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"Peter Camejo"
May 15, 2024

In 1976 I voted for the first time. It was a national election. There were a bunch of guys running for president but I liked only two of them: Gus Hall (CPUSA, running mate: Jarvis Tyner) and Peter Camejo (SWP). I voted for Gus. At the time I thought Gus was short for Asparagus. Years later, after joining the Green Party and campaigning as Ralph Nader's running mate, Camejo called himself as a watermelon. But soon he changed his mind and described himself as an avocado. I like avocados. When Camejo spoke at Cooper Union (2004) I took my son to hear him speak. He was eloquent and thoughtful. The best moment: a journo asked how his positions changed after he left the SWP and joined the Greens. Camejo said: "I translated them into English."

What all of this says to me is that it's important to eat your fruits and veggies. And to remember what Oscar Wilde said: "Life is too short to be taken seriously."

BTW, I never regretted voting for Gus - and I still love asparagus. Avocados too.

Description
"Peter Camejo"
May 15, 2024

In 1976 I voted for the first time. It was a national election. There were a bunch of guys running for president but I liked only two of them: Gus Hall (CPUSA, running mate: Jarvis Tyner) and Peter Camejo (SWP). I voted for Gus. At the time I thought Gus was short for Asparagus. Years later, after joining the Green Party and campaigning as Ralph Nader's running mate, Camejo called himself as a watermelon. But soon he changed his mind and described himself as an avocado. I like avocados. When Camejo spoke at Cooper Union (2004) I took my son to hear him speak. He was eloquent and thoughtful. The best moment: a journo asked how his positions changed after he left the SWP and joined the Greens. Camejo said: "I translated them into English."

What all of this says to me is that it's important to eat your fruits and veggies. And to remember what Oscar Wilde said: "Life is too short to be taken seriously."

BTW, I never regretted voting for Gus - and I still love asparagus. Avocados too.