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(OPE-L) Re: dreams and nightmares

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Title: Re: dreams and nightmares
Hi Riccardo and Nicky.
 
To begin with, I think your claim about the repression of  homosexuals
in Cuba is out-of-date in that it fails to comprehend the reforms that have
taken place since the early 1980s.  It was valid as a criticism in the 1960's
and 1970's, but times have changed and so has the position of the Cuban
government (both on paper and in actuality) on homosexuality.
 
As for capital punishment,  I think we need to begin with a materialist
analysis rather than only an ethical objection.  That is, _why_ do we
oppose capital punishment in capitalist societies and can that opposition
to capital punishment be generalized for all social formations and times?
In the kitchen of my small apartment (on the opposite side of the wall
where I am typing this message now) there is a poster by Peg Avery
from the War Resister's League dated 1978 with the legend "Capital
punishment means them without the capital get the punishment."
Independently of whether you support or oppose capital punishment
under all circumstances,  surely you would recognize that there is a
different reason in Cuba today for capital punishment.  That should be
analyzed.
 
As for the "repression of dissenters", I believe that we have to ask *who*
these "dissenters" are and *what* is the actual relation that they have to
US imperialism.  As it happens, this is a topic that has been discussed
briefly on the "Capital-and-Class" list in the past day.  Two posts
that I wrote on that subject, responding to Alan Johnson, are attached.
 
In general, I agree that part of the responsibility of Marxists, that flows
from our internationalism, is to adopt a critical standpoint towards the
praxis of other socialists internationally.  Yet, we also have a
responsibility to get our facts straight before explaining our criticism.
And we must recognize that the US is a major player in this event
rather than it only being a matter of "internal" dissent and government
policy.
 
In solidarity, Jerry
To defend Cuba, we must today let Castro understand that the behaviour of Cuba's government on capital punishment, repression of dissenters and homosexuals, etc. cannot be justified and supported.

Attachment: C&C -- Cuba.dat
Description: Binary data

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To begin with, the corrected address to send signatures is marxdream@xxxxxxxxxxx.
 
Secondly, who is ajoh244867@xxxxxxx?  I don't generally see the point in
responding to posts from anonymous authors.
 
Thirdly, I think _your_ statement fails to recognize adequately the real threat that
is posed by the U.S. government towards Cuba.  The 'dissidents' that you
referred to met with and received funding from James Casson, head of the US
interests section in Cuba. Do you support the right of the CIA to finance and plan
covert actions against sovereign nations?  Don't those sovereign nations have the
right to arrest and punish traitors -- and what else would you call citizens of 
your own nation who receive funds from an imperialist power to subvert
your country so that it can become a better investment for foreign capital?
 
Jerry

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