High School and my experience with making people more aware of Communism + College

[RedMarxist]

As many of you know, I'm in high school(the latter half of it anyways) and have actually had right off of the bat experience with educating(sort off) people about Communism and Socialism.

I'm "that radical guy" who basically can be seen discussing with people about Marx in class(I've been surprised to find rather intelligent people like me who know their stuff yet aren't into radicalism) as a result of me reading Lenin or Marx in class(and lemme tell ya, the Lenin anthology book is a conversation starter!)

Usually know one will bother me about it. But I'll often get curious glances, or sometimes I will be asked the age old "Why are you reading that...hm?" statement(Jesus, the Communist Manifesto is NOT Mein Kampf/My Struggle)

I foolishly once contemplated starting a dumb socialist club, but realized that no one would care + parents/the principal might not like it, so I threw that idea away rather quickly.

Then I meant this person from China who knew Jack shit about Mao Zedong(Which resulted in me asking "Isn't that a lot like not knowing about who George Washington was", which they got a kick out of). I made the most likely stupid decision to give them some Mao articles(which they found boring and not relevant to their lives or modern China), but eventually I got to know this person really well and now we happen to be friends.

So besides a few good, intelligent and like minded people, MOST people continue to be ignorant morons who don't even know basic history, let alone the history of Communism. They all think it is some sort of evil world dominating ideology or something like that. The fudge!

So it got me thinking. Once I get to college, I plan to really strive towards nipping that ignorance in the bud. What I mean is, I really plan to truly educate people about what Communism really is.

After all, are not Communists the most advanced section of the [potentially revolutionary] population? Or should we all become closet Marxists, dying alone?

Barring starting or joining a group, I plan to do SOMETHING. If a protest happens(And it will if I go to Berkley, right? right?) I will try my dam best to be at the forefront(not literally of course) advancing the cause, safeguarding it against reactionary little shits such as the far right. So be it, even If I am the only one trying to make the voice of the campus revolutionary.

I'm sick and tired of the ignorance towards this movement(I guess in a way it will stay that way forever...). I BELIEVE that I must help change that, starting with College campus movements/groups/individuals. Maybe it won't do good on a national level(duh), but on a local level one could accomplish great things.

Wish me luck, comrades. :)

100% Marxist-Leninist 150% Enemy of the Bourgeoisie 200% Revolutionary

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Wish me luck, comrades. :)

I wish you luck.



100% Marxist-Leninist 150% Enemy of the Bourgeoisie 200% Revolutionary

You have abandoned your defense of American "patriotism" then?

[NoOneIsIllegal]

College is just like high school because, uh, it's the same people? Some people want to get more involved with "activism" (see: liberal stuff), but by then a few people might be more open. Don't expect anything major. If you can get a few people to start thinking about new ideas, then you've done a lot more then other people.
If you work at a job, that's a better place to organize. College is... meh. Never hurts to try though.

[RedMarxist]

I wish you luck.



You have abandoned your defense of American "patriotism" then?

officially, yes. unofficially, yes.

I wasn't attempting to defend "reactionary American patriotism." I said it than and I will say it now: I am proud of my nation because I was born and raised here, not because I'm some evil right wing Republican. There, I said it. I am born here and agree with SOME of its principles, so why not be proud?

moving on.


College is... meh.

care to elaborate? I don't see why I can't get through to people through a local Socialist group or pamphlet distribution, or plain out talking to people whom I know about Socialism in a casual conversation in the cafeteria(not to be obnoxious about it though.).

Even if I can't make people into Communists(not possible, I know), the least I can do is educate people and open people up to a new line of thinking. Maybe I can make a difference, I don't know.

Hell, I may just rip off posters for rightist movements and put my own up(Ya! preventing other people to have their right to freedom of speech is FUN!)

joking. really.

I don't know, I just feel "called" to help spread "the word" about Socialism and Communism.

[Geiseric]

Showing a chinese exchange student/immigrant a mao zedong article is kinda weird, why wouldn't you show him something more fundamental, like Lenin's Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism, or Engels "Principles of socialism." You're assuming that Mao is popular as well, which just makes them think you're a dumb american. You're from Cambodia? Oh, you must LOVE Pol Pot. I made this mistake once of asking a russian woman on the bus if people had a general good view on Lenin, she said no, then I asked about Trotsky, and she said in general he's more popular among working russians.

