What's the Worst Discrimination You've Experienced as a Leftist?

[Flying Trotsky]

Even with the McCarythist period far behind us, I'm curious as to what kind of prejudice, discrimination, and/or flak our comrades are getting. Any experiences or issues either you or your fellow revolutionaries have run into? How'd you deal with it?

[anarcho-communist4]

Well i've lost a few friends over my beliefs.
Even more so after my friend was killed by the police (a fellow leftist)
I've been singled out and in many cases suspended in high school by Mormon teachers for things i didn't actually do, or by things that they thought to be, "troublesome speech". Usually by correcting my Mormon history teachers, most of whom defend slavery.
Being outspoken about anything can cause a lot of problems in life. But all and all its well worth it.

[Nox]

Someone on youtube said I am as Communistic as a wart. :(

[BIG BROTHER]

I've been yelled at stuff like: GO BACK TO CUBA! by a person during a panel about immigration.

I've been in verbal arguments, which I did not start, but someone just saw how I dressed(Che shirt, hat with a red start:cool: ) and the guy started yelling, WE ARE IN AMERICA!

Some guy I had in class saw me with a hammer and sickle shirt on, during computer lab, and looked at me as if I was a baby killer and stopped talking to me and "blocked" me out of existence.

[Euronymous]

My dad told me tonight that I was too radical in my leftist ideologies and that I should suck up and shut up. I got arrested today for sticking Crimethinc stickers in a mall and running from the security guards. I loled at how the lead security officer asked if I had mental problems, which I do.

My friends have also said my hammer and sickle tattoo makes em think I'm in the KKK. ???? :sneaky:

[Azula]

I haven't experienced any discrimination as a leftist, mostly because I am not that prominent a leftist. I have been active in some feminist campaigns, and some comrades have experienced sexual harassment from some jerks.

I have received death threats and so on through my e-mail, but I ignore that in general.

As a female however, I have experienced stalking by some hideous creep. I managed to find out as much information as possible about the creep's life and then stalked him back, destroying what little reputation he had in the process.

[La Comédie Noire]

Once was surrounded by ten riot cops for making the mistake of sitting down in a public park to get my bearings straight during a major rally. They looked through our bags and discovered a bunch of fliers and started asking us questions and treating us roughly. Then told us the tax payers of the city didn't appreciate all the trouble we'd caused.

Then as they left us with our stuff in tatters the lead cop said in a rather sneering tone "hope to see you in the streets tomorrow..."

It was then I realized leftism was probably more than an internet role playing game I indulged in from time to time.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

I was wearing a low cut top and in response to the hammer and sickle tattoo on my boob some old man told me that if I was his daughter he'd smack the shit out of me. But to me, I just find it hilarious and a little awkward and creepy that the old man was staring at my boobs. I was young enough to be his grand daughter, not to mention I often look even younger than I am.

[Hiero]

This isn't really discrimination, it is just nuisances. Discrimination is an on going process that forces you into situations or blocks you from others, that other people do not have to go through or have access to.

[00000000000]

No actual discrimination, just kids at school mocking and my dad telling jokes and saying 'Hello Comrade' for a while.

[W1N5T0N]

well i wouldn't call it discrimination, but it was pretty annoying nonetheless.
Me and an aquaintance were sitting at a trainstation, and i was reading a "leftist" newspaper, the TAZ. He then asked me to put that away, as he is pretty conservative as i found out. Smiling, i put it away, and took out my little Manifesto of the Communist Party :lol:and his face was like :eek:

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

This isn't really discrimination, it is just nuisances. Discrimination is an on going process that forces you into situations or blocks you from others, that other people do not have to go through or have access to.
You mean like when my sister refuses to let me see my nephews because of my gender identity disorder.

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

Well i've lost a few friends over my beliefs.
Even more so after my friend was killed by the police (a fellow leftist)
I've been singled out and in many cases suspended in high school by Mormon teachers for things i didn't actually do, or by things that they thought to be, "troublesome speech". Usually by correcting my Mormon history teachers, most of whom defend slavery.
Being outspoken about anything can cause a lot of problems in life. But all and all its well worth it.

Oh i would love that, being suspended for no reason. My dad would let ne do nothing all day too

Most I have been discriminated was people laughing at me. It's quite funny after I punched the kid in the face(I had a good reason before that also) now he has a personal vendetta against me and is calling himself a facist. I asked him what it meant and he said he was a nazi, then I asked what that meant and he said to be a German. Lol

[tom1992]

When I was in a protest, i dressed like V for vendetta and was giving flowers and a cop arrested me and hit me like 11 times and called me names for about 6 hours (anarchist was the most used name)...the worst thing was the cops breathe

Well my friends used to laugh about my political ideas (when i was younger).

Heavy discrimination not that much, because my group of friends is either non political or left wing (my family is kinda right wing but they are very open to other ideas).

