Flyer for my high school communist group i'm starting

[d3crypt]

What do you guys think? Made it myself using word. Gonna put these up over my school.
http://i.imgur.com/OSnU1qql.jpg

[Brutus]

I wouldn't call it a party, and would probably replace the hammer and sickle with a a red star.

[d3crypt]

I wouldn't call it a party, and would probably replace the hammer and sickle with a a red star.
Why? The association with the soviet union and dictatorship?

[Stalinist Speaker]

i would recommend you joining a local communist party and put out their posters. and you need to have at least 50 people members/followers to call it a party, at least where i live.

[d3crypt]

i would recommend you joining a local communist party and put out their posters. and you need to have at least 50 people members/followers to call it a party, at least where i live.

Lol, a 1 person party is where i am at right now.

[Brutus]

Exactly. You don't want to be giving off that vibe. Also, you have two anarchist symbols, but only one communist symbol; maybe replace one of the anarchist symbols with some other socialistic symbol?

[d3crypt]

Exactly. You don't want to be giving off that vibe. Also, you have two anarchist symbols, but only one communist symbol; maybe replace one of the anarchist symbols with some other socialistic symbol?

Like?

[Stalinist Speaker]

Exactly. You don't want to be giving off that vibe. Also, you have two anarchist symbols, but only one communist symbol; maybe replace one of the anarchist symbols with some other socialistic symbol?

Well it could be an anarcho-communist party, symbols doesn't really make a difference.

[d3crypt]

Well it could be an anarcho-communist party, symbols doesn't really make a difference.

I want marxists and anarcho-communists. Sectarianism doesn't matter when you are the only person there. Besides i like marxism and anarchist communism.

[Stalinist Speaker]

I want marxists and anarcho-communists. Sectarianism doesn't matter when you are the only person there. Besides i like marxism and anarchist communism.

i would still recommend you look in to the already existing parties/youth leagues, read their programs compare to other parties and ask question. here are a list of parties choose wisely
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Communist_parties_in_the_United_States

[blake 3:17]

Go for it!

[Brutus]

I still think you shouldn't become a 'party', as you'll create another sect. Create an entry-level group- reading circles, discussions, etcetera. Maybe start making your own alternate culture?

As for a symbol, try something like a raised fist or some crap.

[#FF0000]

If it's a party, what's your platform?

And are you alone in this? It's a little silly to form a "party" or any group on your own, and not with a group of like-minded people.

What are you goals for this group?

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Yeah, "Group" or "Club" is probably a better bet than "Party" (even just in terms of maintaining some degree of theoretical coherence, vis- Marx's understanding of the party). You should keep "party" in the email address though, because that's funny.

As for the flyer itself, do you have access to colour copies?
If not, I'd ditch the black box, or it's going to be damn near unreadable.
Actually, I'd ditch the black box period, because I think it's less-than-attractive: re-word its content into a catchy paragraph. The lack of any full sentences seriously makes the flier less credible.
Also, ditch the black and red flag - the square is, again, less than brilliant graphic design.
Maybe move the top text between the hammer & sickle / circle-A, and ditch them from the text itself (too cheesey!).

Hope this helps.

[blake 3:17]

9 color copies! 9 color copies!

[blake 3:17]

Or make them 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and make 8 and then you have 32 color flyers!

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Like?

What if you just used a hammer and plough?

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/179/redarmywj0.jpg

http://beckylindroos.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/col-25.jpg

[Comrade Samuel]

I like the bottom portion- it's right to the point about what a genuine revolutionary organization should stand for.

Brutus has a point though; lose the red star w/ hammer and sickle, I realize it looks cool as hell but unfortunately that particular symbol seems to be a favorite of Russian nationalists and tankies the world over....I'd suggest using one or the other.

Best of luck with this project, should it be successful I wouldn't mind some pointers for starting one of my own.

[Hermes]

If you're starting a high school group, unless you already know there's a ton of communists at your school, I'm not too sure about making it a 'communist-only' group.

A lot of people wouldn't know enough about what that actually means to even want to join, depending on what you want to do, I'd suggest a reading/film/instructional/whatever group.

