Red: The Communist colour

[CopperGoat]

Before i know about communism. my favourite colour was red. now i love communism and i realized that red is used a lot in communist symbols. does the colour red mean anything politically? Does anybody know?

[Palmares]

From my knowledge is represents socialism in the political sense. Examples of this is RATM's clothing which is black with a red star. Black representing anarchy, red socialism. Also with the Nazi flag, since it represents National Socialism. I also remember some anarchists having a flag half black half red, have a guess what that means? Just check out some of the colours on some members avatars, for example the founder of che-lives, Malte. Hope this helps you. By the way, check out some symbol or symbolism books for more info. Did you know the Mitsubishi symbol represents divine power?

[Som]

A red flag was raised over the paris commune to symbolize the blood of the workers.

Since then, its been used the color of socialism and communism.

The anarchist black also has its origins in the french revolution, though i think it was a bit more vague than the communist symbols.
The red-black anarchist flag was first used in anarchist spain with the anarchist and workers union coming together under the idea of libertarian communism or anarcho-synicalism, which is the most common anarchist train of though.

Theres likely a bit more symbolism to it as well.

[Palmares]

Cheers for that info Som!

[nz revolution]

Yeah black flags can symbolise Anarchy, but I think it mainly stands for "no borders".

Red I think means "revolution".

Yes Mr. Collins dictionary confirms red flag means revolution.

Nazis are just stupid, so is the British Labour Party for singing the song "red flag". A lot worse than people who were Che and CCCP shirts and are liberals...

[peaccenicked]

The Red Flag

The peoples flag is deepest red

It shrouded oft our martyred dead

And ere their limbs grew still and cold,

Their heart’s blood dyed its every fold

CHORUS
Then raise the scarlet standard high

Within its shade we’ll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer

We’ll keep the red flag flying here.



Look around, the Frenchmen love its blazes

The sturdy German chants its praises,

In Moscow’s vaults its Hymns are sung,

Chicago swells the surging throng.



It waved about our infant might

When all ahead seemed dark as night,

It witnessed many a deed and vow,

We must not change its colour now.



It will recall the triumphs past,

It gives the hope of peace at last,

The banner bright, the symbol plain

Of human right and human gain.



It suits today the weak and base

Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place

To cringe before the rich man’s frown

And haul the sacred emblem down



With heads uncovered swear we all

To bear it onward till we fall,

Come dungeons dark or gallows grim

This song shall be our parting Hymn.

[nz revolution]

Its a great song that, Billy Bragg does a good cover of it, to the original tune (white Cockade or something)

But he says 'beneath its flag we'll live n die.

Stupid British Labour party, what a mockery they make of the left...

[El Che]

Very nice.

[deimos]

very nice.
1. As man is only human, He must eat before he can think. Fine words are only empty air And not his meat and drink.
Chorus: Then, Left! Right! Left! Then, Left! Right! Left! There`s a place, Comrade for you, March with us in the workers` united front; For you are a worker too.

2 As man is only human, He`d rather not have boots in face. He wants no slaves at his beck and call, Nor life by a masters`s grace.

Chorus
3. And since a worker`s a worker, No class can free him but his own; ‘The emancipation of the working- class Is the task of the workers alone.’
Chorus

[Conghaileach]

from nz revolution:
Its a great song that, Billy Bragg does a good cover of it, to the original tune (white Cockade or something)

The original was written by Jim Connell in 1889 and has been sung by many a band ever since.

Here's a site on it:
http://www.comms.dcu.ie/sheehanh/connell.htm

[Felicia]

Quote: from CiaranB on 2:24 pm on Nov. 20, 2002
The original was written by Jim Connell in 1889 and has been sung by many a band ever since.

Here's a site on it:
http://www.comms.dcu.ie/sheehanh/connell.htm
Hey, my last name is Connell. Hmmm, maybe, just maybe, there's some relation there... I'll look into it, lol. I liked the site too :)

[Xvall]

The red is for the blood of the working class - which for the past five centuries has been systematically persecuted and attacked by capitalists.

[suffianr]

According to a book on Flags of the World:

Red - danger, revolution, Socialism, bloodshed of patriots;

White - peace, surrender, truce;

Orange (or saffron) - courage, sacrifice (the Sikh's religious symbol, the Khanda, is orange);

Green - safety, progress, Islam;

Yellow - sickness, caution;

Black - mourning, death, anarchy.

But I guess you knew that, anyway :)

[Jaha]

Hey, something interesting.

the color red is a sacred color for the Lakota nation. i assume that this applies for many other "indian" nations too. i thought this was an interesting fact.....

....considering they were fairly socialist.

[apathy maybe]

"Red shall be the new yellow, while yellow the new red. And all shall use it as a symbol of unity."
I dreamnt that a yellow line thick then petering off seperated the socialist from the non socialist.