http://themilitant.com/2017/8117/811735.html
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Vol. 81/No. 17 May 1, 2017
Letters
Cuba conference coverage
I would like to correct a factual error in the otherwise objective,
informative, and accurate article by Steve Clark (“Views on Ending US
Hostile Policy to Cuba Debated at NY Conference”) in the April 17, 2017,
Militant.
Clark wrote, “Another debate centered on a proposal supported by Ike
Nahem, Isaac Saney, and Steve Eckardt of the Chicago Cuba Coalition that
a national speakers bureau be established to organize tours by Cubans
and others in North America. The motion to encourage speaking tours was
agreed to, but the proposal to establish a new national body was
withdrawn.”
Neither in the original proposal, nor in its amended and unanimously
adopted final wording, was a “national speakers bureau” proposed.
Furthermore, at no point was there any proposal to establish any “new
national body.” On the contrary, as I said at the first plenary session
March 25, “The aim of this conference is to boost this work … in cities
across the U.S. and Canada, to reach out and build united action.”
One activist during discussion at the closing plenary did raise that a
“steering committee” coming out of the conference would be useful. But
this was not supported by any others and was certainly not part of the
original or amended motion, which read, “That we agree to establish and
support national speaking tours by leading Cuban figures. And that we
collaborate with Cuba in organizing this.”
Since there was never any proposal to establish either a “national
speakers bureau” or a “new national body,” such a proposal could not
have been “withdrawn.” In response to remarks in the discussion on this
proposal, a friendly amendment was adopted that read, “We will work in
our efforts to coordinate nationally, and make full use of the National
Network on Cuba to do this, and that we will work to share resources via
live streaming, Skype, and other platforms.”
I viewed the entire March 26 closing plenary session on YouTube to make
sure my memory was correct, and these are the facts.
Ike Nahem
New York, New York
Steve Clark replies:
I’m glad that Ike Nahem, who was a central organizer of the National
Cuba Conference, found the Militant’s coverage of that gathering
“objective, informative, and accurate.”
As to what he considers a “factual error,” I was one of several
participants at the closing plenary who spoke about concerns that the
motion on speaking tours implied some sort of national structure to
organize such tours and other activity. That exchange, as reported in
the article, led to a clarification that I think put to rest the
prospect of any new committee or ongoing national conference calls.
On that basis, local Cuba coalitions, the National Network on Cuba, and
other organizations can work together on speaking tours and other
educational efforts to reach out to and involve growing layers of
working people and youth in the U.S. and Canada who are open to finding
out the truth about Cuba’s socialist revolution and joining activity to
demand: End the U.S. economic war against Cuba! U.S. out of Guantánamo!
End Washington’s “regime change” operations! Now!
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