advice starting a movment.

[anarcho-communist4]

Hey, im 17 and im just wondering if anyone here has some sort of advice on how to organize/start an extreme leftist group within my school. Just some tips and pointers would be great.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

It's often hard...would any of your mates be interested in it? Is there much of an anarcho presence outside your school in your area? If you're unsure, try googling the name of your city plus anarchist (or a similar term) and see if anything comes up.
And even if nothing comes of it, you're 17, so just stick it out and you'll be in a different, hopefully easier, environment soon enough.

[anarcho-communist4]

Well, my friends aren't very politically aware... And the area i live in is mostly conservatives. Yeah i know ill be out of the high school scene soon. But i would like to leave a mark on the school, showing that you can stand up for what you believe in,and whats right. Plus id love to leave some sort of organization behind for future generations. I mean from what I've seen, my generation is clearly almost nothing but conservatives and nationalists, and id like to attempt to save my generation from being labeled so.

[redasheville]

I'd offer two suggestions:

1 - Is there some sort of political issue that might have some traction with your schoolmates? Like opposing the war in Afghanistan or fighting for single payer? You might want to start first with a concrete issue people can relate to, and put forward leftist politics from within.

2 - If the first doesn't appeal to you, or you don't think it'll work, try having a study group. Study groups have historically often been the starting point for radicalizing young people. Trotsky meeting with Marxists in a graveyard and Maoist study circles in the 60s come to mind.

If you don't mind me asking, where do you live?

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Well, my friends aren't very politically aware... And the area i live in is mostly conservatives. Yeah i know ill be out of the high school scene soon. But i would like to leave a mark on the school, showing that you can stand up for what you believe in,and whats right. Plus id love to leave some sort of organization behind for future generations. I mean from what I've seen, my generation is clearly almost nothing but conservatives and nationalists, and id like to attempt to save my generation from being labeled so.
Yeah...it can be hard to keep a school-based organisation going for long, just because of the turnover. Are there many big issues in the local area, or even just within the school, that many people get worked up about? You could try and set up a group giving an anti-capitalist opinion on that, if there is one.

[revolution inaction]

approximately where do you live anyway? i mean what country and region, there could be some group already that you could work with.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

A lot of high schools have student organizations that you could get involved with and put forward a revolutionary perspective. For example, my high school had a "Diversity Club" and I distributed communist newspapers to that club, or you could go there and point out that the capitalist system supports racism, sexism, etc. Also, maybe your school has a "Gay Straight Alliance," a Latino students club, or an international students club (for exchange students). Go to the international club and point out that U.S. imperialism kills millions of people and that promoting peace and understanding between nations necessitates anti-capitalism.

[Kukulofori]

You should have a more solid starting platform than "be socialists."

If your goal is to educate people on leftism, do that. Schools make you do plenty of projects and presentations, might as well make them about the fail of capitalism and the available alternatives. From there maybe start recruiting to pass out fliers in your city or whatever else.

Your focus should always be on action, not on simply existing.

[ev]

1 word, populism..

[Q]

1 word, populism..
How is that elaborating anything?

[Kukulofori]

1 word, populism..

No.

[ev]

How is that elaborating anything?

No.

It's simple, you say you want to start a leftist group in your school, not a lot of people would go out and intentionally learn leftist theory on account of your word. So you show how communism/anarchism is relevant to them, put some pamphlets in your library (an anarchist critique of the school and education system would be good - elaborating on how it fails its students to make them obedient workers, how capitalism perpetuates a system of inequalities and they will be fucked up very shortly)

It's all good ;)

[Bankotsu]

Which country are you from?

[Kukulofori]

'cause that ain't what populism means in any country I ever heard of.

[The-Red-Pen]

Your a child dont bother. Besides anarchy is for children who d ont want to go to bed. Be an adult you may get some place with some sort of ideas. Act like a child you will waste your time.

[red cat]

17 is an age good enough..... but first you should read more about communism and be sure whether anarchism works out or not.

[Q]

Your a child dont bother. Besides anarchy is for children who d ont want to go to bed. Be an adult you may get some place with some sort of ideas. Act like a child you will waste your time.
I would tone down on the ageist crap there if I were you.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Your a child dont bother. Besides anarchy is for children who d ont want to go to bed. Be an adult you may get some place with some sort of ideas. Act like a child you will waste your time.
You're a patronising dick who can't even write coherently.

[The-Red-Pen]

Well lets see here, Anarchy doesnt work never has never will. And Communism is dead and on top of that it's out of date 80 years and we live in America so it wont happen here no mater what. Socialism on the other hand will. Not right away but the ideas behind it are strong here. I see no point in not being honest to the poor kid.

