LAND,LAND, CAPTAIN; IT IS THE NEW WORLD

vol. 1, no. 5, December 2008, $ 1.00

si vous voulez lire en français, : http://www.laviereelle.blogspot.com/

Barack Obama has been elected. As would say the late Soviet writer Maxim Gorky in The Reader: “In order to have the right to speak to the people, you must have in your heart either a great hatred of their shortcomings or a great love for them in their sufferings; if there are no such feelings in your heart, be modest enough to think again before you say anything…”

The peoples of the world expect this “great love”. Of course, a solution to the various economic problems and the current crisis of capitalism – for instance- would be more than welcome, but a lessening of the tensions inherited from the war onto “terrorism” should take place right now. Naturally, alternative political forces must emerge, such as the communists who propose just and lasting peace, with real security for all nations.

In a recent interview to The Hollywood Reporter, and reprinted in the Marxist People’s Weekly World, the famous actor Kirk Douglas, answers a few questions in relation with the communists:
“At that time [during the Cold War], our danger was Sen. McCarthy. We were in danger of losing our freedom. We are living in a free country. Democracy thrives because people can say what they think. I don’t believe that there was a danger posed by communists or radical thinkers. […] We are not very popular around the world. They think we’re arrogant. I maintain that a powerful country like ours should show that we are capable of humility. The best way to do that is to make a formal apology for slavery.”

A letter from Colorado

As promised in an earlier issue La Vie Réelle in English reproduces here part of a letter sent to us by one of the Five of Cuba, also incarcerated separately in the USA after a hasty trial, occurred ten years ago. Antonio Guerrero Rodriguez, who wrote it, is held at the Florence Penitentiary in Colorado State on the false accusation of spying, while he and four other young men were conducting an inquiry amongst the Cuban community of Florida, to prevent any other terrorist attack against their island:

“Oct. 19. 2008

Dear Daniel Paquet,
From August 10th the prison has been in “lock down”. On September 26th we were allowed out of our cells, but only inside of the housing unit. It is part of an “Emergency Plan”. It is not clear when normal operation will resume […] I want and need to finish [my work] before I could be transfer to Miami for a re-sentence.”
Here is a poem written by Antonio on January 1st 2000:

“I am a man
They say I am a spy
I am a simple man
Dedicate in his life
To serve and to create

They say I am a spy
I am a modest man
Who does not pretend to live
Better than the rest

They say I am a spy
I am a discreet man
Who has not secret
Who has not evil

They say I am a spy
I am a friendly man
Who has no enemies
Only true friends

They say I am a spy
I am a man, a good father
Who teaches his children
Love and goodness

They say I am a spy
I am a man, a good son
Who constantly cares
For the maternal home

They say I am a spy
I am an emotional man
Romantic, loyal
Occasional poet

They say I am a spy
I am a man without fear
Sure of myself
Tranquil in his walk

They say I am a spy
I am a man without wars
Guerrero (warrior) by name
But full of peace

They say I am a spy
I am an innocent man
Valiant prisoner
Who they wish to judge.

We stay firm and optimistic. A big embrace from the 5.”

Peace

As reported in The Gazette of October 26th, the mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba, made a stop in Canada, “where he and Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay planted a Sakura tree [and the first said that Canada promoting the nuke ban] would make it a star around the world.”

Elections in Québec on December the 8th 2008

Really, we cannot speak about a campaign that aroused passions. Most likely, the result will be business as usual. The Action démocratique du Québec, a right wing political party, is probably leaving the apron for ever. We will not be too many to mourn it. The Parti québécois (petite bourgeoisie par excellence) avoided the catastrophe, putting temporarily aside its separatist program. Québec solidaire did not benefit from the support of the organized labour movement in spite of the party support for workers rights; some trade unionists even helped the Parti québécois shamelessly. The Liberals remained on the left-centre lane. At the moment of printing this newsletter, everything indicates that they are going to regain political power, eventually in a majority government.


MAY 2009 BE A YEAR OF PEACE, PROGRESS AND SOLIDARITY!