Amazing speech on imperialism by the late Burkinabe President Thomas Sankara

[Adi Shankara]

Accuse me of being a cult or whatever, make fun, I don't care, but he needs the exposure, and his ideas are important:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQrxxz_PXFY&feature=related

Can you imagine if his beliefs on debt boycott came true? Africa would be so much wealthier to this day if they had boycotted the colonizers' demands for debt repayment

[FreeFocus]

I like this guy, he's definitely underappreciated. Thanks for sharing.

[Saorsa]

So I hear you like Thomas Sankara?

[Adi Shankara]

So I hear you like Thomas Sankara?

Very funny :rolleyes:

[Yazman]

So I hear you like Thomas Sankara?

Its funny, but this isn't Chit Chat. This is a worthless post. Please try to contribute something to the discussion when you post in Politics.

This constitutes a verbal warning.

[Barry Lyndon]

I had never heard of Sankara until only a year or so ago, but I had a life-threatening crush on this girl from Burkina-Faso, and she told me about him:wub:.

Awesome man, definitely on of the great revolutionaries of the 20th century. I think Marxists certainly need to study more the contributions of him and other African revolutionaries, such as Amilcar Cabral, Augustino Neto, Kwame Nkrumah, and Samora Machel.

[Broletariat]

What are some works I can read either by or about Thomas Sankara? Would definitely prefer if they were hosted online too.

[Chimurenga.]

What are some works I can read either by or about Thomas Sankara? Would definitely prefer if they were hosted online too.

Not much other than books..

http://www.themilitant.com/2009/7314/731449.html - "How Imperialist 'Aid' Blocks Development in Africa".

http://thomassankara.net/spip.php?rubrique27&lang=fr - Various articles written about Sankara and/or Burkina Faso at the time.

[Adi Shankara]

I had never heard of Sankara until only a year or so ago, but I had a life-threatening crush on this girl from Burkina-Faso, and she told me about him:wub:.

Awesome man, definitely on of the great revolutionaries of the 20th century. I think Marxists certainly need to study more the contributions of him and other African revolutionaries, such as Amilcar Cabral, Augustino Neto, Kwame Nkrumah, and Samora Machel.

Burkinabes live in America 0__o? that is, if you didn't go to Burkina Faso prior?

[Barry Lyndon]

Burkinabes live in America 0__o? that is, if you didn't go to Burkina Faso prior?

She's half Burkinabe and half white American. No, I haven't been to Burkina-Faso.

[RED DAVE]

Start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sankara

RED DAVE

[Spear Of Sankara]

He has a great talent for speaking to the people.

His humor and intelligence really captivate you and sure inspire the people.

He formed civillian Militias to keep the power of the Military in check, after he was assasinated, they resisted the coup for about ten days, until they finally were defeated.

He was catholic, which is strange for a revolutionary, but it did not make him any less revolutionary.

[dearest chuck]

if wishes were horses...

[Invincible Summer]

Burkinabes live in America 0__o? that is, if you didn't go to Burkina Faso prior?

I envision you with a chorus and harps and birds flying around

[chegitz guevara]

I learned about Sankara from, of all people, the SWP (US). I was rather disappointed, since it was very thin soup they were serving. I've tried to find more, but there isn't much on him.

[M-26-7]

I had never heard of Sankara until only a year or so ago, but I had a life-threatening crush on this girl from Burkina-Faso, and she told me about him:wub:.

Awesome man, definitely on of the great revolutionaries of the 20th century. I think Marxists certainly need to study more the contributions of him and other African revolutionaries, such as Amilcar Cabral, Augustino Neto, Kwame Nkrumah, and Samora Machel.

Agreed. There were also several Afro-Caribbean writers who wrote eloquently about Africa and the African diaspora from a revolutionary perspective: Walter Rodney, Eric Williams, and C. L. R. James. All worth checking out.

[Blackscare]

So I don't get it, we have here an enthusiastic new comrade who is obviously very into Thomas Sankara, and has drawn a lot from his work and life. This comrade has tried here and elsewhere to share his interest and perhaps get other people interested in someone who is certainly an under appreciated revolutionary figure. And yet, whenever he good-naturedly tries to start a conversation his threads are shot down by cynical cretins.