[Euronymous]

Was spit on the other day for passing out flyers in solidarity to the Verizon Strike. I gave a guy one right outside a Verizon shop and he was like "What's this for? My brothers in Afghanistan I don't need your shit."

At least I got a few hugs from sympathetic grannies and some fellow workers who helped pass out some flyers as well.

[Hiero]

You mean like when my sister refuses to let me see my nephews because of my gender identity disorder.
I guess, I don't know why call it a disorder...anyway. But my sister might refuse me to see my nephew for any reason (political views could be one) I would not call it discrimination. In your case the reason you sister bars you from seeing your nephew are clearly transphobic, but I don't think it is reall "discrimination".

In the Mcarythy era leftists, unionist and communist were really descriminated against, they could become black listed. But having someone annoy you because you are reading a paper or have some political emblem displayed on your body or having a cop abuse their policing power at a demostration doesn't really account to discrimination unless if got to the point where you were barred from certian public spaces. Like if there was a sign to park that says "No Dogs, No Leftists".

[Savage]

Someone on youtube said I am as Communistic as a wart. :(

I wouldn't advise even my worst enemy to engage in youtube political debates (by debate I mean people calling each other 'fags' and whatnot).

[Le Socialiste]

I guess, I don't know why call it a disorder...anyway. But my sister might refuse me to see my nephew for any reason (political views could be one) I would not call it discrimination. In your case the reason you sister bars you from seeing your nephew are clearly transphobic, but I don't think it is reall "discrimination".

What?

[La Comédie Noire]

I think Hiero means it's not really political discrimination. The topic of the thread after all is discrimination you've faced as a leftist, not sex and gender discrimination.

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Fortunatelly no discrimination for me. Only one time a neonazi bullied me on Facebook but now it is OK.:D

[Column No.4]

Probably being at complete odds with my old mans side of the family.

[RVanhauwere]

I never really got 'discriminated', but I lost 90% of all my friends (they were all like (extreme-) right wing islamophobes and they hate me now because I'm a 'leftie'.
And now, I have History, Physical Education and religious education with their class :)

[Ele'ill]

Well- this is kind of an open ended question so I'll use that and go with it-

Being punched and kicked in the face when I was about ten because I refused to accept 'are you a boy or a girl?' as a legitimate question and mouthed off in defense. They were older.

Discrimination in the work place while attempting to organize. Class traitors.

[RedMarxist]

Mostly I "face discrimination" from family. Friends don't know...yet. My Family will just joke, and when being serious will denounce me as being "to extreme Left", calling themselves "moderate Liberals" in the process

I am a [militant Communist] atheist, which causes my parents to worry about my soul, believing that I will go to Hell. When pointing out the blatant flaws in the Old and New Testament, I am met by even more blatant denial, esp. from my mother, but my father is more cool with it...kind of. My mother keeps wanting me to give "God a chance", and read the bible(which I have on my own, as well as being effectively brainwashed in Sunday school for years). They just don't understand.

Seeing this...this shit hole of a Capitalist world roused me to act. I can't sit idly by while the Nepali's revolution falters, while Greece experiences its revolution, while my own country's government abuses the world, treating it like a plaything.

No, I want to so badly get involved in the Leftist movement. Any tips comrades? I want to do SOMETHING when I get to college in two years.(yes two years sounds like a long time I know but it wont be)

[Nox]

read the bible

I've actually got a theory that very few Christians have actually thoroughly read the bible - simply because anyone who reads it thoroughly either:

- Notices how ridiculous everything in there is
- Notices the insane amount of contradictions

[Nicolai]

My friends mostly, some in the former class I was in at my school. I've also on the wrong side with the shopping mall guards, who have been "rough" with me before (not beaten up, but treated like a rag doll). My friends will think I have the right ideals, but they denounce me as it's "too utopian". :sneaky:

[Luís Henrique]

My mother keeps wanting me to give "God a chance", and read the bible(which I have on my own, as well as being effectively brainwashed in Sunday school for years).

Read it aloud to her. It may be a faith-shaking experience to her.

Luís Henrique

[Luís Henrique]

In Brazil, during the dictatorship, we used to have something called "atestado de ideologia" (ideological certificate), and you could actually be denied a few rights if you couldn't provide one (I never had one, but then I was too young to apply for any jobs that would recquire it, at the time it was actually demanded).

I was fired once, and maybe it was for political reasons; I can't know for sure, because employers can fire people here without giving any reason.

And I get a lot of problems inside the PT; apparently because I don't belong to the main tendency, I am "not really petista". I love how I have been a card carrying member since 1985, but am expected to be leaving the party at any moment - while the imbeciles they bring into the party, and who actually do leave the party at the first problem, are promoted into "historic" members out of their adhesion to the Articulação. Go figure...

