Vol. 81/No. 17 May 1, 2017
Letters
Cuba conference coverage
I would like to correct a factual error in the otherwise objective, informative, and accurate article by Steve Clark (“Views on Ending US Hostile Policy to Cuba Debated at NY Conference”) in the April 17, 2017, Militant.
Clark wrote, “Another debate centered on a proposal supported by Ike Nahem, Isaac Saney, and Steve Eckardt of the Chicago Cuba Coalition that a national speakers bureau be established to organize tours by Cubans and others in North America. The motion to encourage speaking tours was agreed to, but the proposal to establish a new national body was withdrawn.”
Neither in the original proposal, nor in its amended and unanimously adopted final wording, was a “national speakers bureau” proposed. Furthermore, at no point was there any proposal to establish any “new national body.” On the contrary, as I said at the first plenary session March 25, “The aim of this conference is to boost this work … in cities across the U.S. and Canada, to reach out and build united action.”
One activist during discussion at the closing plenary did raise that a “steering committee” coming out of the conference would be useful. But this was not supported by any others and was certainly not part of the original or amended motion, which read, “That we agree to establish and support national speaking tours by leading Cuban figures. And that we collaborate with Cuba in organizing this.”
Since there was never any proposal to establish either a “national speakers bureau” or a “new national body,” such a proposal could not have been “withdrawn.” In response to remarks in the discussion on this proposal, a friendly amendment was adopted that read, “We will work in our efforts to coordinate nationally, and make full use of the National Network on Cuba to do this, and that we will work to share resources via live streaming, Skype, and other platforms.”
I viewed the entire March 26 closing plenary session on YouTube to make sure my memory was correct, and these are the facts.
Ike Nahem
New York, New York
Steve Clark replies:
I’m glad that Ike Nahem, who was a central organizer of the National Cuba Conference, found the Militant’s coverage of that gathering “objective, informative, and accurate.”
As to what he considers a “factual error,” I was one of several participants at the closing plenary who spoke about concerns that the motion on speaking tours implied some sort of national structure to organize such tours and other activity. That exchange, as reported in the article, led to a clarification that I think put to rest the prospect of any new committee or ongoing national conference calls.
On that basis, local Cuba coalitions, the National Network on Cuba, and other organizations can work together on speaking tours and other educational efforts to reach out to and involve growing layers of working people and youth in the U.S. and Canada who are open to finding out the truth about Cuba’s socialist revolution and joining activity to demand: End the U.S. economic war against Cuba! U.S. out of Guantánamo! End Washington’s “regime change” operations! Now!