Before you were a communist [Archive]

*Hippie*

13th July 2005, 22:54

I first learned about Communism in english class when we read 1984 and Animal Farm. Although my teacher was a leftist, he didn't believe communism could work.
I knew I was liberal and a left leaning person and later on, I began learning about U.S. imperialism and foreign policy and it's devastating effects on the rest of the world. I always had a deep hatred for Nazis and no tolerance for sexism or rascism of any kind. I just kind of discovered I was a Socialist and Marxist I guess and just keep reading and learning more.
For example, looking at some of those pictures in the "powerful political pictures" thread made me cry. I know what Che meant when he said all revolutionaries are guided by love.

Entrails Konfetti

13th July 2005, 23:05

Before I was Communist,I was a hyper-active gi-joe obsessed kid from an alcoholic single parent family. I was told in my youth that "Communism is bad" but, I was also told that I was "bad"and I knew I wasn't,I was just misunderstood.

Before I really got into it, I was some lefty punk rock kid who read bits about it now and then.

When I was multi-coloured spikey haired 13 year old I tried reading the Manifesto in history class,when everyone else was learning about the U.S. constitution,I didn't understand a damn word of the manifesto.

In short I just flirted with it and anarchist ideas.

Bolshevist

13th July 2005, 23:10

I have always been positive towards the idea of communism. I must admit that before I became a real Marxist-Leninist I supported the revisionists governments of the USSR. I admired Gorbachev, Yeltsin and such. When I later began to study this in-depth I became a supporter of the Soviet Union before the 20'th party congress in 1956 where the traitor class inside the party made their advance.

Patchy

13th July 2005, 23:19

Naturally having my young mind exposed to blatant capitalist propaganda since grade 1 made me think that it was evil and bad, but after maturing I realised that it was all backwards. Capitalism is much, much worse. And then here I am.

My grandfather is an avid socialist, and I only realised that now, after 17 years.

For example, looking at some of those pictures in the "powerful political pictures" thread made me cry. I know what Che meant when he said all revolutionaries are guided by love.

Requesting that thread.

Thomas

13th July 2005, 23:23

It's down in Chit Chat mate.

Clarksist

13th July 2005, 23:33

Communism was always something that I was interested in. But only because I love history and what-not. I started getting into it after reading Animal Farm, and so I read some Marx and within two weeks, had read anything i could get my eyes on.

Soon after I considered myself a Marxist, till I began thinking more for myself and developed my personal view. NationStates helps out a lot too. As did Political Compass.

marxist_socialist_aussie

13th July 2005, 23:40

Before I was one (or atleast a socialist), I really had no idea what either of them were about and had a bit of a distrust due to how the ideologies are always portrayed in capitalistic democracies. However, I was always a lefty thanks to may parents and slowly as I got older and read more, I leaned further to the left until where I am now.

Paul R

14th July 2005, 00:38

Originally posted by *Hippie*@Jul 13 2005, 09:54 PM
I first learned about Communism in english class when we read 1984 and Animal Farm. Although my teacher was a leftist, he didn't believe communism could work.
I knew I was liberal and a left leaning person and later on, I began learning about U.S. imperialism and foreign policy and it's devastating effects on the rest of the world. I always had a deep hatred for Nazis and no tolerance for sexism or rascism of any kind. I just kind of discovered I was a Socialist and Marxist I guess and just keep reading and learning more.
For example, looking at some of those pictures in the "powerful political pictures" thread made me cry. I know what Che meant when he said all revolutionaries are guided by love.
pretty much the same story for myself

Pawn Power

14th July 2005, 00:52

I thought all of the communists I knew at the time were the nicest and most interesting people.

Anarcho-Communist

14th July 2005, 00:57

I used to think it was the evil of this world, until my good friend rockfan converted me. He told me about Che and other storys and eventually I researched and found it to be great for the comfort of others. :D

Rockfan

14th July 2005, 01:31

Originally posted by Anarcho-[email protected] 13 2005, 11:57 PM
I used to think it was the evil of this world, until my good friend rockfan converted me. He told me about Che and other storys and eventually I researched and found it to be great for the comfort of others. :D
I do no converting thats what preachers do, communist is not a religion but yea I did tell you about che and stuff. I guess I just thought it was another form of fasicm, man I was ignorant.

