Clarifiying the mission of Revolution Books, and a correction

To the Editor:
 
I deeply appreciate the story you published on Revolution Books in the July 2013 Heights Observer. The writer prominently conveyed that the mission of Revolution Books is to contribute to changing the world in the interests of humanity. I particularly liked that he mentioned that we work cooperatively with other people wanting a better world. We are very pleased that more people have visited the store since the article was published.
 
The powers that be have a history of using positive articles like [the one written by Jim Henke] to mischaracterize revolution and communism. The story says, “Formed in 1975, the RCP [Revolutionary Communist Party] was founded on the belief that U.S. imperialism will never end peacefully and that the only way to liberate the world is through Communist revolution.” This statement could be subject to misinterpretation. In this country today, the authorities viciously try to destroy any voice that exposes the crimes of the government, and especially if it offers people a viable alternative. I ask that you print a clarification to make clear that the strategy of the RCP is not to start the “revolution” by advocating violence.
 
What the RCP has done and is doing is to lead people to resist the violent repression that is visited on people by the powers that be, 24\7, and to stand firmly with them when they do resist. The RCP has been clear that fundamental social, revolutionary change can only be achieved when millions of people are desirous of such change and determined to bring it about. The work of the RCP includes “raising the political and ideological consciousness of masses of people and building massive political resistance to the main ways in which, at any given time, the exploitative and oppressive nature of this system is concentrated in the policies and actions of the ruling class and its institutions and agencies—striving through all this to enable growing numbers of people to grasp both the need and the possibility for revolution when the necessary conditions have been brought into being, as a result of the unfolding of the contradictions of the system itself as well as the political, and ideological, work of revolutionaries.“ (See “Some Crucial Points of Revolutionary Orientation – in Opposition to Infantile Posturing and Distortions of Revolution” at www.revcom.us)
 
I’d also like to mention that Revolution Books wasn’t opened by the Revolutionary Communist Party. It was opened by people who support the party. The store is open Wednesday - Saturday, 3–8 p.m., not on Monday.
 
Thanks for the honest and straightforward portrayal of Revolution Books.

Norm Karl

Norm Karl
On behalf of Revolution Books

Read More on Letters To The Editor
Volume 6, Issue 9, Posted 1:18 PM, 08.30.2013