sets in Jesus, but I don't believe Jesus resides only in the context for all this is the resolution of the the "red states" (where Bush and the contradiction with the Soviet Union—"the end Republicans carried the vote). Andrew Sullivan, of the Cold War," as it is put—by highly unex who was also on that show, was getting all pected means: the collapse of the Soviet Union. Changes in the puffed up, and so Bill Maher says to him: And then there is superstructural stuff going on "Well, try going into one of those churches in in relation to and in the context of that, in all Mississippi and see how you..." And Sullivan different kinds of ways, including different sec cut in: "I da belong to a church, and I'm quite tions of the ruling class in the U.S. trying to welcome in it." And they both, Hughley and and the forge new strategies and new consensus. And Maher, responded: "In Mississippi?!" That's it's true that, as a comrade pointed out, Clinton where the gay question and the Black national did try to bring forward a new consensus; but it question come together—in Mississippi (liter was within the same fundamental framework as ally and metaphorically). has historically existed within the U.S. What "Clash of Civiliza Clinton was doing was objectively bringing 1. "First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak greater hardship for masses of people, but up because I wasn't a Communist. "Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up frankly it was not bringing a "clash of civiliza because 1 wasn't a Jew. tions" right within this civilization, if you want "Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak to put it that way. It was not bringing two dif up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Within This Civi ferent "irreconcilable"—or, to put it in different "Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. and perhaps better terms, philosophically, two "Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left antagonistically opposed worlds and world- to speak up." views directly up against each other. And that is —Pastor Martin Niemoller, imprisoned by the Nazis from by Bob Avakian, Chairman of the Revolutionary C 1937-1945. Initially a supporter of Hitler. Niemoller what's being posed now. realized too late what the Nazis were all about. Niemoller There is a particularity that they're talking We can't be reductionist: The leading edge in criticized himself in this now famous quote and gave many speeches criticizing his fellow clergy, and other about with Mississippi too. Andrew Sullivan the Republican Party is this Christian Fascism, Now, the fact is, if there is another event like progressive people, for not opposing the Nazis when they can find a church in New York or Washington, the Republican Party is the leading party, and September 11, the configuration and the had a chance. but he will have a hard time finding one in right now the ruling party, in the U.S. and bour Mississippi. There's still a particularity to geois politics in this country is increasingly Mississippi. Malcolm X was right in making dominated by one party, the Republicans...so here is going to be a battle over what is truth and how do you arrive the point, "Stop talking about the South—as therefore the country is already fascist. That is at the truth. There is so-called "bihiically-based" truth vs. actual long as you're south of the Canadian border, not a correct way of reasoning, not correct truth. There is going to be fierce struggle over these epistemological you're south." But still there is another side to methodologically. You can't go mathemati questions as well as political struggle. it. There is still a South. My point about the cally—by mathematical reduction—to arrive at Bible belt and the lynching belt—how they are a conclusion like that. In fact, it is not even the the same—is not that the South is the only place case that a Christian Fascist consensus has won they have ever lynched people, but there is a out within the ruling class at this point. That has point there. not happened yet, and we should not confuse things. This is not being ruled as a Christian Fascist biblically based country—at this point. In any case, this is the dynamic that's in play But there are forces fighting for that who are now, and it is important to understand that there not going to be satisfied until that is the way the is a difference between Hitler getting appointed country is being ruled. It's got to be a biblically Chancellor and the Nazis having totally consol based, militarized, patriarchal and male idated power and crushing and eliminating the supremacist, and, yes, white supremacist soci opposition. Without being mechanical, that ety—that is in essence the Christian Fascist pro analogy is indeed very relevant to what is going gram. And, yes, this means that their religious on in the U.S. now. fundamentalist epistemology must be in com I agree with the point (made by another com mand. rade), 1 do think Bush acuially believes this fun There is going to be a battle over what is truth damentalist shit, but he is also the president of and how do you arrive at the truth. There is so- the United States and he can't simply be a called "biblically based" truth vs. actual truth. Christian Fascist. I believe he is a Christian There is going to be fierce struggle over these Fascist, but at this point he can't simply be a epistemological questions as well as political Christian Fascist. That makes for (and reflects) struggle. Wliat is truth? These right-wingers another complexity. And there is a difference write things like, "People claim Bush 'lied'"— between what is the leading edge in the and they put "lied" in quotes—about Iraq and Republican Party and what is the character of WMD [BA laughs]. I mean, here you see the society overall, at this point at least. clearly that this is a battle of epistemology. Bob Avakian at the Wall of the Communards, Paris, 1983. May 1, 2005| REVGLUTIGN \ revcom.us| 9

.his Christian Fascist element is not going to go away. That is the point 11 keep coming back to: They are not going to go away, and they are not going to give up. As other people haue said, this is a monster that's demanding to be fed. It's stayed on its leash pretty much because it's been promised to be fed. But it has its own dynamics.

