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THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADAGeneral Secretary's Report for February 2017Email Report- Imagine Winter 2016 released December 5. Visit our website for downloading https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/- WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 171, December 4, 2016, received with thanks.- WSP (India) 1000 copies of History of Economics: A Scientigfic Investigation into the Political Economy and Its Swindler 'Economics' published. 50.00 Rupees/CD$1-1.50. Contact E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com; Website:www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org for more information to purchase.- Red Lion Press (re)publishing Bill Pritchard's autobiography, entitled Revolutionary Socialist:Life of the Socialist Party of Canada and the OBU, 1910-1922; Fred Casey's Thinking: An Introduction To Its History and Science; and, Method in Thinking: An Introduction to Dialectics. Costs: $3 for Pritchard, $6 each for the Casey's plus postage costs. Contact E-mail: redlionpress@hotmail.com – for more information to purchase or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=publicGood of the Movement- Three introductory packages and one member application sent out.- Toronto Branch public meeting held Wednesday, January 25th.- Spring socialist discussion meetings until May 2017, Toronto Branch: February 22, March 29, April 26, May 24, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St., Toronto. Communications to: spctorontobranch@gmail.com– see Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/- Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/ & members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245- Imagine Spring 2017: expected distribution May 2017 – (members, please send in your submissions and ideas!).- Socialist education site for redistribution & hyperlinking, S. Shenfield (WSPUS) http://www.whatissocialism.net/GAC Elections 2017-2019- Very low vote turn out re: December 31, 2016 GAC election – votes cast withdrawn by balloting members. Current GAC requesting presently serving GAC members acknowledge intent to serve within 90 days of January 15th, 2017 or seat(s) to be deemed vacant and filled by awaiting members wishing to serve on GAC.- Headquarter location remains Victoria BC.Finances – Stationary: nil; photocopies: $6.78; post: $9.30.Food For Thought• As we are all aware, the dominating event in recent months is that the good citizens of the Divided States of America have seem unfit to elect as president a great brain, who is loaded down with couth and charm. This brief article was written on January 25th; by the time you read it, he may well have done many more stupid things. "Exactly" what will occur, we don't know, because capitalism is an unplanned, anarchic system where sanity is proverbially told to get out of town. Be that as it may, we can make a vague forecast of what decisions Trump may make and what problems he will have to deal with. He may well, as he said, abolish NAFTA and kill the proposed Trans-Pacific partnership, which, since Canada is a big trading partner with the U.S, will cause loss of jobs here. Furthermore, a trade war will harm the interests of American capitalism. Will that stop our lad? Perhaps, even he isn't crazy! Or is he? We'll have to wait and see. There's been plenty of talk about the Trump-Putin mutual admiration society, but Russia is reemerging as a global super-power and economic realities must, inevitably, hit home. Didn't that old lush Winnie Churchill praise Hitler to the skies during the 1930s? Again, we'll have to wait and see. No relationship is more important to the interests of U.S capitalism than China. Yet, no country has been attacked more by Trump. Why? Only he knows that. Trump, recently, spoke directly to the leader of Taiwan and indicated he would scrap the "One China Policy", if the U.S. doesn't get a better deal with China. Challenging China over Taiwan would risk war. Just how gung-ho is our lad? Far right political parties in Europe will probably make election gains by propagating racism. How this will affect the U.S. we don't know but these populist movements may lean towards him, considering he won by playing up to the same sentiments. Trump said, he will scrap America's nuclear agreement with Iran. He obviously doesn't trust Iran and who can blame him? Could this result in a nuclear war? Who at this time can tell? But we can't rule out the possibility. If there is one, it may be started by the North Koreans. Kim Jong Un said, on January 1st, that soon they will be able to fire a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead into the U.S.