We bring the cultural question to the foreground with a powerful story by writer Farnoosh Moshiri titled "The Bricklayer." The story records the lives of Iranian immigrants in the US. This month we also feature a story by Sidney Gluck discussing the reunifcation of China and Taiwan, its history and the political balance of forces that may bring it about in the near future. Other featured articles include Anna Bates’ examination of Bush’s Social Security privatization scheme as an attack on working women, Kyle Tucker’s description of the composition of Bush’s new corporate cabinet, and Ron Bunyon, Jr.’s look at the prospects for democracy in African countries. Gerald Horne critically reviews two recent books by Patrick Bond, internationally known for his dislike of South Africa’s national democratic revolution. Norman Markowitz details the life and contribution of working-class activist and one-time Red, Emma Tenayuca. Also, look for commentary articles on the human cost of Bush’s war in Iraq, his budget war on the poor and working-class social programs, and the struggle for greater unity against the ultra right across racial and gender lines. A special feature this month includes two theoretical articles. Thomas Riggins brings us up to date on some of Lenin’s views on some basic Marxist concepts, and Wadi’h Halabi argues for the continuing relevance of Marxist theory under contemporary capitalism.
Peace,
The Editors
Departments
04 Letters
07 Commentary
You Say You Want a Revolution
By Thomas Lohr
Give It a Little Base, Baby
By Erica Smiley
No Mandate from Women of Color
By Linda Burnham
The Plot Against the Poor
By Thomas Riggins
An Arm and A Leg
By Steven Laffoley
09 Marxist IQ
11 Nobody asked me, but...
By Don Sloan
16 Movies
Oscar Picks
By Michael Shepler
18 Book Reviews
A Hacker Manifesto
Reviewed by Akinbola E. Akinwumi
The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader
Reviewed by Aaron Ogletree
59 Book Review Essay
The Blame Game
Reviewed by Gerald Horne
Horne takes on Patrick Bond, leading critic of South Africa’s national democratic revolution.
63 Cover Story
Fiction
The Bricklayer
By Farnoosh Moshiri
Features
34 The One-China Principle
By Sidney J. Gluck
China sees Taiwan as part of its territory, but the US provokes
conflict by selling arms to the island province.
40 The Fat Lady Hasn’t Sung Yet
By Wadi’h Halabi
Do the collapse of the USSR and capitalism’s success prove Marx wrong?
44 Living in a Material World
By Thomas Riggins
Materialism, the basic philosphy of Marxism, is explained.
48 Pro-Choice In Bush Country
By Owen Williamson
Being pro-choice is a moral stand on women's equality and economic justice.
56 Red Emma
By Norman Markowitz
The contributions of one-time labor leader and Communist Party activist Emma Tenayuca can no longer be ignored.
