Can anyone tell me what kind of leftist I am?

[mannetje]

well i say it.
I'm new to leftism and this site is pretty overwhelming for me. there are a lot of names for different types of refleft members and all those many kinds of communists and anarchists. I always say that i'm a leftist-sympathisant. I know what disturbs me in the world. if I should get a tendenciename, then anti-fascist would fit the closest to me. but I could be wrong. I know that i'm really anti-racist anti-discrimination i'm really think that people should be free to think what they want. i hate capitalism. imperialism is something i don't know very much about but from what i know about i concluded that i don't like that either. I dream of living in a nation with free medicalcare and free education but where I can also critizise my leaders without getting arrested. offcourse there should be strong laws i can imagine that too much freedom is that some people starts to put out anti-social behaviour cause they can do what they want. that is something that should not be tolerated. I didn't figured out for myself how i think about things like the death-penalty or hard prison sentences for petty crimes. but my instinct says if i read in the paper about a little girl getting raped and killed for instance that the person who did it should be executed. and i'm really trying to figure out what my little person can do to make any changes. I feel pretty powerless as result that in my enviroment the most people are very religious and rightwing minded. I only know 2 leftists in this area. but they arent very active. but what do you think what would be a good group for me?

[bailey_187]

Maoist?

[mannetje]

Maoist?
haha dry ass.

[Q]

well i say it.
I'm new to leftism and this site is pretty overwhelming for me. there are a lot of names for different types of refleft members and all those many kinds of communists and anarchists. I always say that i'm a leftist-sympathisant. I know what disturbs me in the world. if I should get a tendenciename, then anti-fascist would fit the closest to me. but I could be wrong. I know that i'm really anti-racist anti-discrimination i'm really think that people should be free to think what they want. i hate capitalism. imperialism is something i don't know very much about but from what i know about i concluded that i don't like that either. I dream of living in a nation with free medicalcare and free education but where I can also critizise my leaders without getting arrested. offcourse there should be strong laws i can imagine that too much freedom is that some people starts to put out anti-social behaviour cause they can do what they want. that is something that should not be tolerated. I didn't figured out for myself how i think about things like the death-penalty or hard prison sentences for petty crimes. but my instinct says if i read in the paper about a little girl getting raped and killed for instance that the person who did it should be executed. and i'm really trying to figure out what my little person can do to make any changes. I feel pretty powerless as result that in my enviroment the most people are very religious and rightwing minded. I only know 2 leftists in this area. but they arent very active. but what do you think what would be a good group for me?
Don't worry about it. We've all been there where you are now. Just read, learn, discuss and debate. It isn't necessary to have a tendency just for the sake of it.

If you want, we could meet up, have some discussions. I also live in the Netherlands. PM me if you're interested.


Maoist?
How did you take that conclusion? I didn't see any bits about peasant revolutions.

[mannetje]

Don't worry about it. We've all been there where you are now. Just read, learn, discuss and debate. It isn't necessary to have a tendency just for the sake of it.

If you want, we could meet up, have some discussions. I also live in the Netherlands. PM me if you're interested.


How did you take that conclusion? I didn't see any bits about peasant revolutions.

you mean meet in person or do you mean on the forum?

[Q]

you mean meet in person or do you mean on the forum?
Whatever you feel comfortable with I guess. And based on the practicality of travel distance.

[bailey_187]

Q, i came the the conclusion by:


well i say it.
I know that i'm really anti-racist anti-discrimination

shared by most leftists but upheld by Mao strongly



i'm really think that people should be free to think what they want.

100 flowers movement?




i hate capitalism. I dream of living in a nation with free medicalcare and free education but

....


where I can also critizise my leaders

Sounds like he wants to bombard the headquarters?

[bailey_187]

haha dry ass.

huh?

[mannetje]

:)
Whatever you feel comfortable with I guess. And based on the practicality of travel distance.
I will keep on the forum for now. In the future if i learned more and can discuss about things and actually knowing what i'm talking about.

[Spawn of Stalin]

It sounds like you should just wait it out and see what group you fall into, but it sounds like Marxism might be for you, you can learn a lot and for the most part figure it out by yourself just by reading, marxists.org has basically everything you'll need for that. Read up on what Marx had to say on dialectics, materialism, value, price and profit, etc. You would probably be best starting with either The Principles Of Communism, or The Communist Manifesto, both are essential reading.

