Irina Podlesova
Moscow, USSR
I WOULD LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO...
I have joined the Radical Party for the third time, and I will continue doing so in the future. I consider the Radical Party to be the only political force that frees people and their minds from the dogmas of the politics of the past, a fact which is particularly important for the Soviets. The problem is that the Soviets know no means to conduct political battles other than the one indicated by the founders of Marxism-Leninism. The communists' opponents, on the other hand, use their same methods.
The Radical Party's future in the Soviet Union lies in nonviolence. It is the only solution for a society that is deeply torn by national, economic and ideological contradictions. It is extremely difficult to construct a future on such unstable foundations. But it is downright impossible to construct it without the Radical party, if we want an open and democratic society. I would like all the people who cannot imagine a future without freedom and democracy to join the Radical Party.
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Bruno Pierozzi
Vice-Secretary of CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour) for Central Italy
TO KEEP DEMOCRATIC DIALECTICS ALIVE
(...) The reasons for my choice to join the Radical Party. First of all, because it is the only open party that succeeds in keeping democratic dialectics alive without relying on professional bureaucrats and managers. Moreover, because it is the only representative of that lay and libertarian socialism which others have often proclaimed but never implemented. Lastly, because there is a great need for a party that breaks the conservative patterns of conformist politics to adopt innovative choices, such as the choice to transform the party into a transnational and transpartisan force.
In other words, dear friends, there all the ideal conditions to operate concretely and to create a real alternative to the widespread corporativism and moronic consumer culture cherished by TV audiences and bureaucrats of non-existant reformism.
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Mircea Stoica
Professor of Constitutional Law at the Academy of Economic Science
Bucharest, Rumania
DEMOCRATIC VALUES, FREEDOM, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
The transnational Radical Party struggles to promote democratic values and freedom, and to uphold fundamental human rights. On 14 November 1990 I had the honour of presiding the conference of members of sympathizers of the Radical Party, moderated by Marco Pannella, President of the Radical Party's Federal Council. The conference was attended by several prestigious intellectuals and leaders of the students' movement. I was deeply impressed by Marco Pannella's personality. His ideas and his political praxis represent a guarantee for the militants and sympathizers of our party.
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Nicola Nardo
Rome, Italy
TO DEVELOP OUR ACTION FOR THE LIFE OF RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO LIFE
the reasons leading me to confirm my membership to the Party for 1991 are the following:
- I consider the Radical party to be the acme of Italian politics, the party that is most concerned about the problems of the people, the ONLY one that can fire the "OWNERS" and the "BARONS" of an entire people, the same ones that compete with each other in robbing citizens every other day and depriving them of their elementary rights. They have created the windbags of information, who try to convince us of new laws and reforms which punctually reveal themselves to be unfeasible.
- for countless years, the Radical Party has been trying to change this culture based on ruin and arrogance, through its courageous representatives in the different European, national, local Parliaments, and also through its proposals for popular referendums, through the microphones of Radio Radicale, etc.
- The Italian people owe a lot to the Radical Party!!!
I hope citizens will pay more attention to the Party in this new year, enabling it to grow and operate for the life of rights and the right to life.
I wish growth and prosperity to all members, sympathizers, collaborators and officials.
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Bela Szilagyi
Managerial consultant, Hungary
UNITED STATES OF EUROPE
I joined the Radical Party because I want to give my contribution to the achievement of the Radical party's chief objective, namely the immediate creation of the United States of Europe. I want to give a hand not only by paying the membership fee and subscribing to the Radical Letter, but also with my organizational skills.
I realize that all of the Radical Party's goals can be achieved only after long and difficult battles. In order to create true democracy, we Hungarians must solve a quantity of political, economic and cultural problems. This is why many forces and agreements are needed, as well as good will.
In my opinion, with the United States of Europe we will achieve peace, harmony and wealth in a shorter time and without inflation.
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Umberto Broccatelli
Rome, Italy
A COMMON EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP
Dear friends, herewith enclosed is a cheque for Lit.238.000, to be divided as follows: Radical Party 1991 membership fee (Lit.208.000); 1991 ERA ("Esperanto" Radikala Asocio) membership fee (Lit.30.000).
As a young man, I was a member of the Radical Party of Pannunzio, and after that I voted for the Radical Party on several occasions, but frankly I have often disagreed on its positions. For example, I was and I remain against the choice of opposing the use of nuclear energy for civilian purposes, because I believe that this form of energy is after all the cleanest among the existing ones. As for the question of "antiprohibitionism", I am rather perplexed. I believe a problem such as that should be tackled on a world scale, or at least a European scale, with the development of common policies. On the other hand, I agree with the battles on civil rights and on the Radical Party's clear-cut federalist approach (I am a member of the European Federalist Movement since my youth).
The reason that leads me to join the Radical Party is the intention to endorse a battle for the adoption, on a European scale, of the international Esperanto language as a vehicular language, in order to safeguard the single national languages from the predominance of an imperial language, and to promote the diffusion of a feeling of common European citizenship.
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Richard Stockar
Prague, Czechoslovakia
"NOTHING TO DECLARE"
With an understanding of transnational politics and culture, it is almost easy to avoid low-level thoughts and objectives. For those who work in the field of politics it is more difficult to switch from a national level to a transnational level than the opposite. Transnational politics have made me understand what nations and states mean. To see and "control" the objectives, the fears, the hopes and the results of the Radical Party - that is, the state of democracy - reassure me on the fact that this is the correct approach. There are different ways to achieve a transnational approach. It can be extremely difficult or impossible for some, and for others it can be natural. I believe it is the best way of living.
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* Mauro Marabini
Manufacturer, Italy
TO KEEP ON
Dear staff,
This year too, I am sending my contribution and adhesion to the Radical Party. I cannot say I am answering the appeal with enthusiasm, because I don't really understand where the Party is heading to and what sort of future awaits it. This adhesion intends to be a contribution to the battle against party power, which is the true monster of this country, even more dangerous than the mafia, and for institutional reforms.
Also, I would like to express my hope for the perspective of a lay liberal-democratic alliance (possibly the Forum of Democrats?). The Radicals have generously supported this grandiose idea, which had been set aside because of the cowardice of the Republican and Liberal Party.
In any case, we must insist, and I invite the Radical Party to keep on. I don't like some of the Radical Party's things, but I won't list them all; the main thing is that I approve of at least 51% of what it does.
One thing I don't like is its impudent wooing of the former Communist Party. My opinion is that it is just wasted time!
In any case, let us hope that something will change in our political system from today to year 2000.
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P.S. We invite all those who intend to join the party to enclose a brief statement (between five and ten lines if possible) to their membership fee, explaining the reasons for their adhesion to the Radical party, and to send it to our Budapest office.
