08) NO CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

 

People's Voice Editorial

 

            For a few days this month, we were all stuffed into Mr. Peabody's wayback machine, watching bizarre celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the "fall of the Berlin Wall." Please forgive us for trying to pop the balloon of capitalist triumphalism.

 

            First, the destruction of socialism in Europe was accompanied by a solemn promise that the US and NATO would not expand eastwards. Yet several of these countries are now NATO members, as U.S. military bases inch closer to Russia's borders. War and fascism are on the march across Ukraine, seventy years after the Wehrmacht was demolished by the Red Army and heroic partisans. Spitting on the Canadian soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defeat Hitler fascism, our Prime Minister praises the ultra-right and pro-Nazi coup parties in Kiev. In effect, removal of the Anti-Fascist Protection Wall (to use the German Democratic Republic's term) opened the door to 21st century fascism and a new Cold War.

 

            Some will reply: at least the East Germans gained their freedom! Only if one accepts the narrow definition that freedom means access to a vast range of expensive consumer goods. In exchange, the people of the GDR surrendered the gains of socialism: full employment, housing, free education, health care and child care, major progress towards gender equality, and much more.

 

            Yes, socialist East Germany also had real shortcomings, in part due to huge obstacles which limited its successes. But we do smile at one more "AHA" criticism: the GDR spied on its own citizens! Here in Canada, our elected government admits that every protest demonstration and every form of communication is monitored by the police and security agencies. The difference? In our "free" country, this is done to help preserve capitalist rule, not to prevent the restoration of capitalism. Aha, indeed.

 

 (The above article is from the November 16-30, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)