War is …
The quote Ed Campbell is looking for (10/26) is from Marine Commander-Gen. Smedley Butler and was published in The New York Times, Aug. 21, 1931, as well as in the magazine, The World Tomorrow in Oct. 1931. It goes as follows:
“I spent 33 years (in the Marines). … most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism …
“I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City (bank) boys to collect revenue in. I helped in the rape of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street …
“In China, in 1927, I helped see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested. … I had … a swell racket. I was rewarded with honors, medals, promotions. … I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate a racket in three city districts. The Marines operated on three continents.”
Rick NaginCleveland OH
Editor’s note: We want to thank all the readers who responded and now we know for sure that our readers are some of the most well read people! To read the entire speech go to www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm. For Butler’s biography http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Butler.html
Young Communists in Texas
Several Young Communist League (YCL) members passed out election literature in the University of North Texas’s (UNT) free speech area on Oct. 22 and 23. Members decorated their table with homemade signs that read, “Vote to Defeat the Ultra-right,” and “Say NO to Bush and Co. on Nov. 5.”
Students and faculty took copies of the PWW special election issue and the CPUSA election pamphlet, “Say NO to Bush and Co.” Many interested students signed up to receive more information about the UNT YCL club. One faculty member remarked, “We haven’t seen this since the ’60’s.”
The table also sparked many debates. International students from Sudan and India argued about the impending war in Iraq. Another man yelled anti-communist rhetoric at the YCL, prompting several bystanders to grab literature and voice their support for the YCL’s cause.
Several campus organizations grew excited upon seeing the table. On Tuesday, the UNT College Democrats added a “Ron Kirk for Senator” yard sign to the event, and the campus Anti-War Operations League (AWOL) left several “No War in Iraq” postcards at the table. On Wednesday, even more peace and justice organizations begged to leave literature at the table, including members of the Dallas Peace Center.
Several progressive organizations plan to mobilize on Nov. 4 and 5, including Students for Choice, the College Democrats, and the YCL. The groups will mobilize students to vote against the ultra-right in the Nov. 5 elections.
Matt ParkerDenton TX
No to death penality
There is one thing about the PWW that I agree with completely and that is your opposition to the death penalty. I 100 percent oppose the death penalty. I call it the ritualistic butchering of homo sapiens. It is barbaric and it serves as no deterrent to the population.
We execute the poor, minorities, and mentally ill people. It is all grossly improper.
Cletis Harry BeegleTucson AZ
Minnesotans will fight
We in Minnesota are mourning the loss of Paul Wellstone, his wife, his daughter, three campaign workers and two pilots last Friday. I am convinced that the loss of the Wellstones will energize voters to one of the highest turnouts for an off-year election in Minn. history.
I am going to the memorial in Minneapolis Tuesday night for the victims. I will hopefully be on a bus of Iron Rangers who will travel down to pay our respects.
We feel the loss of Wellstone is a great loss for not only our state, but for the country as a whole. We will do everything in our power to prevent Norm Coleman and the Republicans from representing us in the U.S. Senate. Wish us luck.
“A Ranger” Iron Range MN
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