A Test of Faith

[redcoyote89]

Recently, after visiting the older brother of my best friend (who is an activist lawyer specializing in immigrant rights) my own ideology was challenged to its very core. He, a former radical himself, sought to question my belief in the ability of the worker to work cooperatively with his fellow worker without the risk of self interest dismantleing the whole thing.

I myself identify as a left communist or an anti-leninist so i dont have to worry about wasting time apologising for what happened with the soviet union. HOwever i did have to contend with the issue of the workers not only emancipating themselves but also creating a viable alternative.

I live in the United States so i face anti-socialist sentiment on a daily basis. What had happened to me recently has only been another nail in my coffin of envitable giving up the illustrious struggle. My question is then what do those of you harden anti-capitalist veterans have to say in order to stay stedfast in times of doubt?>

[Catbus]

I'm not a veteran by any means, but having witnessed the devastation that capitalism has caused to not only my direct family, but to my entire community, I don't see myself ever turning back to it.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

Its not a matter of faith if someone says something challenging you take it into account.

[el_chavista]

...He, a former radical himself, sought to question my belief in the ability of the worker to work cooperatively with his fellow worker without the risk of self interest dismantleing the whole thing... Actually, the capitalist class has the ability to put the worker to work cooperatively with his fellow worker without the risk of self interest dismantling its [capitalist class'] whole exploitative thing.

[bailey_187]

The fact that you reject Marxism-leninism and the historic experience of Socialism that this thing can get to you. You have no concrete examples of Socialism in practice and working very well (of which there are many), except maybe a few months here and there.


edit: I am not trying to start a tendency war, just talking from my own experience when i first got into Socialism.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Recently, after visiting the older brother of my best friend (who is an activist lawyer specializing in immigrant rights) my own ideology was challenged to its very core. He, a former radical himself, sought to question my belief in the ability of the worker to work cooperatively with his fellow worker without the risk of self interest dismantleing the whole thing.
People work together co-operatively all the time. Society couldn't function if that wasn't the case. Also, I think the threat of social ostracism would mean it wasn't actually in people's self-interest to sabotage things.

My question is then what do those of you harden anti-capitalist veterans have to say in order to stay stedfast in times of doubt?>
I just notice how shit life under capitalism is, and the fact that it's not going to change unless we make it. Works for me.

[KC]

Edit

[rednordman]

Recently, after visiting the older brother of my best friend (who is an activist lawyer specializing in immigrant rights) my own ideology was challenged to its very core. He, a former radical himself, sought to question my belief in the ability of the worker to work cooperatively with his fellow worker without the risk of self interest dismantleing the whole thing. I interested as to what the main arguements he used against your ideology where. What really intrigues me is how he is a activist lawyer specialising in immigrants rights, yet has turned his back on the left. What does he believe in? If he is a capitalist sympathiser, does he not realise that his occupation kind of contradicts his beliefs?-That being that immigrants will always be exploited under a capitalist system, regardless.

Then again can we please clarify: Is it your best friend who is the activist for immigrants rights or his older brother. If I have misunderstood, and its your best friend who is the activist, what does he say against his brothers opinions?

[The Ungovernable Farce]

The very fact that one would identify this as a "faith" is representative of the delusions most of the left holds today.
Or, y'know, you could attempt to actually engage with the difficulties the OP faces in holding onto socialist beliefs in a viciously conservative climate, but obviously criticising their choice of words is a much more productive activity. Because, of course, your beliefs about the possibility of a socialist society are totally founded in empirical experience.