Iunno though.

[Skyhilist]

The flyer doesn't really explain what exactly people can expect to do as part of the group.

Also, given that only a very small fraction of a percentage of people (in the USA at least) are communists, I don't think it really makes any sense to say "only communists can join" or whatever because then you'll end up with yourself and maybe one other person in the club. If you make it open to anyone who would like to learn about communism as well (because their history classes didnanterrible class of explaining it correctly) then you might get more people and it might be more effective.

[mykittyhasaboner]

If you put these posters up at your high school, they wont be up for very long. My advice would be to try and start a club, simply about political economy in general. Allow anybody to join so it actually gets members and try and learn. Have discussions debate openly. Create factions within the club. i don't know i never actually tried to start a club in high school. This is just my opinion.

Starting a sect will get you no where, especially in high school. This is closer to the truth.

[d3crypt]

Any ideas for a name? The new name will be Champs ____ Club.

[#FF0000]

Any ideas for a name? The new name will be Champs ____ Club.

Hm, this is something that should, ideally, be decided by people who are founding the group. As in, you and other people who are directly involved. Starting something like this alone isn't really a good idea.

[Blake's Baby]

Are there any other 'radicals' at your school? Talking to them, without putting out flyers, would probably be the way to go at first. Then when you've all decided that you're going to form a 'Radical Students Group' or whatever, and put up notices to that effect, you can do it collectively instead of asking random strangers on the net to help with something that is at the moment just you.

EDIT: well, yeah, pretty much as #F0000 just said.

[d3crypt]

Are there any other 'radicals' at your school? Talking to them, without putting out flyers, would probably be the way to go at first. Then when you've all decided that you're going to form a 'Radical Students Group' or whatever, and put up notices to that effect, you can do it collectively instead of asking random strangers on the net to help with something that is at the moment just you.

EDIT: well, yeah, pretty much as #F0000 just said.

That's why am making this. To find the other radicals. Currently i know only 1.

[Blake's Baby]

And have you talked to this other radical about this? Do they know anyone who might want to discuss or otherwise get involved in radical politics?

[#FF0000]

That's why am making this. To find the other radicals. Currently i know only 1.

Unfortunately, you're kind of doing it backwards. You want to find some other people to organize with first. At least a handful of other people.

[d3crypt]

How is Champs Socialist Club?

[Radio Spartacus]

Make it a radical student union or something like that. Don't just talk theory, represent the students too. Also definitely lose the hammer and sickle, bad connotations. We ought to distance ourselves from that until people understand what that actually means. And make it open to anyone, you could even host a "debate a communist" day if you're good at argument.

[d3crypt]

And have you talked to this other radical about this? Do they know anyone who might want to discuss or otherwise get involved in radical politics?

I will talk to him about it. I'm not sure, but i don't think he does.

[d3crypt]

New version http://i.imgur.com/Tgz2QCGl.jpg

[La Guaneña]

Fellow High School commie organizer here.

Well, here in Brazil things are pretty different from the USA, but from personal experience and from what I've heard on this forum and other places, I'd like to point out a few things:

-First off, I think this idea will not be popular. Being a communist isn't popular, and I think the name will scare off lots of people who might me interested in something else, and end off turning the group into a two or three person group, wich is pointless

-Second, student organizations are usually more interesting if they have a goal. A simple group to reunite socialists might be a good idea for a boooooooooooring college study group, but not for High School. (again, personal experience)

-The no non-communists stuff also scares people away. In my opinion this has to be something attractive and friendly, win hearts and minds.


In my opinion, what you have in mind is a mass movement, but you are treating it like a rigid and sellective vanguard cadre organization. I think this has a much better chance of taking off if you create an interest specific group that has a political theme that the students can relate to (or at least a part of them), such as a group to discuss and put anti racist/sexist policies into practices, such as promoting movie screenings, debates and fighting for affirmative policies from the School Board.

You can direct the focus at many issues, such as tuitition fees, immigrant issues, racial and gender issues, general quality of the school, services that the students needed that the school does not offer and stuff like that.

