Here are some more comments from the Joma Sison interview:
Harsh Thakor: Is Maoism a rupture or continuity of Marxism-Leninism
?
Joma Sison: MAOISM IS NOT SIMPLY A MECHANICAL ADDITION TO
MARXISM-LENINISM BUT A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT.MAOISM IS NOT A RUPTURE FROM STALINISM
LET ALONE LENINISM Maoism as further development of Marxism-Leninism is not
simply a mechanical addition. There is substantial advancement of
Marxism-Leninism by Maoism. He developed ML philosophy (deeper penetration into
the law of contradiction), political economy (socialist economy that improved
on the Soviet model), social science (continuance of class struggle in
socialist society), Party building (rectification movement to cure the illness
and save the patient) and people's war (more protracted than those in Soviet
history). But the advancement of ML made by Maoism to make it the third stage
is the theory and practice of continuing revolution under proletarian
dictatorship through Cultural Revolution in order to combat revisionism,
prevent capitalist restoration and consolidate socialism. I do not agree with
the word "rupture" because of its meaning of separation or break from
a precedent. Einsteinian physics is an advance on Newtonian physics without
having to violate or invalidate the latter. Newtonian physics remains valid for
building houses and bridges. Maoism is not possible without its precedents in
Marxism and Leninism. Stalin followed basically Leninist teachings on the
principles of socialist revolution and construction. There are many things that
Stalin did perfectly well despite being the pioneer in actually building a
socialist society through rapid industrialization and collectivization and
mechanization of agriculture. But Mao would have the advantage of coming later,
observing what Stalin had done and using Leninism and his own theorizing and
judgment he would put forward a much improved line of building basic and heavy
industries as lead factor, developing agriculture as the base of the economy
and bridging the first two with light industry to provide immediately the
consumer goods and light producer goods for the masses.
Thakor: Do you feel Jesus Christ was a social Revolutionary?
Sison: I agree with the proposition that the tradition of
Jesus Christ as social revolutionary is in dire need of resurrection against
the Christian Right. There are certain acts and words of Jesus that side with
the poor and powerless and that there are those that side with those in
authority and condone the wealthy. But communists can have for allies
Christians who are inspired by Jesus as a social revolutionary. Thus, the
Christians for National Liberation (an association of Catholics and
Protestants) is a major ally of the CPP within the National Democratic Front of
the Philippines .
Although Christianity was a tool of Spanish colonialism for ruling the Philippines , the martyrdom of the Filipino
priests (Gomez, Burgos and Zamora ) generated national consciousness
against the colonizers. Many Filipino priests joined the Philippine revolution
against Spanish colonialism and against their Spanish religious superiors. The
principle of continuing the unfinished Philippine revolution towards national
liberation, democracy and socialism guides the Christians for National
Liberation. The adherents of this organization and movement find support from
the Constitution of the Modern Church (Mater et Magistra), proclaimed by the Vatican in the
1960s, which promotes ecumenism that means dialogue and cooperation among Christians,
other believers in God and nonbelievers (including atheists). CPP cultural
cadres quote from the New Gospel of Christianity to do propagit among the
Christian masses and metaphorical artistic works and performances which avail
of the figure and story of Christ as social revolutionary. The meeting ground
of the communists and the Christians is the second great commandment which
states, "Love thy neighbor" which also means "Serve the
people".
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