It's good he is trieing something but that something will fail. It would work better if he sat down with his freinds and what not and talked Current events because they are what matter today not ideaology nonsense that go's nowhere because people all belive in diffrent idea. It's why the Right is stronger then the Left. Somthing that must change before we lose what little ground we have made in the last year or so.

[Muzk]

Seventeen years old. If you think you have the potential, do it, and learn more about communism, but also about economy and libertarian beliefs, discussing the topic with others is a big step forward, I support any kind of organization for our movement, people need to get involved more into politics and stop being sheeps.

As others pointed out already, try to get some people involved - but be ready for some arguing with reactionaries

[Q]

Well lets see here, Anarchy doesnt work never has never will. And Communism is dead and on top of that it's out of date 80 years and we live in America so it wont happen here no mater what. Socialism on the other hand will. Not right away but the ideas behind it are strong here. I see no point in not being honest to the poor kid.
I think you're quite confused. Socialism and communism are not opposites, but complimentary. Socialism (http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/s/o.htm#socialism) being the transitionary phase between our current society, capitalism, and communism (http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/c/o.htm#communism).


It's good he is trieing something but that something will fail. It would work better if he sat down with his freinds and what not and talked Current events because they are what matter today not ideaology nonsense that go's nowhere because people all belive in diffrent idea. It's why the Right is stronger then the Left. Somthing that must change before we lose what little ground we have made in the last year or so.
I agree that contemporary events are very important, as it defines our "playground" so to speak. However, to extend the analogy, to have a meaningful exercise at the playground, you have to think what toys you want to bring. This is where ideas come in. We don't all have to have the same ideas, as much as we don't all have to play the same game. But what is important is that we can organise to change our playground and therefore setting a first step isn't something prone to failure at all. Maybe he will fail and after that try and fail again. But that's not important. What is important are the lessons you learn along the way and that you keep trying.

I hope this makes any sense so early in the morning.

[anarcho-communist4]

Sorry i forgot to say where i live, Las Vegas, Nevada. And I've been looking for some sort of leftist group, and there aren't really any. Thanks for anyone offered there assistance. Was that really necessary to open your mouth and show how stupid you are by blathering all this ageist bs. But thats besides the point, the problem with the area i live in, is that people are too apathetic to even attempt to make some sort of social change in society, and i need to find a way to change that, any suggestions?

[revolution inaction]

Sorry i forgot to say where i live, Las Vegas, Nevada. And I've been looking for some sort of leftist group, and there aren't really any. Thanks for anyone offered there assistance. Was that really necessary to open your mouth and show how stupid you are by blathering all this ageist bs. But thats besides the point, the problem with the area i live in, is that people are too apathetic to even attempt to make some sort of social change in society, and i need to find a way to change that, any suggestions?

i had a quick look on the iww website and found this http://www.iww.org/en/branches/US/NV and this http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VegasAnarchy/?yguid=341148327

The iww calls itself and industrial union, a lot of the members are anarchist or have similar politics, they may be worth talking to.
I dont know anything about the vegas anarchy thing

[griffjam]

http://www.studentsforademocraticsociety.org/

[Q]

Let the recruitment drive commence.

[revolution inaction]

Let the recruitment drive commence.

they said they wanted to find left groups but couldn't, its not recruiting to tell them about what exists, especially if you are not a member.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Sorry i forgot to say where i live, Las Vegas, Nevada. And I've been looking for some sort of leftist group, and there aren't really any. Thanks for anyone offered there assistance. Was that really necessary to open your mouth and show how stupid you are by blathering all this ageist bs. But thats besides the point, the problem with the area i live in, is that people are too apathetic to even attempt to make some sort of social change in society, and i need to find a way to change that, any suggestions?
Have you heard of the Vegas Anarchist Cafe (http://vegas.anarchistcafe.org/)? That might be a good place to check out. Also the Las Vegas anarchy meet-up group (http://www.meetup.com/The-Las-Vegas-Anarchy-Meetup-Group/) and, if you're on facebook, this (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15724775654). Actually, this page looks like it might be useful as well (http://wiki.infoshop.org/Anarchist_Neighborhood:Las_Vegas,_Nevada). Hopefully at least some of those might be worthwhile. Good luck!

[Kukulofori]

Sorry i forgot to say where i live, Las Vegas, Nevada. And I've been looking for some sort of leftist group, and there aren't really any. Thanks for anyone offered there assistance. Was that really necessary to open your mouth and show how stupid you are by blathering all this ageist bs. But thats besides the point, the problem with the area i live in, is that people are too apathetic to even attempt to make some sort of social change in society, and i need to find a way to change that, any suggestions?

Find out why they're apathetic and directly address it. Is it that they're okay with how things are now? Is it quite the opposite, but they feel hopeless to change it?

The most important thing is to never stop asking why.