Warren Peace

14th July 2005, 01:49

I've been a leftist since I knew about politics. When I was a little kid I watched a US bombing campaign against Iraq on TV (when Clinton was president; in between the two Gulf Wars). I was pissed at the US and that's probably when I became an anti-imperialist.

For a while I was a Democrat. Since I never really liked the US government I've always been sort of a devil's advocate and didn't easily believe anyone who demonized "enemies". Then a few years studied communism/capitalism in my social studies class, and then I was hooked when I learned about the Chinese Revolution.

violencia.Proletariat

14th July 2005, 02:39

i never though much about left politics until i started listening to punk rock in the 6 or 7th grade. but i didnt really know much about it. i read a book on marx in engels in the 8th grade and didnt really understand it. but the next year is when i really got into radical politics and learned about it. in history class before i knew aobut communism, i never got the feeling that it was bad, but then again i never though about.

More Fire for the People

14th July 2005, 02:45

Before a time in my life I like to call "The Enlightenment" I was a fierce anti-communist and was sure that the government should silence any persons of the left and try them for treason.

Warren Peace

14th July 2005, 02:54

Before a time in my life I like to call "The Enlightenment" I was a fierce anti-communist and was sure that the government should silence any persons of the left and try them for treason.

Wow, sounds like you were a fascist (Republican, Conservative, w/e). I didn't think it was possible for a fascist to become a communist. ;) "The Enlightenment" must have been really powerfull. What happened?

Zingu

14th July 2005, 05:35

Actually, it was Communism that introduced me to politics. I was completely naive in everything until, for some odd reason I picked up the Communist Manifesto...its been a long time since then....

danny android

14th July 2005, 07:20

I used to think it was the same thing as a dictatorship...... But i only thought that in like 6th grade. I learned my lesson quickly after that. And have pretty much concidered myself a communist ever since.

Taiga

14th July 2005, 08:06

I was anti-communist because I thought USSR=Communism and Communism=kind of fascism. I guess it was because of anti-Soviet propaganda that was very wide-spread shortly after our republic ceased to be Soviet and gained independence.
But now I understand that I was always some kind of leftist. I mean I always wanted all people to live in peace, friendship and dignity :)

Led Zeppelin

14th July 2005, 08:15

Before i became a Communist i was a crypto-fascist.

Anarchist Freedom

14th July 2005, 09:14

I was never told communism was evil. My dads a buisness man so when he looks at things he looks at them economically. Bads and goods A concept hopefully not lost on everyone here. If you have a peice of metal a bad and then you make it into a fork turning it into a good. But in russia the fork wasnt worth anything so it was therfore a bad because its value was less then the raw materials. Its was never communism was evil. It was communism doesnt work and never will.

Hell just recently the other day. HE said if I wasnt a chrsitian anarchism would be the most logical thing and I would be one to.

Hiero

14th July 2005, 09:39

I was never anti communist, i didn't know much about communism and wasn't scared of it.

Before i became a Communist i was a crypto-fascist.

Really?

Led Zeppelin

14th July 2005, 09:43

Really?

Yes, i wanted the return of the Persian empire, and i was of the opinion that the Persian race was the most powerfull in the world.

rise_up

14th July 2005, 10:20

I 've always thought the same way,but until about two years ago i never really used the words 'left wing' to describe the way i thought.

Sir Aunty Christ

14th July 2005, 10:38

I've always leaned to the left but, like Taiga, I equated communism with the USSR and the USSR with Stalin and being a liberal I wasn't fond of his methods. However, it's weird that when I was doing A Level History we studied Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini and I decided that what Stalin did in the Soviet Union before WWII was a lot more acceptable than anything Hitler did.

Over the last year and a half or so I've become more comfortable with my politics and who I am and as a result I've realised that if you're a left-liberal (on the political compass model) you've made it and the further south-west the better.

More Fire for the People

14th July 2005, 17:33

Originally posted by Revolt Now!@Jul 13 2005, 07:54 PM

Before a time in my life I like to call "The Enlightenment" I was a fierce anti-communist and was sure that the government should silence any persons of the left and try them for treason.

Wow, sounds like you were a fascist (Republican, Conservative, w/e). I didn't think it was possible for a fascist to become a communist. ;) "The Enlightenment" must have been really powerfull. What happened?
I was a kind of a "Reagan Democrat" ya know, "welfare for those who need it only", "fight the commies", "lower taxes for the rich".

What changed me? I read Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. It's not a very political book but the sequels are (Green Mars and Blue Mars).

