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Letters to the Editor:

Socialism today, challenges challenged

The speech that you reprinted in The Guardian of 
February 18 from Sitaram Yechury of the Political Bureau of the 
Communist Party of India (M) on "Socialism today — challenges", 
must be challenged.

The basic ideas the speech reveals are anti-Leninist and 
contravene the basis of Marxist philosophy which is dialectical-
materialism.

To assert as this speech does that the uniqueness of socialism is 
that it was first conceived in the human mind is to run back to a 
view of world development that thought is primary (i.e. that it 
creates the world and in this case socialism). The use of the 
word transcend in the speech is also no accident.

Marx, Engels, Lenin and all other Communists thinkers of 
importance derived their thoughts and theories from the material 
world i.e. real life events such as the struggles of workers, the 
Paris Commune and the revolutions of 1848 in Europe, 1905 and 
1917 in Russia. They drew rich lessons and developed the theories 
of scientific socialism from these real events and struggles.

They did not seek a "transcendental" i.e. an innate super 
natural, not based on experience approach but one developed from 
the real life experiences of the real classes in society and the 
experiences of real revolutionaries.

The attack made on socialism in this speech that it produced an 
extreme centralism, that the only escape from bureaucratic 
distortions is capitalist restoration or that socialism can't be 
built into a world system apart from imperialism.

That the revolutions in Europe and Asia were not enough flies in 
the face of the actual experience. The views expressed by Lenin 
in State and Revolution International Publishers New York 1994 
are well worth a study in this regard.

To suggest that we have no theory and that we can develop a 
socialist revolution without theory reeks of revisionism. I 
would suggest that The Guardian feature a more thorough 
analysis of this speech as the contents of this speech render its 
author onto the road of opportunism. Those who reprint it without 
comment are also equally betrayed.

David Matters
Brisbane, Qld

I recently attended the Rural Australians for Refugees second 
National Conference in Albury. There were over 300 
representatives there from around Australia.

We were inspired by doctors, lawyers, farmers, politicians, 
priests and nuns, and the average country person, all working to 
provide support for refugees in and out of our detention camps. 
Of course we were harrowed by their years of suffering before 
they arrived at our shores as well as the years of suffering at 
Australia's hands.

At the closing ceremony we tied a ribbon to the wire for each 
person we prayed for, and then we sang the National Anthem.

As I thought of the words I found myself choking back the tears. 
It is so hard to sing the words and know we are doing the 
opposite. How can I rejoice when so many little children are not 
free? How can I sing the second verse about 'plains to share'? 
when there are people behind electric fences in the desert, and 
families fenced into a football field for the third year on 
Nauru.

I have come to know so many of these people. I hear the news 
about the baby's first words as well as the mother sobbing.

So I took a deep breath and thought I would sing in the spirit of 
hope, that we could one day again be proud of our country's moral 
leadership. "Advance Australia Fair"

Elaine Smith
West Haven, NSW

Correspondent Steven Katsineris (Letters Feb 25) mentions the 
terribly distorted message sent to young drivers on our 
roads.

There is a terribly distorted message sent to all drivers on all 
roads and it is ever present and right in front on the instrument 
panel. It's called a "speedometer". It tells you that at 110 kms 
per hour for one hour you will be 110 kms further up the track.

But if you want to avoid the inevitable you need to do a little 
arithmetic and plant it firmly in your brain before you get 
behind the wheel.

At 110 kms on the expressway means that your "velocity" is over 
1800 metres per minute, but that doesn't grab anyone, does it?

Better to come down to seconds — or better still, average HEART 
BEATS! You are actually moving forward about 25 metres every time 
your heart beats once.

So, how many beats are you away from that vehicle up front? How 
many from the side of the road and that big tree? If that one 
coming towards you at the same speed — well! — just halve the 
heartbeats.

In summary, the "speedometer" message can distort your thinking 
and can rob you of your heartbeat — FULL STOP!

Les Bromfield
Gosford, NSW

Today we learn that the Howard Government has signed away the 
economic well-being of Australians for many years. How? They have 
signed on the dotted line to spend $16 billion on a new United 
States "joint strike fighter". American or Australian dollars 
they didn't say.

They were pressured into this as Vaile was negotiating the Free 
Trade Agreement and given a deadline to decide.

I recall, on TV in 2003, Defence Minister Robert Hill making the 
acceptance speech at the Boeing Plant. He couldn't have been more 
ingratiating. I didn't hear the details, but I have been looking 
for them ever since. It is such dynamite for Howard's lap dog 
government, that it has been kept strictly under wraps till now.

Your great-grand kids will be paying this off, as well as many 
other bad deals with the USA.

Denis Kevans
Wentworth Falls, NSW