I'm new, and have questions

[Mike Fakelastname]

First off, I've been a Communist for several months now, and I've tried to study pretty deeply into Marx and Engels philosophies in that short time, so I'm not super new to it, but I'm no expert either. Most of the stuff I've had nothing to do with Central American Communism either. I have a few questions for the comrades here, and please be brief as possible, my eyes hurt like fuck, and I don't want to have to read a novel here:

1. Fidel Castro, so, are we supposed to like him or what? If so, tell me the highlights of his regime.

2. Che, I've studied breifly about him. I'm wondering, what the cause of everyone's fascination over him?

3. What is the deal this "leftist" stuff I've been hearing so much about? What is the opposite of a leftist? A rightist?

4. I'm no racist or anything, but what is the predominant nationality of everyone here? I'm white and from America by the way.


P.S. I posted this in the Che forum, but then realized that this one is way more popular, so I posted it here as well.

[Mike Fakelastname]

Please answer me! Now I have even more questions:

5. What is the difference between Marxism/Leninism and Communism?

6. Can someone give me a link to a site with Engel's "Principles of Communism" on it?

[Iepilei]

Fidel Castro, so, are we supposed to like him or what? If so, tell me the highlights of his regime.
It all depends on your own perspective on the situation. Myself, I believe that Castro has done very well for the people of Cuba and has stood valiantly against the pressures the Imperialist US has exerted upon the island. Standing still amongst the loss of Soviet subsidies, as well as a massive hit in trade as a result of US embargos, Cuba has proven to be a shining star amongst the corruption-filled nations which riddle Latin America.


Che, I've studied breifly about him. I'm wondering, what the cause of everyone's fascination over him?

A true hero, this man. His charisma and dedication are among his defining attributes; reasons why he's remained so popular throughout the years. He fought for the better interests of the 3rd world, and spoke openly about the injustices of the United States as well as the Soviet Union. It's my belief that Comrade Che had a strong grasp on what it meant to be a Marxist.


What is the deal this "leftist" stuff I've been hearing so much about? What is the opposite of a leftist? A rightist?
Left-wing. Stereotyped "liberal" politics, usually. Our antithesis is the right-wing, conservative mindsets - predominantly economic-minded conservatives. Capitalists, etc.


I'm no racist or anything, but what is the predominant nationality of everyone here? I'm white and from America by the way.
Native American/Czech Here. I'm from the United States, as well.


What is the difference between Marxism/Leninism and Communism?
Marxism is the foundation for the Communist movement. Leninism is merely a revisionism of Marx's works, as fitting for the time surrounding the bolshevik revolution. You'll find there are many paradigms amongst us socialists, from the authoritarian to the more libertarian mindsets. Personally, I don't consider myself a Leninist or any other form of revisionist. I accept their writings as appropriet for the situations at their time - but I hold firm to the words of Marx and his underlying notions thereof.

Everyone has their own opinion.


Can someone give me a link to a site with Engel's "Principles of Communism" on it?
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works...11/prin-com.htm (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm)

[RevolucioN NoW]

I wouldnt consider myself an expert either but here we go:

1. Fidel Castro, so, are we supposed to like him or what? If so, tell me the highlights of his regime.

Fidel castro is the leader of Cuba and there is a divide in the left between those who like him and dont. Preety much he siezed power in 1959 at the head of the 26 July guerrila column and a few years later, after an invasion and the imposion of an embargo by the US, he had transformed his country into a one party marxist-leninist sate.

Benifits from his rule have been a great health care system which ranks Cuba amongst the worlds 5 best in this field, an education program that has created nearly 100% literacy and the divide between the rich and the poor has been mostly elimiated.

Drawbacks include his (disputable) dicatorship and the imprisonment of dissidents (also debatable)

so make up your own mind.

2. Che, I've studied breifly about him. I'm wondering, what the cause of everyone's fascination over him?

I wouldnt really call it a fascination but he was the most famous 20th century revolutionary, he brought the communist message to all corners of the world and was generally a person who would help his fellow humans were ever he could.

His face also fits well on flags, placards, wherever you need them :D

3. What is the deal this "leftist" stuff I've been hearing so much about? What is the opposite of a leftist? A rightist?

Leftist= communists, socialists, anarchists, some liberals.
Rightist= fascists, conservatives (republicans etc)

hope that clears it up

4. I'm no racist or anything, but what is the predominant nationality of everyone here? I'm white and from America by the way.