By doing this, you end up stimulating political debate among the students. I'll be honest, it's a long and hard process, but when things work out and 2-300 students are rallied to occupy a Directors office or other stuff like that, it pays off.

High school rocks, enjoy it comrade!

[International_Solidarity]

I just started a club called the "Political Ideology Club" and then we talked solely about Communism at the meetings until we weeded out all of those not interested in Socialism.

I think this is the best option at American High Schools.

[La Guaneña]

When you yanks talk about "clubs" are they like study groups? Or actual groups to represent and defend interest?

[Rusty Shackleford]

dont call it a party. call it a group or club. id go as far as to even change the email.

calling it a party is completely cliche, to be blunt.

you want it to be accessible. You want it to not be inaccessible.

Hammer and Sickle or no Hammer and sickle doesnt matter, Communism is generally identified with the H&S, and may be more easily identified for people who are not very exposed to it.

dont be surprised though if people confuse the hammer and sickle with a swastika or ask you questions that you may think are annoying or dumb like 'isnt that nazism?'

its common.

good luck, i wish i did this in HS.



When you yanks talk about "clubs" are they like study groups? Or actual groups to represent and defend interest?

clubs are whatever. they can be study groups, groups that organize activities, groups that just watch movies together, its a really broad term. in schools it is just a place where students meet at a scheduled time to do whatever they agreed to do, usually they have to be sanctioned by the school if i recall correctly.

[Nakidana]

New version http://i.imgur.com/Tgz2QCGl.jpg

Don't get me wrong or anything bro, I'm glad you're starting a group, but lmao something about the random Che image with "Che Guevara" written underneath just made me lose it. :laugh:

[Blake's Baby]

'For all Revolutionary Socialists...' doesn't mean anything. It wouldn't mean anything in a school somewhere where 'socialist' doesn't mean 'psychotic baby-killing degenerate', but in the US I suspect that there are people who would actually be interested in discussing with you, who will think 'Revolutionary Socialist? No way am I one of them'. And as you've said it's for 'Revolutionary Socialists' they won't come. If you don't put it, they might. Why not 'for anyone to read and discuss...'?

And 'fight wars' is awesome.

Perhaps, given the number of things you want to fight, you should call it 'Fight Club'.

[Yuppie Grinder]

No offense bruh but I don't see this sort of thing as being very productive. Maybe try to find like-minded people your age who live near you and start a study group or something. That'd be a good start.

[Nakidana]

'For all Revolutionary Socialists...' doesn't mean anything. It wouldn't mean anything in a school somewhere where 'socialist' doesn't mean 'psychotic baby-killing degenerate', but in the US I suspect that there are people who would actually be interested in discussing with you, who will think 'Revolutionary Socialist? No way am I one of them'. And as you've said it's for 'Revolutionary Socialists' they won't come. If you don't put it, they might. Why not 'for anyone to read and discuss...'?

And 'fight wars' is awesome.

Perhaps, given the number of things you want to fight, you should call it 'Fight Club'.

http://i.imgur.com/Pza5nzk.png

[Geiseric]

What do you guys think? Made it myself using word. Gonna put these up over my school.
http://i.imgur.com/OSnU1qql.jpg

I would adopt a united front approach, and plan out some kind of event that the club can be centered around other than reading groups, that is how you figure out who the potential activists are. Call it something inclusive like the "Progressive Students Club," and talk about what the issues of the day are. Don't have it as an academic thing though where you just debate with other eggheads all day long. You need to instantly be political, and you need a definite direction.

If you're going to discuss things, bring up things like the student movement and immigrants rights struggles going on in California which is very active. Don't talk about things nobody gives a shit about, and don't sound crazy like PSL. But there is more to organizing than putting posters up.

[redguarddude]

Very daring, especially for High School. Best of luck to you.