Early on the Martian Constitution (http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~lhsjamse/mars.htm) was sort of the basis for my political beliefs.

Specifically this,
Article 5. Individual Rights and Obligations

Section 1. Individual Rights:

1. Freedom of movement and assembly.
2. Religious freedom.
3. Freedom of speech.
4. Right to vote in global elections not to be abridged.
5. Right to legal counsel, timely trial, and habeus corpus.
6. Freedom from unreasonable search or seizure, double jeopardy, or involuntary self-incrimination.
7. Freedom from cruel or unusual punishments.
8. Right to choice of employment.
9. Right to the majority of the economic benefits of one's own labor, as calculated by formulas to be approved by the economic commission, but never less than 50 percent in any case.
10. Right to a meaningful part in the management of one's work.
11. Right to a minimum living wage for life.
12. Right to proper health care, including the body of practices known collectively as the "longevity treatment."

Section 2. Individual Obligations

1. The citizens of Mars shall, over the course of their lives, give one m-year of work to global service and the public good, such work to be defined by the economic commission, but never to be military or police work.
2. The right to own or bear lethal weapons is expressly denied to everyone on Mars, including police or riot control officers.

redstar2000

15th July 2005, 05:41

I think I started as a very small child with a simple (and natural) resentment of parental authority...it seemed to me intrinsically unjust that large, strong people should be able to control small, weak people.

As soon as I began to get interested in politics (12-14), I read both Mein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto. It was pretty easy for me to see that Nazism was crap...but I didn't really grasp what the Manifesto was getting at.

As my high school years went by, I became more and more anti-imperialist...but it was the invasion of Cuba that pushed me "over the edge". That's when I realized that I didn't just "disagree" with the power elite in the U.S. -- they were my enemies.

After that, I read Marx again and could see immediately "what he was getting at." :D

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif

codyvo

15th July 2005, 06:02

I began as a liberal. I was always a left of center person and I never disliked communism, but I made fun of it just to spite my brother. It was within the last year that I officially considered myself a communist. I supported John Kerry because I was disillusioned that he was differant than Bush, but know I see that they are both essentially the same. I did however, strongly oppose anarchism until fairly recently because I thought it was an inpractical waste of time, and I thought that all anarchists were stupid skater posers.

Also, now that I think about it, I was bound to be a communist all along, though my parents support the democratic party now, they are oth still somewhat left-wing and were very much so in the past, my mom was a member of the YCL when she was young, and she was able to meet Cesar Chavez.

aztecklaw

15th July 2005, 21:05

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2005, 04:41 AM
I think I started as a very small child with a simple (and natural) resentment of parental authority...it seemed to me intrinsically unjust that large, strong people should be able to control small, weak people.

As soon as I began to get interested in politics (12-14), I read both Mein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto. It was pretty easy for me to see that Nazism was crap...but I didn't really grasp what the Manifesto was getting at.

As my high school years went by, I became more and more anti-imperialist...but it was the invasion of Cuba that pushed me "over the edge". That's when I realized that I didn't just "disagree" with the power elite in the U.S. -- they were my enemies.

After that, I read Marx again and could see immediately "what he was getting at." :D

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif
I understand how you feel because I feel very much the same in reference to your perception of America.

However this leaves me very confused about my own identity and my place in America.

I do strongly believe that America for the past decades has shown not just contempt for Latin America, but contempt with intent that has already been executed.

I identify myself more as a Latino, as an indigenous indian more than identifying myself with America and George Washington who owned slaves.

So I also feel that America's actions pretty much boil down to America has waged a war on Latin America. So me being an American I feel very displaced.

OleMarxco

15th July 2005, 22:14

There were no "before"; I were always a Communist in soul (if I had said anything else, IN FACT, if anyone says anything else then they ain't loyal) I just got CONVINCED of it just lately (last year, ipso factos!) so I'm, ugh...the-word-again....NEW-KID-ON-THE-BLOCK! ;)

Freigemachten

16th July 2005, 06:56

I was a bit brainwashed by my fathers fews, he said it was impossible and that only an idiot would support a system that was destined to fail so horribly. Appearantly the base of communism was too weak to hold up the rest of the system, the base being the working class. Ironic because he is a tradesman himself, Unionized Electrician selling his labor for an honest living. But i was confused because appearantly capitalism sucked as well. I was just mixed up before I started Supporting communism.

