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CoexisT
18th July 2006, 19:46
I was thinking back, just now, to a speech by Jody Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jody_Williams) (Nobel Laureate) I attended this past semester. I remember, very specifically, a point in the presentation when she spent time on questions she had previously received in e-mails, other talks, etc... She discussed the fact that, because she was the receiver of a Nobel, she received messages non-stop saying, "What are you doing about sweatshops?" or "What are you doing about the genocide in...", "What are you doing about gay rights..." etc... Her response was something to the effect of: Why do you keep asking me to do something? I'm doing something. Stop asking me, and do it yourself!

After she said that I really thought about what I'm doing in my life to promote change. Then, after trolling this forum for a while, I had some more quesitons (For myself, and you). It regards our place in the scheme of things, what we do to promote change in the world.

Jody Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Campaign_to_Ban_Landmines) had a specific message, a specific plan, and executed/is executing that plan.

What I'm getting at is, though she may not be fighting for the overthrow of the government, is she not making an positive impact on world society? Certainly she is.

So, rather than a world-wide (or nation-wide) cooperative revolution, which requires specific timing and execution, is this not be an alternative approach? Could people taking up human rights causes throughout the world lead to the overthrow of Capitalism?

Overall, my point is that revolution is certainly a viable answer to Capitalismic control, however, criticizing people that aren't taking part in the revolution, but are making significant positive change in the world is absurd.

BurnTheOliveTree
18th July 2006, 20:00
I agree. :)

One of the things that puts me off leftist types is their total lack of willing to accept that anybody outside of their elite club. Particularly anarchists. At the anarchist bookfair last year, I started to get quite angry at a few of them, who just dismissed literally everything that disagreed with them as bourgeoisie. Bourgeoisie, bourgeoisie, fucking bourgeoisie. I did see one book there, I assume it was a satire, called "Laughter is bourgeoisie". Made me chuckle.

-Alex

Jazzratt
18th July 2006, 20:54
The 'positive effect' is at best extremely small. When everyone has slightly better conditions we'll still be faced by the fact that we are under a very exploitative system. That said a minimal improvement is still an improvement.

Revolution is still the only way out of the capitalist system. Anything else is just utpian democratic pipe-dreaming.

CoexisT
19th July 2006, 01:13
Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 05:55 PM
The 'positive effect' is at best extremely small. When everyone has slightly better conditions we'll still be faced by the fact that we are under a very exploitative system. That said a minimal improvement is still an improvement.

Revolution is still the only way out of the capitalist system. Anything else is just utpian democratic pipe-dreaming.
I don't know if I would call the clearing and banning of land mind use an 'extremely small' effect. But yes, I do see where you're coming from.

Ol' Dirty
19th July 2006, 01:25
I believe that people should rise up, not in a violrent way, but in a positive way. We should become so sold, so massive and so well defended that nothing can stand in our way. That is my view.

Free Left
19th July 2006, 23:18
I believe that people should rise up, not in a violrent way, but in a positive way. We should become so sold, so massive and so well defended that nothing can stand in our way. That is my view.

Idealistic to the extreme.....

ÑóẊîöʼn
20th July 2006, 01:01
Originally posted by Free [email protected] 19 2006, 08:19 PM

I believe that people should rise up, not in a violrent way, but in a positive way. We should become so sold, so massive and so well defended that nothing can stand in our way. That is my view.

Idealistic to the extreme.....
I agree, it is idealistic.

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst" - Robert A Heinlein

CoexisT
20th July 2006, 02:54
I will not posit that a revolution can happen without violence. But I can suggest that it should happen with as little as possible.