- and a very happy New Year to you, sir! Trump's response was a tweet, saying, "This won't happen". Thanks Donny, you're so reassuring.Trump is obsessed by Islamic terror, but has given no details how to deal with it. If he moves the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the Palestinians will go ballistic, both figuratively and literally. Trump has made no secret he doesn't give a 'rat's behind' for the threat of global warming, which is increasing, becoming less of a threat than a reality. So we can't expect anything positive there. On the home front, Trump said he will reduce crime, but again, gave no clear indication how. He said he will reduce unemployment, but if he scraps free-trade, he will make it worse.Trump, like other presidents, has his advisors, but any advice from them will be within the framework of what they consider best for U.S. capitalism. The moot question, is, "To what extent do individuals make a difference?" A smarter guy than me, once said, "Men make history, but from the conditions to hand." Or, something to that effect. Put it this way – the tailor makes the suit, but, not the cloth. Our comrades in the U.K. are only too well aware of this. During WWII, Britain's Interior Minister, Herbert Morrison, could have shut down the British party. They wouldn't have been able to do anything about it and no one would have protested. Morrison was a humane man, attempting to administrate an inhumane system. As a WWI conscientious objector, there was a certain empathy there, so he allowed the SP to propagate and attack both sides in the war. Though individuals make a difference concerning details, they make none concerning fundamentals, nor can they.No one knows exactly what will happen under Donny baby, maybe he doesn't, but we do know what won't. There will be no change in the class basis of society. The capitalist class will continue to own the tools of production, while the working class continue to be exploited by them, (that is, those who still have jobs) with all the consequent misery this causes. Nor, would it have been different if Hillary had won. Trump's ranting "America First", is so much hot air to convince the American working class they have something in common with those who exploit them.The time is long overdue for the working class to stop saying let's vote for this or that candidate. How about making things a whole lot better? This can be done by "not" voting for individuals as such, but electing a majority of socialist deputies, with a mandate to make the tools of production the property of all. Then we could have done with war, poverty, unemployment, planned obsolescence, famine, preventable diseases, epidemics and destruction of the environment. Also, no one would think of electing goofball politicians, or even smart ones, who's sole intention is to keep us exploited.• On Jan. 12 incoming secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, promised a hard-line stance towards Russia, which conflicted sharply with Obama's and Trump's approach. Tillerson, a former CEO with Exxon Mobil, called Russia a danger to the U.S. and said he would keep U.S. sanctions in place and consider new penalties related to Russian meddling in the election, (if they did). He criticized Obama's sanctions on Russia, which cost Exxon hundreds of Millions of dollars – need I say more?• Canadians who want to meet Justin Trudeau during his road tour of town halls are being asked to register their personal details with Liberal M.P.s. To quote Conservative M.P. Candice Bergen,''Do not call it open town hall when its actually a Liberal rally. Its not at all the back-to-the-people tour the Prime Minister described.'' That's what I like about Crapitalism – its so open and democratic.• The province of Ontario ''officially'' gives $61 million a year in grants to help marginalized students in Toronto. A report released on January 12, by ''Social Planning Toronto'', claims that half of that money isn't being spent on them and is instead diverted to cover other expenses, as the cash strapped Toronto District School Board struggles to balance its budget. According to Sean Meagher, director of Social Planning Toronto,''This is the first time we've had absolutely rock solid numbers that no one can refute because they are the TDSB's own numbers''. So as always under Capitalism it comes down to money, which is another good argument in favour of a society without any.• On December 16 Venezuela became a country without cash. The most widely used banknote, the 100 Bolivar, which had previously been worth 2 American cents, went out of circulation. Higher denomination bills which were meant to replace it had not arrived at the banks and no explanation was given. This meant people looking to buy groceries were out of luck as banks had run out of lower denomination bills like 20 and 50 Bolivar notes. There were no political protests as people scrambled to figure a way of fulfilling their needs in a country operating without money, but with a price tag on everything they would want. And this in a country that claims to be a Socialist one – how ridiculous can it get? Its shades of the runaway inflation in Germany in the early 20's, when workers were paid four times a day. Its obvious nothing changes under Capitalism, so why don't we all work for its abolition?• In Toronto, unionized city garbage collectors said they would fight Mayor John Torys efforts to outsource 200 of their jobs. Matt Figliano,Vice-President of CUPE local 416, which represents the affected workers, said they have an anti-privatization,''Kicked To The Curb'', lobbying campaign. Before Toronto amalgamated in 1997, Etobicoke outsourced its garbage. In 2012 the then Mayor, Rob Ford, convinced council to contract out the rest of the city's west half, which saved them $11 million a year. The city is in debt, therefore it wants to save money, but workers don't want to lose their jobs – a typical capitalist situation. Years ago when the economy was buoyant, a job in the government usually meant job security, which today no longer exists.