4514

16th July 2005, 09:07

ive always been from the left thanks to my mum and dad who are lefties, but i never really indulged or comprehended the full potental of marxism untill i was 17,reading the communist manifesto and the biography on che over and over, discussiing it with friends and becoming more politically involved. at first i considered myself a marxist-lennist but ive probaly layed off abit in the past 3 years, got my head all fucked up, but im full steaming ahead now but distancing myself from politcal groups and becoming more involved in volunteer work, working with kids-teens and also a global volunteer, going to vietnam next year as a teachers aide.
my Grandfather was a member of the party for 27 years. Ive spoken to him about it but hes not keen on it, he still believes in the ideals, just not the people who control the party's, but hes from a different time and we of the present and future marxist-just have to learn from our history and mistakes.
4514
rank and file

RedAnarchist

16th July 2005, 09:43

I've never been anti-Communist, although i have been centre-right. My first impressions of Communism were that it was a promisng ideology but i have only recently - within the past 3 years - begun to understand Communism.

Elect Marx

16th July 2005, 11:50

Originally posted by Anarchist [email protected] 14 2005, 02:14 AM
HE said if I wasnt a chrsitian anarchism would be the most logical thing and I would be one to.
What??? :unsure:

I think I get half of what you are saying... and that isn't enough.

Black Dagger

17th July 2005, 11:43

I have never been anti-communist. I can't remember having an opinion on 'communism' until i was maybe 15 or 16, and by that time i was doing 'social justice' work through school (soup kitchens etc). So i was probably something of a left-liberal, possibly a reformist socialist of sorts (though an unconscious one). The next thing i can remember is someone quoting me something said by Che, very flowery- but it caught my attention! I did a bit of research and wrote an article on Guervara for the school paper (haha). After that i read the communist manifesto, and then other marxist literature.

comradesteele

17th July 2005, 13:28

well i had always been interseted in history. i use to think that breitain shoyuld have an empire again! then i learnt about revoultuions (the french one) then the russian one. then i learnt about ww2 and stalingrad so i learnt more about the USSR from which i learnt communism and then i joined this bored and learnt anarchism. i've read the communist manifesto (even made a mod to add it into the computer game morrowind) read soem crimethinc and became a kinda of communism anarchist.

OleMarxco

17th July 2005, 14:06

You seem like you just drifted-with-the-wind, Comrade Steele - and became what you are now by chanche. Are you certaint it is, what you "are"? ;)

werewolf

17th July 2005, 14:59

Hmm let's see, what was I prior:

1- I was part of the bourgeois for the first 10 years or so of my life, then that ended abruptly. Oh sure the life was great, (my father was abusive, but I was sent to live with my rich grandparents) but I bet life is great for a cow, until it realizes that it's going to end up in little pieces.

2- I was anti-Leftist AND racist in general, only because I was taught what was "Evil!" And public schools in the area where I lived, tended to lean very conservative. I can actually remember a class where we were asked to list all the stereotypes we could think of. I was in the gifted program and I remember this one question on this gifted test- What is the only Communist state in the world today? A- China, B-Cuba, C- North Korea. I remember everyone asked me because I was the best with Geography. I picked C and was right. I look back on that event now and have to hate myself.

3- Well, there I was, in AP US History in 2002-03 studying American politics throughout the years. About half way through the year I realized just how much I hated the present conditions, so I became an Anarchist, the only thing I fully understood. That summer, I began to research my political/economic beliefs (I first wrote them down and then researched what theory they actually were or if I was unique) and came across this theory we had discussed vaguely in class. Well, here I am. Also, that summer and the following school year, a friend and I founded a Leftist organization and now have probably around a dozen members. (we don't list them)

Around the same time as 2, I was the groundskeeper for the wealthy land lord. (I was 12) Since Freshmen year (I've graduated) I've been a runner for an auction company, in one of the wealthy parts of Pennsylvania. (Hershey) I've come to hate the bourgeois.

Big Boss

20th July 2005, 23:14

Before I became Communist, I lived my life without a care in the world. I knew of the oppression and injustice that some countries did (and still do), like the US. I hated it but never had the guts to do something about it. I was in the mall one day and stumbled upon a Che shirt. Bought it. I got curious about the guy on my shirt just in case someone got curious about it and asked me. What I found out changed my life. That was 2 years ago, I have read a lot, not only on Che but on his Communist ideal and his cause. I had debates with teachers in high school and I was known as "the local Communist" or "the Che guy". That's my story.

