On "In honor of the bicentenary of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin"
Tom, that was a brilliant article, really well put together. A joy to read.
For all those that think Marxists are creatures without feeling, all head and no heart, then Marx's reply regarding Lincoln clearly expresses the spirit, humanity, and integrity which imbues our cause.
John K
UK
12 February 2009
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I'd like to commend specifically Daniel's comments on Darwin. The zoologist and broadcaster David Attenborough (brother of film director Richard Attenborough) has recently received hate mail from proponents of "intelligent design" in England following a program he made on Darwin. Significantly, these attacks have followed Blair's championship of "faith schools" and academies in England at a time when secularism is under threat in education. Characteristically, Obama welcomes this weasel in his first "prayer breakfast" 10 days ago. It is highly important that attacks on this symbol of the 19th century Enlightenment be combated by articles such as this.
Tony W
12 February 2009
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Thanks for the great article!
I enjoyed reading it. I didn't know that the root of the Republican Party was with Lincoln!
Keep up the good work.
Luc B
12 February 2009
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As a Marxist, I too am an admirer of Lincoln and his revolutionary destruction of slavery. However, it is necessary to point out that while he did spare the lives of some of the Minnesota Sioux, he permitted the execution of other Native Americans in that battle with settler invaders.
Bob S
13 February 2009
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Lincoln has also been quoted as saying:
"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if Labor had not first existed. Labor is superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."
And, "The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds."
BL
California, USA
12 February 2009
On "The Tragedy of the Iranian Revolution"
Since I started reading it about five years ago, the World Socialist Web Site has helped clear up confusion that had dogged me for decades regarding various national and international issues, in which the standard leftist perspectives somehow didn't add up. Examples in my case were Mao and China, Cuba, the Allende government in Chile and affirmative action in the US, to name a few. Once again, the WSWS has delivered on another issue: Iran.
I remember back in the late 70s, a local leftist (supposedly ex-CP) Pacifica radio commentator was effusive in her praise for Khomeini and the forces lining up behind him, making him out to be some kind of liberation theologian. (You'll recall that liberation theology was all the rage back then.) Sure, he spouted anti-US rhetoric, but from the most reactionary religious doctrinaire perspective imaginable. Yet he was depicted as someone to wholeheartedly support.
I could never figure out how anybody considered progressive could come to such a conclusion, which was to prove so tragically wrongheaded. Finally, 30 years later, the WSWS explains it in a clear, incisive manner. If only I'd known 30 years ago.
Thank you, Keith Jones and thank you, World Socialist Web Site for another excellent article.
Lary M
California, USA
11 February 2009
On "US intelligence chief: World capitalist crisis poses greatest threat"
I do agree with your argument that a new system needs to be in place and that capitalism is almost over. Therefore we do need a new system and a new party. The first step is to get the information out to the public, and the second step is start talking about the issues and what the SEP represents. The time is ripe to start to build a new party.
Paul M
Washington, USA
14 February 2009
On "Britain: Ken Livingston and his ‘left' disciples"
Ken Livingston's newly found faith in capitalism after capitalism fell apart on 9/15/08 says a great deal about the man, all of it is bad. It is now certain that Mr. Livingston isn't a progressive.
Larry L
14 February 2009