Moving to the struggle(s)

[WilliamGreen]

A question to the forum. Why aren't we moving to to the struggles.

We have so many people on here that could make a difference, from people that have had the opportunity to become well versed in political, philosophical, and economic issues.

To those that may know excellent street protest techniques.

To even those that have abilities in the engineering and weapons area.

So why aren't we actually going out there and making a difference?

[IBleedRed]

1) Many people here are politically involved.

2) What do you expect us to do? A ragtag bunch of RevLeft users isn't going to launch a glorious revolution. There's a great deal of infighting that goes on, for one thing.

3) We all live in different countries under different circumstances.

I think the international left needs to be rejuvenated, especially the factions within the West (Europe). I think we need to present some sort of radical alternative that is above petty tendency differences, without becoming a reformist group.

The real problem is just how uncoordinated all the different groups are. In the USA, for example, you have groups that participate in elections, groups that don't, groups that cater to college students almost exclusively, groups that are apolitical, and groups that are complete messes (Occupy, for example)

I do think class consciousness is higher today than it was ten years ago, so I am hopeful, but there's a whole lot of baggage to be sorted out. IMO We need a real "spark" somewhere in Europe to come back onto the scene globally. Something like a Greek revolution or Spanish revolution or French revolution. It could happen.

[WilliamGreen]

1) Many people here are politically involved.

2) What do you expect us to do? A ragtag bunch of RevLeft users isn't going to launch a glorious revolution. There's a great deal of infighting that goes on, for one thing.

3) We all live in different countries under different circumstances.

I think the international left needs to be rejuvenated, especially the factions within the West (Europe). I think we need to present some sort of radical alternative that is above petty tendency differences, without becoming a reformist group.

The real problem is just how uncoordinated all the different groups are. In the USA, for example, you have groups that participate in elections, groups that don't, groups that cater to college students almost exclusively, groups that are apolitical, and groups that are complete messes (Occupy, for example)

I do think class consciousness is higher today than it was ten years ago, so I am hopeful, but there's a whole lot of baggage to be sorted out. IMO We need a real "spark" somewhere in Europe to come back onto the scene globally. Something like a Greek revolution or Spanish revolution or French revolution. It could happen.

I completely agree with everything you stated. But I think there is something to be said about going where the momentum is.

Why not go to FARC places and learn Guerrilla tactics.

Why not be leaders and provide education on ideological and other issues that many in less developed regions haven't had the exposure to.

Why not simply go and support the sides that we believe are doing good work in areas that are hot beds, be it France, Spain, Ukraine, etc.

There's always reasons why not, but kids in Britian will leave everything and go on the front in Syria.

Maybe we just don't really care.

You mentioned the spark in France, Spain, etc. If the fire starts will you go over and help?

*I want to be clear I'm not attacking you, and I agree completely with your points, I'm more or less playing devils advocate to high light a point.*

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I think the issue is that a brilliant technician in urban Canada could easily be a terrible liability in rural Colombia. Revolutionary activity is as much about transforming relationships as it is shooting things (er . . . more than, even).
That said, there are lots of ways to build international solidarity, some of which do involve physically going places. How and when that happens, mind you, is pretty specific to situations. There are often invitations for international activists to converge on sites of struggle and learn. The Zapatistas had a several weeks long "school" for international organizers just last year; the World Festival of Youth and Students brings together young "anti-imperialists" from around the world every year, and so on.
As for going to "provide leadership", I think it's pretty safe to say that it's generally a bad idea, though depending on one's conception of leadership. When one goes to a place where people don't appear to have "any" revolutionary consciousness, it likely says as much about the person coming in as it does about the people already there.

[WilliamGreen]

Thanks for the wonderful info TGDU, as always look forward to your posts :)