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ℂᵒиѕẗяᵤкт
1st October 2014, 00:24
To the RevLeft community,

I've joined to hone my writing. It's difficult to organize my thoughts, but I want to build a coherent body of political writing. I've been approaching this goal based on my desire to write. Topic has been an afterthought in this process. I lose motivation when I become overwhelmed by broad ideas; I fail to break them down into smaller, more manageable projects.

I made this account to create a space for myself in which I can explore topics without regard to any overarching plan. The nature of discussion is such that I can articulate my thoughts without needing to produce a finished work.

I'm a Marxist-Leninist and a student organizer involved with Students for a Democratic Society. My recent interest in real-world activism has given me an appreciation for the "mass line" methodology, where I'd been preoccupied with theory. So, I'm not an "anti-revisionist" so much as an orthodox Leninist with tendencies toward the Juche Idea. I'm on the fence about China, but I recognize Cuba, Korea, Laos, and Vietnam as "communist countries," states reflecting genuine proletarian partisanship. I admire Venezuela, too.

I live two hours or so from Gainesville, which has a pronounced leftist presence and student activist movement. My hometown in north Florida is in conservative country, but "labor Democrats" and progressives have a notable presence in the city and on my campus. I'm organizing a chapter of S.D.S. on campus and getting involved with the campus A.C.L.U. with the intent to network progressive elements, such as Black and Latino organizations and the campus L.G.B.T. center. I have designs to increase awareness of the rights of special needs workers, particularly those on the autistic spectrum.

I became a leftist in a roundabout way. My family is petty bourgeois liberal, so my rebellious years were dedicated to "third positions" out of spite. Growing out of that, I stumbled into technocracy and, from there, democratic socialism. My evolution from democratic socialist to Marxist-Leninist was gradual, and I considered myself a hard-line "Hoxhaist." I admire Hoxha still, but I've moved away from criticisms of Cuba, Korea, et al. based on accusations of revisionism. In fact, I'm fascinated by the Juche Idea and the work done in Korea, a fact that has not endeared me to many people.

It's my wish that, despite my unpopular positions, I'll find a welcoming space here and make clear to the community that I come here to participate in good faith. I look forward to the time I'll spend here.

Best regards.

Q
1st October 2014, 08:49
Welcome :)

If you have political questions, you can ask them in the Learning forum. That's why it's there after all!

If you have questions about your account, don't hesitate to send me a PM or ask here.

To me, you sound very much confused politically. But we might discuss this in the future.

Rugged Collectivist
1st October 2014, 09:31
Welcome. I didn't know there was a new SDS.

RedWorker
2nd October 2014, 23:11
Welcome. What draws you away from genuine Marxism? Become more open-minded (if you aren't) and read more from sources with different viewpoints within Marxism (preferably anti-state capitalist). Regards and I hope you advance in this process soon. Read RevLeft a lot. Please try not to "stay true" to your current tendency.

ℂᵒиѕẗяᵤкт
2nd October 2014, 23:18
To RedWorker,

I take offense at the implication my politics represent some kind of counterfeit Marxism. Your recommendations are condescending and misplaced, as though I hadn't given due consideration to alternative views.

RedWorker
3rd October 2014, 00:10
My apologies. What attracts you to Stalinism? (in your language: "Marxism-Leninism")
This is a genuine question, not intended to be offensive. I use my tendency's terminology, and that may annoy you, but to have any useful discussion here one needs to get past that; you calling it "Marxism-Leninism" may be just as offensive to me as me calling it "Stalinism" may be to you. For me to call it "Marxism-Leninism" would mean to run counter to my tendency's interests.

ℂᵒиѕẗяᵤкт
3rd October 2014, 00:32
To RedWorker,

You're making no attempt to explore any avenues of tendency-neutral language. Rather than labeling my tendency, you might have asked "What attracts you to your tendency?" You'd have done well to consider, too, asking about what draws me to the people I mentioned by name and their work.

Charged language is an impediment to civil exchange. I take "Stalinist" in stride, but understand that the word began and is commonly used as a pejorative. Your allegiance to a given tendency is no excuse to wield pejorative language.

The problem, though, wasn't your use of "Stalinist." It was your use of "genuine Marxism" as a way to imply mine is not a genuine Marxism. Your pre-emptive defense against what you predicted to be my criticism of "Stalinist" makes me think you're coming at this from a place of hostility. I will not entertain your questions until I see some demonstration of good faith.

Dagoth Ur
3rd October 2014, 00:38
Don't worry about the ultras Toxin they aren't even actually communists so you're cool.

If you want a more mature level of discussion try Soviet-Empire (albeit at a slower pace). Around here you will mostly just get insulted for having communist views.

Welcome comrade.

Lord Testicles
3rd October 2014, 00:40
Welcome, post long and prosper.



If you want a more mature level of discussion try Soviet-Empire (albeit at a slower pace). Around here you will mostly just get insulted for having communist views.


http://jakzyc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/1362498968618.jpg

Oh, that explains so much.

Dagoth Ur
3rd October 2014, 00:49
Says the cat who can't post three times in a row without tossing around an ad-hom. :rolleyes:

Anglo-Saxon Philistine
3rd October 2014, 00:56
Welcome.


Welcome. I didn't know there was a new SDS.

I think it split from the spoosa of all things.


Read RevLeft a lot.

Good god no.