RAAN "5th Anniversay"

[Nachie]

What's up everybody,

So March 25th, 2002 is the earliest evidence any of us can find of the "Red & Anarchist Action Network" (RAAN; RAANista Tendency) constituting itself as a body or concept. At that time we had announced our intention to draw up a series of uniting principles from which to act off of. It took about a year for those principles to be drawn up, but various low-intensity activities in the network's name (such as fundraising for prisoners, etc.) began immediately after the announcement.

Now almost five years later, despite having no official membership, RAAN has spread to over ten states, Australia, Venezuela, and Canada. We have engaged in dozens of actions using a variety of tactics and set some pretty ridiculous precedents that haven't been matched by any other group professing to create a nation-wide (or international!) decentralized broad-issue action network on the specific theoretical basis of anarchism and communism. We would like to try and do some interesting things this coming Sunday March 25th (just a little over a month away) to celebrate this achievement and generate momentum for the coming year, which is already off to a pretty awesome start.

I guess the idea would be for anybody who is interested to try and have some sort of RAAN event or action on the 25th. If enough people get down on this, it would definitely be one of the more significant national/global coordinated efforts for us. There's no specific strategy to what we want to do. As with all RAAN activity, it comes down to whatever people want to do in their towns and neighborhoods, and what they have the resources to pull off.

Here in central Kentucky we're going to be having a house party (hopefully) complete with vegan birthday cake and candles, as well as some movie showings and an informal workshop/discussion about the project and progress of the network. Anyone who can make it is invited! Other ideas might be having a "defining RAAN" workshop or discussion at a local space or your house, playing a show, throwing a potluck, writing letters to prisoners, doing some sort of claimed action, or really anything at all that might be "quantifiable" in the sense of expressing solidarity with the tendency. People who are by themselves in their cities might try something like a banner drop, street art, or other easy action. If you can't do anything, it would still be nice to hear from y'all as far as generating a dialogue on where the project is and where people would like to see it go. The important thing is to be creative and festive, and the greater variety of activities there are from city to city, by all means the better!

Lots of resources to help you with whatever you might be inspired to do are available at www.redanarchist.org and www.poisonedcandy.com

If you'd like to host a workshop but aren't sure please respond and we can talk about some ideas for ways to approach the topic. It's not about recruiting people, but about getting together to talk about the possible worth of a national autonomous action network that isn't just TALKING about forming, but has actually existed in practice for five years now and is developing its own culture and momentum. Where do we want to take this???

Much love,

- Nachie, on behalf of some Kentucky RAANistas and others who had expressed a desire to do something for our 5th...

(please forward this around to anyone you think might be interested, whether or not they have participated in the network in the past)

[chimx]

see this link for a more comprehensive list of RAAN's activity than what Mr. Henry suggests:

http://redanarchist.org/history/index.html

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by black coffee black metal+February 16, 2007 04:11 am--> (black coffee black metal @ February 16, 2007 04:11 am)
Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 09:55 pm

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 03:30 am

[email protected] 15, 2007 10:18 pm
I love how the taliRAAN takes itself for something other than a joke... Makin' Revolution, Tearin' up strip clubs, eh? :lol:
This is only funny because it's coming from an RCP'er.
ya one of the largest and most active communist party in the states. And by activism I don't mean attacking a strip joint :lol:
No, you mean selling newspapers and videos. RADICAL!!! [/b]
No I mean conducting mass line, organizing strikes, walkouts, rallies, etc... talking to people about what communism really is. The RCP doesn't fucking think it's awesome because it vandalizes windows (which RCP supporters have done), instead of acting like a group of drunk suburban petty bourgieous teenagers, the RCP is actually on the streets spreading the ideology and spreading the ideas of revolution.


see this link for a more comprehensive list of RAAN's activity than what Mr. Henry suggests:

http://redanarchist.org/history/index.html

great. I especially like the arm the homeless action. Other than that, seems like taliRAAN is busy discussing how dumb bolshevism is and tearing up revolution book outlets.

[Rawthentic]

Other than that, seems like taliRAAN is busy discussing how dumb bolshevism is and tearing up revolution book outlets.
You spend your time exalting Avakian and how "great" Maoism is, while attacking left-communist revolutionaries, or those who don't agree with your version of "Leninism" or revolution. The RCP has been talked about enough for you to understand it's real class nature and incredible irrelevancy to the workers.

[Fawkes]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 11:06 pm
see this link for a more comprehensive list of RAAN's activity than what Mr. Henry suggests:

http://redanarchist.org/history/index.html
Once again, one of my posts got deleted for being spam, even though it wasn't, so here is what I originally said.

Do you really think it's smart to have your name on the website?

[chimx]

Yup.

Matthew Brehe
206 Broadway #5
Helena MT, 59601

Stop by sometime, we'll have pie.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

You spend your time exalting Avakian and how "great" Maoism is, while attacking left-communist revolutionaries, or those who don't agree with your version of "Leninism" or revolution.

very true



hastalavictoria has talked enough for us to understand [I]his real class nature and incredible irrelevancy to the workers.

typos fixed

[freakazoid]

Stop by sometime, we'll have pie.

I like pie, :D.

Why are we fighting amongst ourselves? Shouldn't we be helping each other to spread our cauase?

[OneBrickOneVoice]

We have different causes. Anarchists regularly undermine and attack anarchist movements and are proud of it. Look at the link Chimx provided. It proclaims that attacking a bookstore which carried books from marx, lenin, mao, chomsky and all kinds of revolutionaries (rare ones too) as some great action. RAAN and anarchists do this shit all the time.

