Re: (UK)SWP, CANF - spot the difference

[benj <benj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Having originally posted the message I might make a couple of
comments in response...

Firstly, re Paul Flewers on the RCG's history: I'm no expert, but
it seems that however they came to their current Cuba solidarity
focus, by accident of dogmatic schema or by revolutionary
strategy (or somewhere in between), it is commendable and worth
taking note of (look up the Rock Around the Blockade website for
some idea of how they work).

For the record, their assessment of the collapse of the USSR was
quite candid about the problems of bureaucratic degeneration.
They saw the collapse as a defeat for the majority of the world,
as the USSR provided a lever with which many national liberation
movements could make space and gain concessions for their
programmes.

As to the istendency comrade's defence of Mike Gonzalez, I have
to disagree. There is a big difference between a rich,
imperialist nation in Europe, and a third-world country trodden
on by the might of the USA for the last 43 years. The fact that
Cuba still has great health and education is indeed a great
achievement. Trying to compare it's system with Sweden or
wherever is not honest. Further, there are plenty of credible
socialist critics of the Cuban government's policy, so why do the
SWP have to resort to quoting the Miami mafia?

I don't think the Cubans have got everything perfect but that's a
reason to support them not to condemn them, because they are
still trying to create a better society, whatever the hardships
and setbacks.

My party the DSP published a comprehensive document explaining
our assessment of the course being taken by the Cuban Communist
Party leadership and the role we see ourselves playing in
supporting the Cuban revolution. It's online at
http://www.dsp.org.au/Links/back/issue19/DSPCuba.htm

> YEST HE DIDN4T MENTION BECQUSE HE DOESNT BELIEVE THQT SOCIQLISM IN ONE
> COUNTRY IS POSSIBLE....SO THQT OF COURSE IMPERIQLIST PORCES SURROUND YOU QND
> DEGENERQTED YOUR AIMS AND #STATE#.
So should the Cuban comrades give up? Are they doomed from the
outset because they didn't make a revolution across the whole
world at once? Or should we instead say that we are lagging
behind and letting them down if we don't strive to make a
revolution here first?
The Cuban communists don't believe in socialism in one country
either. But they've done their bit by starting the revolution,
and holding onto it, for 43 years. What more can you ask?

Ben Courtice


~~~~~~~
PLEASE clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.