Luís Henrique

[Nox]

I wouldn't advise even my worst enemy to engage in youtube political debates (by debate I mean people calling each other 'fags' and whatnot).

Interestingly, it wasn't a debate at all - he saw one of my videos, then went to my channel and saw the description and sent me a message full of very creative insults, such as "you're as communistic as a wart" and my personal favourite "you spit on white people".

[Nehru]

No, I want to so badly get involved in the Leftist movement. Any tips comrades? I want to do SOMETHING when I get to college in two years.(yes two years sounds like a long time I know but it wont be)

You're too young to get involved in anything - besides, your views may change later on, and you may regret having taken the wrong path. It's better for you to focus on academics, sports, arts (or whatever it is you're good at), try to excel in those things, rather than fight for some extract idea which may have little meaning in the end.

[Mythbuster]

My dad told me tonight that I was too radical in my leftist ideologies and that I should suck up and shut up. I got arrested today for sticking Crimethinc stickers in a mall and running from the security guards. I loled at how the lead security officer asked if I had mental problems, which I do.

My friends have also said my hammer and sickle tattoo makes em think I'm in the KKK. ???? :sneaky:

Lol. Sadly people mistake communism for fascism.

I was in the Barnes and Nobels and asked a lady for books on socialism/communism and she recommended the Mein Kamph by Hitler.

Lol...to me, that was quite offensive.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

You're too young to get involved in anything - besides, your views may change later on, and you may regret having taken the wrong path. It's better for you to focus on academics, sports, arts (or whatever it is you're good at), try to excel in those things, rather than fight for some extract idea which may have little meaning in the end.

I heavily disagree....age has nothing to do with activism work.I had an 8th grade teacher that repeatedly said that young people have a ton of hidden power that they can use.

RedMarxist...all I can advise you to do is talk with people about socialism or leftist issues.Make your own local group and recruit from there.This group will probably never be anything beyond a club,but that will serve as your base for unity and growth and propagation.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I was trying on a Mao hat in Chinatown just for teh lulz and I asked a random stranger if it looked good on me. He told me I looked too much like a dirty commie :crying:

[Nehru]

I heavily disagree....age has nothing to do with activism work.I had an 8th grade teacher that repeatedly said that young people have a ton of hidden power that they can use.

RedMarxist...all I can advise you to do is talk with people about socialism or leftist issues.Make your own local group and recruit from there.This group will probably never be anything beyond a club,but that will serve as your base for unity and growth and propagation.

Yes, they have potential, which they can use for something creative, something that helps them later on in life. Once they're well set and financially secure, they can think of activism. At this stage, it could be a distraction and therefore counterproductive.

[Le Socialiste]

You're too young to get involved in anything - besides, your views may change later on, and you may regret having taken the wrong path.

I suspect you're trolling, but I'm gonna rant anyway (I'll just pretend you're serious).

Why on earth would you want to dissuade a young person from joining and taking part in activism that revolves around the class struggle? We should be encouraging people to take part in our movement, not telling them to grow up and then decide. How exactly does a belief in the revolutionary potential of a society to rise up and destroy the capitalist state translate as "taking the wrong path"?


It's better for you to focus on academics, sports, arts (or whatever it is you're good at), try to excel in those things, rather than fight for some extract idea which may have little meaning in the end.

Explain to me why you're on a site for the revolutionary left again?


Yes, they have potential, which they can use for something creative, something that helps them later on in life. Once they're well set and financially secure, they can think of activism. At this stage, it could be a distraction and therefore counterproductive.

*facepalm*

[Agent Ducky]

I dunno. I get random people attacking my beliefs quite often. Most of them have nothing to draw from but conventional wisdom. I had someone the other day who was a really condescending pseudointellectual who appeared to be some type of individualist anarchist, he kept telling me in the most condescending way possible that anarchism and communism can't possibly be put together, communism needs a shitload of bureaucracy and government... one of the most thickheaded, disrespectful people I've ever argued with. But yeah. No real "discrimination" except people who think they know fucking everything and feel the need to argue with me.

[Nehru]

Why on earth would you want to dissuade a young person from joining and taking part in activism that revolves around the class struggle?

Because he's young, he has a lot to lose if he doesn't play his cards right. His academic achievements could suffer if his mind is distracted, he may have to give up his interests in music/arts if he doesn't have the time (because he spends too much time on activism). Would it not be more practical to wait a few years, get a feel for the real world before doing any activism?

Doesn't mean he shouldn't be a leftist. But let it be on a theoretical level for now; let him read books and acquire knowledge. Once he's a little older and financially secure, he can move from theory to action.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Because he's young, he has a lot to lose if he doesn't play his cards right. His academic achievements could suffer if his mind is distracted, he may have to give up his interests in music/arts if he doesn't have the time (because he spends too much time on activism). Would it not be more practical to wait a few years, get a feel for the real world before doing any activism?