since. If you read the supplement on the Clinton to try to win them over to a progressive, and impeachment ("The Truth About Right-Wing indeed to a revolutionary, position. But, pre Conspiracy... and Why Clinton and the cisely in order to do that to the maximum extent Democrats Are No Answer")^ it talks about two possible, it is necessary to understand, in a thor phenomena at work, in terms of the problems oughly materialist way, what their social posi the ruling class has in promoting patriotism, tion is, and what it has been, how that is chang especially blind patriotism—people not being ing and what are the, very contradictory, patriotic enough, from the point of view of the responses this calls forth among them, rather ruling class. One is the '60s thing—everything than just looking at them through some gener that millions of people learned through that ally populist lens that fails to take note of whole experience, which makes them not want important economic, social, cultural and ideo to be very patriotic, or certainly not blindly and logical distinctions among different sections of unquestioningly patriotic—and the other is pre the people. For example, within a broad cate cisely the '90s thing—all this "gold rush" (get gory like "working people," there are impover rich quick) shit makes for a lot of individualism, ished proletarians, who are bitterly exploited by and it doesn't make for much self-sacrifice for the capitalists who employ them, or are denied the "larger imperialist good." It isn't just the employment altogether, at least much of the one phenomena that's being talked about there. time; and there are, on the other hand, self- We should understand the nuances, the grada employed working people and even small busi tions, the levels, the contradictory character, the ness people who may do some work themselves particularity, all of that. but also employ, and exploit, a few others. There is right now this whole battle shaping While the people in all these categories are in a up over these two different worlds and world- vastly different position from the truly rich and views. And there are millions and millions of powerful ruling class of capitalists, at the same people, right now, non-religious and religious time there are significant differences among people, who are deeply troubled by what is hap these different strata among the people, and pening—and there are a lot of people who are these differences have a definite effect on their World religious among the basic masses who are say outlook and how they respond to being further ing, "We are fucked by this Bush thing." That pushed down. doesn't mean inroads can't be made among There is a rich tapestry involved in all this— them by the Bushites and Christian Fascists— not all of it is good, I don't mean "rich" in that we have been talking about that, and we should sense, but a veiy complex tapestry with a lot of definitely be aware of that. But many among the different things tugging and pulling on different masses who are religious are saying, "we're sections of people in contradictory directions. fucked"—^not because Bush is religious but Even with the Christian Fascist social base, because of what he is actually doing. The as we pointed out in our statement right affer tions" appeal to religious fundamentalism doesn't the election ("The Will of the People Was Not have the same impact, it doesn't have the same Expressed in This Election"), they have kids political effect, right now at least, on many of getting killed in the war in Iraq, and more of these masses, because they have different mate them are going to get killed as this global war rial interests, and—without being mechanical for empire is carried on. And they have kids iization materialist—there is a point to material inter who go out of this confined world (of Christian ests. But it would be very wrong to think that fundamentalism, etc.), into another world, for this religious fundamentalism doesn't have an example when they go into the military. Yes, ammunist Party, USA effect on these basic masses. they go into another Christian Fascist universe In fact, there is a tug between some of this within the military, but they can't erect com superstructural stuff, and in particular religion, plete barriers around the rest of the world they Bush lied without the quotes, okay?—and on the one hand, and material factors, on the send these kids out into. It's more complex than everybody saw him do it. But, as another com other hand. Part of the problem with Thomas that. And these strata are going to take eco rade was pointing out, this is not true in the Frank's reasoning in his book What's the nomic hits. There is constantly a complex inter worldview of these people who put forward, or Matter with Kansas?—his argument that peo play between the base and superstructure— take up, this fascist, and in particular Christian ple who are getting screwed economically by between underlying economic factors, on the Fascist, epistemology. What Bush says is true: the policies of the Republicans shouldn't be one hand, and, on the other hand, political, ide even if it's a lie, it is true—or it doesn't matter, supporting the Republicans, although they are ological, and cultural factors. And we have to because it's subsumed by a larger "Truth," with supporting them now—part of the problem is approach this with a dialectical materialist, not a capital T. that actually many of the people Frank is talk a vulgar materialist, method. There has been ing about are present or former labor aristo enough vulgar materialism in the world, and This superstructural stuff does matter a great crats, bourgeoisified workers, and lower level there is a need to thoroughly rupture with that. deal. \^at was Pat Buchanan talking about in and working petty bourgeois. They don't have a speaking of a great division in American society whole history of being fucked over in this coun This configuration within U.S. society could that will reassert itself?^ This is a division that try, by the system, in the same way as people at change. International events could change the has developed out of ail the upheaval of the the base of society, people in the inner cities and character back toward what was happening at '60s—and everything else that's happened so on—people who have a whole history of this, the time of the "New Situation/ Great so when they get fucked again, they respond on Challenges" supplement,"' soon after September 2. For example, in 'his' book The Death of the West, the basis of that whole history. Whereas these 11, 2001. But this Christian Fascist element is published after the September 11 attacks, Pat Buchanan other people that Thomas Frank is talking about not going to go away. That is the point I keep accurately predicted the following: The sen.se of national respond differently, because their history and unity which existed right after September 11 would not coming back to: They are not going to go away, tiieir place in society has been and is still dif last; he argued that there arc deep social and cultural and and they are not going to give up. As other peo other divides in this society, and they were going to ferent—and part of the picture is that their self- reas.scrt themselves. ple have said, this is a monster that's demand identity, to use that term, has involved trying to ing to be fed. It's stayed on its leash pretty much set themselves apart from the people who are because it's been promised to be fed. But it has held down at the base of society. its own dynamics. All this makes for a uery This is not to iu-gue that Frank is wasting his So all this makes for a very volatile situation, uolatile situation, and one that time agonizing over what is happening with and one that requires us to grasp it—and to act requires us to grasp it—and these strata of people, or that it is not important to act on it, to transform it— on it, to transform it—in all its complexity and its potential for im extreme resolution, one way in all its complexity and its 3. "The Trulh About Right Wing Conspiracy... And Why or the other. Clinton and the Democrats Arc No Answer" by Bob potential for an extreme Avakian was first published in the Revolutionary Worker. resolution, one way or the November 1998, in the midst of the attempts to impeach 4. "The New Situation and the Great Challenges" by Bob other. Clinton. It was republished in October 2004, on the eve of Avakian, Chairman of the RCP.USA, Revolutionary the election of 2004. It is available in issue 1255 of the Worker #1143, March 17, 2002, available online at Revolutionary Worker and online at revcom.us. revcom.us 10 I REVOLUTION| revcom.us | May 1, 8005