Anyways, don't show them YOUR principles, show them universal principles. Seems cultish showing people Maoist articles. you make it seem really romantic too, rhetoric like "Educating people on communism," gives the initial impression that you think they are Un-Educated, if anything I'd start telling people that China and the U.S.S.R. were never socialist because of external capitalism and their oppurtunist and non revolutionary leaders.

[RedMarxist]

ya, I do feel really embarrassed for showing them the Mao article(I think it was the one on how the Chinese people will not be cowed by the American atom bombs or something along those lines)

I did not mean to be weird about it. I did not even mean to be offensive. Hell, I was surprised that they took it rather well(and not freak out) and did not see me as some creepy boy/kid who has a cultist obsession with Mao and Communism. I did not help matters by talking about China/Communism with them...quite a bit(I have OCD so ya.)

Luckily, they never judged me for it. When I asked them what they felt about the article, they were just like "Meh. It was alright."

I would describe myself as a friend. We hang out together a lot and they seem to enjoy my company/are eager to talk to me
So I did not totally bungle the friendship. :D yippee!

[OHumanista]

Glad it didn't end the friendship :D
Going slowly on these matters usually works better indeed, and starting by the basics(Marx, Engels, Lenin, preferably the easier to digest texts)
With time comes trust and trust makes it a lot easier to understand things, plus they will know you better which also helps.

[RedMarxist]

I'm glad too that we are still friends. :)

Comrades, should I just never bring up Mao again with them, and instead slowly ease them into Lenin(because he is not as dry or boring as Marx and Engels were for beginners IMHO)? Or should I forgo mentioning Socialism altogether, and continue the friendship that I have formed with this person as is?

[thefinalmarch]

100% Marxist-Leninist 150% Enemy of the Bourgeoisie 200% Revolutionary

note: people don't take you seriously if you say stuff like this, so try to tone this down

[Reznov]

I think you need to start smoking weed.

Then in your newly found friends and smoking sessions, then spread the idea of Communism.

[Geiseric]

The weed thing actually works pretty good.

[RedMarxist]

But my friends don't smoke weed. Besides weed is bad for your health.

I promise I was not high while typing that last post. I promise.

But weed + training new cadres at the same time does sound like a cool idea.

[OHumanista]

I'm glad too that we are still friends. :)

Comrades, should I just never bring up Mao again with them, and instead slowly ease them into Lenin(because he is not as dry or boring as Marx and Engels were for beginners IMHO)? Or should I forgo mentioning Socialism altogether, and continue the friendship that I have formed with this person as is?

Lets not forget, [drum roll please] the fact that creepily this person will frequently burst into spontaneous smiling at me[or maybe its just my autism speaking]. The fudge. Hell, they ALWAYS wish to talk with me too, like even when I'm going to be late for class-talk-with-me.

Depends on how they react on the basics(Lenin for example), if they show little to no interest just go along and only return to it if they ask for something. :)The anti-political brainwashing is sadly strong in modern society (no big surprise though)

[RedMarxist]

even in China? Last time I checked this person told me China GLORIFIED Mao Zedong and Socialism/as well as Communism.

[Geiseric]

The state probably does... The regular people probably are brainwashed themselves to make him seem like Robin Hood, or George Washington, whatever. There's a cult of personality, on par with or beyond the evolution of the american style.

[RedMarxist]

They told me that their teacher said how Mao was not only a good person, but he turned China into the powerful and great nation it is today. Propaganda much? They started listing all of these "achievements" Mao allegedly made during his rule.

[PC LOAD LETTER]

But my friends don't smoke weed. Besides weed is bad for your health.

I promise I was not high while typing that last post. I promise.

But weed + training new cadres at the same time does sound like a cool idea.
Only bad for your health if you smoke it. Same with smoking ANYTHING. Lung damage.

So make brownies!!

But, in college, be prepared to encounter tons of Libertarians. I mean the right-wing ones.

[Yuppie Grinder]

Patriotism is inherently reactionary. Be proud of your humanity and your individuality, not what piece of land you landed on when you fell out of a ****.

[MustCrushCapitalism]

Trying to educate high school students on Socialism is like trying to teach trigonometry to a four year old, in my experience.

