Readers are invited to submit letters to The Guardian.
Letters may be e-mailed to guardian@cpa.org.au.
Letters of 300-400 words are preferred.

Letters to the Editor:

National Heritage Place Program

$52 million has been allocated to this program in the 2003 
Federal Budget for sites of "natural, historic and indigenous 
heritage". Until recently no guidelines were available but the PM 
has now announced that further expenditure on Gallipoli will be 
part of this program.

There will be many groups and individuals in Australia who 
question the need to spend more money on Gallipoli which, for 
some reason, is seen by politicians as "the defining moment of 
Australian nationhood".

I have been in Gallipoli and found it an excellent, dignified 
site of definite importance to the Anglo-Australian part of this 
nation's history. However, let us remember that the whole 
exercise was a total disaster, bungled by incompetent British 
Commanders, where thousands fought gallantly, as colonial canon 
fodder, but to no avail.

To me, as a post-WW2 migrant from Holland, the decision by PM 
Curtin to withdraw Australian troops from the Middle East to 
assist with the defence of Australia, in 1942,was a far greater 
defining moment for independent Australian nationhood.

Why spend still more money on WW1 monuments, especially outside 
Australia, while there is so much in Australia itself that has 
contributed much more to the birth of this multicultural nation 
than the fiasco at the Dardanelles?

Klaas Woldring
Pearl Beach, NSW

It was interesting and very disturbing to note Downer's 
reaction when interviewed about the arrest in Bali of William 
Brown.

Downer stated that Brown had the presumption of innocence until 
proven guilty. Yet Downer is unwilling to accord the same 
presumption of innocence to the prisoners David Hicks and Mamdouh 
Habib, held in US custody in Cuba.

What utter hypocrisy!

Steven Katsineris
Hurstbridge, Vic

I am genuinely interested to know what, precisely, the CPA can 
learn from El Salvador's FMLN, Venezuela's Bolivarian movement, 
the Iraqi Communist Party and the Cuban revolution. I am sure 
there is a veritable mountain of lessons and good examples to 
emulate but what, specifically are you referring to?

In your letter that appeared in The Guardian of November 
26 you say "they successfully utilise an anti-imperialist and 
socialist/Marxist spirit as a vehicle for challenging the liberal 
democratic capitalist ideal that the West would like the world to 
see as the unquestioned model."

You say that they "also confront traditional ideas for socialist 
revolutionary change that are considered doctrinaire in the 
West". Further on you point out "they forge links with other 
progressive forces which have political power (both nationally 
and internationally)."

Without ever having been to El Salvador, Venezuela, Iraq or Cuba 
it does seem to me, too, that the movements you refer to are 
indeed having more success in putting anti-imperialist 
alternatives. But is what they are putting to their people very 
different from what the CPA has been advocating for some time 
with its proposal for a people's government in Australia?

Is the fact that the CPA hasn't strong links with powerful 
players in the Australian political scene at the moment entirely 
its own fault? Do you think it is not trying to forge those 
links? Could any other objective factors be at work in Australia 
and comparable countries that make it difficult to popularise 
anti-imperialist ideas?

I think there are such factors but I would be thrilled to find 
out from you what changes, entirely within the control of the 
CPA, could be made to transform it into a truly mass organisation 
of the type that you mention.

I'm not so sure that adopting a contemptuous attitude towards 
existing or defunct socialist societies is the magic bullet. In 
fact I'm not so sure that it is a common thread in the movements 
you mention. I think you would have profound disagreements with 
no less a figure than Fidel Castro on the historical importance 
of Lenin and even the more controversial contribution of Stalin.

So Richard, could you tell me what are the ingredients for this 
new and improved CPA? Could some optimism and energy on the part 
of activists be part of the mix?

John McGarry
Gold Coast, Qld

So George Bush wants America to lead man (sic) into the 
cosmos. Bush, Howard and Blair should blast off together for 
Mars, the god of war.

A more appropriate destination cannot be imagined!

Gareth Smith
Byron Bay, NSW

In Australia we love to see private details of a person's 
life, little titillations. We love to see some humiliation; some 
people put under stress and watch them squirm. When will a 
network bid to run one of our detention centres?

Let's watch the good guard, the bad guard. How long do we have to 
imprison kids before they go really weird?

Let's watch the guards do those intimate body searches, put a 
microphone on a "Management Unit", no that won't be necessary, 
these solitary confinement rooms are already set up with camera 
surveillance.

How long will it take that young mother to become a pale lifeless 
doll, curled in the corner of her room?

How long 'til that handsome young man goes blank in the eyes and 
begins to shake?

We won't have to worry about any Hogan's Heroes funny accents. 
The guards talk straight Ocker. The whole world will begin to 
identify this accent!

Anyone who would like to take part needs to first flee from a 
repressive regime, take a boat journey.

It also helps to have already had some experience of torture and 
violence. Kids especially welcome, smaller the better.

Elaine Smith
West Haven, NSW

Senator McGauran fears the "jettising" of "values" in 
education. Senator McGauran meant to say "jettisoning".

Senator McGauran ought to have remedial lessons in English, 
before he puts his big foot in his mouth again.

Denis Kevans
Wentworth Falls, NSW