Letters

Illinois prisoners mourn NPA fighters

We also send our condolences to the comrades, family and friends 
of Ka Paking and his three companions/NPA, and all martyrs 
sacrificing their lives in the world-wide/international struggle 
against imperialism.

--Illinois prisoner, 8 October, 1999

WTO protests discussed

Greetings Comrades, I am optimistic that MIM will critique the WTO 
protests that have erupted in Seattle and London.  I deem any 
protest against the imperialists infrastructure to be 
constructive, but I question the fate of the protesters.  As one 
protester had explained to the imperialist media, "I am defending 
what me forefathers had fought for."

Don't give up the fight!

 --Indiana Prisoner, 2 December 1999

MIM responds:  As the WTO protests are discussed by activists and 
the outcomes are evaluated, MIM takes this opportunity to 
reiterate our views. White nation chauvinism dominated the 
protests in Seattle. The people demanding better trade terms for 
Amerika, protectionism to keep high paying jobs within u.$. 
borders, and shouting slogans stoking up anti-China sentiments are 
not working for constructive change.

As MIM Notes reported after the Seattle demonstrations, prominent 
slogans included large mobile billboards hired by the United 
Steelworkers which read " WTO: Destroying millions of American 
jobs." Amerikan jobs pay higher wages higher than anywhere in the 
world because corporations extract superprofits from Third World 
workers. The u.s. has developed a system where some of the profits 
stolen from the Third World are shared with u.s. workers. This has 
created a labor aristocracy that has a strong allegiance to 
imperialism.

The WTO is an instrument for dictating trade policy to Third World 
countries, requiring them to drastically reduce or eliminate 
tariffs. But the WTO is not significantly different from the many 
trade agreements and bodies that have been in place in the past 
fifty years. It is imperialism that is behind the reactionary 
policy of imperialists dominating the world and setting up unfair 
trade deals to exploit Third World countries. MIM opposes the 
imperialist system but will not get behind chauvinist sloganeering 
to rally the white working class.

A response from the ALKQN: Addressing Misconceptions

From Lord Grim

On 01 Dec 99 (MIM Notes 199), MIM Notes published a letter of a 
prisoner who criticized the ALKQN: "and similar gangs" as he 
called them. While this scribe addresses him it is to be 
considered an open letter. We will call the author of said letter: 
"The critic." The critic stated: "The ALKQN does encourage unity 
but only with Latins and they practice prejudism against all other 
races and even sexual orientations (gays/lesbians)... How can you 
be successful in abolishing oppression when you're doing the job 
of the oppressor."

The ALKQN believes in Latin American nationalism. We believe that 
Latin Americans (the mestizo product of three races) are 
essentially "oppressed" by imperialism and we seek to educate our 
people and prepare them to overcome this oppressive plight. This 
belief attracts primarily Latin Americans and it is for this 
reason that we are primarily Latino in membership. However, we do 
maintain quite vehemently that we serve and accept membership 
regardless of cultural ethnicity. We are working to become an 
anti-imperialist vanguard for the third world and believe in an 
internationalist United Front against imperialism. This should be 
upheld by all membership or else risk prosecution by the ALKQN 
judicial process. Neo-colonialism is present in all areas where 
the lumpen proletariat reside and it is an educated guess that the 
critic viewed such membership that still suffer the neo-colonial 
mentality. One thing is for certain, the Lion Tribe will not sit 
down in a passive state accepting violence from any form of 
unprovoked aggression. Eso es cobardia!

The critic speaks against us claiming "we are against 
gays/lesbians." While homosexuality is prohibited within the 
membership this is due to an ingrained religious belief. Though we 
do not support the practice of this lifestyle in the sense of 
membership we do respect the right for anyone outside the 
membership to practice said lifestyle. We would also rally with 
anyone of the Third World against anti-imperialism and we would 
not exclude working with an anti-imperialist because of his sexual 
preference. We would not oppress gays/lesbians because of their 
lifestyle. And we ask this community not to agree with us, merely 
to respect our beliefs. While prison rape is not an issue of the 
gay community it is a result of predatory homosexuals and this 
plague serves to enforce no gay relations in prison. This should 
not be a dividing line in our common goal to destroy imperialism.

The critic blames Latino organizations such as ALKQN for the cause 
of our violent communities. I'm not a bullshitter and neither is 
my nation. We are the first to agree that we face a struggle of 
neo-colonial mentality. Inevitably whatever resides in an 
oppressed community is touched by the positives and negatives 
within it. It's contradictions as Mao would say.

The critic needs to acknowledge the economic and social factors, 
the cause and hence the effect of what he labels "gang mentality." 
Understanding violence means understanding that poverty will bring 
forth a dismal plight, dismal plights will bring despair, 
ultimately despair will bring forth crimes against the people. 
These are the ingredients that promote the fruition of the neo-
colonial mentality. Without the demise of the neo-colonial 
mentality there can be no viable solution to urban violence and 
self-oppression. The critic attempts to blame the ALKQN but this 
chaotic mentality existed in New York before the ALKQN or 
'Chingaling' or 'Fifty Mad Dog', etc. And it will remain this way 
until the fundamental solution is realized. I pose no excuses for 
the neo-colonial mind but instead of blaming the cause of this 
plight to particular groups, I would explain the true cause of 
self-oppression. I read the critic as divisive; he would condemn 
the mistakes and disregard the possibilities. The critic would 
have us believe that self-oppression is the "cause" of our plight 
when in fact it is the "effect" of imperialism.

