Anarchism Stereotypes

[MiNdGaMe]

On Monday in my 20th Century History Class, my history teacher explain to us that Anarchism or that Anarchist, are involved in destruction of everything, they punch pensioners, beat up pets, and are believe in chaos.

[kylie]

of course. its not like they would tell the truth, as theres the chance people would agree with it and become anarchists. its the same on tv. did you say anything?

i remember when i did history we were told that Henry Kissenger was a hero.

(Edited by feoric at 11:59 am on Feb. 4, 2003)

[ComradeJunichi]

Anarchists, I believe, want the destruction of the system - government. In my opinion, that is almost everything. I wasn't in your class so I don't know if your teacher was talking about it on a shallow or depe intellectual level.

I doubt all anarchists believe in "chaos" and such.

[sabre]

can't say they dont bring about theat stereotype on their own - here in pittsburgh no one wants them at the protests- they make a fool of themselves and break windows - at PEACE protests- they give a bad name to the anti-war movement when they act like idiots and break stuff to act hard and boost their egos

[chamo]

True anarchist want radical change in the government that is it really. There is no need for wanton destrucation of property and it serves no one very well. Those who do this and call themselves anarchist are a disgrace. Those who stereotype an anarchist as this are a multi-disgrace.

[Som]

Of course its the usually lies about anarchism, Its an ideology a lot of people are ignorant about.

With anarchists and protesting, anarchists are usually quite actively involved and its just that the violent ones get the most attention. Destruction of property and the like CAN be a good and effective means of protest, but as long as it has real meaning.
What I mean by this is during the huge anti-war protest in san franscisco, 200 anarchists broke off from the march. They vandalized a few places, but each had a specific reason for it, which they made clear. For example they graffitied a local right-wing newspaper for their pro-war slant, attacked the INS for illegal roundups after 9-11, hit the british consulate I think it was, so on and so forth.
A valid form of protest really.

[MiNdGaMe]

Yeah, poser punks, most of them, usually racist, sexist homophobes. I have a few friends like that, that shout and enforce "Anarchy" without really knowing what it means.

[antieverything]

There are two kinds of anarchists: the kid who listens to punk rock and wears clothes that don't fit and are covered in circle a's and the real follower of anarchism. Don't get the two mixed up.

[Blibblob]

Uh, where did the real followers go. It seems to me that they dissapeared. And those posers, they can die.

[CheViveToday]

Yeah you can always rely on most history teachers and history book to feed you bullshit about certain movements and certain people. I don't know what is worse, the fact that they lie to you, or the fact that the majority of student believe it. I'm reading a book on Che Guevara right now, and I read much of it at school. Whenever I am asked by a student who sees me reading the book "Who is Che?", I usually tell them he was a communist revolutionary who helped Castro take over Cuba. The most common response is...."OH...so he's a BAD guy,...right?" It cracks me the f*ck up every time. Also when one of my history teachers saw the book he said..."I wouldn't read that if I were you. I mean he did some stuff in Cuba, and then in the sixties people mades signs that said Che Vive. That's ALL you need to know about him." I about punched that teacher in his smirking face.