What, are you angry that he is not yet a cynical armchair revolutionary decrying everything and everyone as trotskyist, ultra-left, etc etc etc? Do we need another person like that? What is this desire to shit on people just because they happen to be enthusiastic about something?

Or is it simply because his avatar is of Thomas Sankara, and his name is that as well? Since when should something like that matter? Are you people really that concerned with aesthetics? Grow up.

I find Comrade Alaistare's post particularly puzzling, considering he is basically obsessed with maoism and that is all he ever talks about.




TS may post a lot about, well, TS, but perhaps that is because he can't get a decent thread going without assholes who have nothing better to do than shit on someone else's interests jumping in? The majority of the threads on this forum don't interest me, so I don't enter them. I don't see the urge to enter a thread that you know isn't of interest to you, only to shoot someone else down.


Anyway, TS, I found the video quite interesting. I have to admit that I'm fairly ignorant of Sankara's work, I will be looking into him more. I do like his idea of a unified African front against colonial debt.

[Invincible Summer]

Or is it simply because his avatar is of Thomas Sankara, and his name is that as well? Since when should something like that matter? Are you people really that concerned with aesthetics? Grow up.

I find Comrade Alaistare's post particularly puzzling, considering he is basically obsessed with maoism and that is all he ever talks about.


Are you familiar with the term "fanboy?"

It's not even that he's talking strictly about an ideology, but rather only about a specific guy who he has named as his username and has as his avatar. It's not just aesthetics, but it would help if his name & avatar were different.

It's just really cheesy and annoying to have what is basically a mouthpiece for Sankara. I'd just really like to see TS make some posts that showed some sort of politics not involving Sankara or maybe something critically analyzing Sankara... he is making a move towards not being a fanboy, but I thought I'd just say it.

[Blackscare]

Are you familiar with the term "fanboy?"

It's not even that he's talking strictly about an ideology, but rather only about a specific guy who he has named as his username and has as his avatar. It's not just aesthetics, but it would help if his name & avatar were different.

It's just really cheesy and annoying to have what is basically a mouthpiece for Sankara. I'd just really like to see TS make some posts that showed some sort of politics not involving Sankara or maybe something critically analyzing Sankara... he is making a move towards not being a fanboy, but I thought I'd just say it.



Perhaps he's relatively new to the radical left and he's going through a phase, so what?

It would 'help' if he didn't have that as his name and avatar? Get the fuck off your high horse. It doesn't matter at all if you think he's a fanboy, maybe he is, he's still talking about something that both inspires him and is applicable to the subject matter of this board. If you don't like it, don't read his posts. Simple. Don't be a dickhead to someone just because you think he's a fanboy and you can't help being judgmental. All you're doing is ridiculing someone who is probably fairly new to these kinds of politics. Please remove that molotov from your rectum.

With all the strikingly dumb new users that come in here on a regular basis with nothing to add to this board, you choose to fuck with a person who actually is probably more knowledgeable about this subject than the rest of us. We all have our interests and even obsessions, and I believe that it contributes to the board rather than diminishes it. Without Comrade Alaistare's vocal support of Maoism and his sticking up for these movements, for example, a lot of us would be less well informed about situations there.

Let the guy develop, and in the meantime shut up if you can't take him sharing his interest and perhaps enlightening other people.


You're attacking him for being a fanboy? Really? I'm sorry is this the IGN forum or something?

[Glenn Beck]

Revleftists don't care about black people.

(I'm serious btw)

Basically none of you know a goddamn thing about socialism in Africa, you just know that it probably doesn't matter much.

I'm sure you have lovely explanations as to why the concerns and movements of people in Africa are not worthy of Marxist attention.

[chegitz guevara]

There isn't a lot of information in the West on African socialism. I have one book of Samora Machel, revolutionary leader in Mozambique, and it was the only book I've ever found.

