‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
Mixed Bag
by Peter Molenaar Unlike the esteemed guru who, it is said, once transcended all earthly attachments, the rest of us are bound to the spiritual ups and downs which reflect the satisfactions and irritations of our existence. St. Paul”'s Church, 11-11-11”¦ It was in conjunction with the 200th birthday of Wendell Phillips, renowned opponent of all forms of oppression, that this paper celebrated its 36 years. The evening unfolded as a high pinnacle event for the activist community of this neighborhood. There was as well a high-point moment for this writer. Despite his many years of socialist rantings in the space of this column, there was a warm ovation from an audience which included small business people. So, let it be said: The Welnas and Ingebretsens will have their place well into the future. (more…)
Occupation Time
by Peter Molenaar Just moments ago I witnessed a national TV news report which exposed the deliberate short supply of chemotherapy drugs made available for children. Profits before people”¦ Yet the ongoing protests against corporate greed lack a clear set of demands. Sure, the slogan “Power to The People” has merit. But what? Does the banner “Revolution Not Reform” really lead us to “Revolution Now!”? The fact remains: There can be no fundamental change without the participation and consent of many millions of people. Moreover, us “masses” are drawn to the class struggle in the first place on the basis of intermediate demands which taken separately do constitute “mere” reforms. With the above thought in mind, the CPUSA has issued a brochure under the caption “SAVE OUR NATION!” It contains the following points: (more…)
Fishing Trip
by Peter Molenaar It is good for an inland worker to visit big water from time to time. My father and I are just now returned from fishing Lake of the Woods in northernmost Minnesota. The curvature of the horizon is discernable to the eye there. So, thank you Smith Foundry for letting me go. As I was not pressed to engage the machine, the promising sunrise then lingered. The inlet bay of our camp offered a calm cold mist among the green cattails. But the big water answered with wind and waves. Several flotillas of cabin cruisers located the walleye far from shore. But we with our smallish boat opted to troll the shoreline for northern pike or maybe a musky. We had paid a high price for a day”'s worth of frustration when, wop, “FISH ON!” I shouted. It made one glorious straight up leap-- “YEOW! It”'s a bass!” Such an extraordinarily handsome specimen of a smallmouth bass it was. I gently removed the [...]
