How to educate the people?

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

In Holland it repeatedly showed hard for me to even tell i'm a communist.
Let alone convince someone of my standpoints.
All they know about communism is Russia, Stalin and millions of deaths.

How can i educate the people about the real communism.
I tried to tell them that that wasn't communism but a dictatoriat and that capitalism has caused far more deaths and is still killing as we speak.
They all seemed rusted in place. They say none of it is true: "capitalism has brought us wealth", they say.

I say: look where it got us. We are on the edge of bearable life. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. Farmers give us our daily foods, yet they are grossly underpaid and are forced to live in miserable conditions.

What to do...

[Questionable]

For just starting out, I would recommend strength in numbers. Try to find other people who are enthusiastic about communism and start a little study group, then try to turn it into something more.

That's what I've been trying to do, anyway. Being in rural Kentucky, I'm having about the same success as you, but hopefully we can change that soon.

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

For just starting out, I would recommend strength in numbers. Try to find other people who are enthusiastic about communism and start a little study group, then try to turn it into something more.

That's what I've been trying to do, anyway. Being in rural Kentucky, I'm having about the same success as you, but hopefully we can change that soon.

Wow, i believe you might just have it harder than me!
Great idea though. I am going to try it.
...ehm...do or do not, there is no try...

[Crimson Commissar]

For just starting out, I would recommend strength in numbers. Try to find other people who are enthusiastic about communism and start a little study group, then try to turn it into something more.

That's what I've been trying to do, anyway. Being in rural Kentucky, I'm having about the same success as you, but hopefully we can change that soon.

This is right, for the most part. As just one person speaking out for Communism you're seen as more of a nutjob or just a misguided teen looking for an excuse to rebel. When organized as a group, leftist movements are certainly taken more seriously.

[The Jay]

It is better not to push. Just give people that you know a taste and let them come to you later. Be patient.

[theblackmask]

You can start with getting rid of the idea that the people need to be educated...

[Don't Swallow The Cap]

You can start with getting rid of the idea that the people need to be educated...
I am inclined to agree. Words seem to carry more weight when they are not being dropped from atop a pedestal.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

If it's any help to you, try and aim for the people who have it particularly hard under capitalism. Homeless or low-wage workers, "derelicts" as many haughty or elitist members of the public would call some of them. Some might seem intimidating on the outside, but I can tell you from personal experience that these are the kinds of people that are brimming with class-consciousness. The most experienced proletarians, the most sympathetic to our cause are often the ones barely struggling to get by.

They've been through the worst of capitalism. They know exactly how shit it is. And if you don't explain what's going on, why it's going on and how to stop it, someone else will. (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/golden-dawn-the-alarming-rise-of-greeces-far-right-8200183.html)

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

You can start with getting rid of the idea that the people need to be educated...

You might be right there. It's just the lack of understanding i find so tiring.
I don't know for other countries, but in Holland we are (or at least i was) learned that communism is bad. It's evil followers killed millions and are trying to kill us all.

...damn, capitalist-education is f-ed up!

[The Jay]

You can start with getting rid of the idea that the people need to be educated...

Cute pandering there. He didn't call people stupid, but it is true that communist or socialist theory is not common knowledge. In that sense, yes, people need to be educated if you want to actually get anywhere. Ideas about surplus value expropriation don't always just pop into people's minds randomly. Outreach is a necessary part of a movement towards Socialism.

[MarxSchmarx]

You might be right there. It's just the lack of understanding i find so tiring.
I don't know for other countries, but in Holland we are (or at least i was) learned that communism is bad. It's evil followers killed millions and are trying to kill us all.

...damn, capitalist-education is f-ed up!

Well for starters, maybe you should rethink using the "C" word.

Most Marxist parties didn't call themselves "Communist" until the Russian revolution, and quite a few changed their names after 1991.

We use it around here but we're in the know - "communist" means more than Bolshevism, and there is some degree of ambiguity. IRL you have no such luxury.

Actually I think your "utopianist" description is one plausible way to go about it. Then you move from being "vile genocidal maniac" and "desperately naive idealist" to just a "desperately naive idealist". And it's not like claiming to be a Hoxhaist or something that nobody has any idea what it is. Nobody is a "utopian" today but people have some vague notion of what utopia is. Since it seems absurd, a few might ask you what you mean by that, and then you can go from there.

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

Well for starters, maybe you should rethink using the "C" word.

Most Marxist parties didn't call themselves "Communist" until the Russian revolution, and quite a few changed their names after 1991.

We use it around here but we're in the know - "communist" means more than Bolshevism, and there is some degree of ambiguity. IRL you have no such luxury.

Actually I think your "utopianist" description is one plausible way to go about it. Then you move from being "vile genocidal maniac" and "desperately naive idealist" to just a "desperately naive idealist". And it's not like claiming to be a Hoxhaist or something that nobody has any idea what it is. Nobody is a "utopian" today but people have some vague notion of what utopia is. Since it seems absurd, a few might ask you what you mean by that, and then you can go from there.

I think that just might work! Since 'communism' is such a difficult term today, i should probably not go around acclaiming to be communist (which i actually don't, just defending it).