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Remembering The Gates by Dread Scott

width of the gate. The fabric was You are walking down a Christo and Jeanne-Claude The temporary nature of the Dread Scott is a multidisci- promenade of saffron, only attached at the top so it was often talk about their work in work is es.sential to it and to all plinary ar^tist whose work miles long. Dreamlike. free to blow in the wind. The purely technical and formal the large-scale public work of addresses questions You've been here, but it is differ entire park was transformed into terms (1,067,330 miles of fabric, Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The that are part of the public ent now. Walking through a a giant artwork, which was to be 5,290 tons of steel for the bases, Gates was like the life a butter discourse. He first received changed space. Golden billows seen and experienced by walking 315,491 linear feet of vinyl for fly. It lasted a mere 16 days. The national attention of fabric surround you. In front, through it. It was one of the most the poles of the gates, etc.) While fleeting duration encouraged in 1989, when his art behind, and hovering just above significant artworks in the city talk in these terms gives a sense people to rush to it and to really became the center of con your head. Gleaming sunlight fil for years. of the enormous scale of the look at and appreciate the art troversy over its use of the ters through the fabric. There are Christo and Jeanne-Claude work—a scale which few view itself, but also the importance American flag. President no leaves on the trees and the produce site-specific public ers get to see-r-it seems to miss and beauty of other temporary Bush (the first) declared fabric dance.s against the installations all over the world one of the essential points of the things. When a child is bom, his artwork What is the branches. You are not alone. whose meaning is wide-ranging. work—its beauty. friends and family rush to see the Proper Way to Display a Thousands and diousands of peo Often their work encourages The Gates was a work of new boy or girl. At age 3 or 7 or U.S. F/ag? "disgraceful" ple, many smiling, some talking, viewere to think about monu awesome beauty. And it was 15, or even 4 months, the child and the entire U.S. Senate some playing, are meandering ments, icons, public space, and available for all residents and will be special and loved, but denounced this work as with you. In the distance you tradition in unexpected ways. visitors to NY to see. they will never be 3 days old they passed legislation to notice the contours of a walkway, They work on a scale which again—and the special moment "protect the flag." His defined by the river of saffron, artists rarely think of, and few, if Though there is not only one surrounding their birth will be work is exhibited in gal but invisible days before. any, ever realize. Using fabric, particular reading or mean gone. The Gates encouraged leries and museums in the The scene changes. It is night. they have wrapped the Reichstag ing to the work. The Gates viewers to appreciate things that U.S. and internationally. It is mysterious and unfamiliar, in Germany, surrounded islands does touch on and explore mem are really unique and special and but safe and welcoming. There in Biscayne Bay near Miami, and ory. People who were fortunate recognize that change is constant ferenlly. are still miles of fabric in front of run a curtain 24fi miles from the enough to see this art will proba so we must be attuned to what is Christo and Jeanne-Claude bly never view Central Park in you, only the texture is different. Pacific Ocean along the rolling rare when we have the chance. have confidence in ordinary peo the same way again. There will Instead of sunlight, blue and pink hills of Sonoma and Marin coun The Gates was larger than a ple's ability to grasp and enjoy always be the memory of the halogen streetlights reflect off ties. These transformations and major airport and it cost as much contemporary art—at least the the cloth, giving it another feel others they have made by wrap amazing gates. Viewers percep as a low-budget Hollywood film kind of work that tliey make. ing. In the distance you see a red ping bridges, monuments and tion of the Park was forever to make. Some have commented And their confidence is well changed—there will always be stoplight next to a billowing trees, creating walls with oil that this is an extreme expense founded. A million people saw an absence—something always orange curtain. There is a fog in drums, and placing gigantic (which the artists paid for The Gates and clearly the over missing. But we were changed the air. Now there is snow and umbrellas in the landscape, cre entirely themselves from the sale whelming majority who saw it for the better for both the experi the orange yellow changes again, ate a magical new beauty and of other art) when people don't enjoyed the work and grasped .set against the sea of white. Your enable viewers to perceive the ence and the absence that is now have homes and food and have the essence of it. People with in the park. It is like the memory senses are aware. You notice space in new ways and with new argued that only intellectuals more familiarity with contempo of a loved grandparent who has things you haven't .seen before. understanding. They have created would understand it. rary art may see different aspects died, the reminiscences of a works ofjoy that have been seen But I think it is important to of it, but this is true with many friend from youth, your wedding For 16 days, beginning for free by literally millions of appreciate art, science, and other great works; they operate and February 12, 2005, New day, the first time you made love. people and have changed the way intellectual works that are not function on different levels and York was home to The many see art itself. All are in the past; by a day, a tied in such a direct way to the address que.stions in complex Gates, Central Park, New York Most of their work utilizes week, perhaps years—but the ongoing struggles of the people. ways that leave room for a range City, 1979-2005, a magnificent fabric, and the work is generally memory remains. You are This art doesn't house or of audiences to experience and artwork by Christo and Jeanne- changed by the experience and abstract on some level. Like their clothe people and it doesn't discuss. Claude. It consisted of 7,503 16' other work, T/te Gores doesn't The Gates was a fleeting thing directly address such social qi^- tall gates situated along the 23 have one meaning or a literal that you couldn't hold in your tions. And that Is fine. We need The public nature of the miles of Central Park's walk interpretation. Work that is hand or fix in time, but which work that exposes the horrors of work, that it was in the ways, each gate spanning the abstracted like this allows view continues to live in your mind. the day and work that imagines a heart of New York for all to width of the path and positioned ers to bring a range of experience And knowing that it would be whole different future. But the see for free, poses real questions about 12' from the next gate. to the work. Attempting to fix gone even as you walked through world and art would be lifeless of who art is for and who the Hanging from the top of each one and only one reading of the it, you had the sense of experi and boring without a broad range public parks and space are for. gate was a 9' pleated saffron-col work both misses the point and encing something you knew of work that allows us to see, Central Park was conceived of ored fabric that spanned the does the work an injustice. would not last. hear, and imagine the world dif- as a commons—a public space May 1, 2CDQ5| REVOLUTION | revcom.us 111

