[PAA-Discuss] Response to the 3-19 New York Times article from Sam Webb

[Edna Thompson]

Dear Friends -

Just thought you might enjoy this NY Times article and the response from 
CPUSA Chair, Sam Webb.

Peace & solidarity
Pat


> This letter was submitted to the New York Times, March
> 20, 2007 in response to their article dated March 19
> in the Arts & Leisure Section:
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/arts/20nyu.html?em&ex=1174622400&en=e626030d7e370b97&ei=5087%0A
>
>
> ***********
>
> Dear Editor,
>
> Your article on the Communist Party's archive donation
> to NYU quotes Joe Hill: "My will is easy to decide,
> for there is nothing to divide." Willing our archive
> to NYU also was easy to decide. Not because there was
> nothing to divide, but precisely because in it lies a
> rich legacy that the US public should be made aware
> of.
>
> Like Joe Hill, the Communist Party was born and bred
> in the USA. It is now and has been a public legal
> political party. It is not subversive, secretive, nor
> does it operate with special codes.
>
> The article speaks of a "triple whammy" meted out in
> the late 1940s but fails to mention the biggest whammy
> of all: Senator Joe McCarthy and the witch hunts of
> that period that crushed dissent, ruined lives, droves
> thousands from their jobs, and derailed the labor
> movement.
>
> Throughout our history Communists have actively fought
> for labor rights, against racism and for women's
> equality. Our orders came not from Moscow, but from
> ordinary working-class people whose struggles are our
> own.
>
> We are very confident that public scrutiny of the
> CPUSA archives will forever put to rest this big lie.
> Our gift to NYU is proof not only of our transparency
> but commitment to normal participation in our great
> country's political life.
>
> Sam Webb
> National Chairman
> CPUSA
>
> ***********
>
>