• On December 23, three Canadian soldiers said they had endured years of racist abuse, including slurs about Aboriginals and Blacks that were ignored by their superior officers. The three have filed a lawsuit against the military in Federal court in Halifax. They claim they were exposed to verbal taunts, racial epithets and insults to family members. A Black soldier claimed someone threw bananas at his wife. Their officers brushed aside their complaints and told them not to file any suits. If all this is true, it goes to show that even when one is prepared to fight to defend and advance the interests of the capitalist class he is still treated with contempt. If anything is contemptible it's the capitalist system.• On December 18 the Toronto Star focused on insurance claims made against General Electric in Peterborough, Ontario. Over the last ten years more than half of the 660 occupational disease claims, including brain, bowl and lung cancer, have been denied. Workers at GE are exposed to high levels of cancer causing substances such as Trichloroethylene, Asbestos and Lead. When they try to prove their cases to Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board they are confronted with delay, bureaucracy, callousness and disappointment. One can hardly expect a Board, created by a government which is there to protect the interests of the Capitalist Class, to be unbiased. This is not to say bias is necessarily a bad thing. Some bias in the direction of a society where the above situation could not exist would be welcomed.• Indian chiefs from Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. said, on January 11, that enviromentalists everywhere were impressed by Justin Trudeau's comments at International talks in Paris, in late 2015. To quote activist Jane Fonda,''we all thought, what a cool guy, what a disappointment. He talked so beautifully of the need to meet the requirements of the climate treaty and to respect and hold to the treaties with indigenous people. Such a heroic stance he took there and yet he has betrayed every one of the things he committed to in Paris." Last year Trudeau approved plans to triple the capacity of the Trans Mountain Line between Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C. And approved plans to replace Endbridge's line between Edmonton and Superior, Wisconsin, but he pushed ahead with a national carbon price and rejected Endbridge's proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. The compromise did not please Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C, Indian Chiefs, ''I share the bitter disappointment. He failed to restructure the National Energy Board or environmental assessment hearings into major resource projects''. Fonda added,''There’s going to be more poor people if the likes of your Prime Minister and our President-Elect have their way – a lot of poor sick people''.If the capitalist class and governments which maintain the status-quo consider the extraction and transportation of certain raw materials to be profit yielding they will go ahead and to hell with the environment and all who live there, indigenous or not. Protests wont accomplish anything – Revolution will.• On January 18, on the CBC news, they provided the statistics of drug related deaths, recently in BC. 142 died in December and 914 in 2016, which is an 80 per cent increase from 2015. What a sick, empty, meaningless society we live in that would make anyone turn to and get hooked on narcotics. Its time to get rid of it.• Regular readers of this column may recall an item some while back about the claw on garbage collection trucks which can be operated by the driver making it unnecessary for a guy to lift and unload bins. At the time there were still a two man team on the truck. Recently, in Mississauga, Ontario, this writer noticed there was just one guy. Under capitalism progress is a two edged sword.• About 100 people were missing in December and feared dead after two shipwrecks off Italy raised the total of deaths among migrants on the Mediterranean Sea in 2016 to 5000 – a new annual record, United Nations Agencies said on December 23. Deaths linked to Mediterranean crossings by migrants spiked in 2016. In 2015 more than one million crossed the sea, with 3771 deaths recorded. In 2016 about 360,000 people have crossed, most between Libya and Italy, but there have been far more deaths, probably due to overcrowding on unseaworthy vessels. As long as capitalism lasts folks will always flee from its more troubled spots, hoping to find a place where they can be exploited without a war raging around them.