This Book in PDF - Gary North

xxx IS THE WORLD RUNNING DOWN?Rifkin's Strategy of SubversionFrom the beginning of his public career, Rifkin has worked witha specific strategy ofsubversion. This strategy involves the presentationofrevolutionary goals to conservative Americans by wrapping them in the Americanflag.In late 1971, Rifkin wrote concerning the need for a PeoplesBicentennial Commission: "At this critical stage in American history,it makes no sense for the New Left to allow the defenders of the systemthe advantage of presenting themselves as the true heirs and defendersof the American revolutionary tradition. Instead, the revolutionaryheritage must be used as a tactical weapon to isolate the existinginstitutions and those in power by constantly focusing publicattention on their inability to translate our revolutionary dreams intoreality." He was quite explicit concerning the revolutionary traditionhe had in mind: communism.A genuine understanding of revolutionary ideals is what links ThomasPaine, Sam Adams, and Benjamin Rush, and the American people, withLenin, Mao, Che, and the struggles of all oppressed people in the world.Not until the masses ofAmericans begin to re-identify with these principlesand develop their own revolutionary struggle will they be able to form a realbond of fraternalism and solidarity with the struggles ofall oppressed people.He wrote this for the bimonthly newspaper ofthe New AmericanMovement (Nov.lDec. 1971).39 But in his introduction to America'sBirthday, published by Simon & Schuster in 1974, he judiciouslydropped the earlier references to Lenin, Mao, and Che Guevara.A genuine understanding of American democratic ideals is what linksthe American people with the struggles ofall oppressed people in the world.Indeed, the American Revolution has stood as an example for the revolutionsof the Third World. Not until the majority of Americans begin to reidentifywith our democratic principles and develop our own revolutionarystruggle will we be able to form a real bond of fraternalism and solidaritywith the struggles of all oppressed people.4()Jeremy Rifkin knew exactly what he was doing. He and JohnRossen edited a book, How to Commit Revolution American Style in 1973,published by Lyle Stuart. Mr. Rossen wrote on page 149: "In the39. Ibid., p. 75; Appendix A.40. Ibid., p. 118.