I posted last year on Sankara, trying to find more info, but no one had any.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Burkinabes live in America

Yes, of course. You can find people from nearly (if not every) country on earth in the U.S.

I met Blaise Compaoré's niece in New York two years ago.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

There isn't a lot of information in the West on African socialism.

http://www.uhurumovement.org/

[Invincible Summer]

Yes, of course. You can find people from nearly (if not every) country on earth in the U.S.

I met Blaise Compaoré's niece in New York two years ago.


I would like to set up TS on a date with her.


Regardless, I'd just like to say that while I find Thomas_Sankara's (yes, you comrade) fanboyism annoying, I do appreciate his contributions to this site and enlightening us about a lesser-known comrade.

[chegitz guevara]

http://www.uhurumovement.org/

Yeah, they're weird.

And they're Americans.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Can you imagine if his beliefs on debt boycott came true?

Fidel Castro said that the debt of the countries of the Third World was impossible to pay back and called for its cancellation in 1979. In the mid-1980's he raised the issue of the debt of Latin American countries specifically, saying that it was impossible to pay back and calling for its cancellation. Sankara was following his example.


Africa would be so much wealthier to this day if they had boycotted the colonizers' demands for debt repayment

The point is that the rulers of those countries didn't do that, or even carry out national-democratic tasks. The sooner you understand their unwillingness and inability to so, the sooner you'll understand the need for the workers to act as a class.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Yeah, they're weird.

And they're Americans.

I didn't say I support them..

They have many African members and they're connected to "African socialism" (as a trend and in reality--they have folks in Guinea, Kenya, Sierra Leone, etc.).

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I would like to set up TS on a date with her.

Why would he want to date the niece of the man who killed Tom Sank?

[Barry Lyndon]

Why would he want to date the niece of the man who killed Tom Sank?

You don't get sarcasm very well do you?

[Barry Lyndon]

Revleftists don't care about black people.

(I'm serious btw)

Basically none of you know a goddamn thing about socialism in Africa, you just know that it probably doesn't matter much.

I'm sure you have lovely explanations as to why the concerns and movements of people in Africa are not worthy of Marxist attention.

This. The fact that so many Marxists have never even heard of, much less read anything by non-European revolutionaries, and then have the gall to claim that they have produced nothing at worth because they don't speak for the much fetishized white urban First World 'working class' leads me to the conclusion that many leftists(esp ultraleft left coms, who tend to be the most Eurocentric), are closet racists.

[Lolshevik]

Um. I'd actually never heard of Thomas Sankara before TS joined revleft, and now that I have, I think he was an extremely inspiring figure that we on the left should speak of more often. I wouldn't call it fanboyishness, I'd call it long overdue recognition.

Plus, it's nice to know that they aren't *all* white, you know. :(

[Adi Shankara]

Regardless, I'd just like to say that while I find Thomas_Sankara's (yes, you comrade) fanboyism annoying, I do appreciate his contributions to this site and enlightening us about a lesser-known comrade.

If my appearance of fanboyism raises the awarness of a person who's ideas of revolutionary anti-colonialism actually worked, then I don't regret appearing that way at all. :)

However, I'm not a "fanboy". I chose the name on purpose and the avatar--it creates an image that sinks into the mind. even if you don't like me, my views, etc. you still will ask yourself "who is Thomas Sankara" hopefully. and that was my point.

I find it a tragedy that someone who has contributed so much to the theories on post-colonialism, and had in his lifetime turned his country around in many aspects (before his assassination, that is; Campoare since reverted his changes) is completely ignored, while those in the west continue to focus on negative figures like Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, etc.

yet here is an actual African socialist (of which African socialists are completely ignored for some reason, from Nyere to Lumumba) who had created a legitimate socialist state on the path to communism, That wasn't oppressive, that wasn't cultish, that wasn't wealth-oriented--and it worked. For the 4 years he was alive, he along with the rest of the Revolutionary Council, i.e, Henry Zongo (Who later betrayed him), Dabo Boukary, etc. made Burkina Faso proud, successful, and a shining example of socialism done right.
The fact that he is completely ignored is a crime against communist intellectualism, and proves once again, like Glenn_Beck said, that Westerners could give two shits about Africa. without looking it up--do any of you know who Julius Nyere, Patrice Lumumba, Agostinho Neto are? I'm guessing almost none of you do.