Doesn't mean he shouldn't be a leftist. But let it be on a theoretical level for now; let him read books and acquire knowledge. Once he's a little older and financially secure, he can move from theory to action.
True, true, people should start being active only once they can afford to be active in the struggle. Leave the activism to us, the financially secure, you workers need to stay home and go to work for that shitty minimum wage.

No to everything you just said.

[DarkPast]

Lol. Sadly people mistake communism for fascism.

I was in the Barnes and Nobels and asked a lady for books on socialism/communism and she recommended the Mein Kamph by Hitler.

Lol...to me, that was quite offensive.

The lady was probably taught that socialism was this:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yt_N_Xr774Q/TavOGv3O2DI/AAAAAAAADSY/ru0s72WJKuU/s400/02-01-09+-+Change+-+Socialists.jpg

[ВАЛТЕР]

No discrimination as I'm not very open about it unless the subject is politics/economics. Then most people either agree with what I say, or avoid arguing since they don't bring up too many arguments that can cause me to stumble.

As for physical action taken against me, I couldn't imagine it, however I am sure it happens to others which is a shame. Though this may seem harsh and I hope none of you feel I am too extreme in this aspect. I personally feel that I would have no moral problem with beating a neo-nazi or fascist to death. :mellow:

[ColonelCossack]

No discrimination as I'm not very open about it unless the subject is politics/economics. Then most people either agree with what I say, or avoid arguing since they don't bring up too many arguments that can cause me to stumble.

As for physical action taken against me, I couldn't imagine it, however I am sure it happens to others which is a shame. Though this may seem harsh and I hope none of you feel I am too extreme in this aspect. I personally feel that I would have no moral problem with beating a neo-nazi or fascist to death. :mellow:

Only way to deal with fascists.

Which I've said once before. :confused:

[A Revolutionary Tool]

If we're talking about stuff we've had to face because of our anti-racist views then I could go on for days...

[Game Girl]

I get called the usual...Traitor...Brainwashed...Whore...The usual..

This one guy on youtube CONTINUES to harrass me in hopes of "converting me"...I told him I'm not interested and that forcing his view onto me makes him look like the bad guy...He then goes onto this bullcrappy rant and mentions I'M the bad guy.

This is how I responded to him;


I'm the bad guy? Exactly how am I the bad guy?

Because I'm willing to love and respect all human beings, reguardless of their race?

Because I'm willing to call people of all races and faiths my friends?

Because I'm willing to give these people a chance?

You are heavily misguided. You are NOT trying to protect me. Your trying to force me to believe in a cause that I don't believe in! You want to seperate me from my closest friends, because they are not white like me. You want to tear me away from the man I love, purely because he's black.

You don't want to protect me. You want to control me.

You don't love your race. You only love the ones who agree with you.

Call me brainwashed. Call me a traitor. Call me whatever. But at the end of the day, even if I am all those things to you...I will still be the one thing you will NEVER be;

A human being.

[Susurrus]

Never. One of my closest friends is a right libertarian and they're fine with it. My Gov teacher is a right winger and they're fine with it. Generally only people who take issue with it are Democrats :lol:

[Smyg]

If you don't count police violence during peaceful demonstrations - and not so peaceful ones - which is only to be expected if you engaged in such vile activities :rolleyes:, then I suppose the rather disturbing harassment we (me and a few other comrades) got from a particularly psychopathic police officer.


Though this may seem harsh and I hope none of you feel I am too extreme in this aspect. I personally feel that I would have no moral problem with beating a neo-nazi or fascist to death. :mellow:

I'd go ahead and say that most of us wouldn't. We leftists aren't all pacifists, and fascists aren't all human beings.

[Collectorgeneral]

I've experienced a few minor cases of discrimination ever since I embraced the left, but the hardest part is always having ideological disagreements with your family.

[Red Future]

OK here goes ?

I have never experienced open discrimination about my views ...largely this is due to the fact that I was not ever in my College explicit about what I represented ...it was known that I was a socialist of sorts but not totally evident.One guy I knew well ish thought that I was a liberal.:lol:

However in my History course I was pretty open about my views on the Soviet Union..of course no one agreed- but in the previous year of study on the course I had made a reputation as the Nerd of History ..so no one challenged my statements or called false to them.Also helps when your major teacher visited the Soviet Union in the 1980s and is an "old lefty".

I even went to a party dressed in my FDJ shirt and managed to get no strange looks ..I guess I have just been lucky.

[BE_]

I've never really been discriminated by my leftist views at all because I usually don't display them, but I have become more vocal on my views so it's probably inevitable that I will.

[Sam Varriano]

Went from 700 to 50 facebook friends, and lost a few job offers.