Random Letters: 12/23/20

Automation at the Port

I more than saw the article! “The fight against Automation Continues,” 12/10/20 

I was very pleased to open my RLn envelope and find the front page story. The telling of this David and Goliath story was both informative and reasoned.  Stressing that the commissioners who brought the charges against Carlos absolutely sought a target that could not get the help of the ILWU in defense was crucial to this malfeasance. “Pick on the little guy.”

I would hope that my sisters and brothers in the ILWU recognize the threat illustrated by a 22 count bogus suit because the institutional feelings were hurt by parody. Maybe the capitalists are not concerned with our well being but rather their own power and vanity.

Our union brothers in the Port Police local should also think twice before harassing an obviously innocent longshore worker.

Robin Doyno, Local 13 member, retired, Los Angeles

Normalize US-Cuba Relations

We are all too familiar with the conservatism of the Daily Breeze newspaper editorials which are out of touch with the political perspectives of working people in the South Bay. Occasionally the news articles do reflect facts that are too hard to ignore, such as police brutality and the massive demonstrations against it, Donald Trump’s thousands of lies, etc. but their editorials never tell the truth about labor struggles, environmental battles against the refineries, pollution, the Wilmington communities fight for clean air, the need for universal healthcare, etc.

Below is a recently submitted letter to the editor which they refused to print in line with their right-wing editorial positions. Fortunately, we have Random Lengths News, which reflects independent journalism and progressive politics.

I agree with your Dec. 16, 2020 editorial calling for US-Cuba normalization but not for the same reasons. 

Normalizing relations benefits US and Cuban populations in scientific, health, academic, and cultural arenas.

The U.S. blockade/embargo/sanctions against Cuba for 60 years, by every Democratic and Republican administration, failed to overthrow the socialist revolution due to overwhelming support for its social programs, medical and educational successes (often exceeding the US), international assistance to workers/farmers world-wide (e.g., medical brigades fighting Ebola, SARS, coronavirus, teachers, skilled workers), etc.

You hope that capitalistic bribes, supporting dissidents promoting capitalism, encouraging skilled professionals to “defect” will instead foment a counter-revolution…but that Obama strategy won’t succeed. 

Today, the formerly monolithic anti-Communist Cuban Americans in Miami, LA, NY and elsewhere have also started demonstrating against the blockade. 

The UN votes annually, nearly unanimously to urge the US to End the Blockade, then the US vetoes the resolution.

Mark L. Friedman, Co-coordinator, Los Angeles U.S. Hands Off Cuba Committee