[La Guaneña]

Why the fuck do 'murrican socialists here like fucking study groups so much? It's High School, time for 16 year olds to let out some steam. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

I think what you're doing is great, but you should also feel out what political issues you could organize your fellow students around and work from there. When I was in high school I found fairly like-minded people in clubs that already existed, Diversity Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, the Latino club, even the Art club, and distributed socialist literature (newspapers) which I had managed to get a hold of after e-mailing an actual Marxist political party and talked about it with people in those groups. If your school has anything similar, then you might find people concerned about the role of capitalism in discrimination, homophobia, deportations, repression of the arts, etc., etc. in those spaces . . . just an idea.

[Super international]

What do you actually plan to do with this "party" of yours once you actually recruit some people into it?
Also do people know you're a communist already? because this could end up being social suicide for you.

[d3crypt]

What do you actually plan to do with this "party" of yours once you actually recruit some people into it?
Also do people know you're a communist already? because this could end up being social suicide for you.

yes people already know. Social Suicide, i'm already i loser. :(

[#FF0000]

The flyer's a-okay I think (maybe ditch the recycling-earth symbol thing and replace it with something else -- maybe just a regular ol' red flag. Have the Circle-A in the center and the red star/fist on one side and the red flag on the left).

But there's still some very big questions that you need to have answered I think like

1) What is the purpose of the club
2) Who is going to join the club

Plus, like I said earlier, groups aren't things that you establish alone. You should be reaching out to other leftists you know (in your case, you said there was one), and be talking to them about organizing together. You don't start any club with just one member.

[d3crypt]

I got like 10 people to sign up. Lets see where it goes from here.

[#FF0000]

I got like 10 people to sign up.

Hey that's great.

What are you guys gonna do?

[d3crypt]

Hey that's great.

What are you guys gonna do?

I'm unsure right now. Some of the people who signed up seem like they are liberals. I will try to weed out the non-hardliners.

[International_Solidarity]

I'm unsure right now. Some of the people who signed up seem like they are liberals. I will try to weed out the non-hardliners.

Remember that education is essential. Many of the people that joined my club were just there to learn, and actually liked the ideas of Revolutionary Socialism when it was taught to them truthfully. Teachers will never give the students this opportunity (at least in the USA).

[Blake's Baby]

So, you put out a flyer to attract people to a meeting that you set up, and now you want to throw them out?

Why don't you just talk to them?

[#FF0000]

I'm unsure right now. Some of the people who signed up seem like they are liberals. I will try to weed out the non-hardliners.

I hope I don't sound harsh here, but it sounds like this project is a tremendous waste of time. You had no idea what you wanted to do with it beyond "find other leftists and see what happens", and now that you have people who are remotely interested, you're planning on kicking them out for not adhering to the arbitrary standards for membership that you never explicitly set in the first place.

You are rushing into things here, and doing things backwards if you don't have an idea of what you want to accomplish before the group gets started.

[Yuppie Grinder]

I'm unsure right now. Some of the people who signed up seem like they are liberals. I will try to weed out the non-hardliners.

don't kick them out, just form a study group
those 10 people have already shown an interest in socialism
they're probably down to read some articles and have conversations as well

[d3crypt]

Well bad news :mad:. The principle last minute says it was too late. I have to wait till next semester.

[d3crypt]

This was a waste of time anyway. I might as well just join the fucking PSL. They might be a bunch of stalinists, but whatever :(

[#FF0000]

There's a lot of different organizations in LA, I imagine.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Well bad news :mad:. The principle last minute says it was too late. I have to wait till next semester.

Too late schmoolate.

If you've got ten people, you're a club whether the principal officially recognizes you or not.

Does it mean you can't book classrooms? Fine! Meet in the library, the cafeteria, or in the goddamn stairwell.

Does it mean you can't poster? How's the principal going to stop you? Disciplinary action? Make it a shitshow if he tries. If there's one thing that's an easy sell, it's a free speech fight. After all, does the school prevent everyone without club stats from postering, or is it just socialists?

Now's the moment - don't wait for next semester. This is time for shit to kick off!

[Thirsty Crow]

This was a waste of time anyway. I might as well just join the fucking PSL. They might be a bunch of stalinists, but whatever :(
I'd advise you not to rush things. You're quite young, and I suppose are eager to get involved with an organization, but there's no need for that. Read, discuss things, keep your eyes open wide in the community and open your mouth as well if some kind of contact is possible with people (this doesn't mean I would encourage you to become an evangelical communist; proselytizing is to be avoided).

