Part 2 Discussion: on The Cultural Revolution in China, Sun., March 18, 3 PM

Join Michael Slate on Sun., March 18th, 3 PM - Part 2 on "The Cultural Revolution in China" How many times have you heard this -  "Communism is a good idea but it  doesn't work and Socialism was a  horror when it did exist." This is just  a lie! Unfortunately, it's a lie that has  a lot of credence in the world today  and one that weighs heavily on what  many people even consider  possible in terms of fundamentally  changing the world. As John Lennon once put it,  "Gimme some Truth!" And that's what we'll be doing on Sunday, March 18, at 3:00 PM,  when Revolution Books/Libros Revolución hosts the second of the wide- ranging and deep 2-part discussion of "The Cultural Revolution in  China...Art and Culture...Dissent and Ferment...and Carrying  Forward the Revolution Toward Communism," an excerpt from  an interview with Bob Avakian, Chairman of the Revolutionary  Communist Party, by Michael Slate in 2004. This excerpt was recently  transcribed and published in Revolution newspaper.  The truth is that the first stage of Communist revolution, which began with the Paris Commune in 1871, continued with the revolution in Russia in 1917, and ended with the 1976 coup that overthrew Socialism in China, accomplished many remarkable - and previously considered impossible - achievements in the quality of human life and the quest to carry the revolution through to total human emancipation, Communism. Secondarily there were errors, even serious errors, made in these Socialist societies. The Cultural Revolution in China was the high point of revolutionary struggle at that time but it wasn't able to take things as far as they need to go nor was it able to prevent the overthrow of Socialism. And still, the bigger truth remains: humanity needs - now more than ever - Communism. Bob Avakian has studied deeply the experiences of Socialism, positive and negative, and has drawn from a broad embrace of human experience, and out of this has developed a new synthesis of communism that opens the door to making further advances towards a truly emancipated world. This is what is concentrated in this interview segment - an examination of the experience of Socialism, especially the Cultural Revolution, and a concentration of Avakian's New Synthesis. Join us on Sunday, March 18 at 3 PM, after the L.A. Marathon is over. Michael Slate will lead the second of the two-part discussion to dig into this interview. Slate is a writer for Revolution newspaper and host of The Michael Slate Show on KPFK, 90.7 FM .We will be discussing the sections beginning with "Questions of Art and Culture, Matters of  Viewpoint and Method".  (Bob Avakian will not be present.)  Read the nuanced and wide-ranging interview at revcom.us here, or pick up copies at the bookstore.  7 PM - Fundraising Dinner for Revolution Books!  Enjoy   good food and great conversations, and help raise much- needed funds for the rent, and an additional $1,000 for the  Festival of Books booth, our busiest book event of the year.

Received in an email: Multi-Family Yard Sale for BA Everywhere  Campaign, Sat., March 17th, 9 AM - 3 PM Eagle Rock (will postpone if it rains) Thanks to all who donated yard sale items, time and  energy to last month's very successful yard sale!  We  raised over $1,000, and had fun (and yes, got plenty  of exercise). We need lots more donations of appliances, items  for babies, jewelry, etc. to replenish the many things  that were sold.  (We have plenty of clothes for adults  and glassware.)  Contact us if you have items to drop  off or need to be picked up. We also need more volunteers for this busy sale,  especially for 7-9 AM set up, and 3-5 PM clean up,  as well as Friday, March 16th preparation in the  evening.  Contact us if you can spend an hour, a half  day, or a whole day contributing to this vital campaign.   BA Everywhere - Imagine the Difference It Could Make  is a campaign aimed at raising big money to project  Bob Avakian's voice and works throughout society -  to make BA a household word.  The campaign is  reaching out to those who are deeply discontented  with what is going on in the world, and stirring up  discussion and debate about the problem and solution.  It is challenging the conventional wisdom that this  capitalist system is the best humanity can do-and  bringing to life the reality that with the new synthesis  of communism brought forward by BA, there is a  viable vision and strategy for a radically new, and  much better, society and world, and there is the  leadership that is needed for the struggle toward that  goal. Read more here.