------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Aug. 05, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL FROM DEATH ROW: VOTE? FOR WHOM? [Following are excerpts from an audio message by Mumia Abu-Jamal played at the July 25 rally in Boston on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.] Ultimately, it is virtually assured that many Americans, perhaps over 50 percent, in other words, a majority, will not participate in this year's upcoming election, as they did not in 2000. It is a testament of the decline of democracy that so many Americans feel that a vote is a waste of time, and an empty exercise at the dawn of the 21st Century. Millions of such people, predominantly young, and working class, seem to feel that elections are little more than a lost cause. What is surprising about the current election campaign is the similarities between both major candidates. Both are men of means, from well-to-do families. Both are Yalies. Both are members of the secret society, Skull & Bones. I have seen an amusing cartoon-graphic of a sarcastic bumper sticker printed in a libertarian-type magazine, which reads: BUSH [graphic of U.S. flag with skull & bones] KERRY '04 REPUBLICRAT One vote, one party, NO choice In the bottom, right-hand corner, in Olde English-style letters, is written "Skull and Bones" and "Yale University." It gets a grin out of me every time that I see it, for bumper stickers, which are a kind of witty shorthand of oversimplification, tend to do this, if they're good. It says a lot about the perceptions of millions of voting-age Americans, who really see these things that way, and as a consequence, refrain from even the pretense of voting for what increasingly looks like a single party, with two heads. It also encapsulates rather nicely the gist of the now-flagging independent presidential campaign of consumer advocate, Ralph Nader. To be honest, both men have varying styles, and different tones to their presentation. That given, Senator Kerry can by no means be seen as an anti-war candidate. On a recent news program, the Democratic candidate spoke about "staying the course" in Iraq; a use of terms that flashed back to the genocidal Nixon years, who said virtually the same thing when he wanted to shore up flagging support for the ruinous Vietnam War. I know that there are many people, perhaps millions, especially those most likely to hear, or read, these words, who feel, in their guts, that Senator Kerry is the best possible choice. This arises from the growing ABB crowd (Anybody But Bush). The Senator Kerry of today isn't the anti-war activist of yesteryear. He is, by his own words, a "tough-minded ... internationalist," who wishes to "stay the course" in Iraq, preferably with European allies to split the cost in blood and treasure. Who to vote for? That's your choice ... but I thought you'd like to know. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
