Letters from Our Readers

Jahan Chowdhry, BAR Comments Editor

24 Apr 2019

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This week readers discussed identity politics and imperialism, the Green New Deal, and the legacies of communism and NATO. We share comments for “Green Party Necessary to Pass Green New Deal,” “Global NATO: A 70 Year History of Oppressors in Crisis,” and “Freedom Rider: The ‘Resistance’ is Silent on Julian Assange.”

In radio segment “Green Party Necessary to Pass Green New Deal” Howie Hawkins that since the proposal will face stiff resistance from House Democratic leadership, the Green Party is necessary to push for the Green New Deal.

Ed Humphrey writes:

“Democratic party leadership may not be able to stop it. Reality is fast catching up and may drive the necessity like a wild fire that just overtakes them. This Summer/storm season is going to be an eye opening b***, as if the past several years haven't been enough yet. Plus there is a lot of clamor in the party to run on climate change as the center issue. The Green Party needs to just keep building, providing a platform which at some point necessity may dictate discontent will coalesce behind it.”

In “Global NATO: A 70 Year History of Oppressors in Crisis” Horace Campbell details the racist, imperialist history of the alliance and calls for progressive forces to unite in dismantling it.

Ifaroju Obatala writes:

“Please stop the stupidity! Ask any ex-Soviet countryman of Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine or Croatia if they miss being a part of the Soviet Union and they will tell you NO! We have to stop being pawns for other people’s agendas and start looking through the lens of the African Spirit as the top priority.”

LP Ernestoresponds:

“I have talked to many people from Hungary, Romania and other countries. They strongly oppose being part of NATO. Most of them see the fall of communism as tragedy for their lives.
“But in any case, what does that have to do with calling out NATO imperialism? Have you ever read the history of Africa in the 20th century? Do you know which countries and organizations created empires in Africa in which country supported independence movements? Do you know the role of the Soviet Union in Africa?”

In “Freedom Rider: The ‘Resistance’ is Silent on Julian Assange” Margaret Kimberley exposes the imperialist nature of the so called “anti-Trump Resistance.”

Trish Driscoll writes:

“Recently I was practically burned at the stake by several friends in the LGBTQA+ community -- of which I am a member -- when I called into question the veracity of Rachel Maddow on the question of Russophobia and issues like trusting the CIA (surprisingly they did).

“Later, while discussing this rather shocking event, another friend pointed out that Rachel is a lesbian, which was news to me as I unplugged from the msm matrix long ago. It then struck me that here was a case of identity politics getting in the way of truth.

“Particularly sad for me was the failure of any speaker at our recent annual Transgender Day Of Visibility event to mention Chelsea Manning, her role in revealing horrific war crimes, her imprisonment, or her torture in solitary confinement. Another case of identity politics overruling exposing the truth. Neither Bernie nor any Democratic politician who posted rainbow flags outside their offices on that day mentioned her either, hypocritically playing identity politics.”

Combating pro-imperialist identity politics is a major task for the black liberation movement today. With your comments we think through the ways to conduct this ideological struggle.

Jahan Choudhry is Comments Editor for Black Agenda Report. He is an organizer with the Saturday Free School based in Philadelphia, PA

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