Fond Memories of Cuba
Despite his use of the tired old cliche "cappuccino revolutionaries", David Bradbury's criticisms of Cuban socialism (Write On, #501) may well be valid. At least it is good to see this issue being debated (if that is the word) in GLW.
Uncritical support from the international left is no help to those within Cuba who want it to be a model for revolutionary socialism in the 21st century. While some of Bradbury's criticisms are quite harsh and probably could be rebutted by someone with first-hand knowledge of Cuba there is still plenty to worry about.
Why, for example, did Cuba vote against the draft protocol to the UN convention against torture? (The protocol allowed for UN inspections of prisons to investigate the treatment of prisoners.)
In doing so, they lined up with a small minority all well-known defenders of human liberty such as Sudan, China, Libya, Australia in a 35-8 vote. (The US, predictably, abstained.)
For a "socialist" country, such a stand is surely an anomaly some would call it a betrayal of not only socialist ideals but even ordinary human decency.
Can someone explain what is going on here?
Noel Willis
Winmalee NSW
Coverage of South Africa
I am rather surprised that Green Left Weekly seems to have taken a stance not to engage the South African Communist Party (SACP) in a comradely and still critical way.
Earlier, I wrote to you that your coverage of South Africa did not include even a single reference to the SACP's campaign against capitalist banks. You replied and offered space for us to write. I did not take up the offer because I was busy and also because I believe that it is the duty of GLW to cover SA working-class struggles without any bias.
Recently in an article Norm Dixon wrote on the SAMWU strike (GLW #502), you say that "the South African Communist Party's image was tarnished by its national chairperson Charles Nqakula, who is also police minister in the national African National Congress government". But your article does not provide any evidence or argument to support this statement.
Further, none of your last three issues cover the 11th SACP Congress which was held from 24 to 28 July. This cannot be an omission since the SACP has a web site and has GLW as one its recipients in the email news group we run.
We have no problem being engaged and criticised. But GLW seems not to be doing this. It appears as if GLW would like to write off the SACP in left struggles in South Africa. I hope this is not the case.
GLW has an obligation to review its coverage not only of the SACP but of the ANC and the South African government as well instead of just feeding its readers with a one-sided, and often off-the-mark, analysis of a complex transition that the democratic and progressive ANC government and alliance are grappling with.
And this does not have to come through articles written by me or other spokespersons of the alliance. It is as simple as referring to our documents, sending interview questions, and so on.
Mazibuko Jara
Media, information and publicity
officer, South African Communist Party
US fundamentalism and war
The Howard government's enthusiastic pledge of support for a US-led military strike against Iraq (in spite of the US stating it is prepared to make a pre-emptive nuclear strike even against non-nuclear armed states) is frightening.
In response to well justified concerns on both sides of the Atlantic that an invasion of Iraq "would pour petrol rather than water on the flames and provide al-Qaida with more recruits" Alexander Downer can only scream appeasement. The fact is, the US is like a dinosaur: small brain, massive muscle.
Its planet-shaking military might is steered by fundamentalist eschatological and apocalyptic beliefs concerning the last days and the end of the world. "The Bible and the Apocalypse" (Time, July 1) claims that 59% of Americans polled believe that the Book of Revelation predicts actual events while 25% think the September 11 attack was foretold; 36% say they support Israel because "Jews must control Israel before Christ will come again".
During the Gulf War, sales of Hal Lindsey's The Great Late Planet Earth rose 83% "as people feared Saddam Hussein was rebuilding Babylon and dragging the world to its last battle". George W Bush, Ronald Reagan, Caspar Weinberger, John Ashcroft and others in the top echelons of the US government are fundamentalists and subscribe to the doctrine of Manifest Destiny (God has selected the US to fulfil His will). American foreign policy and nuclear war fighting doctrine are influenced by these dangerous and irrational ideas.
Australia plays a vital role in US war plans by hosting the huge Star Wars and National Security Agency eavesdropping base Pine Gap. On October 5-7, hundreds of citizens will descend on Pine Gap demanding its closure. Unlike the Howard government, we are not prepared to blindly follow the USA a mighty-muscled moron!
Gareth Smith
Byron Bay NSW
Idle tears
So Mr Howard is weeping (real?) tears in Belgium over the graves of Australian soldiers killed in World War I. If he persists in being Bush's poodle, will he weep when Australian casualties are brought back from Iraq in body bags?
It will simply be Vietnam all over again. You'll need a lot of handkerchiefs, Mr Howard.
Rosemary Evans
St Kilda Vic
Congratulations
Is it too late to wish all involved in GLW congratulations on the its inclusiveness, quality and staying power? I look back especially on all the brilliant coverage of East Timor and I hope it continues.
On the recent review of the SIEV-X tragedy-scandal (GLW #500), it still appals me that someone in the Australian Navy thought the acronym SIEV (supposedly standing for Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel) was a cool and witty one to use. What a sense of humour the upper echelons of our navy have. It speaks volumes.
On Sunday July 14, myself and a friend locked ourselves to the fence of stage two of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. Our banner said "Refugee Solidarity". Amid cheers of support for us from inside, we were arrested.
We did it as a matter of conscience and solidarity. Many people and groups are doing terrific work for the refugees. This was one thing we could and should do.
Our hearing is at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday August 15 at 9.30am, if any readers would like to come along and support us. We are being charged with trespass.
GLW has always been a spur to action and activism. To help you "keep it up", I enclose a donation.
Viva Timor Lorosa'e and Free the Refugees!
Stephen Langford
Paddington NSW
From Green Left Weekly, August 14, 2002.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.