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<div class="">Your previous statement that it was a lot of territory to cover in such a short amount of time, is a point well taken. </div>
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<div class="">That being said, the lack of general interest in that which is taking place elsewhere in the world in respect to politics, and war, I think its quite reasonable for most people to assume the focus would be on the USG.
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<div class="">On Mar 30, 2018, at 09:48, Karen Medina via Peace-discuss <<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" class="">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a>> wrote:</div>
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<div class="">I am still confused as to why anyone expected the talk to be more U.S. centered than it was. <br class="">
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-karen medina</div>
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<div class="">On Mar 30, 2018, at 09:31, Karen Aram via Peace-discuss <<a href="mailto:peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net" class="">peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net</a>> wrote:</div>
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<div class="">My reaction or critique, not a summary of Tariq Ali’s talk last evening, welcoming comments for discussion: </div>
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<div class="">Though I wrote this immediately for Carl and David Green, last evening based upon memory, as I did not take notes, I have decided now to post it on the Peace Discuss List for others to comment on. I don’t like being negative of a man I have great
respect for, when he has no opportunity to respond and defend. I do respect Tariq Ali.</div>
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<font class="">He covered the history of USG imperialism, well. However there was little focus on “where do we go from here.” Perhaps my expectations were too high, leading to my disappointment.</font><br class="">
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He does see the US in decline due to our imperialism, and sees us as in the last stages of our imperialism. He refers to China’s success as a capitalist nation, and the new century as the century of China, and Asia. <br class="">
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<blockquote type="cite" class=""><font class="">I was disappointed when he adamantly stated that the US decline is “ not irreversible," somehow assuming the technology creation on the west coast is a hopeful sign. I don’t see how that is supposed to help the
working class across the nation, especially in the rust belt. Nor do I see what is taking place in Silicon Valley, as having anything to do with curbing US wars of imperialism. In fact, I believe it may support it, by working closely with the USG.</font><br class="">
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<blockquote type="cite" class=""><font class=""> Tariq dismissed fear of nuclear war, as “ no one being that insane.” He made no reference to USG foreign policy for perpetual non nuclear war either. No reference was made to US provocations of China with our
battle ships in the South China Sea, recent tariffs, or Nato on the borders of China. </font></blockquote>
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<div class="">Tariq, though critical of both the Democrat and Republican Party’s, referring to Hilary with her statement “we came, we saw, he died.” as a moral “new low” and the reason people stayed home, and gave us Trump, pointing up the fact, that in spite
of her behavior, she was still the candidate chosen by the Democrat Party. His reference to Trump as a “shit hole," makes his point there. He laughed at russiagate.</div>
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<div class="">Nonetheless he appears to be too confident, that electoral politics are important, saying “its what we have.” </div>
<div class="">Perhaps because he saw the rise of Corbyn in England, which is very positive. However, any suggestion of that happening in the US is questionable. He never mentioned the problems we face with mainstream propaganda, corporate ownership of the US
government, and the control by our corporations. </div>
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<div class="">He does refer to local elections being important and “having a few socialists in Congress talking with others would be progress, unless they get bought off by AIPAC,” his final statement, which brought quite an applause.</div>
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<div class="">He said, when revolutions occur, people have to be prepared to die, I agree wholeheartedly with that statement, especially with our militarized police. </div>
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<div class="">He made the point that due to China’s success in business due to capitalism, this is the century of China. I hear from too many on the “Left” this statement made, with a sense of dread. I think too many are concerned that based upon China’s “capitalism”
they too will become imperialistic once they reach that stage which many think is near. While this maybe true, it should not be the concern of the American people. The same people that seem unconcerned about our own imperialist wars against others.</div>
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<div class="">While the inequality in China is great, nonetheless the “working class” or middle class is still doing well, that doesn’t negate the poverty and treatment of the poor or the “migrant workers” there. However, if one compares it to the US in the
sixties, one can see that the working class at that time here, was not yet prepared for loss of jobs, and impoverishment that came about. So I don’t think China is anywhere close to where the US is today in relation to poverty and austerity, I think they are
in the same stage as the US was in the fifty’s and sixty’s. </div>
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<div class="">I could be wrong, but the assumption that China will become imperialist just like the US maybe correct based upon Marxian analysis, but that negates the culture and history of China, which is no where near that of the US. </div>
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<div class="">We began as a nation, by committing genocide against the original inhabitants to occupy this land. We used slavery to develop, and have continued unabated to destroy nations and people. This cannot be said about China, in spite of whatever flaws
they may possess.</div>
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<div class="">Referring to China negatively implying imperialism on their part, in this context contributes to the fear and alienation, that supports the USG Oligarchs in their pursuit of control of China, further propagandizing our need for “defense” against
others. The same goals for which we now have russiagate.</div>
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<blockquote type="cite" class=""><font class="">Tariq supports children taking to the streets to “fight the NRA” but doesn’t see the point in mass movements of people taking to the streets to confront the USG. He sees the students as being a link in a chain
of progress, just as the original feminists contribute to the feminists of today, ensuring that not all is forgotten. </font></blockquote>
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<blockquote type="cite" class=""><font class="">He says, the US soldiers of Vietnam, in 72, had a real impact on the antiwar movement, as well as the anti-war protestors in the streets, making reference to the Vietnamese now having a museum to US war protestors
in Vietnam, it was announced about two weeks ago. </font></blockquote>
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His reference to the US losing the war, being quite a blow to the US imperialists, which is reference to our military loss. This is why the Reagan Administration began their interventions in South America covertly. He briefly covers some of this. <br class="">
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<blockquote type="cite" class=""><font class="">He makes a good point in respect to Portugal, the revolution in “74” the revolt of the soldiers against their government going to fight in foreign nations, and the fact that the revolution brought together the
various socialist organizations to “ talk." This was a phenomenal accomplishment, my words not his. However, they listened to rhetoric in relation to no privatization, dictatorship, desires for democracy, with all agreeing and embracing the narrative. However,
because they failed to organize from the ground up, soviets or councils of the people, they ended up with a dictatorship of the proletariat. A lesson to be learned. </font></blockquote>
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<div class=""> The warning on this topic is for those who think once you have a revolution, a successful one, even if a bloodless one, if you haven’t organized with a plan and preparation in advance, as to how to prevent a dictatorship, organizing from the
bottom up, it will be a lost cause. </div>
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