Solitary revolutionary... help?

[ZombieGrits]

Literally the closest leftists to me are 200 miles away in Austin. I'm not the best speaker/debater, so every attempt to convert some buddies to socialism has ended up with them severing all contact with me. So I've given up on that. Now I need some advice on constructive action to take when I'm the only person who agrees with me.

[Red Commissar]

Where are these friends from? Work? School? College/University?

I generally keep a concept of not discussing politics with my friends unless I know they hold some mutual views. Once I have that, I can break into them.

I understand your dilemma though. The scene in America, particularly in the south, has a strong "conservative" presence and the "liberals" we have among the youth. I have often had to work with token liberal views in activism but that's better than doing nothing.

Until then, you always have us to discuss our views:).

As for advice, you could join up with some activist groups. Even if they aren't socialist or communist, they'll give you something to do. And find ways to present yourself in a nice way. People are usually surprised by me because they tend to have misconceptions of what "lefties" are like and what views we hold.

But this is a gradual process and must not be forced down their throats, or they will probably respond with shock.

I would also recommend talking labor rights and unionization in your workplace, but seeing as Texas is "right-to-work" and you might run getting fired, it won't do much.

[ZombieGrits]

The friends in question are high school buds who had expressed liberal/left-leaning ideas, but once I told them I was a communist and attempted to talk to them about socialism, they kinda just talked to me less and less until now we are essentially strangers. But, you know, who needs them.

I'm aware of the existence of an alleged anarchist infoshop in Ft. Worth, but thats a 2.5 hr. drive from here and I think the place is just a concert venue for punk rockers anyhow.

I'm planning on getting a job this summer, we'll see how labor organizing plays out;)

[which doctor]

Read an endless number of books and solidify your ideas.

[ZombieGrits]

Read an endless number of books and solidify your ideas.

I've been in that process for what seems like forever, and I see no clear end to it, so i'm looking for some stuff to do in the meantime...

[Q]

Dallas you say? Hmm, Red Earth (http://www.revleft.com/vb/red-earth-look-t128282/index.html) doesn't list any groups there as of yet. Sorry.

[manic expression]

Yeah, I know it feels like a tough situation, but there are definitely a few things you can do. First, find an organization you strongly agree with, one you can really put energy into building because you believe in it. Second, order a bundle of that organization's newspapers and hit the streets. Sell them on street corners, in public/private transportation (if you can, try to get onto a train or bus before it leaves its station...you have a captive audience that's more likely to want something to read), schools, etc. If you're going to find anyone who's interested in helping out, that's the best way to do it IMO, and you might change some minds in the process. Be sure to use your best judgment, confrontations aren't worth it...your organization should be able to give you some good advice on the how and where of selling newspapers.

As far as organizations, I'd strongly recommend the Party for Socialism and Liberation, it's exceptionally active and it's the fastest-growing communist party in the US. They have a branch in Tulsa, but I'm confident they'll give you substantial support even at that distance (I was living about 5 hours from my nearest PSL branch, and they were extremely helpful in getting me involved, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue IMO). They can also put you in touch with at-large members, supporters and sympathizers near you, if there are any. Contact info for the PSL is below (along with lots of other info on the website):

http://www.pslweb.org/site/PageServer?pagename=contactus

Good luck, comrade!

[Q]

As far as organizations, I'd strongly recommend the Party for Socialism and Liberation
Reminds me of that commercial: "We of Toilet Duck recommend... Toilet Duck!"

[Kassad]

Reminds me of that commercial: "We of Toilet Duck recommend... Toilet Duck!"

Because you never promote parties affiliated with Committee for a Workers International. :rolleyes:

[Belisarius]

i know the feeling about being the only communist in your neighbourhood or social network. mostly i just avoid discussing politics and if i do discuss it, i avoid all vocabulary that looks communist. this makes people agree more easily.

[TRS]

You may find that there's other revolutionaries around you, but you simply don't know they're there.

I find when I move to a new, seemingly politically devoid area, I print off a few hundred fliers with my e-mail address and stick 'em around. I usually find I get 5 or 6 replies within a few weeks. Enough to set up a group, at any rate.

[Q]

Because you never promote parties affiliated with Committee for a Workers International. :rolleyes:

Could you name an instance where I have in the past year or so? Kthx.

[Kassad]

Could you name an instance where I have in the past year or so? Kthx.

http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1525626&postcount=10

Kthx.

[Q]

http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1525626&postcount=10

Kthx.

You had to go back more than six months to find one? I can only imagine what time you had to put in to find it. Sad really :)

[Kassad]

You hadto go back more than six months to find one? I can only imagine what time you had to put in to find it. Sad really :)

Regardless, it shows that people including you promote their organization. Also, it took about three minutes, as I searched "organization" in the Practice & Propaganda forum and just clicked around. Don't flatter yourself.

[Cooler Reds Will Prevail]

As far as organizations, I'd strongly recommend the Party for Socialism and Liberation, it's exceptionally active and it's the fastest-growing communist party in the US.

While I agree that this is probably true, there is no actual basis for saying this. Unless every communist party in the US starts releasing their membership numbers, there's no way to really know or assert as such.

But anyway, OP, I might suggest finding a critical fault line that exists in your community or city, and using that to your advantage. If it is a largely Republican city, for example, find an issue such as immigration, abortion, anti-tea party, whatever and organize a few people around that question. Use the first meeting to talk about the issue from a radical standpoint (but lay off the Marxist terminology) and see how many people remain. At the very least, you'll have a basis for a grouping of people that can potentially be won over to communist ideas.

So if it's immigration, for example, you may have people at the first meeting that will look at it from a position of "we just need a better immigration policy" but if you frame the introduction of the group into an issue of "immigrants are being demonized to hide who is really being exploited", you may find that some people will stick around and come to agree with that conception. You will then have a basis for a much more radical approach to the issue than liberal organizations. Just an idea.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Shit, a bit late, but this apparently happened in Dallas a few days ago: http://news.infoshop.org/calendar/event.php?eid=20100211185910690
So I'd say there must be people in the area interested in revolutionary ideas. Oh, and the IWW exist in Dallas: http://www.iww.org/en/branches/US/TX

[ZombieGrits]

this apparently happened in dallas a few days ago


goddammit