• The recent movie ''Hidden Figures'', which depicts the successful battle of three coloured women for recognition when working on NASA's space program in the early 1960's is excellent. Since one is a mathematician, one an engineer and the other a computer specialist, each have to fight their separate battles. The movie is totally absorbing, especially as its a true story. Though one can applaud the breaking down of barriers and consequently raising the status of people who had previously been dumped on, wouldn't it be better to have a world where there were no barriers to break down because no one was getting dumped on?• The Toronto Transit Commission are increasing security on buses and streetcars in the hope that riders won't spit on drivers. In 2016 there were 285 assaults on transit operators in Toronto, a number that doesn't include verbal abuse. 34 per cent of assaults were by spitting, 31 per cent were a slap on the hand and 37 per cent a punch in the face. In a December pilot project called Bus Stop, constables boarded 400 buses on 400 lines. Most of the disputes were about fares, but nevertheless it's a clear indication that capitalist society is breaking down more and more every day.• In January Toronto officials announced plans to double the amount of cameras at intersections, which is currently at 77. The expansion is part of the city's new $80 million road safety plan, which Mayor John Tory has championed with the aim of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. Methods of surveillance always start in a way the public as a whole find acceptable. In the U.S. it was supposedly to ''combat terrorism''. All these techniques can and will be used to crush opposition to capitalism, but it won't do them a bit of good when the vast majority vote to end it.• The Earth heated up to a third straight record hot year in 2016, with scientists blaming man made global warming – no kidding! Figures released by the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration revealed that the average global temperature was 14.84 Celsius, beating the previous year by 0.04,Celsius. This shows that what has been done to decrease global warming is too little too late. As long as profits are made capitalism rushes pell mell to its own destruction and that of the rest of us.Gustav's GemsIn his work "The Rise of Capitalism", Dr. Bang analyzes the collapse of the Chartist Movement. This was the great movement for universal suffrage in Britain in the 19th century."That happened which had to happen. Chartism had to terminate. It had to do so because, historically, it was not in consonance with the evolutionary stage of the period. Capitalism was not sufficiently ripe for overthrow. It was in its ascendancy, both as regards inner and external development. It had barely put the first lap behind, and it was to pass through a series of phases before the germs of its dissolution could manifest themselves. Preparations for its coming collapse could be made, the collapse could be hastened, but this could be done only by the workers gaining in strength, organizationally, tactically, and in consistent progress, and in the measure that the bourgeoisie became weakened. A big victory that in itself, meant a definite step toward a new social order, could not yet be won." Today, capitalism has developed to the extent that it is ripe to be overthrown. Has the world's working class themselves become more educated about how it should be overthrown? Or indeed, do they think it needs to be overthrown?They need to wake up PDQ, before the affects of capitalism destroy life on this planet. For socialism, Steve and John.
The contribution from our representative here:http://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/james-connolly-and-easter-rising_9.html
Here's the author's reply:
Quote:If I understand the question right, the article doesn't say that liberals claim that Moslems are not homophobic. They know perfectly well that homophobia is a big problem, just as it is in many Christian groups. The article took the view that when it comes to criticism of Islamic homophobia there is a tacit 'hands off' policy among western liberals to go easy rather than apply the same criticism they would of other groups. The reasons for this are many and obvious, and to do with notions of 'the greater good'.But workers who are victimised, tortured and murdered, whether it's for their union activities or something as trivial as their sexuality, need to be defended and spoken up for, not smoothed out of polite discussion. Christian groups like the Church of England are currently torn apart over the gay debate, with common sense at war with scripture, but at least there is some kind of debate. What Orlando has done, apart from putting the LGBT community unwillingly in the front line, is demonstrate the need for that debate in Moslem circles as well. The socialist cause can hardly advance without these basic divisions being addressed in all cultures.In answer to Socialistpunk (if he is not being totally sarcastic) – yes. In relation to money not simply "thou shalt have no money" (which leads to the sort of fruitless and embarassing bureaucratic speculations in this thread) but (if necessary and when prompted) "when the workers as a class control the means of production there will be no need of money – you do not need to buy what you already own". A product, not an aim. A question: As some of the main thinkers and writers in the Partly, do you honestly feel happy with all of the things which have been written here?
