MIM correctly balances issues

I received the two newspapers MIM Notes 231 and 
232. Thanks a lot and blessings be upon you and 
yours. 

I admit I am relatively new to the 
communist concept. However, from what I've read 
I'm in full support of communism as truly the 
solution to the problems that plague the oppressed 
worldwide. By myself being militant and an 
advocate of the Black Panther Party, that allowed 
me to comprehend MIM. ... 

Please allow me to jump 
on the bandwagon so to speak and declare "Free For 
All" [a forthcoming newsletter -ed] partial to the 
WEB DuBois birthday resolution sparked by MIM. 
Truly he is deserving as well as others of such 
recognition and there is much to be learned from 
his road. ... 

I agree with CAU$E as well as MIM. 
While it is important to combine, connect, join on 
all issues that deal with challenging the 
imperialists, one should never lose focus on the 
overall agenda. MIM has a foundation based on a 
three-fold intertwining concept of Marxism-
Leninism-Maoism. Thus, MIM is grounded and bound 
by a commitment to a vision that is based on 
historical fact, not experiment which is known to 
fail or backfire. Not saying that different 
methods of approaches should not be applied in 
attacking imperialism, just saying that the focus 
should be based on a vision that is grounded in 
the fact that that the ultimate solution is 
revolution.... 

Now for the Kobe Bryant-Shaq issue. 
MIM uses the conflict that existed between Kobe 
and Shaq to illustrate the downfall of ego in the 
organized struggle. That is a good example. That 
is why you have solid structure and a chain of 
command, never forgetting you're only strong as 
your weakest link. Rank indeed should be dictated 
by the hard work put forth and by displayed 
loyalty. But the rank should never be taken out of 
context and each and every member must put above 
all the interest of the struggle. In closing, 
there is no room for ego and insubordination is 
not to be tolerated. Know your role.

-An Illinois Prisoner, April 18, 2001

Capitalism breeds war, will destroy the world

I'm searching for a political organization to 
join. As of now, all I know is that I'm against 
the capitalist system as it now exists. It's quite 
horrible! Everybody is oppressed, even average 
white folks! The only way that this world will 
survive is with a one-world government in some 
type of communistic brotherhood, so there won't be 
any more wars. With that type of government, there 
will be security. 

With the capitalist system, one 
will always feel insecure. We all feel that at any 
time a war can erupt that will fuck up the world 
and tumble us into chaos.

We will always live in 
this security with the capitalist system. So we do 
need a change.

--A Texas prisoner 13 June 2001

MIM responds: The writer has grasped a simple 
truth, which MIM will never tire of repeating. War 
is built in to the capitalist system. And as long 
as the big capitalist powers have enough nuclear 
bombs to devastate the whole planet several times, 
overthrowing the capitalist system is a matter of 
life and death for the humyn species. As for 
"average white folks," there are certainly plenty 
of reasons for any of them to get involved in 
revolutionary politics -- preventing nuclear 
apocalypse being just one -- even aside from the 
principle that "where one is in chains none are 
free." But as a group MIM still considers them 
"net oppressors," because they share in the 
surplus labor stolen from the Third World by 
imperialism. (For more details, check out MIM 
Theory 1.) This helps explain why whites as a 
group are not rushing to join the revolutionary 
movement. They have something to lose. The fact 
that whites are "net oppressors" is also important 
to keep in mind when formulating strategy -- which 
should be based on the interests of the oppressed.

MIM MOVE coverage brings back memories

Dear MIM,

I want to thank you for reporting the story of 
MOVE to a better degree than many other papers, 
especially those in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia 
Daily News and the Philadelphia Enquirer. I don't 
remember how old the article was, but it brought 
back memories. I happened to be standing right in 
the street as the neighborhood went through 
turmoil. Police, guns, helicopters you name them, 
they were there. The people who worked together 
with the police in both instances, '78 and '85 
have both benefited and taken losses. In the '85 
instance, a lot of people lost houses on Osage 
Avenue and Pine Street. But they also had new 
houses built (cheaply), which are apparently 
slated to be torn down and rebuild again. 
Something that has cost the people of Philadelphia 
millions in tax dollars. Not to mention the awards 
given to Ms. Ramona Africa for what she went 
through and the family she lost in the process. 

I can still remember how the people ran to 63rd 
street to get help from the firefighters who 
refused to come to their aid because they had 
'orders'. And how the crazed police who thought 
they were involved in a O.K. Corral gunfight shot 
in the front and back of the house. Not to mention 
the effect of the blast that I felt in the street 
when the bomb exploded.

--A prisoner in Pittsburgh, July 2001