Ratcheting Tensions, Raging Struggle and the Need for Revolutionary Leadership

 

October 3, 2022 A Guide to This Issue of Revolution What You Need to Know and Engage This Week  About the World and Revolution   Ratcheting Tensions, Raging Struggle and the Need for Revolutionary Leadership The past week was again tumultuous, in different ways and in different parts of the world The key coverage this week focuses on the war in Ukraine. Two new articles—Escalating Confrontations, Intensifying Threats: Biden/Putin Faceoff Brings World to the Threshold of Nuclear War and The High Stakes in Ukraine, the Threat of Nuclear War, and the Interests of Humanity: 4 Basic Points—sum up how events around the Ukraine war this week have significantly upped the danger of nuclear war—of World War 3—and where the interests of the people lie. At the same time, we especially want to call your attention to a selection of works from Bob Avakian, BA, on this war, originally posted last spring, that we are reposting this week. These articles from Bob Avakian slice through the “fog of war” to cut to the heart of what is going on.  Much of what BA points to and analyzes in these articles has become accentuated and even more relevant since the time of their original publication. Read these articles from BA. Think about—and try to apply—the method he uses to analyze what is going on there. And grapple together about how to move on this whole situation in ways that contribute to revolution and the emancipation of all humanity. Bob Avakian: Free Yourself from the GTF! The Great Tautological Fallacy The war over Ukraine is a battle between oppressors. In Iran, on the other hand, the past two weeks have witnessed an inspiring example of the people rising up against oppression. We are publishing an important new statement from the Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist), Revolution Nothing Less, which deserves to be carefully read and gotten out far and wide; an update of the struggle in Iran, Defying Murderous Islamic Republic Repression, Courageous Protest and Resistance Continues Across Iran: U.S. Imperialists Maneuver to Advance THEIR Agenda in Fraught Situation; a report and statement from the International Emergency Committee to Free Iran’s Political Prisoners NOW, and reports from the worldwide day of solidarity with Iran held on the weekend of October 1-2 (here and here). In Paris, October 2, 2022, women shout slogans to show support for Iranians, and to protest death of Mahsa Amini.  Photo: AP It is truly inspiring when people rise up with the determination and heroism shown by the people of Iran these past few weeks. At the same time, as the first resolution from the Six Resolutions of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA states: Where there is oppression, there will be resistance—the masses of people will continually rise up against their conditions of oppression and those who enforce this oppression. But, without the necessary scientific theory and leadership, the struggle of the oppressed will be contained, and remain confined, within the system which is the source of oppression, and the horrors to which the masses are subjected will go on, and on. The new synthesis [of communism] and the leadership of Bob Avakian represents and embodies the scientific understanding and approach the masses of the oppressed need to make the revolution they need—a revolution whose ultimate goal is a communist world—to emancipate themselves and ultimately humanity as a whole. In that light, it’s important to emphasize a point from the Revcom statement on Iran: This mass uprising opens up real possibilities for overthrowing the theocratic regime, and it sharply raises the question to millions of what it will take to finally get free. It is extremely positive, precious and favorable for the people of Iran and for the world that at such a time there exists the Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist), which bases itself on the new communism of Bob Avakian. The CPI (MLM) is fighting, in their words, “the struggle to eradicate every form of oppression and exploitation through communist revolution and the establishment of the New Socialist Republic of Iran.”  