Oh, it's just me, trying to speed through the proces, hoping to be part of the revolution before i die an old age...:p

[Nihilist Scud Missile]

How do you get a slave to throw off his/her chains when they're survival in a capitalist society depends on them ignoring them. Well, the coming onslought of austerity might make the frogs jump from the boiling water but thus far the so called (socialist?) left in America has been telling the frogs to jump into the lap of the Democrat party. If I were you I'd start by convincing as many people as you can that voting isnt going to change thier situation. Once convinced of that sad fact explain why workers, not capitalists and not politicians or anyone other than workers, should control the means of production. If every American had a basic understanding of Marx's materialist conception of history we would all choose the path of liberty rather than be enslaved by a minority parasite class. My advice is to use Marx's materialist conception of history be you an anarchist such as myself or any other sort of socialist. Everything, when talking to people who don't understand socialism, should start with the materialist conception of history. Workers, WE, do need to understand what we're fighting for but we don't need a vangaurd or any other class to lead us there. A deep understanding of Marx's Capital is also not nessesary.

Below is a great place to start and also an Oolive branch extended to any ISO members I may have offended in prior posts :)

http://isopittsburgh.blogspot.com/2010/05/meaning-of-marxism-study-group-part-one.html

[Take The Long Way Home]

People are manipulated by the media,thinking that communism is in china,norht korea,cuba,... But if people would actually read the communist manifesto or any book for that matter.,they would know,that no country wasn't even close of being a communist one.

Marxism is become more popular every day( with the people that actually cares about their own life) because people are realizing how this neo-liberal system really works,its an pure "democratic" dictatorship. When people will realise that their life actually sucks,and that they could live much better,they will stand up and resist,but we are still far from achieving the final revolution when army's will collapse there wount be no countries,...everyone would work for the greater good of man kind,....

But people rather spend their time on facebook,playing games,reading magazines than actually thinking about their own life,how people are killing each other, everyday,why did we got to the current crisis,....

[l'Enfermé]

You can start with getting rid of the idea that the people need to be educated...
The current ignorance of the masses cannot possible be a satisfactory state of affairs.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Ideas result from the deeds, not the latter from the former, and the people will not be free when they are educated, but will be educated when they are free.

(I'm either saying that you should lead by example, or that listening to Manner Farm will educate the people. Take your pick.)

[tachosomoza]

Take advantage of the existing apparatus. We need more comrades who are teachers and professors.

[MarxSchmarx]

Well for starters, maybe you should rethink using the "C" word.

Most Marxist parties didn't call themselves "Communist" until the Russian revolution, and quite a few changed their names after 1991.

We use it around here but we're in the know - "communist" means more than Bolshevism, and there is some degree of ambiguity. IRL you have no such luxury.

Actually I think your "utopianist" description is one plausible way to go about it. Then you move from being "vile genocidal maniac" and "desperately naive idealist" to just a "desperately naive idealist". And it's not like claiming to be a Hoxhaist or something that nobody has any idea what it is. Nobody is a "utopian" today but people have some vague notion of what utopia is. Since it seems absurd, a few might ask you what you mean by that, and then you can go from there.I think that just might work! Since 'communism' is such a difficult term today, i should probably not go around acclaiming to be communist (which i actually don't, just defending it).

Oh, it's just me, trying to speed through the proces, hoping to be part of the revolution before i die an old age...:p

I take it you're being sarcastic?

The problem is communism means something to a lot of people that doesn't seem to mean to them what you think it does. Until you can approach the debate on their terms instead of expecting them to adjust to you, you will have a hard time advocating for the cause.

Anyway I think propagandizing for "communism" in the abstract isn't what this is about - it's about advocating for the liberation of the working class, and end to sexism/racism, workers solidary and internationalism, that sort of thing. If it becomes primarily about defending a mere idea, or, worse, a word, then that's actively counterproductive.

[Domela Nieuwenhuis]

I take it you're being sarcastic?

The problem is communism means something to a lot of people that doesn't seem to mean to them what you think it does. Until you can approach the debate on their terms instead of expecting them to adjust to you, you will have a hard time advocating for the cause.

Anyway I think propagandizing for "communism" in the abstract isn't what this is about - it's about advocating for the liberation of the working class, and end to sexism/racism, workers solidary and internationalism, that sort of thing. If it becomes primarily about defending a mere idea, or, worse, a word, then that's actively counterproductive.

It's the only thing i'm good at, sarcasm and irony.

Might be a good idee though...not defending the term, but just propagising for the liberation of the working-class.

[Q]

The point about communist education is to create worker-leaders. People who are capable of thinking for themselves and work to spread political awareness, in their own way.

I've been an "educator" for some time for a few new and younger comrades. My goal is always to bring them up to a certain point, so they know what communist politics is all about (and I focus on four general themes in that: programme, economics, anthropology and our history, and I have to note that I always try to be as much a student myself in these things and learn new insights along the way), but once reached at that point I kinda hope to see comrades blossom in their own respect and be able to teach me about subjects that interest them.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I have authored a helpful pamphlet for you to distribute to the poor unenlightened plebes:

1. Cook a big ol' pot of vegan slop
2. ???
3. Full Communism