[RedMarxist]

Trying to educate high school students on Socialism is like trying to teach trigonometry to a four year old, in my experience.

agreed. Most of my fellow students have been brainwashed to assume that Communism = evil and Socialism = it *was* a good theory but will never work in practice BS

I think the only reason my friend from China gives a little more shit than most students about Socialism is because their government drilled "Communism" into their head from birth through the propagandized Chinese education system.

I don't get it. I read Marx and Lenin and thus am educating myself, but get weird glances for doing so. When I read about the history of Communism, I get weird glances too.

So no one wants to know about Communism? Is it truly easier thinking it is evil and being done with it?

on a side note the U.S travel.gov agency says Cuba is "a totalitarian police state that uses violence against its own people to stay in power." how true is this statement?


But, in college, be prepared to encounter tons of Libertarians. I mean the right-wing ones.

the worst kind. On average, are their more actual Socialists, or are Libertarians more common? I really don't want to try and "convert" "convinced Capitalists". I don't do Capitalists!

[Geiseric]

Libertarians are easy to counter their arguements... Just need to watch for their curve balls which probably nobody would be answer to due to its idiocy. What do you think the answer to your question is about Cuba? America has used violence, as has any other state in world history. Cuba is a third world country, people there who are starving would probably not care less about what their USSR esque government thinks is suitabe for them to do.

[RedRose]

Most people assume that communism = autocracy, because they've been told in History class that teh USSR was evils, but not told that the USSR was never actually communist.
Something I like to start with is saying that 'Communism is anarchy with a plan'
Obviously this is a completely ridiculous statement, but it allows you enough time to explain easily that actual communism is stateless and not Stalin killing everyone which is most people's first argument, and that Marxism is basically a way to get to this anarchist-socialist-currencyless state by going through a DotP and a world revolution.

This is obviously only brief, but then it at least gets the 'OMG COMMUNISTS ARE GOING TO ENSLAVE ALL OF US' bit out of the way for now.

[ZeroNowhere]

100% Marxist-Leninist 150% Enemy of the Bourgeoisie 200% Revolutionary
Percentages don't work like that.

[Savage]

Percentages don't work like that.

you are obviously 145% armchair socialist

[RedMarxist]

Most people assume that communism = autocracy

That's the thing. If the textbooks don't teach what Communism actually is, than it forces students to seek out the information for themselves(as I have done). I guess in a way that is more or less a good thing-as it shows that one has a passion to educate themselves.

We can thank Uncle Joe for the whole belief that Communism as well as Socialism is autocratic or totalitarian. You can also blame Pol Pot and others for making that belief sink in more then it ever has before into the minds of the world's population.

I'm all for self-education. Yet my parents don't understand. They see me as some young, idealistic Communistradical, yearning for a political voice. My parents...don't see eye to eye with my views either-lets leave it at that.

I really do feel isolated, since I "became" a Communist. Only about two people I've met so far give a shit. that is it. Everyone else sees Communism as some distant curiosity, an authoritarian one at that.

[RedRose]

That's the thing. If the textbooks don't teach what Communism actually is, than it forces students to seek out the information for themselves(as I have done). I guess in a way that is more or less a good thing-as it shows that one has a passion to educate themselves.

We can thank Uncle Joe for the whole belief that Communism as well as Socialism is autocratic or totalitarian. You can also blame Pol Pot and others for making that belief sink in more then it ever has before into the minds of the world's population.

You hit the nail on the head, people our age are naturally cynical, and don't want to really educate themselves. If you just stand at the side shouting about the struggle of the proletariat then you'll be laughed off as some nutbag. I think trying to summarize commuism and stressing the 'nicer' aspects of it such as it not having any currency and no government, makes it alot easier to understand compared to going 'Here, borrow my copy of Das Kapital!'

[RedMarxist]

Exactly. How many times have I been told that "The Red Czar" (AKA Stalin) = Pure Communism?

A lot.

For now, I have only brought Communism up in casual conversation. Let's just say at least a few of my friends do care-and are cool with it. for now.

I guess I will keep studying Marx and other thinkers to get a good understanding so that I can adequately explain what Communism really is.

[Ocean Seal]

agreed. Most of my fellow students have been brainwashed to assume that Communism = evil and Socialism = it *was* a good theory but will never work in practice BS

I think the only reason my friend from China gives a little more shit than most students about Socialism is because their government drilled "Communism" into their head from birth through the propagandized Chinese education system.

