Today is Lenin's 139th birthday

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, later taking the nom de revolution Lenin, was born April 22, 1870 in what was then Simbirsk, Russia. Not to exaggerate the role of leaders, but without Lenin's influence, Russian capitalism might not have been defeated in 1917, giving hope throughout the world that exploitation of the working class and imperialist oppression could be defeated and a better system created. He added so much to Marxist theory and practice that revolutionary Marxism is today known as Marxism-Leninism. Lenin died too soon, January 21, 1924. Unfortunately some later Soviet leaders 'forgot' Leninism and were able to silence the revolutionary wing of the CPSU and destroy socialism in the USSR. They tried to impose their counterrevolution around the world, and in many places did succeed, but the desire for liberation still burns, especially in the current global recession, and the working class of the world is still armed with Marxism-Leninism.

As you probably know, today is also Earth Day, and there are events all this month in Durham. This week is also Northeast Creek Week in Durham County, and Ellerbe Creek Week was earlier. This Earth Day comes in with a blow to the control of developers in Durham, at least until the next BOCC hearing having to do with 751 South.

Also, Colonel Anne Wright (www.voicesofdissent.org) will be speaking and book signing at NCSU tomorrow at 7pm in Room 434 of the Daniels Building. A map is available at www.ncsu.edu/campus_map/north.htm. The event is hosted by the NCSU Student Worker Alliance.