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accessible to alL This use has Johnson, Exile On Main Street, ence to utilize their own percep been contested over the years—it Bom To Run...the Sex Pistols, tion and thinking to draw conclu was the park that hosted Be-Ins, Aretha Franklin, the Clash, sions and meaning from the happenings, and concerts in the James Brown; the proud and images that artists have created '70s and which the powers that be Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation for us. hied to prevent people from gath of Millions to Hold Us Back. In the future, under socialism, ering in to oppose the Republican This is music meant to lake on and in qualitatively greater ways National Convention in 2004. In not only the powers that be, but • once people have achieved a com Late Night Under an increasingly privatized and on a good day, the universe and munist world of freely associating restricted world, The Gates called God himself if he was listening." human beings, imagination will on all manner of people to collec While Springsteen was refer be taken to new heights. Our need tively experience this public space ring to music, in its own way all to be amazed, our awe and won The Gates and art. This work was a real gift great art strives to tap into this der at our world and the universe , to the people. spirit. While there is no god, the will inspire and guide new dis Recently, Bruce Springsteen audaciousness of such artists covery, experimentation, and by Alice Woodward inducted U2 into the Rock and inspires us, challenges long-held transformation of that world. And Roll Hall of Fame. In that beliefs, threatens status quos art like The Gates is a harbinger The gates were sensual and but will be ongoing widespread speech, he said: "A great rock large and small, shakes us to our of what is possible when artists surreal. Even at night the city is a debate that is humorous and seri band searches for the same kind cores and bring us great joy in dare to dream the impossible and flood of noise, but the gates had a ous, productive and imaginative; it will engage people on a high of combustible force that fueled unexpected ways. then make their dreams real. silence and a soft motion. They level and play a real role in soci the expansion of the universe Art has been essential to Christo and Jeanne-Claude are seem in tune to the winds, and the after the big bang. You want the humanity ever since we had the artists with real heart. They push city air. Their color was like so ety like never before. earth to shake and spit fire. You time to tell stories, write poems, the envelope, even their own many sunrises I've missed and Following the story of The want the sky to split apart and or paint on cave walls. Art is an envelope, of what art can be. familiar objects in far away Gates and its ongoing response for God to pour out. It's embar essential part of what makes us The Gates expanded new ground places. A sari in India, or Italian from critics, artists, and the masses, was a taste of this poten rassing to want so much and to human. And visual art like The for art. The work is gone, but a drapes. Evoking tastes of fresh expect so much from music, Gates opens up ways of thinking beautiful memory lingers. oranges, cheese, and pumpkins. tial. I felt a deep connection walk except sometimes it happens: the that other forms of communica Structures like construction .signs, ing beneath the drifting panels, Sun Sessions, Highway 61, Sgt. tion do not. It is often non-literal monkey bars, and totem poles. reading articles everyday, and Peppers, the Band, Robert and non-linear, requiring an audi They had symmetry, repetition, and surprise. They contained a tossing ideas around with friends. life and story of their own. A size I thought of my parents and their that was difficult to conceive even story of road tripping to see once you'd experienced it, and a Christo's Fence, and all of the human connection between those creativity and rebellion of their who imagined them, produced generation. I thought of fellow them and erected Uiem, and filmmakers trying to carry for walked, ran, dreamed, and drifted ward artistic theory and expres through them. They were secret sion. Breaking boundaries with a trails on a treasure map, or a quiet new and evolving technology. moment with a book, sitting by I thought of shadows in the an open window in the afternoon. afternoon and the longing you More concretely, the gates feel, gazing, trying to look were a significant contribution to through a fabric that is so close to art and culture. In a society nar transparent, but you continue to rowly focused on profit and com see color and silhouettes. Brilliant petition, there is scarcely room and solid. for the masses of people to I won't forget the late-night explore art and get into ideas. The walk I took beneath The Gates in gates made this widely accessible the cold winter New York City for a short period of time. What's air. Feeling acutely the familiarity more, it brought to the forefront and foreignness of such a city. exciting questions and debate Enjoying the quiet company of a about what is good or bad art and comrade and the laughter of our what is the role of art, and how friends in the distance, weaving do we experience it. Questions in and out, through the warm that, in a communist society, will glow of the drifting gates. not just make occasional cameos or be left to the intellectual elite. 12' i REN^LUnON| revcom.us | May 1. 20G5

Scenes from Nepal The Daring of Revolution, ,- 5'"*- " '• The Shoots of the Future by LI Onesto

