The New Manifesto

[Jesusstick]

I was thinking today about how communism is so widely misunderstood, and of ways we could help change that. So I came up with an idea.

I think it would be a good idea for us to come up with a more concise statement of our beliefs as communists. Something that uses modern language, is easy to understand, and is short enough to be memorized and recited without a large amount of effort.

This has probably been done before, so I apologize if I have missed anything obvious. I just think that this is a good idea, because we could easily set people straight on what communists do and do not believe (keeping what we&#39;re saying to the core beliefs, leaving <insert-favorite-form-of-communism-here>&#39;s thoughts out).

Just a thought, I&#39;m a new communist, so I don&#39;t have much to offer in terms of the new manifesto itself... I&#39;m still learning and thinking.

Thank you for your time.

[Janus]

I think the problem is the prejudice that many people feel towards communism due to the strong backlash against it rather than any difficulties with the comprehension of it.

[Jesusstick]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2006, 03:02 AM
I think the problem is the prejudice that many people feel towards communism due to the strong backlash against it rather than any difficulties with the comprehension of it.
While the misinformation spread by the backlash is definitely real, I also know firsthand that the definition of communism taught by public schools in America is a lot of the time wrong. So they&#39;re related issues, I suppose.

[Janus]

What is taught in schools is basically anti-communist propaganda which causes the prejudice against communism.

I don&#39;t think that texts like the Communist Manifesto are really hard to understand but there are also plenty of resources online that can help one understand certain concepts that may be difficult to understand at first. However, this requires the willing participation of the person; this is what we need to target.

[RNK]

I thought of this once, and then realized that with all the sectarianist bullshit running rampant, no two people would be able to agree on the content of such a revised manifesto.

[Janus]

I thought of this once, and then realized that with all the sectarianist bullshit running rampant, no two people would be able to agree on the content of such a revised manifesto.
Well, a communist manifesto would need to address the basic issues that we all support rather than the divisions that split us such as the state,etc.

[Mara_Suomessa]

The New Socialist Group in Canada has an excellent article called "Socialism From Below".

http://newsocialist.org/newsite/index.php?id=59

Whenever I am trying to get my friends interested in socialism I always show them this article. It&#39;s a bit lengthy but it gets a lot of information across in an easy-to-read format. Not quite a new Manifesto, but it does the job.

-Martin

[Sentinel]

it would be a good idea for us to come up with a more concise statement of our beliefs as communists. Something that uses modern language, is easy to understand, and is short enough to be memorized and recited without a large amount of effort.

The Principles of Communism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm), by Engels, comes to mind. I mean, very much Q&A style, and not terribly outdated imo. Although, of course, all the &#39;scripture&#39; must be rethought to fit our specific epoc. And that&#39;s indeed a lot of work..


Mara_Suomessa

You&#39;re in Finland? Where? Nice username, anyway.. :D

[Outlier]

I agree. Most people don&#39;t know a damn thing about communism except one thing they hate it. How can they hate something they don&#39;t even know one damn thing about. If their was a new version of the manifesto I think people could grasp the concept of communism.

[Forward Union]

Am I the only one that thinks people don&#39;t care? and wont look to us as a model for revolutionion until we actually are one. We&#39;re not doing anything for working people, our movement is bollocks. Fuck what we&#39;re called.

Re-write communism as much as you want, it wont make a fucking dent in public conciousness. And it dosnt make us any better. We should be more concerned with actually making a difference, than how we dress up.

If we turn into "Communism was this and wasnt this" people, our heads slip so far up our own asses we might as well just go home.


Most people don&#39;t know a damn thing about communism

So what? I don&#39;t give a shit. Most working people don&#39;t want Ideology rammed down their necks - You dont need to have a Degree in Marxist philosophy to hate capitalism and want to take action against it.

[Comrade Kurtz]

Socialism is the only relevant radical leftist theory in modern day society. I&#39;m willing to acknowledge that communism might occur with the constant progress of technology but if that&#39;s true, why waste your time being a communist? Be involved in the here and now and be a socialist.

This all to say that the socialists need a solid intellectual to compose a plan for instituting and maintaining democratic socialism.