[Adi Shankara]

Um. I'd actually never heard of Thomas Sankara before TS joined revleft, and now that I have, I think he was an extremely inspiring figure that we on the left should speak of more often. I wouldn't call it fanboyishness, I'd call it long overdue recognition.

lol see? it's working! I told you my spreading of "propaganda" of Thomas Sankara is having a positive effect :D


Plus, it's nice to know that they aren't *all* white, you know. :(

I'm not saying white people (I am white btw) have screwed up socialism or communism--some of the most successful communists, like Fidel Castro and Che Guevara were white--but African socialism has a proven track record of being very non-corrupt compared to socialism as in Asia and Europe (with the exception of the Derg--those were dark years), seeing as almost none except The Derg turned into cults of personality, and all of them have records of improving living conditions in their nations--look up Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyere for proof.


I would like to set up TS on a date with her.

I'm glad you're joking, because Blaise Campoare's family is the reason why Burkina Faso is a shithole when it was a shining star in the 80's. If there is a hell, it's made for people like Blaise Campoare.


It would 'help' if he didn't have that as his name and avatar? Get the fuck off your high horse. It doesn't matter at all if you think he's a fanboy, maybe he is, he's still talking about something that both inspires him and is applicable to the subject matter of this board. If you don't like it, don't read his posts. Simple. Don't be a dickhead to someone just because you think he's a fanboy and you can't help being judgmental. All you're doing is ridiculing someone who is probably fairly new to these kinds of politics.

I'm not new to Communism--I read Das Kapital Vol I and II at a young age, and the same with the manifesto--but have only discovered Thomas Sankara not too long ago, and it left me scratching my head at the end of reading his speeches wondering "why isn't this guy on the recognition level of Che Guevara"? It makes me wonder sometimes if most of the leftist publishers have really gotten over afrophobia, as they are the ones who need to spread these ideas.

[Invincible Summer]

Perhaps he's relatively new to the radical left and he's going through a phase, so what?

No, he obviously isn't new to the left, since he hasn't made posts asking inane questions like "Do I get to have my own guitar in communism?"



It would 'help' if he didn't have that as his name and avatar? Get the fuck off your high horse. It doesn't matter at all if you think he's a fanboy, maybe he is, he's still talking about something that both inspires him and is applicable to the subject matter of this board. If you don't like it, don't read his posts. Simple. Don't be a dickhead to someone just because you think he's a fanboy and you can't help being judgmental. All you're doing is ridiculing someone who is probably fairly new to these kinds of politics. Please remove that molotov from your rectum.

I'm not denying that TS inspires him and that he is bringing something different to Revleft. But at the same time, if someone was doing the same about Stalin or Che I'm sure many would be be annoyed.

I think it would be more of a dick move to assume all his posts are full of shit and ignore them - I still read his posts to learn and gain insight into different perspectives (like I do for everyone's posts). But not talking about Sankara for one bloody minute doesn't seem like too much to ask.

Many users here get fed up with people always going "But Stalin/Marx/Lenin/etc said/did ______________ and it was good" and it seems just because TS has brought a fresh new revolutionary face to the mix, it's okay for him to constantly remind us how great Sankara was?

I guess I'm just too cynical to be swayed by the novelty.


With all the strikingly dumb new users that come in here on a regular basis with nothing to add to this board, you choose to fuck with a person who actually is probably more knowledgeable about this subject than the rest of us. We all have our interests and even obsessions, and I believe that it contributes to the board rather than diminishes it. Without Comrade Alaistare's vocal support of Maoism and his sticking up for these movements, for example, a lot of us would be less well informed about situations there.

Well, the other "strikingly dumb users" don't really post with any regularity for one. Also, I don't think I "fuck with" TS as much as our views (mainly on religion I think) grating on each other a bit, and me bugging him occasionally about his name/avatar thing.

