Letter to the editor

Maoism lecture misconstrued

Although I happen to be very left-wing on most issues, I’m
afraid Dolly Veale is the one en­gaging in
“know-nothingism,” not David Lazar (“Attacks
abuse academia,” Oct. 25).

In order for Dolly Veale to support Raymond Lotta’s
lecture, which advertised itself as being favorable to Maoism, I
figure she must completely ignore the historical fact that Maoist
policies led to the deaths of millions of people.

First, the disastrous policies of the Great Leap Forward
policies led to mass starvation. Later, so-called
counter-revolutionaries were purged by fanatical Red Guards in the
Cultural Revolution.

These are not “standard lies about communism.” These
are historical facts that one can find in most any textbook on
Chinese history.

I can say with confidence that the Cultural Revolution was a lot
worse than Lazar’s supposed “McCarthyism.”
Moreover, the César E. Chávez and Ralph J. Bunche centers
definitely lose legitimacy by sponsoring such a lecture.

Anyone who wants to can speak on campus, but respected academic
centers should not sponsor a lecturer who misrepresents the true
history of Maoism.

Emmaneul Parello
Fifth-year, history