News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Sunday December 21st 2025
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 Minnesota viewpoint”. As the previous speaker had commended Latino workers, I held up the “Minneapolis Labor Review”, the front page of which featured a photo which had been cropped to frame the participation of Somali women. The big picture was an auditorium of the Minneapolis Convention Center filled with SEIU Local 26 janitors and security officers who had gathered to authorize a strike.… Read the rest “Chicago and Back”
A Frank Reflection
By Frank Erickson
“Your Intention is not to kill civilians?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“But you ”˜war”' in a manner that does kill civilians”¦but you are not intentionally killing them?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Do you feel that your freedom to kill civilians has your troops fighting in a way that will endanger and kill civilians?”
“No.”
“So ”˜war”' gives you the freedom to kill civilians and this is not intentional, it is part of the process of ”˜war”', it is not you killing them?”
“That is right, in ”˜war”' there will be civilian casualties.”
“Members of your family?”
“No, no, no, none of my family members will be civilian casualties of the ”˜war”' in Afghanistan.”
“Why not, why not move your family to the ”˜war zone”' while you fight this war in Afghanistan?”
“Why would I do that, that would be crazy.”
“Because if ”˜war”' produces civilian casualties, why not provide a few possible civilian casualties, kind of a ”˜war”' contribution, instead of buying ”˜war”' bonds, you could provide civilian casualties.”
“I find that very disrespectful to me and my family.”
“Sorry about that, Commander”¦you call the entire country of Afghanistan a ”˜war zone”', but this is an area where millions of people call home and live, isn”'t calling their homeland a ”˜war zone”' intentionally putting them in your cross hairs?”… Read the rest “A Frank Reflection”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
April 2013 Spirit of Phillips
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