Hmm let's see, what was I prior:

1- I was part of the bourgeois for the first 10 years or so of my life, then that ended abruptly. Oh sure the life was great, (my father was abusive, but I was sent to live with my rich grandparents) but I bet life is great for a cow, until it realizes that it's going to end up in little pieces.

2- I was anti-Leftist AND racist in general, only because I was taught what was "Evil!" And public schools in the area where I lived, tended to lean very conservative. I can actually remember a class where we were asked to list all the stereotypes we could think of. I was in the gifted program and I remember this one question on this gifted test- What is the only Communist state in the world today? A- China, B-Cuba, C- North Korea. I remember everyone asked me because I was the best with Geography. I picked C and was right. I look back on that event now and have to hate myself.

3- Well, there I was, in AP US History in 2002-03 studying American politics throughout the years. About half way through the year I realized just how much I hated the present conditions, so I became an Anarchist, the only thing I fully understood. That summer, I began to research my political/economic beliefs (I first wrote them down and then researched what theory they actually were or if I was unique) and came across this theory we had discussed vaguely in class. Well, here I am. Also, that summer and the following school year, a friend and I founded a Leftist organization and now have probably around a dozen members. (we don't list them)

Around the same time as 2, I was the groundskeeper for the wealthy land lord. (I was 12) Since Freshmen year (I've graduated) I've been a runner for an auction company, in one of the wealthy parts of Pennsylvania. (Hershey) I've come to hate the bourgeois.

I admire what you have done. That was quite a chage that your life has had. In my case I was pretty much the only that had a leftist thinking at school. But you have really done something for our cause and that is really admirable!

Seeker

21st July 2005, 00:56

You seem like you just drifted-with-the-wind, Comrade Steele - and became what you are now by chanche. Are you certaint it is, what you "are"? ;)

From what I've observed of the world, probably-not-so-random chance makes us who we are and to "drift with the wind" is an ideal way to live. What are you suggesting?

Redvolution

21st July 2005, 05:40

I had heard of it here and there growing up, but one day I was playing Grand Theft Auto 3 (Freshman year, I believe) and there was this sarcastic as hell commercial on about bazookas excercising their 2nd ammendment and defending america against communism. So I thought about it, had been told it was pretty much evil/idiocy my whole life but never actually read a thing about it. So I did some research.

I began asking people about it and believed all the biased capitalist information on it. Communism is a dictatorship, The USSR collapsed so communism is dead, etc.

Then about a year back I began to do my own research. One of the main reasons to was so I could yell at some stupid kid in my school who had a Che shirt on but didn't know a thing about him. I wanted to yell at him not only for that but how stupid communism was...Then I Found out communism was at its very basic core a system of economics. Now how could that be inherently evil?

So here I am today. I was on the right before all this happened, thought 9/11 pushed me closer to christianity...Then I really began examining things. Learned a little about Anarchism (though I thought it was retarded and only super "cool" douche elitist punk rockers would ever support it, learned more about it on this very forum!!) Realized what a piece of shit the war in iraq was, became agnostic, etc.

Now I'm pretty far left. I bought the Manifesto today, as well as ordering in State & Revolution... :lol:

Big Boss

22nd July 2005, 02:34

I think that it's pretty cool that everthing started with the Grand Theft Auto game! But you are doing great by buying the Manifesto and State & Revolution, they are awesome books to read and a great help in defending our ideals through debates with cappies!

black

22nd July 2005, 23:28

Before?

I have always been communist.

RedRevolutionary

10th August 2005, 07:50

Before I was a Communist, my beliefs about Communism reflected the ignorance most people have of it. I thought it was about one party controling everything, telling people what they would do with their life, where they would work, how they would dress, ect. I basically viewed it has nazisim with a different name and without the racism...damn conservative history teachers.

Socialistpenguin

10th August 2005, 13:22

I must admit, I once was a fascist: not in the nationalistic, racist and bigoted sense: there is just a lot of idiots and chavs in my high-school, and having to endure them sent me over the edge a bit. Anyone who has attended public high-school will know what I'm talking about. Fortunately, that little stint didn't last that long (it was just a result of pent up anger as a young teenager) and soon I was learning all about what the governments do about public policy OUT of view of the public. Then, one day, whilst searching a hacker forum (go figure!) with a "Politics" subforum, I found an article about Communism. Now, I still had the same prejudices as most people do about communism (it goes against human nature, the USSR was Communist, etc.) but someone referred me to the "Communist Manifesto" (which I couldn't understand at the time) and the New Youth website, and after reading the articles, i thought "Bloody hell, this is some good stuff! Why the hell have I been kept in the dark for so long?", I was well on my way to becoming Communist.

