Also appearing in the campus paper the same day was a column by Elbert Aull titled "Apathy take a break--for a day." The column stated, "'U.S. out of Afghanistan.' So read a sign, scrawled in red and black pen, placed in front of an information table manned by several members of Ball State's Young Socialists party Monday. The organization advocates support of labor unions and has taken a strong stance against America's role in the war in Afghanistan." Aull added, "As the day went on, the table became somewhat of a gathering place where people with all sorts of political views went to share information, compare stances, and argue them.... Now, more than ever, students across the nation need to decide on which side of the coin they rest."
 

Willey, a staff writer for the Militant newspaper, opened his pro-socialist speech with a quote from Fidel Castro explaining why capitalists fear socialism and how socialism improves humanity.

"The socialist revolution, from day one, has not been a revolution for only Cuba," Willey said. "It is for people who want to advance humanity forward. The Cuban revolution shows what socialism can offer humanity and what kind of people emerge from socialist thinking."

Willey then went on to contrast socialism and capitalism, an economic system that Willey claims causes hostility between workers and leaders. Willey also said that capitalism leads to imperialistic warfare and used the current situation in Afghanistan as an example.

According to Willey, the war can be considered imperialistic for many reasons. First of all, he said, a dominant power is exaggerating its role in society to justify war against a weaker country. Second, it is a war for wealth and resources in a region rich in oil and minerals. Finally, according to Willey, this war is one waged by a finance capital.

"This is a war so that (the United States) can cut out a bigger section of the world for their own advantage," Willey said.

To prove his point, Willey said the United States has been wanting to build a 100-mile pipeline through Afghanistan.

"This war will make that easier," he said.

According to Willey, this war has resulted in an increase in human and workers rights violations.

"These attacks and violations are occurring because the government is using the pretext of war and national security to justify violating people."

Willey then gave examples of rights violations that have occurred since the Sept. 11 attack. He noted that the FBI has been interrogating Middle Eastern students on over 220 campuses and said the government was using national security as an excuse for harassment. Willey also spoke about Miami firefighters who were fired for removing an American Flag from a fire truck and South Carolina dockworkers who were arrested for inciting a riot during an organized strike.

Willey ended his speech with a description of the two roads America can take. The first road is one of capitalism that, according to Willey, will drag America down into more wars, more epidemics, and more poverty. The alternative is to emulate the Cuban Revolution. Willey then predicted the fall of the U.S.

"Just like Rome, just like the Czar of Russia, just like Batista in Cuba, so to will the almighty American empire come down."

Ball State student Sarah Felker agreed with the message but disagreed somewhat with his delivery.

"He should've given more history," Felker said. "He assumed everyone understood communism."
 
 
Related article:
Students and workers join young socialists movement  
 
 
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