I don't get it. I read Marx and Lenin and thus am educating myself, but get weird glances for doing so. When I read about the history of Communism, I get weird glances too.

So no one wants to know about Communism? Is it truly easier thinking it is evil and being done with it?

on a side note the U.S travel.gov agency says Cuba is "a totalitarian police state that uses violence against its own people to stay in power." how true is this statement?



the worst kind. On average, are their more actual Socialists, or are Libertarians more common? I really don't want to try and "convert" "convinced Capitalists". I don't do Capitalists!
Libertarians are far more common in this country. They aren't too hard to beat in debate. Just ask them how they intend to resolve the question the question of the state. How they intend on making it disappear, and you'll learn that they have no coherent plan. Ask them how the state came to be, and they'll be even more confused.



Exactly. How many times have I been told that "The Red Czar" (AKA Stalin) = Pure Communism?

A lot.

For now, I have only brought Communism up in casual conversation. Let's just say at least a few of my friends do care-and are cool with it. for now.

I guess I will keep studying Marx and other thinkers to get a good understanding so that I can adequately explain what Communism really is.
Please don't say pure communism. There is no pure communism. There is just communism.

[MustCrushCapitalism]

Something I like to start with is saying that 'Communism is anarchy with a plan'

Perfect wording, I must say.

[ZeroNowhere]

Libertarians are far more common in this country. They aren't too hard to beat in debate. Just ask them how they intend to resolve the question the question of the state. How they intend on making it disappear, and you'll learn that they have no coherent plan.
Um, yes, because libertarians don't intend on making the state disappear...?

[PC LOAD LETTER]

Um, yes, because libertarians don't intend on making the state disappear...?
Ancaps consider themselves Libertarians

[RedRose]

Please don't say pure communism. There is no pure communism. There is just communism.

Yes we know that, but Mr Capitalist thinks that communism was what Pol Pot and Stalin implemented.

One of the things that human beings hate the most, is having things redefined. If someone is comfortable with the idea that 'Communism is a totalitarian, autocratic socialist state' then they will keep that idea for as long as they can.

By first telling them that pure communism is something different and then defining that as 'Pure communism is a global, stateless, classless, moneyless society' they will have two definitions in their head. You then say that as a communist, you are fighting for 'pure' communism. You then explain the basics of Marxism and introduce the basic idea of 'Capitalism -> Socialism -> Communism' and this should replace their idea of 'communism' with the new idea of 'pure' communism, so they now actually know roughly what we're aiming for.

Hopefully they should, at least subconsciously recognise that whatever idea they had in their head was NOT communism, and was just a lie.
You'll probably then have the 'OMG BUT YOU STILL HAVE TOTALIATARIANISMSMSMS IN SOCILISM' argument to get over and silly things like that, but at least they are now arguing from a more informed basis.

[RedMarxist]

That's exactly what I meant by 'pure Communism.' Ideal Communism.

That is more or less what I've been doing. Works rather well if I do say myself.

So far just bringing my selected works of Marx book has been enough to strike up a conversation about Communism. Most people I've talked to think it is a totalitarian ideology where society is lorded over by the ever present Orwellian Communist party.

I am sympathetic to Marxism-Leninism however. I will point out that a lot of the blame when it comes to 'authoritarian Leninism' is *partly* Stalin's fault. Ho Chi Mihn, Mao, etc. were all influenced heavily by Stalin's totalitarian ideological version of Lenin's twisted original meaning of what Leninism actually was.

Erase Stalin from the equation and...

it is rather different. IMHO, Leninism in itself is not bad. Ideally, it works well for organizing revolutions of all types as has been seen throughout history. So I see no reason for why it has "failed."

My "Lenin book" has also struck up conversations about Marxism, specifically speaking on Communist Parties and on whether or not I believe in Leninism. I do.

[Binh]

I foolishly once contemplated starting a dumb socialist club, but realized that no one would care + parents/the principal might not like it, so I threw that idea away rather quickly.
So besides a few good, intelligent and like minded people, MOST people continue to be ignorant morons who don't even know basic history, let alone the history of Communism. They all think it is some sort of evil world dominating ideology or something like that. The fudge!

So it got me thinking. Once I get to college, I plan to really strive towards nipping that ignorance in the bud. What I mean is, I really plan to truly educate people about what Communism really is.


So you refuse to educate people about communism, history, and politics and then complain that they are ignorant? That is far less than 200% revolutionary (more like single digits, if that).