Email received at Head Office:
Quote:Surely you should be encouraging your readers/voters to vote LEAVE if only for the sheer malicious pleasure of terminating the careers of Cameron and Osborne, suddenly and in disgrace.. Neither would survive an 'OUT' vote for more than a few days. If they win – and survive – they are going to be even more unbearable.He has been referred to this month's Socialist Standard especially the front cover.
Email received from someone in the US:
Quote:Dear Scoialist Party (UK)Reply to yours on the General Strike and Workers Councils (Apr / May 2016 Soc. Standard Mags.) , First, Your article on the General Strike weapon (May Pg. 10-11)whilst informative and useful is quite faulty on a few key points .First, you grossly underestimate, and demean the importance of workers class consciousness growing which set the basis of the workers advances from mere legal /truncated trade/craft union actions . General strikes tend to move affected parts of the class and allies to more militant , anti-capitalist wider fightback and their own demands and build socialist clarity .. Second , you contradict , by your own emphasis on narrow parliamentary activities negating that many advances to General Strikes also incorporate political trends and tendencies, socialists work, gettting a favorable and influencial hearing from masses of active / combined workers.The workers in combined actions , working, co-operating, in spreading support brings more workerst o see in reality the latent power of their own class unleashed from capitalisms legalist jails & electoral illusions, and raising the needed spirit of organizing as a wider , united class. against waged slavery and capitals wider hegemony over society . . . Third, you try to separate, almost with a Chinese wall almost the whole economic struggle from the political conflict with capitalist rule. In fact at whatever the level of struggle , class conflict needs to raise BOTH fronts of battle to the the fore, in the terrain of the worker lives for them to strengthen their educating and organizing as a class against the bosses rule economically and thru the the capitalist state machine.monopoly of controls. The is no guarantee of immediate advance to revolution and workers taking the power. But the training of industrial and bonifide socialistic political education and action raises the workers to be serious challengers to the rule of the bosses dominance, exploitation robbery, racism and wars.. In your snipes on the *Soviets*, (Apr, Reveiw, pg 20), the workers councils advanced struggles , your prejudice against mass combined industrial political tactics leads you to distrort the history of the workers councils risings.. Your asserting that workers councils just arise 'spontaneously ' and in less developed countries is flat out wrong ! The workers councils did not just step onto history in 1905 and 1917 in Russia , but also in rebellion to the imperialist World War 1 in advanced industrial nations as Germany , Austria and Italy , etc and played a huge role in forcing the bourgeois rulers to halt the carnage of WW1 and both the workers, as large sections of the armed forces in councils rebelled against the continuing barbarism.and after. That their efforts went furthest in Russia but could not advance to full socialism is hardly the western workers/farmers fault, Given the amount of repression , counter revolution, isolation , capitalist intervention and blockades & state capitalist controls resulted in the defeat of the huge revolutionary waves by the early 20s.. In Germany , Austria, Hungary , Italy , etc the workers councils had not he time to deepen political understanding assisted by their new Marxist revolutionary parties like the experienced Bolsheviks, as had happened in Russia, The Western European workers councils , soldiers/sailors and workers included strong influences of reformists , careerists and fakers in addition to harmful influences of nationalist reaction too., Thus these councils occupations , mass actions, General strikes and near civil war not achieve the tactical and strategic clarity they had in Russia, at least for a few years . Also as a result of illusions in bosses 'democracy' slick parliamentary facades, followed by political division , repression , and isolation , their diffuse attempts to establish workers rule were defeated bythe ruling exploiter classes. Finally, is not at least a tad of wooden and ossifed thinking for you to say that the workers councils, (albeit in different forms & experiences ) cannot again emergein countries like the UK or the USA, etc., especially in periods of capitals crises/plunder that will probably be even deeper, bloodier , more global in scope ?The separate "What is Socialism" website that WSP members have been planning so as to take advantage of the increase in interest in the concept of socialism sparked off by Bernie Sanders's primary election campaign is now up and can be seen here:http://www.whatissocialism.net/
I forgot to add -Submissions from regular contributors to the Socialist Standard and from members of the World Socialism Movement, including those of the World Socialist Party of the United States, are welcome.They can either be emailed to spgb.sspc.ed@worldsocialism.org or sent by post to Head Office.