[What Would Durruti Do?]

Don't listen to the Reds, Anarchists have more fun. :cool:

Seriously though, start with Marx and just keep reading and formulating your own opinions about what others say and you'll eventually figure out where you fall. Aligning yourself with one section of the leftist movement isn't that important anyway. We're all on the same side.

[Pogue]

just give it time, it took me years to find my solid positions and i am still learning.

[scarletghoul]

Yes, it's good to learn about the various branches of leftism. Not just the theories, but the history too. This is important as it shows how the theory actually works in practice. Maybe i'm being biased coming from the correct/Maoist view, but it's worth reading up on Maoism and the Chinese Revolution

But yeah the best way to form opinions is to accumulate knowledge through reading and askin questions..

And as wise Q said, there's no need to have a tendency just for the sake of it.

also dont meet Q he will do stuff to you

[mannetje]

Yes, it's good to learn about the various branches of leftism. Not just the theories, but the history too. This is important as it shows how the theory actually works in practice. Maybe i'm being biased coming from the correct/Maoist view, but it's worth reading up on Maoism and the Chinese Revolution

But yeah the best way to form opinions is to accumulate knowledge through reading and askin questions..

And as wise Q said, there's no need to have a tendency just for the sake of it.

also dont meet Q he will do stuff to you I'm gonna do my best to read more. but reading a book is fucked up for me I can't concentrate very good on it, I need to read things like 3 a 4 times over before my brain stores it in my memory that's fucking anoying. Is Q gonna do something to me? is he a secret agent perhaps?:laugh:

[bailey_187]

I'm gonna do my best to read more. but reading a book is fucked up for me I can't concentrate very good on it, I need to read things like 3 a 4 times over before my brain stores it in my memory that's fucking anoying. Is Q gonna do something to me? is he a secret agent perhaps?:laugh:

if u dont like reading, maybe you could attend events/meetings of local parties?

most parties wont hound you to join and will be accepting unless as you show a slight interest in their ideology.

[scarletghoul]

Yeah you could say that :lol:

If you don't like reading then maybe you could download some documentaries? Or listen to some audio of speeches lectures and stuff. There are also a tonne of videos on youtube that are educational.. depends what your preferred method of learning is

[mannetje]

Yeah you could say that :lol:

If you don't like reading then maybe you could download some documentaries? Or listen to some audio of speeches lectures and stuff. There are also a tonne of videos on youtube that are educational.. depends what your preferred method of learning is do you know some good (in english or subtitled) documentaries you can recommend to me?

[Spawn of Stalin]

LibriVox might have some Marx and might even have some Lenin as downloadable audiobooks, they're totally free. LibriVox audiobooks are very good and you will definitely find them easier than the actual books, I don't know exactly how much socialist content they have though.

[scarletghoul]

As an intro to marxist economics (if you wanna learn about that) then i recommend this guy - http://www.youtube.com/user/brendanmcooney . He explains things well.

There's a cool documentary about Mao called The Passion of the Mao, which I find myself recommending to everyone. I can PM you a link if you like? ;)

[mannetje]

As an intro to marxist economics (if you wanna learn about that) then i recommend this guy - http://www.youtube.com/user/brendanmcooney . He explains things well.

There's a cool documentary about Mao called The Passion of the Mao, which I find myself recommending to everyone. I can PM you a link if you like? ;)
yes please I'm very interresed in that, thanks already:thumbup1: and also thanks for the youtube link.

[red cat]

You live in the Netherlands? Then why not try meeting Sison and his comrades? They seem to be a little more experienced than Q at this communism stuff.

[mannetje]

sison who what?

[red cat]

Jose Maria Sison. The Philippino guy.

[LOLseph Stalin]

Ffs, everybody should stop worrying about what "ism" they fit under. Why should it matter when we all have similar goals of proletarian liberation?

[bailey_187]

Ffs, everybody should stop worrying about what "ism" they fit under. Why should it matter when we all have similar goals of proletarian liberation?

because some ism's that have the "goals of proletarian liberation" will not achieve it and will act against it. Thats not sectarian. 10 parties with nearly the same ideology is, but trying to find out which ideology you are is not.