In 1999 I traveled through the heart of the This is the time to give birth to the a new culture and a new society the struggle to create a whole new way of Maoist People's War in Nepal, deep into tempest There is footage from a revolutionary living —seeds of a whole new economic, the guerrilla zones in the districts of This is the time to burst out like a "love marriage" ceremony. And I think political, and cultural life are being planted. Rolpa and Rukum. The Communist Party volcano And the guns of the' People's Liberation of Nepal (Maoist) had been waging armed about the young women guerrillas who told To the soldiers of the war me how women in Nepal are suffocated by Army are protecting these shoots of the struggle for three years and the police, cor future, allowing them to grow and To those red stars feudal tradition. Not allowed to go to rupt officials, and greedy moneylenders had strengthen. been run out of this area. The people were Don't be Stopped! Not by anyone! school, subjected to arranged marriages and beginning to establish a new people's polygamy, lives crushed by the thriving sex Power is won through war The video takes me to a massive rally traffic. Today in the base areas, a new cul power. Enhance people's power where the Magar people, an oppressed There were mass organizations of ture aimed against the patriarchy and caste This old state is tiring nationality, are celebrating the declaration system is giving women and men new free women, peasants, and students, and new Let's seize the central power of the new Magrat Autonomous Govern people's courts were administering justice. dom. To those who ore advancing, moving For the first time women had the right to ment. In a liberated village people have gath A close shot of people streaming into the heaven and earth own land and get a divorce, land was being ered to greet scientists, professors, engi area. Then the camera zooms back, then To those who have given their lives to redistributed, and peasants mercilessly neers. and artists who have come from the back even more and the camera's eye tra change the face ofsociety cheated by usurers had torn up debt papers. city. Suddenly I sec a familiar face—a verses the rocky terrain, giving a binocular- famous revolutionary writer, his face beam Welcome these red people of this new 3-in-l committees of guerrilla fighters, like survey of a human procession that era party cadre, and members of mass organi ing, his right fist held in a lal salaam, red snakes across the steep mountainside for zations ran the villages, creating new sys salute. I had interviewed him when I was in Li Onesto is the author of Dispatches miles. Back in the village there is visible Kathmandu. Now he has gone to the coun from the People's War in Nepal (Pluto tems of taxation, laws and basic commerce, joy amidst huge red flags. A man playing a tryside, to the Rolpa base area.'to serve the building schools and starting to organize Press and Insight Press), available at: dnim tied to his forehead. A dance troupe of collective farming. Cultural squads were people. www.amazon.com, www.insight- girls in traditional costume. creating a new revolutionary culture. press.com, www.press.umich.edu and This is a vivid and many-faceted picture Revolution boolcstores. These were very fragile shoots and I of the People's War. Massive rallies of tens wondered if they would survive. The of thousands of peasants. Speeches by party In the villages I visited in 1999, there were Email: [email protected] Maoists were trying to establish ba.se areas. mainly women, young children, and old leaders and military commanders. FLA Web site: lionesto.net But the police were arresting, killing, tor men. Most of the men were working in the training camps. Cultural performances. turing, and raping anyone suspected of cities or had been forced underground. Revolutionary festivals, volleyball, and foot being a Maoist or a Maoi.st sympathizer, I think about how the 12-year-old girls races organized in the base areas. And and the guerrillas were poorly armed. There and boys I met in the villages are now Tune into actual footage from the battlefield—the were already hundreds of revolutionary young men and women, old enough to join www.accesstucson.org to sights and sounds of rapid gunfire, back and martyrs and everyone knew that sooner or the People's Liberation Army. What has it see Li Onesto on the TV forth. A voice in the darkness, "Take cover, later the Royal Nepal Army would be sent been like for them to grow up in a liberated show, Natural Progression, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid." Bodies of against the people. village, in a base area where there is a new with Elaine Higginbotham- dead RNA soldiers. Wounded and dead How could such a poor peasant army people's power? Schramm, on April 29, 10:30 FLA fighters. Caches of captured weapons have such fantastic dreams and hopes of A new generation in Nepal is being pm and May 1, 6 pm Pacific seizing power? How could they dare to and ammunition. shaped by the People's War and, in the base Segue to revolutionary construction in Time, Channel 73. challenge a government that was getting areas, the youth are growing up as part of the base areas—schools, bridges, even an weapons from India—and would almost FM radio station. Text on the screen certainly, eventually, get money and arms informs me that the first day of the month from powerful countries like the United has been designated as a collective day of States? Could these poor, illiterate peasants labor, and I see FLA soldiers, party cadre, really get rid of their oppressors, defy tradi members of revolutionary cultural troupes, tion's chains and remake their world? and villagers working together to haul 1 ^ stones from the river to build a new wall. » V - April 2005. A friend sends me a video, Those whofatten on others' labor have not yet available in the U.S., "Eight fled the villages Glorious Years of People's War"— Those who rule with arrogance have hours of amazing footage from the liberated run away base areas, shot and edited by the Central The people's governments are Cultural Department of the CPN (Maoist).' organized in villages It has been six years since my trip to The redness of victory is arising among V Nepal, and the Maoists now control some the people 80 percent of the countryside. The People's A custom of working together is Liberation Army is able to wage battles established against the Royal Anny, involving thou Nepotism and injustice are eliminated sands of guerrilla fighters. And there are in villages now two.governments in Nepal. The reac Caste and imlouchability are tionary ruling class has the capital of eradicated Kathmandu and run.s the cities and district Let us create Base area In Nepal headquarters. But the Maoists control most of the vast countryside, where 85 percent of Nepal's 26 million people live. The U.S., U.K., and India have all declared that the Maoists must not be allowed to win. And a "war on terrorism in Nepal" is being used to Justify U.S. money, weapons, and training for a brutal coun- terinsurgency. The Royal Nepalese Army has killed many thousands of people and arrested, tortured, and raped even more. But they have been unable to defeat the guerril las. The video takes me back to Rolpa and Rukum, to the same areas I vi.sited in 1999, and it is deeply moving and exhilarating to see how things have changed. Over the years I have thought a lot about the political and military leaders I met, the guerrillas I traveled with, the families of martyrs I interviewed—wondering if they have sur vived. Now tears well up in my eyes when I actually see in the video some of these very same people fighting, working, and laugh ing in the base areas. The video's soundtrack transports me back to Nepal on another level, evoking memories of the cultural programs I attended, feeling again the passion and spirit of the new revolutionary culture that has been such a crucial part of this .struggle. Lal Salaaml (A red salute), The lyrics flash across the screen. Rolpa, Nepal May 1. 2005 ] REVOLUTION [ revcom.us| 13

An Open Letter to Professors, Historians, Scholars and the '60s Generation The People of the World Need the Truth— What was Communism's Past? What is Communism's Future? CC: The Younger Generation From: Penny Brown

