Cuba and death penalty

With regards to the death penalty, however, the article was a little vague. It is undoubtable that capital punishment is an instrument of class rule, but should this extreme method of dealing with crime and corruption be used in a worker-controlled regime?

A problem arises when looking at the Stalinist states of Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and China (among others). These states also have had capital punishment; they used it for the most part to preserve the Stalinist caste. Do we then oppose capital punishment in the Stalinist workers' states, even though they aren't under capitalist rule? Or do we support it, as a weapon against capitalism?

My point is, capital punishment falls into the rather vague category of "morality." I personally think socialist states should have a moral condescension of sorts to the practice; after all, socialist states such as Cuba exist by majority consent and participation, not by terror.  
Adam Levenstein 
State College, Pennsylvania 
 

A farm open to the world

Alice and her son Larry opened up their farmhouse as host to fighters from around the world. Their farm is part way between Des Moines and Marshalltown, Iowa.

Just in the last 15 years as capitalism deepened its crisis, fighters stopped by their farm to offer solidarity and receive it at the same time. The list includes a dairy farmer from New Zealand; Black students, members of the African National Congress from South Africa; a leader of the Landless Rural Peasants of Brazil; and most recently, two leaders of the Union of Young Communists from Cuba.

Alice and Larry also had numerous meetings and rallies at their farm on questions that are part of the U.S. class struggle, such as the fight for immigrant rights, support for Black farmers in their fight against the racist policies of the government, and opposition to the unsafe environmental conditions generated by the big business hog "factories."

The best way to commemorate the life of this fighter is to join in the struggles that advance the interests of workers and farmers around the world. 
Joe Swanson 
Des Moines, Iowa 
 

China spy case

Lee was under investigation by the FBI for three years before he was fired from his job on March 8, 1999. No criminal charges were brought against him until December of last year. On March 7, the FBI hauled Lee in for an interrogation.

The edited version of this questioning was released to the press recently by Lee's lawyers. Small portions were reprinted in the San Jose Mercury News on January 8. In an effort to rattle Lee, the FBI agents lied to him, telling him that he had failed a Department of Energy-administered polygraph test which he had actually passed.

"I don't know why I fail. But I do know I have not done anything." Lee said. The FBI agents pressed on.

At one point they threatened him, "Do you know who the Rosenbergs are? The Rosenbergs are the only people that never cooperated with the Federal government in an espionage case.

You know what happened to them? They electrocuted them, Wen Ho." Lee replied, "Yeah, I heard."

Lee had to ask repeatedly for the interview to end. Mr. Lee has had a lot of people come to his defense, prominent among them are many scientists, professionals, Asian American activists, and a few politicians. A defense fund was established. That he was arrested publicly at his home and is being held without bail and in solitary confinement is testimony to the stakes involved in his railroading.  
Raul Gonzalez 
Redwood City, California 
 
 
 
The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of general interest to our readers. Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home