[Q]

Jose Maria Sison. The Philippino guy.
Who?

And for someone who doesn't know me, you seem awfully sure about my experiences.

[mannetje]

Ffs, everybody should stop worrying about what "ism" they fit under. Why should it matter when we all have similar goals of proletarian liberation? I must say that i've noticed a lot of different views on matters over here. I don't understand all those isms yet. but I can understand that there are so many different isms. i think it is comfortable to be in a group who share the (almost) same views on matters.

[Spawn of Stalin]

Quite right, I see no harm in wanting to know the difference between a Marxist-Leninist or an anarchist, knowing these things helps you to identify your potential Comrades. You wouldn't want to go praising Stalin at an AFED demo or anything stupid like that. Learn, analyse, decide where you stand, find people who share similar opinions to you.

[scarletghoul]

Jose Maria Sison is the leader (but currently in exile) of the Communist Party of the Phillipines. He lives in the Netherlands but used to lead the guerilla war which is still going on. He wrote great poems. He's maybe the coolest living communist

So yeah it's kinda safe to assume he has more experience than Q..

[LOLseph Stalin]

I must say that i've noticed a lot of different views on matters over here. I don't understand all those isms yet. but I can understand that there are so many different isms. i think it is comfortable to be in a group who share the (almost) same views on matters.

One thing that really bothers me is that for some people their particular "ism" becomes almost like a religion.

[mannetje]

Jose Maria Sison is the leader (but currently in exile) of the Communist Party of the Phillipines. He lives in the Netherlands but used to lead the guerilla war which is still going on. He wrote great poems. He's maybe the coolest living communist

So yeah it's kinda safe to assume he has more experience than Q.. thanks for notify that to me, but i already found his website I'm gonna look deeper in it soon:thumbup1:

[scarletghoul]

Ah ok. Well I wanted Q to know who he is too...

[mannetje]

[QUOTE = InsertNameHere; 1547915] Een ding dat me echt stoort is dat voor sommige mensen hun bijzondere "isme" wordt bijna als een religie. [/ QUOTE] do you mean that they start to act like some kind of cult or something.

[LOLseph Stalin]

[QUOTE = InsertNameHere; 1547915] Een ding dat me echt stoort is dat voor sommige mensen hun bijzondere "isme" wordt bijna als een religie. [/ QUOTE] do you mean that they start to act like some kind of cult or something.

I'm more talking along the lines of sectarianism and "oh, my way is the only way! Your way fails, zomg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111"

[scarletghoul]

Oh, cool, are you using a translator to talk?

[mannetje]

Oh, cool, are you using a translator to talk?
yes but it's fucked up it translates whenever it wants. and if it translates from english to dutch it gets the grammar all mixed up, very anoying. i try to read the posts mostly in english. i write my posts in english too.:blink:

[red cat]

Ah ok. Well I wanted Q to know who he is too...

Faster than a socialist revolution!
More powerful than the revolutionary masses!
Able to leap over Marxism in a single bound!

It's Bernstein!
It's Trotsky!

NO! IT'S Q !

Edit:

Q said he disapproves...
Awwww isn't he being modest nowadays? :lol:

[Q]

Jose Maria Sison is the leader (but currently in exile) of the Communist Party of the Phillipines. He lives in the Netherlands but used to lead the guerilla war which is still going on. He wrote great poems. He's maybe the coolest living communist

So yeah it's kinda safe to assume he has more experience than Q..
He seems to be in exile for over 20 years now. If talks is all he gives in the Netherlands instead, you know, actually being involved in any plane, with the movement, then I'm going to make the fairly obvious statement he's pretty useless nowadays. Nice life experiences yes, but against a certain historical background, nothing contemporary.

[scarletghoul]

He is still involved in Filipino politics, and is the leading figure of the left there, frequently issuing statements and articles and involved in negotiations. I don't know exactly his standing in internal party matters, but he is certainly a major figure in the politics of the Phillipines
http://www.josemariasison.org/ is a good website.

[red cat]

Yes, he is in the legal front. He mainly helps communists to communicate with the masses worldwide in an indirect manner. His statements are important sources of information on the international communist movement.