‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
It Ain”'t Easy Being”¦
By Peter Molenaar Just as the “Raise Your Voice” column appears once a month inside the back cover of “The Alley” so does Ricey Wild”'s “It Ain”'t Easy Being Indian” appear monthly in “The Circle”. Both columns should be regularly read. Admittedly though, for insightful truths elevated to the level of a belly laugh, Ricey is the one. In the April issue, the after-life is pondered via her childhood encounter with an evangelistic revival. She wryly states: “Until then I didn”'t know I was supposed to want eternal life”¦at the time mine was okay except for school and chores.” She goes on: “If I only knew then what I know now! GRRR! I could have been so mean, bad”¦freely hated, had B2 bombers full of cold cash, shoes and Ferraris to crash, and still in the end hang out in Heaven. Because I was saved! Yet, regarding the “straight and narrow”, Ricey says: “It is my [...]
Chicago and Back
By Peter Molenaar In early mid March, the big ice off Chicago extended not quite indefinitely to the east. While there, I was to learn that an elder comrade from the Steel Workers Union had passed away. So, the handshake received at the last Party convention had been a warm farewell. Will the sparkle of eroding snowpack be gone by April 1st? The CPUSA Labor Commission has for many years convened in the “Windy City”. This time around we took a fresh look at our industrial concentration policy””the very policy which led to my employment at Smith Foundry and my connection to this community. But, in this modern world, it appears the high-tech sector and the crisis of low wage workers have emerged relative to the old emphasis on “core industries”. It”'s hard to believe that I must now play role model before the Young Communist League! My turn to speak”¦ “Regarding the elevation of low wage workers, allow me to reflect from a [...]
Look Back Forward Beyond
By Peter Molenaar Amid the raging turbulence of the early 1970s, the dropped-out guru peddled his book: BE HERE NOW. The ancient mysticism did so readily combine with the chemistry of the period. We were happy to inhale the tear gas. However, this reliance upon sensory inputs proved to be inadequate. Luckily, as was later discovered, everything exists in motion owing to the interpenetration of opposing forces. To know the essence of a thing, one must reveal by analysis the main contradiction within it. Yes, APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING, especially the appearance of permanence. One example: (more…)