It's only really in this thread that I made my (one) dislike about TS clear, so I would definitely not say that I "fuck with him."

I don't deny that he is more knowledgeable on the subject than the rest of us. I don't know why you make these accusations.

I guess I figure if he broadens his posts and interest to cover other topics, it's better for him politically in the long run, and I think this goes for everyone. It's good to learn from the past, but at the same time, don't get absorbed in talking about it.

Anyways, TS seems to be doing just that, so I'm happy.



Let the guy develop, and in the meantime shut up if you can't take him sharing his interest and perhaps enlightening other people.
See, by asking him to try to post about things other than Sankara, I see that as aiding his "development."




You're attacking him for being a fanboy? Really? I'm sorry is this the IGN forum or something?
I couldn't think of another word, sorry. Jesus fucking christ.


Revleftists don't care about black people.

(I'm serious btw)

Basically none of you know a goddamn thing about socialism in Africa, you just know that it probably doesn't matter much.

I'm sure you have lovely explanations as to why the concerns and movements of people in Africa are not worthy of Marxist attention.

How did this turn into some sort of thinly-veiled accusation of racism?

[chegitz guevara]

http://www.revleft.com/vb/burkinab-revolution-t121793/index.html?t=121793 (http://www.revleft.com/vb/burkinab-revolution-t121793/index.html?t=121793&highlight=sankara)

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

You don't get sarcasm very well do you?

Apparently better than you do.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

We have talked about Sankara and Burkino Faso here before, btw. There was a member named Sankara1983 that joined about 5 years ago. They posted a bit, including about Tom Sank.

Here are two threads:

http://www.revleft.com/vb/thomas-sankara-t62478/index.html?t=62478

http://www.revleft.com/vb/sankara-t59525/index.html?t=59525

[scarletghoul]

Yeah, they're weird.

And they're Americans.
Yeshitela and the APSP are actually great for information on Africa and the black struggle in general, and they seem to do some pretty good work too. So despite the incorrect African nationalism, the Uhuru movement is still good. Perhaps the best source for info on the African struggle online

[Black Star]

I knew of some 'Sankara' figure when I was reading the ANC-YL facebook page, there was this Pan-Africanist whose 'name' is Chris Sankara and he has a picture of Thomas Sankara as his profile picture. I didn't really look into it that much, I just assumed the person on his picture was a random Pan-Africanist leader which the person idolizes. I come here on revleft a few days ago and see a Thomas_Sankara with an avatar of the same person. I think to myself, "This Sankara character must be important" and proceed to research. I've come to discover a noble human being who, in my opinion, is the greatest Socialist leader of modern (80s to present) times. He was guiding a genuinely successful revolution. It was so successful, the Capitalists couldn't even spread the traditional lies and this was during the Cold War where people would eat anything up! So, of course, they killed him. And the French whore who did it is still in power today.

Viva Sankara, viva! And excellent speech :D

[Adi Shankara]

I knew of some 'Sankara' figure when I was reading the ANC-YL facebook page, there was this Pan-Africanist whose 'name' is Chris Sankara and he has a picture of Thomas Sankara as his profile picture. I didn't really look into it that much, I just assumed the person on his picture was a random Pan-Africanist leader which the person idolizes. I come here on revleft a few days ago and see a Thomas_Sankara with an avatar of the same person. I think to myself, "This Sankara character must be important" and proceed to research. I've come to discover a noble human being who, in my opinion, is the greatest Socialist leader of modern (80s to present) times. He was guiding a genuinely successful revolution. It was so successful, the Capitalists couldn't even spread the traditional lies and this was during the Cold War where people would eat anything up! So, of course, they killed him. And the French whore who did it is still in power today.

Viva Sankara, viva! And excellent speech :D

I've yet to see one accusation of corruption, dishonesty, or anti-proletariat behavior proven when it comes to slandering Capt. Sankara's character.

he'll go down in history as one of the positive, genuinely good leaders. he literally lived a life of hard work for the working class, and never gave into temptation to betray them.

If there is a heaven, its filled with spirits like Sankara.