Topics to discuss...

[Mike Fakelastname]

As some might know if you remember me, I started a leftist discussion group/club at my high school. We're having our first meeting shortly, and I'm totally lost for topics.

Can someone suggest a semi-recent topic for me? I don't want it to be too radical commie-like for the fear of alienating everyone but on other commie in the group, but it can deal with that. I'm wanting something to do with recent Bush screw ups, recent guerilla activity (especially the Zapatistas), recent economy fluctuations. Anything that would be good for a leftist discussion club. Oh and please provide a link to the original source also if you would be so kind.

Comrade Mike Fakelastname signing off :rolleyes:

Edit: Oh, and any recent information on troubles in central and south american trade unions would be great also.

[Jesus Sanchez]

You could start off with getting everyone to watch Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" (You could even try hyring the VHS version and arrange a screening of it for your group) Then you all discuss what you saw, what you think etc. As this covers many topics.

[Mike Fakelastname]

Originally posted by El Grande of [email protected] 20 2004, 03:01 AM
You could start off with getting everyone to watch Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" (You could even try hyring the VHS version and arrange a screening of it for your group) Then you all discuss what you saw, what you think etc. As this covers many topics.
I and pretty much everyone else have seen Bowling for Columbine. This is a great idea, thank you!

Does anyone else have any other ideas?

[Kez]

read a book you think is important, make notes on it, get your group to read it, then discuss, you can discuss point by point

[Looter]

I think you should try talking about your own world, how is society breaking down where you live. Is the old order collapsing, is it unable to correct itself. I find that Communists spend too much time arguing about stuff thats only in their heads, and not trying to learn from the real world, it is in the real world that we must win and we are winning.

[RebeldePorLaPAZ]

hey remember to tell us how everything went. :D

--Paz

[redstar2000]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2004, 07:16 PM
I think you should try talking about your own world, how is society breaking down where you live. Is the old order collapsing, is it unable to correct itself. I find that Communists spend too much time arguing about stuff thats only in their heads, and not trying to learn from the real world, it is in the real world that we must win and we are winning.
That was very well said!

One thing you could talk about is your parents' jobs...and what effects those jobs have on them.

Another thing is your school...what they try to teach you, what "hidden messages" are being delivered in the course of a school-day, what the class structure of your school is like, etc. (Don't forget female students, ethnic minorities, etc.)

Another is the media's message to kids...you know what people watch & listen to; what are they telling you about the world? What do they want you to think?

I've been in discussion groups where they just talk about books...sometimes, if there's real controversy, they can be interesting. But mostly, I found them kind of dull.

But when people talk about real life in a serious political way...that perks everybody up.

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas

[Comité De Salut Public]

Originally posted by Mike [email protected] 20 2004, 02:01 AM
As some might know if you remember me, I started a leftist discussion group/club at my high school. We're having our first meeting shortly, and I'm totally lost for topics.

Can someone suggest a semi-recent topic for me? I don't want it to be too radical commie-like for the fear of alienating everyone but on other commie in the group, but it can deal with that. I'm wanting something to do with recent Bush screw ups, recent guerilla activity (especially the Zapatistas), recent economy fluctuations. Anything that would be good for a leftist discussion club. Oh and please provide a link to the original source also if you would be so kind.

Comrade Mike Fakelastname signing off :rolleyes:

Edit: Oh, and any recent information on troubles in central and south american trade unions would be great also.
Discuss the viability of anarcho-syndicalism in such an advanced country like the USA. Thank you.

[Mike Fakelastname]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2004, 09:56 PM

One thing you could talk about is your parents' jobs...and what effects those jobs have on them.

Another thing is your school...what they try to teach you, what "hidden messages" are being delivered in the course of a school-day, what the class structure of your school is like, etc. (Don't forget female students, ethnic minorities, etc.)

Another is the media's message to kids...you know what people watch & listen to; what are they telling you about the world? What do they want you to think?

I've been in discussion groups where they just talk about books...sometimes, if there's real controversy, they can be interesting. But mostly, I found them kind of dull.

But when people talk about real life in a serious political way...that perks everybody up.

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas
Thanks for the brilliant ideas!

That reminds me of something, while reading about socialism in a modern economics book, I started noticing and picking up on little jabs at Marx and socialism in general. I read the whole chapter over again more carefully, and sure enough, I found several examples of obvious cappie attempts at brainwashing.

One that I will tell you about is this: I was looking at a chart comparing capitalism with socialism, to represent capitalism, they used a poorly drawn Uncle $am. To represent socialism, they used a plain star. On a closer look, the star was not plain at all, but had a hardly noticeable frowny face in it... Scary eh?

[Jesus Sanchez]

So how's your group going?

[Christopher]

Originally posted by redstar2000+Jan 22 2004, 02:56 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (redstar2000 @ Jan 22 2004, 02:56 AM)
Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2004, 07:16 PM
I think you should try talking about your own world, how is society breaking down where you live. Is the old order collapsing, is it unable to correct itself. I find that Communists spend too much time arguing about stuff thats only in their heads, and not trying to learn from the real world, it is in the real world that we must win and we are winning.
That was very well said&#33;

One thing you could talk about is your parents&#39; jobs...and what effects those jobs have on them.

Another thing is your school...what they try to teach you, what "hidden messages" are being delivered in the course of a school-day, what the class structure of your school is like, etc. (Don&#39;t forget female students, ethnic minorities, etc.)

Another is the media&#39;s message to kids...you know what people watch & listen to; what are they telling you about the world? What do they want you to think?

I&#39;ve been in discussion groups where they just talk about books...sometimes, if there&#39;s real controversy, they can be interesting. But mostly, I found them kind of dull.

But when people talk about real life in a serious political way...that perks everybody up.
[/b]
Good guidence. I would suggest trying to get a copy of "Truth and Lies of 9-11" by Michael Rupert. It actually is about the best chronology of US government corruption I&#39;ve seen.


Looter

I think you should try talking about your own world, how is society breaking down where you live. Is the old order collapsing, is it unable to correct itself. I find that Communists spend too much time arguing about stuff thats only in their heads, and not trying to learn from the real world, it is in the real world that we must win and we are winning.

And the above is quite valid.

[Thunk]

Read Rogue state by William Blum, then discuss the impact of US intervention on international left wing movements. :)