Originally posted by OkaCrisis+Feb 8 2006, 05:14 PM--> (OkaCrisis @ Feb 8 2006, 05:14 PM)
[email protected] 8 2006, 07:49 PM
Being revolutionary is not a "lifestyle choice"...it's a matter of purposeful activity designed to "fan the flames of discontent", as the old I.W.W. put it.
What we want to encourage is the uprising of tens of millions of people to utterly destroy the existing despotism of capital.
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif
Sure, being a "revolutionary" might not include "lifestyle" changes/choices/practices, but being a Communist does. If I'm going to bother to "fan the flames of discontent", I might also bother to engage in some lifestyle practices that do indeed make me not only a better person, but also make me a better Communist.
Isn't living as, and being, the best Communist you can be "Revolutionary"? It may not be tens of millions of people, but it's one more than there otherwise would be. And have you ever heard of leading by example? I am a living manifestation of my beliefs, in every single way, to the best of my ability. In this way, I have turned countless heads, engaged many ears, and maybe even changed a mind or two, or many. I have turned otherwise unaware people on to this "crazy" thing called "Communism" by being myself the best Communist I can be.
I will teach others, as many others as will listen, about Communism, and what it means and what I stand for! And that's how you fan the flames of discontent- by opening up people's eyes to the fact that there is an alternative!
But without being yourself a good example to follow, how can you expect anyone to take your ideas seriously?
I'd like to know how you, Redstar, go about fanning the flames of discontent in your everyday life? Do you consider yourself "revoultionary"?
I'd also like to point out that anyone, simply by virtue of being "leftist" is Revolutionary. We have revolutionary ideas and opinions that we share with eachother, and regardless of whether someone lives their everyday life as a Communist or a Revolutionary (because different situations allow for different levels of true self-expression). Knowledge and ideas are power. Anyone who shares thier knowledge and their ideas with their Comrades is a Revolutionary in my books.
Lastly, all of us have the potential to be Revolutionaries in the sense that you are refering to. When we are one day faced with a Revolutionary situation, anyone who joins the Revolution is revolutionary, no? I think most of us here, given the opportunity, would fight and die for the Revolution. Is that "Revolutionary"? Until then though, what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Drive SUVs and eat lots of cows (who as we speak are grazing vast tracts of African savannah into barren desert wastelands)? Or should we maybe live lifestyles that reflect our beliefs???
Don't discount our efforts to change our lifestyles for the better as counter-revolutionary, or even non-revolutionary. Any effort is action. And all action is Revolutionary.
People who say that you "should be the change you wish to see in the world" are not serious revolutionaries.
Then who is? [/b]
thank u comrade for stating it as it is. You at least know what I am talking about :)