And with the help of my socialist Physics teacher (who's unfortunately quit to take up another job as "Head Of Physics" in another school :( ), as well as his referment to many great books, (The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, a book on the Jarrow March in England, the 1100+ pages of "Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives, a short history of the Labour Party, The New Rulers of the World, and many more), I could now proclaim myself a Communist.

_nin

11th August 2005, 09:46

I asked my mother about che when i kept seeing his face on a tshirt (she called him alot of names one was a terrorist i thought why would a terrorists face be on a tshirt)first and that started my reaserch (i'm still reading but i'm getting to a point were i can make a political statement). In england we learn about bullshit in history so its really no good for things like, cubian rev, downfall of the SU and other things like that. My father whose political opinions i don't know he doesn't really talk about them for our country but for oothers he'll usually tell, well my father supported me in my reaserch not letting me know his so not to corrupt my own, while my mother wasn't reallly supportive, telling me they were all like hitler. ( as ignored everything she sed) My mother last week came home a tshirt with che on it i had hoped she was finally accepting what i'm starting to belive in. it turned out she had bought the che tshirt with 'f**k the revolution' on it and che smoking pot. :( i was more upset than angry I know why my dad keeps his political belifes to himself now.

before i started to learn about communism i didn't have any opinions i just didn't like tony blaire

Qwerty Dvorak

11th August 2005, 14:51

before i was a communist i both hated and feared communism, despite not knowing anything about it. i turned communist when i was about 14, and before that, i had to have gotten the hatred and fear of communism from somewhere. more proof that our schools and supposedly democratic institutions are biased against communism?

Pawn Power

11th August 2005, 15:00

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2005, 08:51 AM
before i was a communist i both hated and feared communism, despite not knowing anything about it. i turned communist when i was about 14, and before that, i had to have gotten the hatred and fear of communism from somewhere. more proof that our schools and supposedly democratic institutions are biased against communism?
so...that was like last year

Qwerty Dvorak

11th August 2005, 15:02

Originally posted by Revolution is the Solution+Aug 11 2005, 02:00 PM--> (Revolution is the Solution @ Aug 11 2005, 02:00 PM)
[email protected] 11 2005, 08:51 AM
before i was a communist i both hated and feared communism, despite not knowing anything about it. i turned communist when i was about 14, and before that, i had to have gotten the hatred and fear of communism from somewhere. more proof that our schools and supposedly democratic institutions are biased against communism?
so...that was like last year [/b]
yup... maybe 13... either way im a relative newbie. problem?

Pawn Power

11th August 2005, 15:29

yup... maybe 13... either way im a relative newbie. problem?

No, no problem

just that...
Judging from your signarure and your intrests statment in your profile and the fact that you have only been intdroduced to communism for a year (while before you thought it complete rubish), it just seems that you have dived headlong into this ideology.

You seem very forthright about a concept that is relatively new to you.

Stormshield

11th August 2005, 20:43

Well, from 7th to 9th grade we had some "communists" (actually, they were social-democrat youth, but noone bothered. It was funnier to say communists) in our parallel classes, and noone thought them to be of any good mental health... Despite our general appeareance (as far as I've heard) as a "left-wing" country, most people here are VERY anti-communist, it's like they're born with it...

Anyways, once we came to college (music/estethic program), I ended up in their class. And they were jolly good people once you got to know 'em! So of course, I got a bit interested in politics then.

Just at the same time, we were coming to politics in the history A class, and dunno, guess that taught me enough to go teach myself :)

So, I ended up running through most ideologies/political systems, and found communism to be "me". Ehhh... And that's about it, I guess! :)

Reds

12th August 2005, 05:15

I was really born a commie{even though I did not know it until I was therteen.}I looked into fascist and even some conservitive philosophy but that did not fit my veiw of the world.

RandomRival

23rd August 2005, 04:40

I was a rich preppy catholic kid who knew that Communism was supposedly the ideal form of goverment yet hated by america.

