Reporter's Notebook from New York City
Revolutionary Worker #1252, September 19, 2004, posted at http://rwor.org
August 30, 2004--The ground under my feet feels the approaching rumble of the train. People rush up the stairs from the train station, down the stairs from apartment buildings, from main streets and side streets--everywhere you look there are people coming out with all their creativity saying No! to Bush and Co.
Two babies with a "Babies Against Bush" mini-banner hung across their stroller are looking at the thousands gathered at that one intersection blowing whistles, banging on drums, and shouting "Move Bush, Get Out the Way, Get Out the Way Bush, Get Out the Way."
*****
Three women sit outside on a sidewalk patio enjoying lunch. It's their Sunday afternoon retreat from their daily 9 to 5 routine.
One says, "So, what do you think--do you want to go with the protesters after?"
The two women look at each other. One answers right away, "Sure."
The other isn't sure, "No I don't think so, not today."
Her friend says, "C'mon, if not now when?"
*****
Rosa and Dolores are from Chile. Rosa is an architect and Dolores is a lawyer. They're both wearing statue of liberty crowns on their heads. They are carrying a painting with both Bushes, Rice, Rumsfeld, Cheney and the rest of their clique in a face-off against Jesus Christ. Rosa's hobby is painting. She started painting to vent her anger against Bush saying that god supports him and this war. Before the Iraq war she didn't take part in demonstrations, she's always been what this society calls a "devoted housewife and mother"--but she said that she wouldn't miss the big No!on August 29 for anything in the world.
"I've never been involved in politics. But as soon as the war started we started going to anti-war demonstrations. I mean, I'm an architect and a mother of three.. This country used to be democratic and I love this country, but the problem is that right now we're living in a dictatorship in this country. I fear that many people are losing their freedom," said Rosa, who says she's disappointed that the Democrats aren't that much of an alternative to Bush.
Dolores jumped in, "What we need is a third party. There isn't much difference between the Democrats and the Republicans--it's like a two-headed snake. There's no real political discussion here. What exists now is a ruling class. Look, Kerry is like Bush--they're wealthy and they're part of the same circles."
*****
Miguel is sitting on a bench reading the new issue of the Revolutionary Worker .
I sit next to him and say, "So, you got the latest issue of the paper."
"Yeah. I've never read anything like this before . . ." Miguel is 14 years old and lives in Queens. He's traveled to several countries and loves reading history books. He loves to talk to strangers and to share his observations of the world.
"It's so hypocritical that they call this a democracy.. It's not just Bush but it's all of this.. But there is global dissent against Bush--I talked to someone about this when I went to Spain on vacation.
"Look at all the people marching, you don't see any one person twice.. But look at the Democrats; they're saying that they don't support our protests, you know just in case there's a riot or something, then they can keep their hands clean of it. But if everything goes peaceful, then they're going to say, `Oh, yeah, we had people there.'
"I guess it's like this: we have a Pepsi and Coke challenge, only this is about Presidents. And they don't taste any different to me."
*****
It was a beautiful day. Hundreds of thousands filled the streets full of love for humanity. The big lawn at Central Park was alive with joy and celebration--drum circles and a small marching band. People played basketball and threw frisbees.
Everywhere you turned people were left with this on their minds--and it came straight from the Revolutionary Worker--SEE BUSH, THINK REVOLUTION!
Let me share this, I've been reading and writing for the RW for a while now. I can conceptualize and visualize what it means to get this paper into the hands of the millions who need it, but here, at this decisive moment in history there were thousands checking out our press--in just this park alone.
I think about a woman I met today, Josie. She told me she hates what Bush is doing to the planet. She wants a better world for her baby girl--a world where her baby girl with soft black curls and bright black eyes can grow and be free to walk down the street without fear.
She asked me, "But why can't that be?"
Everything is treated like a commodity--it's like we're being stripped of our humanity. We're only worth what part of us is for sale--whether it be our labor or bodies or creativity. I told her this sytem is like a big boulder in the road that keeps us from reaching the potential of humanity--communism.
"But how do you have enough people to push the boulder out of the way? And how do you know that what's ahead is better than this?"
At a time when the future of our planet is in the balance--what direction will things take? When millions are losing faith in the system.and everyone longs for a different kind of world, what difference will it make for people to meet a leader like Bob Avakian.
As we enjoy a beautiful day at the park I think about what Bob Avakian says, "We don't have to hide from the future because the future belongs to us if we dare to rise up."