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| Socialist
Party USA: Statements |
Wars
Abroad, War at Home: Building a Socialist Feminist Response to U.S.
Militarism and the Global Economic Crisis
In this period of
rising unemployment and economic turmoil, an increasing number of
people are being drawn to radical concepts and are ready to consider
radical strategies for social change based on the link between the
severe problems we face at home, the actions of the U.S. military
world-wide, and the destructive nature of global capitalism.
Clearly,
what we face right now are not only wars abroad, but also a war at
home. In both cases, masses of people are living under siege as a
result of actions by the U.S. government to perpetuate the inhumane
capitalist system. In both cases, a collective, activist,
response is called for: a response consisting of energetic, grassroots
organizing based on a coherent analysis, a radical program, and
internal democracy rooted in socialist feminist principles and practice.
To
move forward, we must develop a plan of action along the lines of the
pre-9/11 anti-globalization/anti-capitalist movement, but with the
added perspective of the global economic meltdown, and with the will to
act independently of the Obama agenda.
Our
demands should be inclusive, to reflect the interdependence of the
local, national, and international crises we currently must deal
with. These include the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq
and Afghanistan, full-funding for domestic programs by taxing the rich
and slashing the military budget, social and economic equity and
justice, human rights and civil liberty guarantees, socialized health
care, nationalization of the financial sector, and political
independence from the Democratic Party.
As
we proceed with this agenda, we need to be guided by the fact
that women and people of color are disproportionately affected by wars,
occupations, economic crises, and assaults on human rights and civil
liberties.
These
are bad times for increasing numbers of women—as workers, as
caregivers, and as members of minority and immigrant communities.
Due to the disastrous state of the economy, women face extra stress on
the job and in the face of lay-offs. Besides that, they are even
more responsible than usual for the social service needs of friends and
family due to the budget cuts—and to Federal spending that continues to
prioritize the costs of war and domestic surveillance and intimidation
over the needs of people for housing, healthcare, education, and
jobs. Indeed, due to foreclosures and lack of affordable
housing, many women are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads.
These
circumstances just worsen the underlying problems of gender inequality
and ethnic and racial bigotry. Activism organized around “wars
abroad and war at home” acknowledges this, while recognizing how strong
and resourceful women and families have been, and continue to be, in
the face of exploitation, discrimination, and harassment.
As
we build our movement for fundamental social change, we must honor
women’s strengths, demand women’s rights, and fight against those
aspects of society that perpetuate oppression.
War
at Home Committee, Socialist Party USA
Women’s
Commission, Socialist Party USA
May
Day 2009
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