"Comrade"

[bricolage]

Anyone else think it's about time we dropped this word? A lot of the time I think it comes across as very insular and presents the left more as some sort of cult with weird practices and terminology than anything else.

[Robocommie]

Camraderie and esprit de corps are important, as is a sense of connection with the historical socialist movement.

[Q]

Anyone else think it's about time we dropped this word? A lot of the time I think it comes across as very insular and presents the left more as some sort of cult with weird practices and terminology than anything else.

No comrade. We should be proud of our solidarity and long history of workers' struggle that comes with the word. That is not to say I use it on whatever occasion and many people also use it in a cynical manner (saying "comrade", meaning "idiot"), but it is part of our heritage.

[ls]

I mainly only use it in jest, comrade.

Being a Spanish speaker would be cool, compañera/compañero would be an awesome replacement.

[Comrade Gwydion]

Let's all call eachother "Partner".
That would convey the socialist spirit much better.

[Axle]

Let's all call eachother "Partner".
That would convey the socialist spirit much better.

Just tried it out. I feel like a cowboy.

[Q]

Germans use "genossen" instead of "kameraten", the latter has a rightwing history of use.

[hugsandmarxism]

We had a thread like this one... turned into a contest on how many times one can say "comrade" in a sentence. I, personally, like the word. It's like buddy, pal, or friend, but with the notion of solidarity and common purpose. I sometimes refer to political acquaintances of mine as "my political compatriots" but that can be wonky, and "compatriot" is traditionally more nationalist in nature. I think rather than dropping "comrade," like (as some have suggested to me) dropping "communism" and "anarchism" shouldn't be the imperative. Rather, our imperative should be to fight the negative framing associated with such words. So, I say we should keep it, comrades :)

[Revy]

I am very pro-comrade, comrade.

The word dates to Marx, who synthesized the words communist and radical....into comrade.

I made that up:p But yeah, I like the word.

[Soldier of life]

Ah, dealing with the big issues I see.

The word is fine, though its usage more effective among different people. An apathetic working class wouldn't really respond well to the word so it shouldn't be used speaking to them, or on election literature in that case etc.

But among comrades, comrade is :wub:

[gorillafuck]

I just use it as a joke or satire, comrade.

[Red Rebel]

Only alternative to comrade would be calling each other "brother" or "sister," which derives from the labour movement. I like "comrade" better because there isn't that gender divide.

[NecroCommie]

If you over-use it then ofcourse it sounds daft. I personally try to save it to occations in which I truly mean it, istead of using it as a common adjective on everyday greetings.

[Luisrah]

I hate the word comrade. But only in English.

I don't know, English is the language that N. Americans speak, and North America + Communism = lol
This is by no means disrespect to English and North American comrades, but I think you get what I mean.

A compañero or camarada (portuguese) sounds a lot better than comrade to me :p

[Jimmie Higgins]

If you over-use it then ofcourse it sounds daft. I personally try to save it to occations in which I truly mean it, istead of using it as a common adjective on everyday greetings.

It's a useful word - whenever I can't remember a fellow radical's name it's: "Hey comrade, how've you been?". I wish there were more terms like comrade... specifically friendly terms in the US that could be commonly used for strangers like "brother/sister" or "friend". "

Partner" just becomes "Pard-nuh" when I say it and then, yes, I feel like some kind of fake cowboy.

[Jimmie Higgins]

This is by no means disrespect to English and North American comrades, but I think you get what I mean.

Not really.

Oh, not of course there's no radical tradition in North America (which by the way is the line of right-wingers in the US). You're welcome for May Day, the 8 hour day, and the IWW and the Black Panthers.

[Niccolò Rossi]

I think maybe it depends on the context. I think the connotations it carries in the US might be different from other places.

The term 'comrade' is not just one used by communists though. It is very much the property of the entire workers' movement. It also has to be remembered that 'comrade' is also used in a military context. So no, I don't think it is altogether insular or 'cultish'.

I proudly use the term 'comrade' and consider it a term of the deepest endearment and solidarity. I don't think it's one you can simply replace at will.

[Charles Xavier]

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[VILemon]

I myself am fond of the term, although I think I am probably not alone in feeling a wee bit silly using it in any serious context.

Still, I think it is part of the left's culture and ought to be kept around; if only because it's a locution that can be used to address Marxists, anarchists, unionists etc. in the spirit of bringing us all together, though this last statement makes me feel like hugging a tree.

[PRC-UTE]

I think maybe it depends on the context. I think the connotations it carries in the US might be different from other places.

The term 'comrade' is not just one used by communists though. It is very much the property of the entire workers' movement. It also has to be remembered that 'comrade' is also used in a military context. So no, I don't think it is altogether insular or 'cultish'.

I proudly use the term 'comrade' and consider it a term of the deepest endearment and solidarity. I don't think it's one you can simply replace at will.

yeah there's different connotations in different nations. In Germany it's more a right wing thing iirc. in the USA the native version of "comrade" within the workers movement would be "brother". the IWW there used preferred "fellow worker" I read somehwere.

[Die Neue Zeit]

No comrade. We should be proud of our solidarity and long history of workers' struggle that comes with the word. That is not to say I use it on whatever occasion and many people also use it in a cynical manner (saying "comrade", meaning "idiot"), but it is part of our heritage.

I would complement this with the fact that non-revolutionary organizations from Die Linke to the Russian armed forces have resolved to use the appellation "comrade."

[Mute Fox]

I agree with comrade hugsandmarxism that we should try to take back the word "comrade." It's OUR word, comrades! The only reason it sounds weird to a lot of westerners today (especially us North Americans) is because the capitalist class has co-opted it for their own heinous uses. Them, and the fascists like in Germany.

