"combat liberalism" worth reading

[kahimikarie]

For a non Maoist? Meaning is there useful information about liberalism etc for someone who disagrees with Maoist ideology? If not can you recommend books with an anti-liberal theme by another non stalinist leftist/Marxist?

[ArrowLance]

Indeed this is a wonderful text useful for all truly eager revolutionaries. This text can destroy your life and make way for the revolution.

[BIG BROTHER]

I think for anyone living specially in the first world, were liberal ideology has a stronghold amongst idealist youth, it is a must. It teaches you fundamentals on how to act as a revolutionary.

[Thirsty Crow]

I think for anyone living specially in the first world, were liberal ideology has a stronghold amongst idealist youth, it is a must. It teaches you fundamentals on how to act as a revolutionary.
That'd be great if Mao's "liberalism" has anything to do with existing liberalism. From my memory, it doesn't.

[Homo Songun]

This document is useful for anybody serious, not just Maoists.


That'd be great if Mao's "liberalism" has anything to do with existing liberalism. From my memory, it doesn'tNo need for "scare" quotes. He is not talking about liberalism in the sense of a 19th century school of economics, or being a liberal like the NDP or whatever. He is talking about liberalism in its meaning as a sort of personal attitude. Of course, this phenomenon becomes a political problem in a revolutionary context and it goes without saying that it remains highly applicable today:


To let things slide for the sake of peace and friendship when a person has clearly gone wrong, and refrain from principled argument because he is an old acquaintance, a fellow townsman, a schoolmate, a close friend, a loved one, an old colleague or oldsubordinate. Or to touch on the matter lightly instead of going into it thoroughly, so as to keep on good terms. The result is that both the organization and the individual are harmed. This is one type of liberalism.



To indulge in irresponsible criticism in private instead of actively putting forward one's suggestions to the organization. To say nothing to people to their faces but to gossip behind their backs, or to say nothing at a meeting but to gossip afterwards. To show no regard at all for the principles of collective life but to follow one's own inclination. This is a second type.



To let things drift if they do not affect one personally; to say as little as possible while knowing perfectly well what is wrong, to be worldly wise and play safe and seek only to avoid blame. This is a third type.



Not to obey orders but to give pride of place to one's own opinions. To demand special consideration from the organization but to reject its discipline. This is a fourth type.



To indulge in personal attacks, pick quarrels, vent personal spite or seek revenge instead of entering into an argument and struggling against incorrect views for the sake of unity or progress or getting the work done properly. This is a fifth type.



To hear incorrect views without rebutting them and even to hear counter-revolutionary remarks without reporting them, but instead to take them calmly as if nothing had happened. This is a sixth type.



To be among the masses and fail to conduct propaganda and agitation or speak at meetings or conduct investigations and inquiries among them, and instead to be indifferent to them and show no concern for their well-being, forgetting that one is a Communist and behaving as if one were an ordinary non-Communist. This is a seventh type.



To see someone harming the interests of the masses and yet not feel indignant, or dissuade or stop him or reason with him, but to allow him to continue. This is an eighth type.



To work half-heartedly without a definite plan or direction; to work perfunctorily and muddle along--"So long as one remains a monk, one goes on tolling the bell." This is a ninth type.



To regard oneself as having rendered great service to the revolution, to pride oneself on being a veteran, to disdain minor assignments while being quite unequal to major tasks, to be slipshod in work and slack in study. This is a tenth type.



To be aware of one's own mistakes and yet make no attempt to correct them, taking a liberal attitude towards oneself. This is an eleventh type.