I grew up in a democratic house and when Bill Clinon finally left the white house, my love for the Democratic party left as well...nobody could replace good ole Buba!

So I started off by reading Karl Marx and I realized that I was a capitalist and was wrong and from there on out I changed my appearance, Beliefs, and became much more polite and enlightened and tolerant of others.

matiasm

23rd August 2005, 05:11

Originally posted by Paul R+Jul 13 2005, 11:56 PM--> (Paul R @ Jul 13 2005, 11:56 PM)
*Hippie*@Jul 13 2005, 09:54 PM
I first learned about Communism in english class when we read 1984 and Animal Farm. Although my teacher was a leftist, he didn't believe communism could work.
I knew I was liberal and a left leaning person and later on, I began learning about U.S. imperialism and foreign policy and it's devastating effects on the rest of the world. I always had a deep hatred for Nazis and no tolerance for sexism or rascism of any kind. I just kind of discovered I was a Socialist and Marxist I guess and just keep reading and learning more.
For example, looking at some of those pictures in the "powerful political pictures" thread made me cry. I know what Che meant when he said all revolutionaries are guided by love.
pretty much the same story for myself [/b]
pretty much the same.. also i always belive in the means of communism but i didnt know it was actually communism.

OleMarxco

23rd August 2005, 11:56

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2005, 12:14 AM

You seem like you just drifted-with-the-wind, Comrade Steele - and became what you are now by chanche. Are you certaint it is, what you "are"? ;)

From what I've observed of the world, probably-not-so-random chance makes us who we are and to "drift with the wind" is an ideal way to live. What are you suggesting?
Well, maybe'rat if'rat's so, then we're not really stickin' to any ideal and if we're doin' so and still "driftin' with the wind", we're not genuinly stayin' with an ideology with the heart in'rit, just opportunisticly "movin' alon'" to another ideology that better suit's us..and our new, "coolized"-personality, needin' upgrades to not stay outdated in the "tough idealogy"-race, to be as most unique and radical'rere is?

Either 'rat, or we're just gettin' persuaded by thing's around to become shit,
which is both good..and bad :P

Enragé

23rd August 2005, 13:28

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2005, 09:20 PM
I used to insult it, because I just didn't know what it was about but yeah too much leffist music I guess.
the first thing i ever heard about communism was when i was watching this kids version of the news (they explain everything really simple and shit) and they were explaining that under communism everyone earns the same amount of money;
so i thought "thats really fair :) "...i was like 4 or somethin.

other than that i just thought it was an unachievable dream and didnt look into it untill the protests at Genova.

Carmen

27th August 2005, 17:54

Always Communist, i come from a background of commies.

slim

27th August 2005, 18:09

Before i was leftist i was an ignorant child lol. The moment i started seeing the world around me for what it was i had a natural need to want change. I looked around for an ideology. Communism was a draw to me because i was interested by the Soviet Union at the time. Then i branched out my research and sort of settled where i am, its somewhere in between Minarchy and Socialism.

MoscowFarewell

27th August 2005, 22:58

I use to say communist as an insult, even being a left swinger, I thought they were much like the Nazis. My dad was Cuban and his dad a CIA Cuban was killed. So I believed that they were bad all the time, until my father explained communism and how he even sided with the diehard leftist ideaologies. He told me the truth and since then I've been a socialist.

OleMarxco

27th August 2005, 23:43

Wow. That was almost romantic family-buisness :P
Nawww, I'm just flippin' wit'cha, no patronisin' from me.
I've probably always had the spirit to be it in me, I've
just never had a name to put at'rit's ;)

Enragé

28th August 2005, 00:55

Originally posted by [email protected] 27 2005, 11:01 PM
Wow. That was almost romantic family-buisness :P
Nawww, I'm just flippin' wit'cha, no patronisin' from me.
I've probably always had the spirit to be it in me, I've
just never had a name to put at'rit's ;)
SPEAK ENGLISH

Redmau5

28th August 2005, 01:44

Before I was socialist I never held any particular political view. Politics bored the shit out of me, and I had a very self-centred mentality. "Fuck everyone else, get as much cash and as much women as ya can." That was basically my attitude.

Technique3055

28th August 2005, 02:17

Before I was a communist, I was a Republican, and I honestly knew nothing about the system. I knew very little about politics (I was only in seventh grade) and really I had no desire to learn that much.