Another if belated (only published on polling day after voting had begun) interview with our candidate in Lambeth & Southwark but this time Kevin at least got a chance to correct a misinterpretation (scroll down to comments). The SW Londoner is an online newspaper published from Streatham.http://www.swlondoner.co.uk/4-5m-houses-make-mockery-system-lambeth-southwark-socialist-gla-candidate/
Socialist Party Head Office wrote:Here's the Socialist Party statement on the EU referendum adopted by the EC at its meeting on Saturday:Comment on this received by email at Head Office:
Quote:To the Socialist Party of Great Britain,I have read the statement issued by your executive committee this month titled "The problem is not the EU… it's capitalism." I believe, too, that the problem is capitalism. But I am absolutely sure that the EU is irredeemably linked to Capitalism, whereas at Westminster we conceivably have the power to make the interests of big businesses a less dominant factor in politicians' decisions. Because the EU Commission is not elected. It is conceived as a capitalists' charter, and acts as such. Westminster, freed from the anti-democratic influence of the EU, will be once more the seat of a democratic government, and with democracy comes the opportunity for people who have the intention and the courage to stand up to the massive power of capitalism to be elected. I urge you to choose the devil that you can get rid of in an election, rather than the devil that you can't. Can we not try to claim Britain for the people rather than surrendering it indefinitely to a group of unelected bankers? I feel like whoever is reading this will think me quite presumptious in airing my views to a political party in this manner, but I am young and optimistic, and I really believe what I just wrote. I'd be very eager to hear your reply to this. I wonder if you'd also be interested in my petition to Jeremy Corbyn? https://www.change.org/p/jeremy-corbyn-vote-with-your-conscience-the-eu-is-a-coup-against-democracy-and-the-working-classes?recruiter=76781477&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink Please reply, I'm being ignored everywhere.Best wishes,Brendan Kjellberg-MottonHere's the Socialist Party statement on the EU referendum adopted by the EC at its meeting on Saturday:
Quote:The problem is not the EU … it’s capitalismOn 23 June you will asked to make a decision on behalf of the minority who own and control the means of production in Britain: should they stay or should they leave the EU? Perhaps you ought to feel flattered that, for once, they have entrusted you with making a decision of vital importance to them. But our answer, as socialists, is “we are not interested. Settle the matter yourselves”.This is because the problems we and you face as wage and salary workers or their dependents are caused by the capitalist system of ownership by the few and production for profit. This system, which requires that making profits comes before meeting needs, will continue whether Britain is in or out of the EU. Whichever it is to be, the problems will continue. They will continue for as long as capitalism does. The only way out is if you, together with wage and salary workers in the rest of the world, organise democratically to replace global capitalism by a worldwide classless socialist society of common ownership and democratic control, with production to satisfy people’s needs not for profit, and distribution on the principle of “from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs” not by the amount of money you have – or don’t have.The devil you knowApart from a few idealists who want to see a Federal European State, the main group in favour of staying is Big Business. With good reason, from their point if view. The EU gives them tariff- free access to a vast single market with common standards. And the EU, negotiating as a single body with non-member States over trade and other economic matters and so with more bargaining power, gets them a better deal than if Britain had to do this on its own.Other supporters are the Scottish and Welsh Nationalists who want to protect the EU subsidies their parts of Britain get. More principled is the position of the Green Party which wants to defend the free movement of workers throughout the EU – out of as well as into Britain.Cameron claims to have negotiated some fundamental reform of the EU. Actually, he has done no more than freeze the position of Britain as a non-member of the Eurozone. He hasn’t undone anything. He hasn’t even stopped immigration which some mistakenly see as a problem, only held out a hope that it will be less attractive in a few years. No wonder the Eurosceptics are sceptical.Basically, the Stay campaign are campaigning for the status quo. As is the Labour Party. In other words, capitalism as we know it, with all the problems it causes, and so not worth supporting even if it is the devil we know.The devil you don’tWe have received the following belated email comment on this article:
Quote:Hello SPGB,I am writing to you regards publication, No. 1313 January 2014 material world:Myth of Peaceful Buddhism.I find the publication misleading. Buddhism has many strands and has many followers in different countries. Most of these people would be lay followers.So to put up a a very negative and one sided view of Buddhism is not only unfair and unjust but it contorts the view of reality of the Buddhist to any person who would not know much about Buddhist followers or the Buddhist teachings.The word Buddhist can be very wide ranging so to slant a view on it would be misleading.On the publication it quotes Dr. Muang Zarni who himself is a Buddhist. You left out a lot of information on Dr. Muang Zarni study. Dr. Muang Zarni lived in Burma for 24 years and says even someone of his education (himself) had never heard anyone utter the word Rohingya. He talks about it here, https://youtu.be/8LctOLRhumsHe says that "90% of the people of Burma would never have meet someone from Rohingya. That the Genocide of the people is politically state sponsored."As it states in the publication, The conflict between Buddhists and Muslims is often over land and nationalism. And the Buddhist people are been lead by a extremist monk and other officials from government. So this genocide is not Buddhist lead. The Buddhist teachings does not advocate violence, it would be the opposite, compassion.So if a pacifist went out and murdered someone could you really call them a pacifist. They might be Buddhist in name but not in nature or practice.The whole publication seems to be anti Buddhist with no balance. It is offensive and disrespecting to the millions who actually follow the teachings of the Buddha.It reminded me of people who say things like, Stalin the socialist murdered 50 million of his own people…..we know that Stalin was not a socialist. But branding is a dangerous thing……war, oppression, conflicts, BUDDHISM, genocide, neo-nazis monks, its all throw in there. It also reminds me of a Britain first publication. With no tolerance of other peoples beliefs.So I kindly ask you to take the publication down as it cases offense to socialists and Buddhists alike. Kind regards Eddie O SullivanEmail received from Comrade KC of Cork who is not on this forum:Dear EditorsWell done to the various comrades for a range of good articles about the Easter Rising in last month’s Standard. For a socialist living in Ireland it’s good to read an alternative perspective on this matter and to have some of the well-known shibboleths that surround it debunked (not for the first time of course!). As I write in the week prior to Easter, things are gearing up here for the major commemorations scheduled for Easter Sunday and Easter Monday; 27th and 28th March. As the articles in the Standard suggests, in spite of all the rhetoric of the state and media, there really is very little tangible to see in the day to day lives of the citizens of the Republic of Ireland that is connected to the Rising apart from the fact that most major railway stations in Irish cities are named after some of the leading participants. It’s interesting to compare this centenary celebration with the commemoration that occurred in 1966 on the half centenary. The centrepiece on that occasion was a traditional old style military parade of the Irish Army down O Connell Street whilst being reviewed by De Valera and other elderly survivors of the Rising. Now it’s much more ‘inclusive’ with family events, educational lectures, historical re-enactments, street festivals, etc. Of course the underlying nationalist message is still present though in a more muted form with the Proclamation being read out in all school playgrounds under the Tricolour.The correct attitude to adopt to the Rising has always been somewhat problematical for Irish Governments. While Irish Independence is nominally taken to have begun with the rebellion, in fact the origins of the state really date from the unplanned and erratic series of events that occurred from the Conscription crisis of 1918 to the end of the Civil War in 1923. The undemocratic and vanguardist nature of the military operation of Easter 1916 has unpalatable parallels with the more recent campaign of the Provisional IRA. Furthermore the participation of James Connolly in the Rising has always given it left-wing appeal even though he was a clear minority in terms of his political outlook compared to the other leaders. A well-known phrase from the Proclamation ‘cherishing all the children of the nation equally’ has been used to justify the claim that it was a progressive event even though that wording was placed there more for grandiose political purposes rather than a call to any specific programme of action.What’s the view from today? You can debate over and back whether the 26 counties that eventually went on to form the Republic of Ireland would have been better or worse off if they had remained as part of the UK. To an extent it’s similar to the current debate in the UK about its own membership of the larger European political union. The delineation of national boundaries within a system of world capitalism is just a reflection of the nationalist consciousness that currently prevails amongst the people of this planet.
