I also appreciate your willingness to answer in such detail questions from our readers. That is a hallmark of your focus on grassroots organizing and your emphasis on speaking to the people where they are. Thank you.

I was wondering if you would be willing to discuss the potential for nonviolence in revolution. It seems to me that in order to serve truly revolutionary ends, we might need to employ truly revolutionary means, something I assume might take the shape of a massive, organized, nonviolent, non-cooperative popular movement.

In my short relationship with the Militant I haven’t read much that refers to actual means of revolution in theoretical terms. I am excited, however, to see the practical methods like union organization, striking, and international diplomacy in bodies like the UN and others taking a spotlight. Perhaps my ultimate question could be summed up in, “What shape will the Revolution take?” At least, what shape would you like it to take?

Thank you for your kind consideration of this issue, and for all your hard work at the Militant. I enjoy reading it.

C.S.
Seattle, Washington

 
Want more about Russia
I would like to read analyses of the events in Russia. Why has Putin arrested some of these “oligarchs”? What class owns the means of production? Is there a struggle over this question? What happened to the monopoly over foreign trade, oil, manufacturing, etc.?

In short, what’s going on? I’ve seen nothing in the Militant, and the New York Times is not really very helpful on this.

Chuck Cairns
New York, New York
 
 
Antiwar movement
I am totally flabbergasted by your attitude toward the war in Iraq. Your paper has been badmouthing the antiwar movement, American and European, before and after the beginning of this war.

It has spoken in glowing terms of possible democratic prospects in the area, due to Bush’s intervention (Saudi Arabia). It speaks about French and German “lucrative” deals with Iraq as if this is a reason not to get involved in any interimperialist controversy. One can suppose that any commerce between nations that involves lucre is imperialist even if neither France nor Germany have killed or destroyed in Iraq as the U.S. has done.

It currently discusses the nature of the resistance in Iraq as being not quite what is desirable, or that it is not believable. The paper consistently fails to tell working people what to say or do about this war.

It is time that it come clean and do as any communist paper is supposed to do. I want to hear your advice for fighting imperialism. So far the Militant’s advice in this respect has been to recount tales of courage in the Sierra Maestra 50 years ago, but I don’t think it recommends to follow that example at this time.

In short, it seems to me that this abstentionism is the result of sectarianism on the part of the leaders of your party.

Sante Camo
Kendall Park, New Jersey
 
 
Sources on Iraq resistance
I wish to respond to a reply to a reader column called “What’s the nature of the Iraqi resistance.” I would like to state that the sources for what I understand to be the situation in Iraq are broad and varied, and include the website Al-Jazeera in English and several Iraqis I know.

What I understand is that the civic space you refer to is very limited, but nevertheless there are Shia clerics who have stated their opposition to the occupation. Some have called for restraint, some have, with bodyguards surrounding them, engaged U.S. coalition forces. I regret I do not have the exact details of this, but some of these instances were even reported in the “mainstream” media.

Although this is not a massive uprising, I feel this to have some significance. There have been public demonstrations of a somewhat peaceful nature against the occupation called for by Shia clerics in and around Baghdad, so perhaps there is, albeit within limits, a certain amount of a revolutionary approach to this situation. I would like to hear your thoughts on this. All of the Iraqis I know here in Houston hate Saddam and hate the occupation. With no revolutionary leadership, the majority of Iraqis may not be engaged in armed conflict, but, from what I have seen on Al-Jazeera I don’t think they have any love for the invasion and occupation either. I am not stating that I disagree totally with the article, nor do I think, though, that there is no resistance outside of the Baathist thugs.

David Perry
Houston, Texas

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people.

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.  
 
 
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