Published:Unite!, Vol. 5, No. 3, February 15, 1979.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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The Central Organization of U.S. Marxist-Leninists (COUSML) has found it necessary to abruptly change its colors in order to appear to be in step with the world Marxist-Leninist movement. In the January 3rd issue of their irregularly published newspaper, The Workers’ Advocate, we find two interesting developments.
First, COUSML no longer includes Mao Tsetung along with Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin in its ads and logos. This is particularly curious because no one in the U.S. has taken a more anti-Leninist stand, or more infantile left position than COUSML. For 10 years COUSML claimed “Mao Tsetung is our chairman” and that “Mao Tsetung Thought represents a new and higher stage of Marxism-Leninism.”
Noted for their curious appearance with Red Books held aloft and huge Mao buttons, COUSML now finds this fashion out of step. Without a word it has adopted a more conservative stance in order to try to win a place for itself within the ranks of Marxist-Leninists.
Second, we find that Mao Tsetung’s favorite star in the United States, William Z. Foster no longer holds a place of honor with COUSML. Until recently, COUSML bookstores proudly bore the name William Z. Foster Bookstores. Again without explanation, this was dropped in November and the stores renamed Marxist-Leninist Books and Periodicals.
As the Marxist-Leninist parties throughout the world broaden and deepen the struggle against Chinese revisionism, many anti-Leninist groups will try to re-cloak themselves in order to appear as Marxist-Leninists. For COUSML, however, its history and its current existence has nothing to do with the proletariat and oppressed people in U.S. Donning new robes will hardly change its revisionist essence.