First Published: Modern Times, Vol. II, No. 2, February 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
Copyright: This work is in the Public Domain under the Creative Commons Common Deed. You can freely copy, distribute and display this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit the Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line as your source, include the url to this work, and note any of the transcribers, editors & proofreaders above.
Modern Times has been given a leaflet explaining the recent action of the Red Flag Bookstore manager in breaking ties with several other volunteers in the Bookstore collective and removing them from the Bookstore’s operations. The policy change came after several months of increasing differences, especially over decision-making in the bookstore, and what should be carried on the shelves. The bookstore manager felt strongly that U.S. publications (such as The Call, the newspaper of the CP-ML) that support the Three Worlds analysis of the Chinese Communist Party should not be carried and sold in the bookstore since they contain revisionist views harmful to the interests of the working class Other publications, such as The Guardian, will also not be carried (This exclusion is apparently supported by both sides in the Red Flag struggle). The bookstore will, however, continue to carry Peking Review because of the leading role and prestige of the Chinese party. The struggle may heat up–as forces contend over which revisionist material they want to save us from. (Contact us or go by Red Flag Bookstore, 12 N. School St. if you would like the Red Flag manager’s leaflet explaining his position).
* * *
First Published: Modern Times, Vol. II, No. 3, March 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
Copyright: This work is in the Public Domain under the Creative Commons Common Deed. You can freely copy, distribute and display this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit the Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line as your source, include the url to this work, and note any of the transcribers, editors & proofreaders above.
(Concerning the Modern Times article on the Red Flag Bookstore struggle)...it would have been better if you had tried to gather the facts instead of agreeing to merely summarize (one side’s) leaflet, A simple phone call could have made the other side of the picture available to you. It would have been much better if the two sides’ statements could be printed side-by-side to let people decide more accurately who was correct and who was incorrect, As it stands, your article does a disservice by propping up the anti-struggle attitude of the M-LOC (Marxist-Leninist Organizing Committee), which apparently thinks it can get ahead by obscuring the events which took place and come out without being exposed. –R.K.
* * *
(The writer of the article in question agrees with the above criticism of his article–and will try to avoid this in the future. Modern Times also agrees it should have made more of an effort to have both sides presented, or at least summarized. The Communist League of Hawaii has distributed a 3-page statement criticizing the Red Flag Bookstore manager’s position and conduct (available from CL-H c/o P.O. Box 22399, Honolulu 96322); and an independent bookstore staff member has also written an excellent 4-page critique of the bookstore manager’s non-struggle attitude and arbitrary expulsion of staff who did not agree with Albania’s theoretical assault on the Three Worlds theory put forward by the Chinese Communist Party. This independent asserted that he, at least, was not ready to take a stand on this question, and no effort was made to win “middle elements” over–the bookstore owner and his supporters made the decision for everyone. His conclusion seems right on: “We, the former Red Flag Bookstore staff urge the owner and his supporters to reconsider their actions in light of the above criticisms. Ultimatums should be cast aside and struggle resumed over the question of the correct orientation of the bookstore.”) (Though we would urge both sides to stop banning M-L publications like The Guardian from being sold at the bookstore–and let the people decide whose line is correct, and not self-appointed experts and censors.)
(Note: This independent position paper is available from Modern Times upon request, with a self-addressed stamped envelope furnished to us.)