[IMC-Editorial] Heads up from John Kusumi

[John Kusumi]

On My Radar . Issue #1 . 11/25/2002
"A heads up for my friends"
"What's coming down the pike"
--by John Kusumi

1. Practical Idealist Steering Committee introduced.

Late last year, the Practical Idealists' group of Shengde Lian, Wang Xizhe, Richard Long, Zhao Pinglu, and I made the first co-sponsored editorial with the principles of Practical Idealism, in my formulation.

Now, a new co-sponsored statement will come out of the Chinese democracy movement. For this one, we can add Ning Ye (a Free China Movement leader), Yungjun Zhou (a Tiananmen Square leader), and Gao Zhan (an American academic, who was imprisoned in China and became famous last year before her release).

The new Practical Idealists' statement wags our finger at Al Gore, due to Gore's use of "practical idealism" as a catch phrase, where his politics include the China policy that we decry. It is suggested that Gore must drop "practical idealism," or else drop that China policy. We further threaten to support Dick Gephardt (who was against PNTR) if Gore uses the "practical idealist" name to represent his China policy.

In a check of the facts, we can find that I introduced Practical Idealism to presidential politics 18 years ago. IMHO*, this causes Gore to appear both as a Johnny-come-lately to practical idealism, and as reinventing himself.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Strong advocacy.

Our letter correctly gets to our issue, advocating actual economic pressure upon China, while trying to steer Al Gore away from the rocks. Its punch line reads as so--

  a.. A practical idealist does not fuel a nuclear armed, communist superpower. 
  b.. A practical idealist does not shovel money to communists, dictators, tyrants, and thugs. 
  c.. A practical idealist does not finance a holocaust. 
  d.. A practical idealist does not "leave the Jews in the gas chambers." 
It is such a strong letter to Al Gore, he could hurt himself if he mishandles the matter. He will be better advised to take it well.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Something else is coming out of the chute.

The China Support Network is about to co-sponsor an enormous, world-wide consumer boycott against products "Made In China" (MIC). For years, the democracy movement has toyed with the idea of a boycott. Prior attempts have failed, because they were isolated, without wide co-sponsorship and top flight representation.

Now, there is going to be a boycott against MIC products no matter what, because Tibetan groups passed this at their congress, and have lined up "critical mass" of world-wide co-sponsorship. This train is leaving the station, and Chinese dissidents will join in leading the charge. --At long last, we will have this consumer boycott and actual economic pressure upon China for the purpose of encouraging freedom there.

This is different than the past 13 years. "As a pressure group, we are turning on the pressure."

The China Support Network will elevate David Chu to now be a new spokesman, specializing in the boycott and all related issues. To have a dust up with Al Gore seems like overkill, but we are inviting world attention. The Gore matter adds synergy, drawing Washington's attention into our scene. Chinese dissidents are getting world wide alignment for actual economic pressure. China's economy is as fragile as an egg shell. "Something's gotta give." IMHO*, sell short Wal-Mart, as they are over exposed to China, importing $5 billion of products MIC.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Crowded environment.

There is not much time for the Gore matter. Our other advocacy will be pressed for time -- because the boycott was initiated by Tibetans, and their issue will certainly come up. Tibetans want freedom from communist Chinese oppression. The coming advocacy may include the Dalai Lama. In any case, I hope that one and all will offer respect to Tibetans and their issue.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. My message to you.

As a friend of John Kusumi and / or the China Support Network, I hope that you will be supportive of this boycott. Shop carefully; many Christmas toys are Made In China! We will be exceedingly pleased if we can get the support of Dick Gephardt (at least, for our call for actual economic pressure) and American labor unions. The world-wide launch of this campaign will be December 7, 2002.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. My public statement.

The following message has been added to the Tibetans' web site in support of the boycott:

  Freedom from communist oppression. That is the thread which unites the purpose of all those working for the advancement of this boycott. Chinese dissidents support this boycott for Chinese freedom. Tibetans support this boycott for Tibetan freedom. The China Support Network supports freedom for all - Chinese, Taiwanese, Tibetans.

  Freedom from communist oppression will mean the most to those who now suffer in slave labor camps (known as the Laogai); to those who are now tortured by communist Chinese authorities; to those who are being displaced from their homes in Tibet; or, to those who are coping with the trauma of a forced abortion.

  Where communist China uses slave labor to produce cheaper products, that is economic dirty pool. It forces American workers to compete with slave labor, violating the economic spirit of America's Emancipation Proclamation.

  Americans should be outraged at free trade with China, and we hope that workers and the fair trade lobby will join us in our world-wide effort. Until freedom comes to China and Tibet, let's beat back Chinese products!

  This boycott represents economic pressure against China, to encourage freedom. For myself and for the China Support Network, I am exceedingly happy to endorse, back, encourage, and co-sponsor this campaign. Standing on the moral high ground, this effort will not stop until there is a new achievement in human history - freedom from communist oppression.

-John Kusumi
the China Support Network


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember to check the latest at www.kusumi.com and www.chinasupport.net!
*IMHO = "in my humble opinion." Please keep IMHO remarks unattributed.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-editorial/attachments/20021128/8dd0ccb8/attachment.htm