From: Christopher Arthur (cjarthur@WAITROSE.COM)
Date: Sat May 17 2003 - 08:02:29 EDT
And I say I agree with Riccardo. (And also Fred) But this illustrates also why I was, and remain, opposed to a public archive. I would like to hear a discussion and particpate but I do not want to word things as carefully as I would in a letter to the press. Chris A >At 11:22 -0600 16-05-2003, Hans Ehrbar wrote: >>In the times of imperialist attack on Cuba I consider it the >>duty of every progressive either to support Cuba or, if you >>feel you cannot do this, to stay silent, because everything >>critical you say at this moment will be used as further >>pretext for the attacks on Cuba. The actions by the Cubans >>which you object to were undertaken as a defense against US >>attacks. We have to try to stop the imperialists, instead >>of second-guessing the actions Cuba is undertaking to defend >>itself. This seems so obvious to me that I am embarrassed >>to send it to this list. I am only saying it for the record >>so that people perusing the archives will not get a false >>impression. >> >>Hans. > > >hans, four (no, five) things: > >(i) we decided to 'open' the list, so we decided to make debates >openly. if we don't want that, we should close the list. or Jerry >should open some parallel, closed site to discuss openly among >comrades this kind of stuff. > >(ii) 'to stay silent'? I don't know why, but I have heard this kind >of things many many times. I don't like the expression: neither the >form nor the substance. > >(iii) I strongly support Cuba against US attacks. I repeat: strongly. >And I condemn any 'pretext' to attack Cuba. But I do not justify the >actions undertaken by Cuba, as you do. By the way, they are giving >USA more 'pretexts'. There is a dissent among us on this. You cannot >take your opinion as granted. I respect it, but mine is very >different. > >(iv) in my mind (and unfortunately I can think only with my mind, and >speak accordingly) what I said in prior mail is exactly the most >friendly approach to Cuba, it' s the only way I see to support Cuba: >avoid (or insist in) serious and dramatic errors. there is no >second-guessing. those actions are patently wrong, are against what >communism (at least, libertarian communism) is and should be, as end >and as means. > >(v) should I say that those who do not understand this are really >working against Cuba, and should then stay silent? it's not my >attitude, frankly. I am interested in listening their opinions and >arguments. > >r > 17 Bristol Road, Brighton, BN2 1AP, England
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