some noob questions

[jd43]

sup guys just registered. lately ive been watching a lot of movies on revolutionary movements or movies pertaining to those elements - the edukators, che, carlos, the baadar meinhof complex, the lives of others, etc and ive been really interested in these types of groups. id really like to start to get educated in on political beliefs or revolutionary movements. my whole life ive usually never aligned myself with anything and ive just been really apathetic towards anything in politics or government. so with that being said is there anyone that can point me to the right direction so i can develop some of my own thoughts and opinions? i know this might be frustrating or you guys might rip on me but id really like to start believing in something instead of watching the world go by. hopefully you guys can help
thanks

[The Young Pioneer]

Welcome. I'm relatively new here, too, but not new to political self-education.

Read, read, read. But more importantly, observe. Your best bet (if you can afford to do so), is to live/travel to other countries. Visit former Soviet bloc countries. (Not to say they were a correct form of communism, but to see the history firsthand can lead to a better understanding of what went wrong.)

I think it's great that you're enthusiastic about learning. I wasn't until I found myself living in the city that happens to be home to one of the last remaining Lenin museums in the world. (Tampere, Finland- highly recommend it.)

Again, reading and research is so important to have a solid foundation. But in my opinion you can be the most well-read and researched person in the world and still have no clue about how things really are/were without travel. The resources and educational tools available to you will vary by location, and are biased by the government of the region. One of the most eye-opening experiences for me as an American was visiting Bunker 42 in Moscow and learning about the Cold War from the Russian perspective. That'll get your juices flowin'.

;) Good luck and welcome!

[Rooster]

Word of warning: the groups in those films have been minority groups with little to no connection with working class movements. The whole point of communism is the proletariat acting as a class, not to let some small group to act with for it's interest.

[Ele'ill]

You could figure out if there is a radical bookstore near you and head over there to find some books/dvds.

http://www.akpress.org/ has dvd's books and other stuff that may help.

I always learn better by watching, listening to and talking with people about politics. Is there an IWW branch near you? It would be great for you to talk with them and let them help you out in person.

[CommieTroll]

Welcome to RevLeft, newcomers are always welcome unless they are Conservatives, Capitalists or Fascists. Can you tell us of your political beliefs first?(if you have any).
For a beginner I'd stick to this reading list http://www.marxists.org/subject/students/index.htm

The Communist Manifesto by Marx & Engles is a good book to start with although some of the language can be confusing. The Learning section here on RevLeft can help you find your way. I'd start off reading Marx first to get a grasp of what Communism is and why the revolutionary left wants to abolish Capitalism. A key tip, read as much as you can, read about the many different tendencies and Marxists who helped shape Marxism into what it is today.

[El Rojo]

welcome conrade. as the others have said, read read read. but also, participate. I learn more from one demo of the British student uprising last year than my entire politics course