[hashem]

i think you shouldnt be too open about your way of thinking even if you are in a "free" country. if you truly want to fight so many things, then you shouldnt warn your enemies or expose your beliefs.

besides, anarchism and scientific socialism cant be mixed with each other. Marx, Engels and Lenin have proved this theoretically and history has proved this practically.

if you study more, you will see that a communist party is a party of worker class, not students. on the other hand, anarchists are against all kinds of political parties in general because they see them as authoritarian centers.

im sorry to say this but if i dont you will only find it out in a more painful way:

claiming that you are a 1 person communist and anarchist party in your high school will only make you look ridiculous.

instead of this, study more about scientific socialism and politics now and prepare for serious struggle when you are organized and politically conscious.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

i think you shouldnt be too open about your way of thinking even if you are in a "free" country. if you truly want to fight so many things, then you shouldnt warn your enemies or expose your beliefs.

I strongly disagree. Serious communist organizing requires being open an explicit - not shrinking from open debate and discussion. The difference between being a liberal and "pretending" to be a liberal very quickly evaporates into the former.


besides, anarchism and scientific socialism cant be mixed with each other. Marx, Engels and Lenin have proved this theoretically and history has proved this practically.

Ah yes, since marxist and anarchist politics ought to resemble as closely as possible, the wildly successful and currently relevant marxist and anarchist politics of a century ago. Brilliant.


im sorry to say this but if i dont you will only find it out in a more painful way:

claiming that you are a 1 person communist and anarchist party in your high school will only make you look ridiculous.

instead of this, study more about scientific socialism and politics now and prepare for serious struggle when you are organized and politically conscious.

Ah, I see you read the entire thread before responding. :rolleyes: Maybe your post will convince CommunistMetalhead to take "party" out of the name.

As for your advice to sit-on-your-ass, I think you aptly demonstrate, in this post, its consequences in terms of political development.

[Nakidana]

First of all, The Garbage Disposal Unit is right; you've got 10 people, now get a move on. Principal starts pushing you? Sounds to me like you've got your first real issue to work on. Make it an issue of free speech and I'm telling you the whole group including the liberals will be behind you.

But one thing that really has to go is this kind of attitude:


yes people already know. Social Suicide, i'm already i loser. :(

Dude, you just started a group with 10 people in it using nothing but a, and I'm gonna be brutally honest here, crappy poster with socialist rhetoric. That's not being a loser, that's being awesome. Shit I'm trying to remember anybody who started a group in my High School, let alone a socialist group. I sure as hell didn't.

As long as you don't behave like a douche, you got 10 new friends, quite possibly the most politically aware in your whole High School. Get to know those people and you're already in the political game in your area.

[Sam_b]

Yeah, this whole thing I find to be remarkably backward in terms of organising. One thing I'll say off the bat is to not consider it your own political project either - 'ownership' (if you can call it that) of the group/club should be in the hands of its members, hold regular organising meeting about how it will structure itself, campaigns to work with and so on. The second point is important - you should be tie-ing everything in with the wider movements in LA and in your community, lending a hand to community projects than so on. This gives you exposure, means you have links with allies, and if you're seen to be doing something, then people will join.

What I would do is look for an issue (it sounds like you've got one or two) and hold a public meeting on it, in a classroom or whatever - or if you're denied that right, somewhere near your campus/school. Invite a speaker from an outside organisation as well, someone from your group on the platform, and make sure there's lots of discussion. Circulate an email list for those interested in further meetings and getting involved.

So yeah, good luck to you. One thing I'll say again as being important to hammer home is to not operate within the microcosm of just your school and actually get out there and do wider things in the community as well.

[Bolshevik Sickle]

Actually mods don't approve that last post, that picture came out fuzzy. Here is the real version.

I made this for you CommunistMetalHead.

No offence but you should try to spice it up and make it look pretty, that way it catches peoples eye. Although I would say your version is rather impressive.