High school is one of the best places to organize and do political work. The field is wide open -- there are no Democrats, Republicans, or other trends to compete with. Plus, millions of people are being drawn into the Occupy movement, many of them your age. You should seek to reach them, organize them, and educate them.

Waiting to do this until you get to college is a cop out. Revolutionaries find a way around barriers like parents and principals. I did. Skammunist is as well. He can provide you practical advice too.

[Zealot]

on a side note the U.S travel.gov agency says Cuba is "a totalitarian police state that uses violence against its own people to stay in power.
Every single state in the world does this, what kind of an argument is that? The police force, army and intelligence agencies are all branches of the government that clear the way to keep the state machine rolling. So even if it was true it's nothing unique to Cuba.

[RedMarxist]

So you refuse to educate people about communism, history, and politics and then complain that they are ignorant? That is far less than 200% revolutionary (more like single digits, if that).

High school is one of the best places to organize and do political work. The field is wide open -- there are no Democrats, Republicans, or other trends to compete with. Plus, millions of people are being drawn into the Occupy movement, many of them your age. You should seek to reach them, organize them, and educate them.

Waiting to do this until you get to college is a cop out. Revolutionaries find a way around barriers like parents and principals. I did. Skammunist is as well. He can provide you practical advice too.

The only reason I didn't do something like that was because My bourgeois parents beat me up about it(it's a bad idea, no one is a Socialist in High School)

The thing I have contemplated doing (and will do) is discussing Socialism in a group setting. It's safer that way and less blatant than a "Socialist Club"

No one where I live could care less about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Sure, the city I live has been occupied, but first and foremost my parents won't lemme go cause they are afraid I will get arrested.

Plus, What am I gonna do? organize an occupation of the school? give me a break.

[Skammunist]

Hey Red, I would encourage you to do the group setting discussion on socialism. Hopefully you expand on it and form a group or something. The club doesn't have to be explicitly called "Socialist Club" by the way. I compromised and just called it "Social Justice Club", much more suitable for high school. Just know that when forming a group, most of the members should be your friends. Don't expect any of them to be political.

In my club, all the members are my friends, and none of them even knew what socialism was the first meeting. We are having our fourth meeting next week, and they still cling to capitalism a bit. They still aren't very sure about socialism. So be patient, it takes time. You just have to be an educator, while at the same time, don't be preachy. Give them as much room to discuss as possible. Don't expect them to understand all of the concepts. Another thing is try get an incentive for members to join.

I am in the IB program, as well as most of the members of my club. Part of getting our IB diploma is completing 150 hours of service. To get students to join, I advertised that we would be doing things for hours, like public service. This weekend, we are doing our first project by volunteering at a homeless shelter. Honestly, most of the kids don't give a hoot about socialism, just the hours. The point is slowly getting the message across. Try to tie whatever your activities are back into learning about injustice.

Good luck, I hope you go through with it.

[Skammunist]

Plus, What am I gonna do? organize an occupation of the school? give me a break.

I wouldn't even consider this. The administrators will hunt you down and will subject you to harsh disciplinary action. :laugh:

Like Binh mentioned, you have to find ways around barriers. Try to do things outside of the system, while not breaking the rules. I can't tell you how to do this, everyone is in a different situation that requires different tactics.

[ZeroNowhere]

Part of getting our IB diploma is completing 150 hours of service.
Really? Wasn't it 50 hours of service?

[Skammunist]

Really? Wasn't it 50 hours of service?


You are sort of correct. For IB, you need 150 CAS hours in total. This is distributed into community, action, and service. I'm assuming that you were in the IB program before 2010, in which case you had to have 50 hours of service. Now, they make it so that not every category has to be exactly balanced. You can have more or less service hours, as long as you have completed projects in all three categories equaling 150 hours. This makes it a lot less tedious in my opinion!

[ZeroNowhere]

Ah, I see, although service is probably the category which I would be least likely to do more of. Not a bad idea to change it, though.

[RedMarxist]

Hey Red, I would encourage you to do the group setting discussion on socialism. Hopefully you expand on it and form a group or something. The club doesn't have to be explicitly called "Socialist Club" by the way. I compromised and just called it "Social Justice Club", much more suitable for high school. Just know that when forming a group, most of the members should be your friends. Don't expect any of them to be political.

