LETTER TO WW
Globalization, relision
& Marxism
"Globalization,
A Moral and Ethical Challenge" was the topic of concern for a forum and
discussion at New York's Riverside Church Nov. 19. Questions relating to
globalization were asked of the two panelists, Brian Becker, co-director of the
International Action Center, and Dr. Chung Hyun Kyung, associate professor at
Union Theological
Seminary.
Becker
pointed out that the term "globalization" works to obscure relations of power.
In plain language, "globalization" is the current expression of imperialism, a
continuation of history. The language of imperialism enables us to better
understand the dynamics of oppression and violence. Since the time of Karl Marx,
developing nations have gone from open political subjugation, through the "cold"
war, to the present hegemony of multinational corporations that dictate the
decisions of many "sovereign"
states.
Dr.
Chung observed that many of the world's peoples have gone from being poor people
to being poor "things," i.e., alienated wage workers, whose only value in the
imperialist scheme is their maximum
production.
The
immediate future, the two agreed, would be inevitably difficult. The growing
polarization of rich and poor here reflects the polarization of rich and poor
around the world. The tiny group of people in the U.S. who control our domestic
economic structure also control much of the world's economy. Everything they do
abroad affects our life here. The voices of those among us who seek justice are
too often drowned by the market
culture.
Because
the panelists represented different traditions, Marxist and Christian, they were
each asked to relate both traditions to the issue of globalization. Dr. Chung
found no serious conflict between her faith and the beliefs of others who share
concern for justice. For Chung, the conflict is with those who worship money.
She also decried the ethos of individualism, which has proliferated lawyers and
therapists, in order to defend the person from the disharmonies of bourgeois
culture.
Becker
gave further definition to the pathologies of capitalist culture, offering
examples of how historical analysis clarifies understanding. While religion has,
more often than not, been complicit with oppressive power, believers who accept
the God of history have confronted oppressive power, and sometimes been
revolutionary. It was faith that inspired German peasants in 1525 to struggle
for possession of the land they worked, and, more than a century later, an army
of Christians, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, took over the English
parliament.
The
purpose of this forum was to introduce Riverside's new Global Justice and Peace
Ministry. From 1978-1988, under the leadership of William Sloane Coffin,
Riverside's Disarmament program attracted international attention. As it became
more obvious, however, that social-democratic organizing was not going to stop
imperialism, Riverside took on a new identity, concerning itself more with local
issues, particularly the immediate problems of its growing Black membership and
the Harlem community. Like the majority of progressive working-class people,
most Riversiders seek reform within the
system.
The
response from this audience, however, gave evidence of a growing awareness that
something else is needed. Sales at the Workers World Party literature table were
significant, and many were asking when there would be another forum. Information
about future forums will be available after Jan. 22 at (212)
870-6740.
Under
the current leadership of the Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Riverside has addressed
issues of poverty and police brutality, and has built an effective prison
ministry. Dr. Forbes expressed his appreciation for the more global perspective
expressed.
Riverside
has hosted such freedom fighters as Daniel Ortega and Nelson Mandela. Some have
suggested that the anti-Vietnam War speech which Martin Luther King Jr. gave at
Riverside was a factor leading to his assassination. Riverside's most recent
notable speaker was Fidel Castro on Sept.
8.
Ann
Joseph
New
York
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page