Im from Australia, chack the che-live census, its in chit-chat i think.

5. What is the difference between Marxism/Leninism and Communism?

Both communist and marxist-leninist claim to be Marxist, but the leninist bit as added by V.I Lenin, leader of the Russian Revolution who made his own alterations (the revolutionary party etc)

6. Can someone give me a link to a site with Engel's "Principles of Communism" on it?

Principles of Communism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm)

[Mike Fakelastname]

RevolucioN NoW: Thanks very much for clearing that bit up with Fidel, along with everything else. You were helpful comrade.


Iepilei: Thanks for the help with everything else, you seem to be very well educated. I actually had to look "paradigm" up on dictionary.com, heh.

[RevolucioN NoW]

happy to help comrade

:ph34r:

[Goldfinger]

what's with the ninja smiley?

[profound]

RevolucioN NoW

i'm and aussie too!

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE..........

you know the rest

[RevolucioN NoW]

The ninja smiley... i thought it was a zapatista...

profound, which city you from

MOZZIE MOZZIE MOZZIE...

[sypher]

a great site for ALL communists/socialist is
http://www.marxists.org
go there...learn

[Agent provocateur]

Originally posted by Mike [email protected] 19 2003, 09:30 PM
First off, I've been a Communist for several months now, and I've tried to study pretty deeply into Marx and Engels philosophies in that short time, so I'm not super new to it, but I'm no expert either. Most of the stuff I've had nothing to do with Central American Communism either. I have a few questions for the comrades here, and please be brief as possible, my eyes hurt like fuck, and I don't want to have to read a novel here:

1. Fidel Castro, so, are we supposed to like him or what? If so, tell me the highlights of his regime.

2. Che, I've studied breifly about him. I'm wondering, what the cause of everyone's fascination over him?

3. What is the deal this "leftist" stuff I've been hearing so much about? What is the opposite of a leftist? A rightist?

4. I'm no racist or anything, but what is the predominant nationality of everyone here? I'm white and from America by the way.


P.S. I posted this in the Che forum, but then realized that this one is way more popular, so I posted it here as well.
Here, pal, a gift from me to you.

Che Guevara is Time magazine's one of the 100 most important figures in the last century

http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/pr.../guevara01.html (http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/guevara01.html)

[Mike Fakelastname]

Agent Provocateur, I read all three articles, and they were very, extremely inspiring. The revolution must happen soon, I am getting very impatient.

[Agent provocateur]

Hey, Mike, I sent you some poems etc. via this forum's e-mail delivery system. I don't know your e-mail adress (so don't worry) but this forum does and I just sent them on their merry way. Congratulations on becoming a revolutionary.

Check this out!

http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_review.../01/010301.html (http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/1997/01/010301.html)

http://www.mandypatinkin.net/EVITA/evitaphotos.html

http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_review.../10/103101.html (http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/2003/10/103101.html)

[Pete]

Patience is a vice as much as it is a virtue.

I myself look negatively on Leninism, but then again, I look down on most dogmas, dogmatically so if you will.

I forgot what I was going to say, but welcome.

[Mike Fakelastname]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2003, 07:53 PM
Patience is a vice as much as it is a virtue.

I myself look negatively on Leninism, but then again, I look down on most dogmas, dogmatically so if you will.

I forgot what I was going to say, but welcome.
Explain to me what Dogma is, is it similar to Karma?

Agent provocateur, I got all your emails, but it will be some time before I get to read all of them. Thanks though.

[Iepilei]

anyone who follows something dogmatically follows it, "by the word" ... as many Christians tend to dogmatically follow the bible. They don't lend any bit open to interpretation, which is (in my opinion) a very closed minded way of viewing things.

[RaveRDave]

The religious incarnation of dogma ruins logical thought in almost every corner in the world.. not that there is anything necessarily wrong with religion.

[Mike Fakelastname]

Ok, I see. I still don't get the bumper sticker that says, "My Karma ran over your Dogma" though.

[RaveRDave]

Just a silly pun... like a car running over a dog. Not necessarily related, unless you take it to mean that their good karma, in some odd event, crushed your mindless belief. I dunno.

[Iepilei]

Yeah, I believe that's what it's getting at.

[Pete]

That bumper sticker is a bad interpretation of karma. It is very complex, and I could explain it, or attempt to (from my understanding atleast...which could be wrong :blink: ) later if you wanted.

[Mike Fakelastname]

No need, Pete, I have a fair understanding of what Karma is. I guess I get the bumpersticker now.