The critic further states: "Why don't I see any of these people 
teaching each other the truth about history or speaking about 
gaining a proper education so that they can survive once they hit 
the streets..." MIM Notes has been used as a forum by the ALKQN to 
educate their comrades. The critic needs to make up his mind, 
either he approves of ALKQN educating via revolutionary papers or 
he does not. Word of mouth isn't the only way one can educate. The 
critic condemns us using this podium and yet condemns us for not 
educating... keep it real!

The critic emphasizes that ALKQN is a gang. It is obvious that he 
has made his judgements on a superficial perceptual stage. The 
word gang is a word that the oppressor use to categorize any 
inner-city, non-assimilated, organization. The motive is to 
criminalize us and through their experts, polls, media, etc. 
convince us that we are exactly that... a worthless group of 
youths unable to unite and form progressive movements. 
Unfortunately many youths become subjected to this socializing 
influence and a "self-fulfilling prophecy" ensues. If the pigs can 
get you to call yourself or your people "gang" then they have 
already won a mental battle within you. You have legitimized them 
and have validated the pigs expertise.

The ALKQN is not a gang...we recognize that and we become more 
than that! ADR! Take a good look at us...we are brown, we are the 
people END !! Recognize this part of us and work to destroy the 
neo-colonial plague. I know that we will realize our goal to 
become the Latin Nations anti-imperialist vanguard party in North 
Amerika and abroad. Member and non-member alike we ask for your 
unity and your support to make this an irrevocable reality because 
as it stands the critic will not tell you that fundamental 
progress has been made within "the Lion Tribe"

The ALKQN uses MIM Notes as an educational podium and for truthful 
propaganda. This is not media stardom or recruitment tactic. This 
is the peoples voice whether or not you are socialist. The sooner 
the critic differentiates the "New York Times" from a written 
forum of Brown and Black force, the better off he'll be.

Amor De Rey

Antes de cerrar, quiero extender junto con "Sir Pakal" (MA SRO) 
et. al. un poderoso saludo nacional a Lord Gino y Lord B.K. en 
reconocimiento de su retiracion de funci—n administrativa entre La 
Coronas (ILL.). "The old man" fue tremendo hombre en estos varios 
a–os de liderato y represento a su gente como luz brillante y 
guerrero mortal. Tampoco se le puede quitar el tremendo esfuerzo 
de dicho Mexicano, B.K.... La luz del southside. Dos hombres que 
dieron su todo y sacrificaron mucho. En la misma vena damos la 
bendicion nacional a nuestros nuevos senderos luminosos entre las 
coronas internacional (Ill.) aquellos vienen siendo Lord ALKQN 
Tiger y su compa–ero Lord Tino. Dos veteranos revolucionarios que 
nos llevaran a nuevos horizontes entre la meta de anti-
imperialismo. Boinas a la izquierda su ejercito se para en 
formaci—n estricta transformados como Intis' resplandentes. 
Recibimos a ustedes nuestras coronas internacionales. Poder y 
Gloria al tribu de leones.

MIM responds: We thank Lord Grim for adding what we left out in 
the response to this critic of the ALKQN. Particularly the point 
about the neo-colonial mentality of people from oppressed nations 
and the use of the term "gang" to criminalize any organization of 
oppressed nationalities.

MIM takes this opportunity to explain our own position on 
membership with regards to sexual orientation. MIM believes that a 
policy of exclusion based on sexual orientation is incorrect and 
should definitively not be a dividing line question for a Maoist 
party. A vanguard organization leading the people to end class, 
nation and gender oppression must base itself in progressive 
policies. MIM's policies regarding membership are based in 
Leninism and do not replicate the patriarchal heterosexism. 
Exclusion of people based on their sexual orientation would also 
slow progress towards ending gender oppression.

The principal contradiction now in the world is between oppressed 
nations and imperialism. The greatest advance we can make to 
ending class, nation and gender oppression is to advance 
proletarian-led national liberation. We agree with Grim that the 
difference between the ALKQN policy of excluding homosexuals from 
membership and MIM's policy of membership for all regardless of 
sexual orientation should not prevent our organizations from 
working together or prevent individuals from working with us. So 
while we will continue to argue against incorrect ideas regarding 
homosexuality wherever they crop up, we will also we will also 
unite with anti-imperialist individuals and organizations like the 
ALKQN on issues of mutual concern.

Some people have asked MIM why we print articles by the ALKQN in 
our publications which have the explicit purpose of promoting 
Maoism. A big part of building Maoist revolution is building the 
United Front against imperialism, led by the communist vanguard 
party. MIM considers the ALKQN an ally in the battle against 
imperialism. And printing the history of the people's movements 
helps build and advance political organization. For those 
interested in joining the fight against imperialism MIM maintains 
that the most effective organizing work is done by building the 
Maoist vanguard. For those who are not Maoist, you should build 
proletarian-led United Front organizations. For those committed to 
other organizations we encourage you to work with your groups to 
become a part of the United Front against imperialism