It's a good, solid word, class and gender neutral, and even soldiers use it. Plus, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside whenever I use it :wub:

That being said, I wouldn't go around using it as an everyday greeting, or when talking to people who are as-yet outside the leftist movement. Once they're inside, though, I'd be the first to greet them as a comrade, comrades. :D

....comrade.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I quite like it. I use it as a term of endearment, or for special occasions when I am trying to appeal to my socialist comrades < you see it's usefulness. :)

We shouldn't overestimate our symbolism, however we should take pride in the fact that we are Socialists. One of my favourite quotes, which I oft repeat: "We Communists are made of special stuff" J. Stalin. Simple, but conveys the message - we are different.

I shall stop myself from going into some sort of philosophical analysis of something which is really at best a small side issue. I like the use of the word comrade. Ich bin fertig, meine genossen.

[KC]

Edit

[Rusty Shackleford]

Just tried it out. I feel like a cowboy.
:laugh: thanks for the lol.


And i never use comrade for meaningful purposes in real life. even on the internet i hardly say it. Maybe if i find someone worthy of comrade, ill reserve it until then.


Most of the time i end my sentence with ...,man. that is if i do add anything.

[Comrade B]

Just tried it out. I feel like a cowboy.
Works for me...
I recently picked up saying howdy
It isn't really out of place though because I am from rural America

Personally I don't really say comrade unless I am referring to "a comrade in ______" or something like that, but when I get drunk you can catch me calling anyone I like comrade, or anyone I don't like and think it would bug.

Now I feel very silly because I have argued that we shouldn't have so many damned debates on drugs because it is a waste of this forum's potential.

[proudcomrade]

I love the word for a lot of reasons already mentioned here. My screenname is absolutely genuine; I do not want anything to do with sarcastic, supposedly self-effacing (but really movement-effacing) uses of the term. That so many younger members of the movement are so jaded about the term saddens me. It has a long and proud history, and its current use in worldwide socialist solidarity is a beautiful thing. Long live all our comrades, locally and worldwide.

[Spirit of Spartacus]

I am very pro-comrade, comrade.

The word dates to Marx, who synthesized the words communist and radical....into comrade.

I made that up But yeah, I like the word.

I swear for a moment I actually believed what you wrote. Marx made up the word "comrade", by joining "communist" and "radical".
Then I realized I was sleepy. :P

But on a more serious note, I see no reason to drop the use of the word "comrade".
As others pointed out on this thread, the use of the word "comrade" is one way of holding on to the legacy of past revolutionary struggles. I see no reason to let go of that political heritage.

Incidentally, on the usage of the word itself, we often use "comrade" in addressing other left-wing activists in Pakistan. The term is considered synonymous with "communist". A "comrade" is a "communist", and vice versa. Thus, you can be asked by working-class members of the labor movement: "Are you a comrade too?"

Some people take the word a little too far, though. There was one guy I know of, who wrote "comrade" before his name whenever he was asked to write his name. As you can imagine, that gets rather ridiculous.

We also commonly use the Persian word "dost" (which means "friend") and the Urdu word "saathi" (which means "partner" or "fellow") in place of the English word "comrade".

In Arabic-speaking countries, if I'm not wrong, they commonly use the word "rafiq" for a comrade. Some of my Arab leftist friends and I have a lot of fun when we refer to each other as "Ya rafiq" (O comrade) again and again.
But then again, its also a way of expressing friendship and endearment: its not just a joke. :)

[RedSonRising]

Personally I don't use it because it's outside of my colloquial context, it would feel too artificial using it loosely and informally, though I'd use it in reference to a fellow revolutionary in professional speech. I think the more we use it as a term of endearment, the more the sarcasm will be sapped out of it.

[chegitz guevara]

Anyone else think it's about time we dropped this word?

No.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I don't know. On the one hand, I suppose it is a friendly/inclusive word with a long history, but on the other hand I've never said it, and the word would feel weird leaving my mouth, honestly.

[IrishWorker]

I often use A chara or Mo chara that is Gaelic for "friend" or "my friend" instead of comrade.

A nice wee touch I think.:)

[el_chavista]

..Being a Spanish speaker would be cool, compañera/compañero would be an awesome replacement.
COMPA is cooler = companion or compatriota


Let's all call eachother "Partner".
That would convey the socialist spirit much better.
Actually, the Russian word tovarishch means partner too.

[Wanted Man]

Not "partner", that's for sure. It reminds me of this skit by a comedian who, at some point, is talking about how people in relationships get so detached after a while. That they're not boyfriend or girlfriend anymore, but "partners", and then he says in a silly accent: "Hello, my name is Derek, and this is Harry Klein, my pahtnahhh..." :lol:

The word "comrade" is fine as long as people understand why it is used, rather than just as a kind of Soviet nostalgia or whatever (like the guy who writes "comrade" before his name, or people on Revleft who invariably name themselves "Comrade <Name>").

[Stranger Than Paradise]

I think it is definitely overused and I agree it makes us seem a like a cult. But I like the word still.

[robbo203]

Anyone else think it's about time we dropped this word? A lot of the time I think it comes across as very insular and presents the left more as some sort of cult with weird practices and terminology than anything else.

I agree, comrade.:)

But then i guess even to talk about the "Left" as if it had some unity of purpose or identity is pretty much meaningless

[NecroCommie]

I don't see the problem with the word comrade, it has a very practical use, it is gender and hierarchy neutral.
Well, actually it is not hierarchy neutral, as it implies you are at equal grounds with the one addressed. Some hierarchial big shots might find it offensive.

...Which is why I like it! :D