"After the shipwreck of communism came naturally accepted the verdicts that commu history of the international communist States and her own childhood during the years of relative quiet, years of repose, nism was a disaster. movement and has brought forward a very Cultural Revolution in China: years of sabbatical. And then there came a And then a few years ago, a professor rich and profound analysis of the socialist "While studying in America, I was .sur day offire." gave me a copy of Bob Avakian's book experience, in the Soviet Union (1917- prised to find that youth as a gender-neutral George W. Bush, Preachingfrom a Pulpit of Bones: We Need 1956) and especially in China (1949- idea was not as popular a concept here as.it 2nd Inaugural Address, Morality, but Not Traditional Morality. And 1976)—the overwhelmingly positive but was in China. Instead, social perceptions of January 2005 my whole conception of the world and also the negative—in light of where human gender differences exist between girls and Are we really going to let this guy—this what's possible changed. ity can and needs to go. He has rescued the boys in early childhood. Even newbom liar, this fundamentalist lunatic—sum up In this book, Avakian was bringing forth communist project and given it new vitality babies are subjected to gender differentia the whole historical experience of commu a radical communist morality. He was look and relevance to the 21st century. tion: pink and blue ribbons traditionally nist revolution as a "shipwreck"? ing at the accusation that communists I was challenged to get deeper into the mark female and male infants. As a Amidst a barrage of lies, let this be a believe "the ends justify the means, (any actual experience of the people in these rev teenager in China in the 1970's, however, I message from a generation who's grown up means)" and saying that no, real commu olutionary societies. 1 got involved in the was able to positively identify myself as a in a world without a real socialist society, to nists believe that the means must flow from project to "Set the Record Straight." non-gendered youth with strengths, another who saw the possibility and felt the and serve the goal of the emancipadon of Recently I came across an account by a strengths that were won through constant urging of revolutionary change. humanity. woman observing the difference between struggles with the contradictions of being a I grew up in the '80s—on the whole, He is someone who has summed up the how children are socialized in the United youth and a woman."(Lihua Wang,Some of hardly a time of great social or cultural up Us: Chinese Women Growing Up in the heaval. Mao Era) As a young woman growing up in The fact that millions of women grew up America, I was surrounded by idealized, on this planet, as recently as 30 years ago, unrealistic images of women's bodies. I was in Maoist China, in a society consciously told again and again, directly or indirectly, struggling against the "mark of gender," is that I was ugly and stupid and made to feel not something to be lightly pas.sed over. It is worthless. This kind of .stuff is deeply inter something to dig into and explore. Women nalized and woven into the very fabric of who, prior to the 1949 revolution, would our existence on an everyday basis. Not to have been relegated to the role of wife or mention the daily threat of physical or sex concubine, with no rights whatsoever, and ual abuse or rape that faces every woman in subjected to other feudal practices, such as this society, or other horrific realities of our 1 the horror of foot-binding, were growing up lives. identifying themselves as "non-gendered When I was a bit older. I began to really youth with strengths." look at the world around me, and immedi Women were being empowered: taking ately it was easy to see all the pain and suf up theory, participating in the running of fering that characterizes the everyday lives society, and engaging in ongoing revolu of the vast majority of humankind. tionary struggle and transformation. But the idea that something completely And the nearly unbelievable achieve different is possible was something I would ments towards the liberation of women only let myself fantasize about on rare occa were just a part of the broader changes sions. The whole tone of society was that going on economically, socially, and politi we were living in the "end of history." cally, as well as in people's values. Communism? "They tried that, it didn't And there is a whole generation of peo work and it was filled with horrors and ple today who just have no idea about all unspeakable crimes—people turned into this. And, as Avakian is pointing to, it's not automatons, were hounded and killed off." just the accomplishments of previous As bad as society might be today, it is still socialist experiments that we need to the best of all possible worlds. explore, but also the real shortcomings and And 1 have distinct images in my brain, problems, looking back from the perspec all gray, of old people, their noses red from tive of a deepened understanding of com the cold (and maybe some vodka) standing munist revolution. in Jong lines waiting for a loaf of bread, So this is a message to professors and their towering fur hats their only protection intellectuals, meant to span a generation. We cannot allow the same people who have from the surrounding snowstorm in the brought us endless war and police-state Soviet Union. These were my mental Revolutionary leaflets being distributed in Maoist China. images of revolutionary societies. I just measures, who have created and perpetu ated the misconceptions about what actu ally went on in these revolutionary soci eties, to control our interpretation of history. Setting the Record Straight And we cannot allow the guardians of the status quo to define and control our future. To those of you who drew inspiration The project to "Set the Record Straight" is inspired by the writ cles, mass leafleting, forums, etc.; and we are networking with "back in the day" from the radical society- ings of Bob Avakian. progressive scholars and want to learn from the diverse insights of wide transformations taking place on the Tlie purpose is to take on the distortions, misrepresentations, others. other side of the globe, to tho.se who felt and supporting scholarship that hold such sway in academia about We arc seeking to influence both students and professors and part of liberation much bigger than them the first wave of socialist revolutions, in the Soviet Union in 1917- scholars. selves, to those who have since fallen under 1956 and China in 1949-1976. We want to contribute to creating an intellectual current that the influence of the mes.sage that "there is Against the facile verdicts that socialism has been a nightmare, challenges the slanders and superficial summations, that insists on no alternative" to capitalism but who once or at best a terribly failed experiment, we are bringing forth the truthful examination of what these revolutions were actually striv knew better—I offer this challenge. Take a real and historic accomplishments of these revolutions, especially ing to accomplish, the difficulties they faced, and what they were fresh look with a critical and open mind at the lessons of the Cultural Revolution, without papering over mis able to achieve, and that sees the relevance of all this to the deeply humanity's first steps towards emancipa takes and shortcomings. felt desire of so many for a radically different world. tion. Seek to sort out the lies and horror sto The idea is to stir debate and discussion as to why these stand You can contact "Set the Record Straight" at: ries from the complex realities of bringing a as vital, if initial, experiences at building liberating societies. At [email protected] new society into being. Help a new genera the same time, we are bringing forth what Avakian has been point See the articles online at revcom.us tion understand history and human possibil ing to, in terms of where we have to do belter and what it means ity. to take the communist project to a whole other level of under- "Social and Economic Achievements Under Mao," August 8, .standing and practice if it is to be viable and desirable in the 21st 2004. century. In short, communism is alive...but also developing. "The Truth About the Cultural Revolution." August 29, 2004. We are undertaking a wide range of activities: fact .sheets, arti 14 I REVADLUTION J revcom.us j May 1, 2005