For this reason, it remains of extreme importance to get the thinking of those who have taken up this new communism, and the new communism more generally, out to masses everywhere who are stepping forward to support this struggle. And this, again, underscores the the importance of digging into and spreading to others the new statement from the comrades in Iran, “Revolution Nothing Less!” This issue also points to the potential of prisoners to contribute to the process of revolution. America far outdistances every country in the world for the sheer numbers and the percentage of “its” people it throws into its dungeons—with a hugely disproportionate number of those prisoners being Black, Latino or Native. The article and interview reporting on the current Alabama prisoners’ strike gives a sense of this. The letter from a prisoner in Virginia who discusses his views on Raymond Lotta’s extremely important piece “‘Industrialization’ of Sexual Exploitation, Imperialist Globalization, and the Descent into Hell” and his work to spread revolutionary ideas within prison gives a different dimension of the potential. You can support getting Revolution and the new communism to prisoners by donating to the Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund or making your own efforts to connect BA’s revolutionary work and method with those inside the walls—or both. Also this week, Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights participated in the September 28 International Day of Access to Safe and Legal Abortion. Check this site during the week for a full report. The contradiction around the fascist attempts to outlaw abortion—the seriousness of which was only driven home for many millions with the Supreme Court decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion—is as sharp as it was in the winter and spring and, in many ways, the struggle around it has only just begun. Oklahoma teacher Summer Boismier who stood up to book banning.  Photo credits on photos Finally, a report—a collaborative effort from a reader in Oklahoma and a member of the revcom.us staff—on the struggle in that state over the right of students to read, focusing around fascist attempts to suppress school library books that not only challenge the racism, misogyny, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant cornerstones of the fascists but just encourage critical thought; and to attack the teachers who won’t go along with this fascist stuff. We encourage correspondence from everyone on similar developments or struggles where you live. We began this Guide with the key events around Ukraine and Iran.  These explosive situations occur at a rare time where the rulers of the US are locked in an irreconcilable conflict over how to rule this capitalist imperialist-society.  This “rare time” magnifies the political explosiveness of what are already extremely sharp and unpredictable clashes.  In this context, the following from Something Terrible, Or Something Truly Emancipating: Profound Crisis, Deepening Divisions, The Looming Possibility Of Civil War—And The Revolution That Is Urgently Needed, A Necessary Foundation, A Basic Roadmap For This Revolution by Bob Avakian stands out all the more sharply: This rare situation, with the deepening and sharpening conflicts among the ruling powers, and in the society overall, provides a stronger basis and greater openings to break the hold of this system over masses of people. It is extremely important to deeply understand this: As this situation develops, and the ruling class is more and more unable to rule in the old way, society and daily life for masses of people, from different parts of society, can become increasingly unsettled and chaotic, with frequent “disruptions” of the “normal” way things have been. And as “the normal way” society has been ruled is failing to hold things together—and society is increasingly being ripped apart—this can shake people’s belief that “the way things have always been” is the only way things can be. It can make people more open to questioning—in a real sense it can force people to question—the way things have been, and whether they have to stay that way. And this is all the more likely to happen if the revolutionary forces are out among the people shining a light on the deeper reality of what is happening, and why, and bringing out that there IS an alternative to living this way. Be out there this week, shining that light and bring out that alternative! *** Included in this issue: * Something Terrible, Or Something Truly Emancipating: Profound Crisis, Deepening Divisions, The Looming Possibility Of Civil War—And The Revolution That Is Urgently Needed, A Necessary Foundation, A Basic Roadmap For This Revolution * Organizing for an Actual Revolution: 7 Key Points * Bob Avakian: A Radically Different Leader—A Whole New Framework for Human Emancipation * REVOLUTIONARY HOPE: New Possibilities Are Opening Up for Liberatory Revolution In the Midst of Acute Crisis and Upheavals of the Capitalist System—It Is Urgent to Organize the Fight For Revolution, from the Revolutionary Communist Organization, Mexico (English / Spanish)   * Bob Avakian and the New Communism on Internationalism   * Letters/statements in support of Bob Avakian: “I love—yes, love—Bob Avakian and what he has created for humanity and the possibility of forging a whole new world” * U.S.