In my club, all the members are my friends, and none of them even knew what socialism was the first meeting. We are having our fourth meeting next week, and they still cling to capitalism a bit. They still aren't very sure about socialism. So be patient, it takes time. You just have to be an educator, while at the same time, don't be preachy. Give them as much room to discuss as possible. Don't expect them to understand all of the concepts. Another thing is try get an incentive for members to join.

I am in the IB program, as well as most of the members of my club. Part of getting our IB diploma is completing 150 hours of service. To get students to join, I advertised that we would be doing things for hours, like public service. This weekend, we are doing our first project by volunteering at a homeless shelter. Honestly, most of the kids don't give a hoot about socialism, just the hours. The point is slowly getting the message across. Try to tie whatever your activities are back into learning about injustice.

Good luck, I hope you go through with it.

You just gave me some good ideas.

Even when I told my folks about renaming it and not being overtly political, they got on me about that too. Let's just say A)They hate politics and B) No nothing about politics.

As a start, I was going to bring the Naxalite Maoist Rebels up in a group meeting I attend. I don't think that would be too overt, and plus it would be a good social issue to talk about concerning Indian society on a whole.

I'd love to start my own group up. My friends, as you have pointed out, are not political in the least bit. Problem is A)Getting people I don't know to join and the issue of B) The fact that my friends might not join to begin with.

For now I will just be covert in my social issues, try to be modest. Who knows, I may touch some hearts in the group I attend?

[RHIZOMES]

Anyways, don't show them YOUR principles, show them universal principles. Seems cultish showing people Maoist articles. you make it seem really romantic too, rhetoric like "Educating people on communism," gives the initial impression that you think they are Un-Educated,

What he said. I like what you're trying to do RedMarxist, and I'm only criticising so you can improve your skills in making people think in revolutionary directions. I was guilty of this stuff for years, and acting this way was one of my biggest mistakes as a socialist during my time in high school.

Speaking down to other people will only alienate them from your ideas, you've got to stop seeing yourself in this broad narrative of 'I the enlightened communist and the proletarians who don't know any better'.

Creating revolutionary sentiment is about fostering dialogue, between the principles of revolution (on your end, and its more than simply 'Marxism') and the lived experiences of the workers you are engaging with. Speaking down to workers is just the abstract intellectual mirror-image of hierarchical class society. You are the giver of knowledge and the 'potential revolutionaries' are just the passive receivers of communist wisdom.

I actually find people that have been screwed over by the 'system' in some way or another already have a lot figured out, just not always with the right words or conceptions at hand.

[RedMarxist]

I knew people screwed over by the system. Of course, they just didn't know quite why they were being screwed over. Like the rest, Communism/or Socialism were just two evil, authoritarian ideologies detrimental to their well being.

I think what is damning about the Tea-Party is the fact that when Occupy Wall Street/the World started, 1000+ supported the movement, and on OWS's website it preaches against Neo-Liberalism and the system as a whole. It shows that it is a lie that "most, if not all, Americans are unsympathetic to Communism/or Socialism."

this may just be me, but if people would just stop reading that 'Dangers of Socialism website(its a real website!)' and listening to the cries of the far-right/moderate right, than more people would be Socialists. That probably isn't true, but whatever.

[Binh]

The only reason I didn't do something like that was because My bourgeois parents beat me up about it(it's a bad idea, no one is a Socialist in High School)

The thing I have contemplated doing (and will do) is discussing Socialism in a group setting. It's safer that way and less blatant than a "Socialist Club"

No one where I live could care less about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Sure, the city I live has been occupied, but first and foremost my parents won't lemme go cause they are afraid I will get arrested.

Plus, What am I gonna do? organize an occupation of the school? give me a break.

Guess what? Your bourgeois parents are going to oppose the revolution too. Are you going to give up because they grounded you?

What do you have in mind for your group setting?

Also, have you found any left-leaning sympathetic teachers? I bet some of them are pro-occupy. Maybe you can get a discussion group organized after school to talk about "current events" i.e. politics.

[∞]

officially, yes. unofficially, yes.

I wasn't attempting to defend "reactionary American patriotism." I said it than and I will say it now: I am proud of my nation because I was born and raised here, not because I'm some evil right wing Republican. There, I said it. I am born here and agree with SOME of its principles, so why not be proud?



You can't be proud of something you didn't accomplish. You had no way to determine where and how you were born.