From The CoRIM May 1, 2005: Communism in the 21st Oentury

April 18, 2005. A World to Win News Service. They need a vanguard leadership wielding this facing the communist revolutiondries today, such as Following is a statement by the Committee of the ideology in each country and a new communist summing up the experience of exercising proletarian Revolutionary Internationalist Movement(CoRIM) intemational to help different streams of revolution dictatorship (USSR and China), understanding the on the occasion of May Day 2005. form a worldwide torrent against the capitalist dynamics of how the imperialist system works," system. analyzing the socio-economic developments that are The world seethes and moans with discontent and taking place in different countiues and understanding As with all science, Mai-xism-Leninism-Maoism resistance on the part of the people. Through war in their implication for revolutionary strategy, as well as cannot stand still. It must be a living, developing tool Iraq and the threat of wars in the Middle East and other important questions. Through this process RIM that can analyze new conditions and questions. elsewhere, the imperialist powers, in particular the itself has and will continue to be tempered and Communist ideology advances amidst a turbulent U.S., are desperately trying to hammer into place a strengthened. Today our comrades in Nepal have process. New understandings must overcome the new world order with itself as king of the heap. Their made great strides in their struggle. The poor and inertia of past ways of looking at things, and correct hands drip with blood. downtrodden of Nepal have established their own and incorrect viewpoints must be sorted out. The ideas revolutionary political power in 80 percent of the Many people are in a reflective mood, angered that that derive from different realms of humanity's country and are now using those red base areas to their struggles in the millions to stop the war failed. experience will be further tested and developed in the attack the fortresses of the enemy in order to seize Valiant resistance is taking place on the ground in course of changing the world. This whole process is political power countrywide. Iraq. Regrettably, painfully, the target is not always marked by what communists refer to as the two-line the imperialist forces of occupation and oppression struggle. Communism remains the only hope for humanity. and the reactionary regime. But this lofty hope can only be realized through Rebels and visionaries of the past have sacrificed struggle, hard struggle, in every sphere. The May Day is a time to take stock of where we stand in greatly to try to transform society. Marx and Engels intemational communist movement has brought forth our struggle to overthrow the ruling exploiting developed a scientific understanding of the nature of legions of heroes who have braved imprisonment, classes. What we need is a world where the interests the capitalist system. In the Communist Manifesto torture and death in the face of the enemy. It must of humanity and not the endless search for profit is at Marx called for rupturing with traditional property show the same courage in its merciless self- the center of society, where the masses are no longer relations, the social relations based on those property examination and its determination that its ideology faceless, regarded as beasts of burden, locked out of relations and the traditional ideas and institutions that remain vibrant, capable of comprehending ever more any possibility of utilizing their creative energy to reinforce those social relations in the whole world. fully the rich complexity of human society and class consciously transform the world and themselves. That is what communism is about. Lenin and Mao struggle, and able to reach out, learn from and unite Tsetung further developed and applied this science. The global plan of U.S. imperialism is sinister—one with millions of others while fighting tenaciously to world, one empire. They are unleashing naked Great victories were achieved during the Paris uphold, apply and win others to the ideology of military intervention on a scale that no other power Commune, the October Revolution in Russia and liberation. can rival to enforce and organize globalized Mao's socialist China with the Great Proletarian We need to advance further in our goal of building a exploitation. A range of possibilities exists for the Cultural Revolution at its pinnacle in the 1960s and communist international of a new type, and unite world's people, from devastating defeats to great '70s. These were crushed by the reactionary forces in with all of the genuine Maoist forces the world over advances, including revolutions in a number of general and the weight of thousands of years of class in this process, as well as reaching out to countries. The outcome is up to us all. exploitation and the traditional ideas and institutions revolutionary activists who are yet to be won to the that serve and reinforce it. The Maoist forces around Propelled into resistance, new generations have liberating truth of communist ideology. stepped onto the stage. They lack knowledge of our the world analyzed the 1976 coup in China and went forward to unite and form the Revolutionary Today the RIM is determined to fuse our scientific past achievements. Or they only hear the ruling class Internationalist Movement(RIM), the embryonic tools of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism with the new pnDpaganda machine spewing out that Communism center of the world's Maoist forces. rising tide of revolution. has failed. RIM has called for a wide discussion and debate The masses need the clear vision of Marxism- inside and outside its ranks over the most vital issues Leninism-Maoism to guide them in their struggles.

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v. - Roipa, Nepal, 1999 May 1, 2005| REVOLUTION | revcom.us I iS