-Russia proxy war in Ukraine Escalating Confrontations, Intensifying Threats: Biden/Putin Faceoff Brings World to the Threshold of Nuclear War The High Stakes in Ukraine, the Threat of Nuclear War, and the Interests of Humanity: 4 Basic Points  Essential reading from Bob Avakian: •  Shameless American Chauvinism: “Anti-Authoritarianism” as a “Cover” for Supporting U.S. Imperialism •  Ukraine: World War 3 Is the Real Danger, Not a Repeat of World War 2 •  World War 3 and Dangerous Idiocy “Legit Gangsters”—Gangsters with Nuclear Weapons (longer version / short version)   * Struggle in Iran From the Communist Party of Iran, Marxist-Leninist-Maoist: Revolution Nothing Less! Defying Murderous Islamic Republic Repression, Courageous Protest and Resistance Continues Across Iran: U.S. Imperialists Maneuver to Advance THEIR Agenda in Fraught Situation From the Revcoms: THE WOMEN OF IRAN HAVE STOOD UP! THE PEOPLE OF IRAN ARE RAISING THEIR HEADS AND FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE BATONS AND BULLETS OF THE IRANIAN REGIME! WE NEED TO STAND WITH AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR STRUGGLE! UNLEASH THE FURY OF WOMEN AS A MIGHTY FORCE FOR REVOLUTION!! From the IEC: Monitor Burn The Cage Instagram and Twitter for Real Time Updates on the Rapidly Unfolding Events at Evin Prison in Iran Worldwide Protests in Support of the Uprising in Iran Thousands Take to the Streets Across the U.S. to Protest the Murder of Mahsa Amini and Support the Protests in Iran   * Prisoners in the U.S. Letter from a Prisoner: On Reading “‘Industrialization’ of Sexual Exploitation…” and Doing Revolutionary Work Behind Bars “Break All the Chains!” Alabama Prisoners “Strike for Human Dignity and Rights” Interview with Diyawn Caldwell, president of Both Sides of the Wall: “We were just tired, fed up, at the treatment [the prisoners] were receiving and the conditions”   * Oklahoma Teacher Stands Up to Book Banning, Suppression, and Threats to Her Life   * The RNL—Revolution, Nothing Less!—Show Latest episode: Champion of Democracy? Leader of the Free World? Or BLOODY JAWED WOLF! Iran, Ukraine, Climate Crisis Andy Zee: U.S. vs Russia & China—NOT “Democracy vs Autocracy” BUT Dangerous Imperialist Rivalry Bob Avakian: Free Yourself from the GTF! Raymond Lotta on Biden’s Imperialist Climate Bill—Part 3 Sunsara Taylor & Andy Zee on the Uprising in Iran After the Murder of Mahsa Amini: 3 Key Points Sunsara Taylor on: Learning About Bill Russell, Reflecting on Bob Avakian’s Leadership   Follow: @TheRevcoms Read: www.revcom.us Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs “...we have two choices: either, live with all this — and condemn future generations to the same, or worse, if they have a future at all — or, make revolution!” —Bob Avakian START AT HOME PAGE BOB AVAKIAN: A RADICALLY DIFFERENT LEADER—A WHOLE NEW FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN EMANCIPATION Learn more about Bob Avakian and the new communism What Is the Revolution Club? Who Should Check Out the Revolution Club, Run with It and Join? What Does It Mean To Join? And How Do I Get Started? What do I do first? Wherever you are, sign up. Spread the word. Find out more about Revolution Club » FEATURED: BOB AVAKIAN BAsics, from the talks and writings of  Bob Avakian The Supreme Court Moves to End Abortion Rights: “Taking to the Streets,”  And Refusing to Let This Go Down Bob Avakian Speaks to This Critical Juncture in the Fight for Abortion Rights,  The Road Forward, and Avoiding Dead Ends FEATURED: NEWS FROM THE REVCOMS (REVCOM.US): A DECLARATION, A CALL TO GET ORGANIZED NOW FOR A REAL REVOLUTION READ MORE From the Revolution Club... The Supreme Court Ruling Overturning Roe v. Wade Is ILLEGITIMATE! We Need Resistance and Revolution! WWW.REVCOM.US/REVOLUTION NEWSPAPER brings alive a scientific analysis of major events in society and the world—why they are happening, how different events and developments relate to each other, how all this relates to the system we live under, where people's interests lie in relation to all this, how revolution is in fact the solution to all this and what the goals of that revolution are, how different viewpoints and programs relate, positively or negatively, to the revolution that is needed, and how people can move, and are moving, to build toward that revolution. Revcom.us/Revolution is the guide, the pivot, the crucial tool in drawing forward, orienting, training, and organizing thousands, and influencing millions—fighting the power, and transforming the people, for revolution—hastening and preparing for the time when we can go for the whole thing, with a real chance to win. Subscribe to revcom.us | Donate to/Sustain revcom.us | Send your correspondence to revolution.reports@yahoo.com AP photos are copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. El periódico Revolución sale cada semana en inglés y en español. Haz clic aquí para leer la edición en español. La edición semanal en línea de Revolución en español se publica los miercoles por la noche.