But I began to learn about it a little bit. My Bible School teacher would frequently get into discussions with the class about current events, and communism would come up alot. I was always intrigued by it, but I never really knew too much. I always thought it was just an idea that all people were 100% equal, in every sense of the word, and I guess I was pretty right. I began to think "Hey, why do people find such an idea to be so horrible?" My Bible School teacher portrayed the system as a not so good one, although he never brought up the religious aspect of it or the fact that there were so many horrible, evil "communist" dictators in history. He gave out the same old arguements though, "There's no incentive to stand out." Nothing out of the ordinary for an anti-communist rant. He gave out the same old idea, that it was some perfect utopia but "human nature" restricted it from ever becoming true. I wish I knew then what I know now.

After my last Bible School class, which coincedentally my teacher outlined some "contradictions" within communism (like how there could be no "leader" and all of that stuff that generally people who don't know anything about the system say), I was intrigued. I wanted to learn more. Not knowing any other arguements in favor of communism, of course I went on the "anti"-communist side of things. I had the same, uneducated assumptions about the system, the ones that people who haven't really investigated it have. I started off with a few, minor books, like the Manifesto, and some small articles, and I've since moved on to some larger works. Everything I questioned about communism prior to this has been answered.

It's like as soon as I think up something else against it, I read something that answers that. The more I read, the more I understand, and the more it makes sense.

MoscowFarewell

28th August 2005, 02:27

Arca

30th August 2005, 14:11

Before I got interested in Communism I was indifferent. It was when my history teacher was telling us that "it only works on paper" I started getting interested.

rioters bloc

2nd September 2005, 15:34

not from a family of commies as such [as so many people seem to be] but definitely one of massive lefties...grandfather and mother were both political activists, and i guess they and my dad instilled the same kind of values in me

i guess also what ive found having grown up in australia is that it helps if youre originally from a third world country or an extremely oppressive society and you have experienced life from the 'other' side first-hand - much easier to empathise

i don't know when i became a communist, but i have only recently become an anarchist, or at least identified with being an anarchist. still reading up on it a lot though.

i guess instead of race or sexuality or gender i find identity in my politics

rioters bloc

2nd September 2005, 15:37

bah just read the second part of the title, i was just posting going on what others were saying

i really cant remember what i used to think of it because i feel like ive always been one

my earliest recollection really was that it must be a massive threat to world order if it resulted in mcarthyeism in the usa.. think thats what got me into it in the first place

as well as a fascination with cuba

OleMarxco

2nd September 2005, 17:09

Originally posted by NewKindOfSoldier+Aug 28 2005, 12:13 AM--> (NewKindOfSoldier @ Aug 28 2005, 12:13 AM)
[email protected] 27 2005, 11:01 PM
Wow. That was almost romantic family-buisness :P
Nawww, I'm just flippin' wit'cha, no patronisin' from me.
I've probably always had the spirit to be it in me, I've
just never had a name to put at'rit's ;)
SPEAK ENGLISH [/b]
What is 'rat, some kind'o obscure-ol' dead-out language!? Perhyp's an artificial one :P
Okay, to be serious, I think 'rere's no "before", heah, we've alway's been so - In ouv'a heart's! ;)

More Fire for the People

2nd September 2005, 21:10

As long as we're talking about our political family history my mum's a feminist semi-revolutionary social-democrat, Grandad was a trade unionist (perhaps he would have been more revolutionary if he had learned to read, but he never got the chance), and some Great-Great relatives of mine were Native American leaders and Irish rebels.

Anti-Capitalist1

4th September 2005, 22:06

Well, I have always been a real big reader. I read all sorts of books, mostly fiction at a younger age. I used to live with my dad, who was extremely right of center(as well as a drunk and a strong anti-feminist), so I suppose early on I followed that doctrine also.

One day, I decided that I should better myself by reading books that were considered "classics." I came across George Orwell's 1984. One line in the book, "They had done everything against Ingsoc all in the name of Ingsoc"(or something to that effect) intrigued me. I thought to myself, if this isn't what socialism is, what is it? That happened about a year ago and a half ago.

Beyond that, found the manifesto, read up on che, all the usual stuff.

A little while ago, on these boards, I had a little episode in which I learned a great deal on the subject of feminism. Leaving the baords for a bit, in a sort of self-imposed exile, I studyed feminism and defeated my former notions of women's roles in society. I include this part because I wasn't a communist at that time, due to my views on feminism, even though I considered myself one.