Iraq Something Beginning Here Continued from page 5 the people of the world this moment is Continued from page 6 "Battle for the Future" statement, telling to be dominated (and exploited!) by the everyone he talked to, "We have a leader U.S. superpower? who fights for global change. You have fundamentalists V Isn't it truly perverse to argue that dom In another neighborhood not too far away, an older Black man runs a popular never heard anything like him." American slave owners used to tell their ination by the Christian fundamentalists of Panning up and out of these neighbor slaves, "Where would you be without me? the White House is the only realistic anti boxing gym. He's watched the complete 11-hour DVD set three times. Before hear hoods, the panorama of the .city is begin Who would give you those second hand dote to Islamist fundamentalism in the ning to look a little different. The same clothes? Who would feed you. and give ing Bob Avakian speak, he thought the only Middle East? landmarks are still there, but there seems to you a little sweet molasses on Sunday?" And who would it serve if we accepted thing possible for him to do was try to help Black youth stay out of prison. He was so be a pulsing that wasn't apparent at the first Such arguments seem ridiculous now— such twisted logic? sweeping view. There's something growing because (looking back) it's obvious that Forging movements for genuine change moved by Avakian's talk that he's mobi lized his trainees to distribute leaflets in the here that can be sensed by hearing pieces of slavery or starvation wasn't the only and liberation is difficult (in the Middle neighborhood, and he's showing the DVD conversations caught in the wind. A youth choice. There was a real chance (however East and everywhere else). But it is the in the gangster scene sees the DVD sampler complicated and difficult) for something only real hope in our times that is actually samplers on the three TV's that are set up in the gym. He's volunteered to do public and says, "Damn, watching that makes me different: ENDING their enslavement! worth living and dying for! Wouldn't it speaking to tell people everywhere about think a muthafucker got to change the In today's Iraq, competing religious strengthen the most oppressive forces whole way he has been looking at things." forces have emerged powerfully, and there (including in both Iraq and especially in Bob Avakian. Farther away, on the other side of L.A.'s In the projects down the street two men is rising possibility of civil war. But much Ae U.S.) if the people of the U.S. blindly downtown, where the land becomes more greet the neighbor who got them their DVD of this happened because the U.S cracked endorse the brutality carried out in their samplers by putting their fists to their hearts Iraq "like a goblet" and then manipulated hilly but the neighborhoods are not so much name? different, an indigenous immigrant from and shouting out, "B.A.!" Farther away two one nationality against another—^Arab And won't it actually accelerate young people talk outside a concert, and against Kurd, Shiite against Sunni. Mexico has been doing his own public progress toward real liberation (here and speaking to small crowds. Normally work one begins to cry as he hears of the future There are challenges—overcoming deep around the world) if more and more peo ing in a restaurant 12 hours a day, 7 days a envisioned by Bob Avakian—"People need divisions among the people, and the influ ple here in the U.S. boldly demand an end week, on New Year's Day he went to the this kind of leader to unleash their creativ ence of reactionary forces. But do such to this unjust'U.S. conquest? ity." obstacles really mean the best choice for Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena to tell peo ple about Bob Avakian. He distributed the There is something beginning here.

Three Main Points Get Revolution by Bob Avakian, Chairman of the RCRUSA Gut to the People! What do we in the Revolutionary Communist Party want people to learn from all that is exposed and revealed in this newspaper? Mainly, three Contact the RCP Publications Public Fund. Spanish translation, and the things; Relations Office: design of materials). IThe whole system we now live under is based on exploitation— • To become a distributor of here and all over the world. It is completely worthless and no Revolution and receive regular bun RCP Publications Public basic change for the better can come about until this system is dles of this newspaper. Relations Office • To order the works by Bob Avakian P.O. Box 3486, Merchandise MaH overthrown. and other RCP publications Chicago, IL 60654 2 Many different groups will protest and rebel against things this • To talk to a Revolution correspon Phone: (773) 227-4066 system does, and these protests and rebellions should be dent. Fax: (773) 227-4497 supported and strengthened. Yet it is only those with nothing to • To submit an article to Revolution. Email: [email protected] • To arrange interviews or public lose but their chains who can be the backbone of a struggle to actually appearances by RCP Publications Promote the Revolution mb site: overthrow this system and create a new system that will put an end to speakers and spokespeople. revcom.us exploitation and help pave the way to a whole new world. • To report about struggles, confer 3Such a revolutionary struggle is possible. There is a political ences. and other developments. MUCH MONEY IS NEEDED NOW Party that can lead such a struggle, a political Party that speaks • To inform us about legal and politi TO STEP UP REVOLUTION COVER AGE, DISTRIBUTION AND THE WORK and acts for those with nothing to lose but their chains: The cal attacks on the RCP and other acts of repression. OF THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. • To volunteer for PR Office's activi This Party has the vision, the program, the leadership, and the ties (including media work, litera Send checks or money order marked organizational principles to unite those who must be united and enable ture promotion and distribution, for "Revolution Reporters Emergency them to do what must be done. There is a challenge for all those who web site development, the Travel Fund" or "RCP Publications Prisoners' Revolutionary Literature Public Relations." would like to see such a revolution, those with a burning desire to see a drastic change for the better, all those who dare to dream and to act to bring about a completely new and better world: Support this Party, join this Party, spread its message and its organized strength, and Contact Revolution, Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 60654 prepare the ground for a revolutionary rising that has a solid basis and In your area call or write: a real chance of winning. California: Los Angeles; c/o Libras Revolucion, 312 W. 8th Street, Los Angeles. CA 90014 213/488-1303 I Subscribe to Berkeley: c/o Revolution Books, 2425C Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704 510/848-1196 ^ OU-;^M...T14tNK revolution Georgia: c/o Revolution Books Outlet, RG. Box 5333, Atlanta, GA 31107 404/577-4656 Revolution/ Hawaii: c/o Revolution Books, 2626 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96828 BOa/944-3106.(Sand mail to: RO. Box 11228, Honolulu. HI 96828) ^ Revolucion: iilinois: c/o Revolution Books, 1103 N. Ashland, Chicago, IL 60622 773/489O930 Massachusetts: c/o Revolution Books, 1156 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 3 months - $12 MA 02138 617/492-5443 One year - $40 Michigan: c/o Revolution Books Outlet, 406 West Willis, Detroit, Ml 46201 1 year, U.S. Institution - 313/833-7310 (Send mail to; RO. Box 0083. Detroit. Ml 48231) $52 New York S New Jersey: c/o Revolution Books-NYC, 9 West 19th St., NY. NY 10011 Indicate English or Spanish 212/691-3345: FAX 212/645-1952 edition Ohio: c/o Revolution Books. 2804 Mayfield Rd.. Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 216/932-2543 ' Oregon: RD. Box 3821, Portland, OR 97208 Write to: Pennsylvania: Revolutionary Worker, RO. Box 44024, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Box 3486, 215/552-8584 Merchandise Mart, Texas: RO. Box 230112, Houston. TX 77223 713/884-4701 Washington State: c/o Revolution Books. 1833 Nagie PI.. Seattle. WA 98122 Chicago, IL 60654. 206/325-7415

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