[cenv]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18, 2007 02:29 am


hastalavictoria has talked enough for us to understand [I]his real class nature and incredible irrelevancy to the workers.

typos fixed
Shame on him for disrespecting the glorious vanguard party and its noble chairman, Chairman Bob! How reactionary and petty-bourgeois of you, hastalavictoria. You should also be ashamed of yourself for supporting those idealistic autonomous Marxist people!

Of course, LeftyHenry is right. The almighty proletarian RCP is unquestionably superior to those dirty horizontalists. As such, he is totally justified in hijacking this thread and using it to assert the RCP's superiority over all other communist organizations.

On a more serious note, RAAN seems like an interesting group. Its particular emphasis on anti-"Leninism" is rather unusual though, and it seems as if RAAN is in danger of becoming more concerned with fighting different flavors of communism as opposed to rebelling against capitalism and helping radicalize the masses. Conversely, though, it seems to maintain a non-sectarian character by including members that represent various flavors of both anarchism and communism. Overall, looks like RAAN has some good stuff going.

PS. Actually, contrary to the way it may seem, I'm not taking sides in the autonomism vs. "Leninism" debate. I'm not interested in getting involved in useless, petty bickering over whose ideology is more proletarian or more revolutionary or whatever. I'm just a tad sick of LeftyHenry's confused "my party is mightier than thou" attitude.

[freakazoid]

RAAN and anarchists do this shit all the time.

I don't do "shit" like that all of the time.

Has anybody seen Land and Freedom? Have we learned nothing from the Spanish civil war? We should be fighting the capitalists and the fascists. Not each other. :(

[The Grey Blur]

I think the message of that film was "fuck stalinists"

[Honggweilo]

Originally posted by Fawkes+February 17, 2007 09:21 pm--> (Fawkes @ February 17, 2007 09:21 pm)
[email protected] 15, 2007 11:06 pm
see this link for a more comprehensive list of RAAN's activity than what Mr. Henry suggests:

http://redanarchist.org/history/index.html
Once again, one of my posts got deleted for being spam, even though it wasn't, so here is what I originally said.

Do you really think it's smart to have your name on the website? [/b]
Dont worry, chimx has his own armed female mountain guerilla :P

I think the message of that film was "fuck stalinists"
Yeah, that movie displays that the sectarianism of that war still hasnt wore off <_< (pointing at the POUM)

[chimx]

On a more serious note, RAAN seems like an interesting group. Its particular emphasis on anti-"Leninism" is rather unusual though, and it seems as if RAAN is in danger of becoming more concerned with fighting different flavors of communism as opposed to rebelling against capitalism and helping radicalize the masses. Conversely, though, it seems to maintain a non-sectarian character by including members that represent various flavors of both anarchism and communism. Overall, looks like RAAN has some good stuff going.

RAAN sought to be a collaboration of anti-capitalists within the anti-statist milieu. It is interesting your mention of RAAN&#39;s anti-leninism. When the network first started, I made the suggestion to allow Leninist participation, provided that Leninists understand that wasn&#39;t a Leninist organization. Most people disagreed and the anti-Leninism remained.

Since then I have changed my mind on my earlier position, given RAAN&#39;s experience with anarchist communities. For the first 2 or 3 years of the networks existence, it was very often written off as a leninist group in sheep&#39;s clothing. Anarchist hostility to RAAN&#39;s advocacy of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat got much of the Network labeled as closet leninists. I can&#39;t imagine how any kind of organization trying to make bridged between communists and anarchists can possibly adhere to a policy of pro-leninism and not expect to alienate the anarchist base. (see for example, responses to RAAN activity on infoshop.org, or the Green Anarchy Journal)

It should be noted however, that RAAN has always been very open to the idea of working with leninists. There have been articles written specifically to this. Of course, the likelihood of any leninists wanting to participate with a group who has vandalized Chairman Bob&#39;s bookstore may be low, granted. ;)


Dont worry, chimx has his own armed female mountain guerilla

I don&#39;t need them to protect me. I keep a loaded shotgun next to my bed. Its fuckin&#39; Montana

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by cenv+February 18, 2007 05:41 am--> (cenv @ February 18, 2007 05:41 am)
[email protected] 18, 2007 02:29 am


hastalavictoria has talked enough for us to understand [I]his real class nature and incredible irrelevancy to the workers.

typos fixed
Shame on him for disrespecting the glorious vanguard party and its noble chairman, Chairman Bob&#33; How reactionary and petty-bourgeois of you, hastalavictoria. You should also be ashamed of yourself for supporting those idealistic autonomous Marxist people&#33;

Of course, LeftyHenry is right. The almighty proletarian RCP is unquestionably superior to those dirty horizontalists. As such, he is totally justified in hijacking this thread and using it to assert the RCP&#39;s superiority over all other communist organizations.

On a more serious note, RAAN seems like an interesting group. Its particular emphasis on anti-"Leninism" is rather unusual though, and it seems as if RAAN is in danger of becoming more concerned with fighting different flavors of communism as opposed to rebelling against capitalism and helping radicalize the masses. Conversely, though, it seems to maintain a non-sectarian character by including members that represent various flavors of both anarchism and communism. Overall, looks like RAAN has some good stuff going.

PS. Actually, contrary to the way it may seem, I&#39;m not taking sides in the autonomism vs. "Leninism" debate. I&#39;m not interested in getting involved in useless, petty bickering over whose ideology is more proletarian or more revolutionary or whatever. I&#39;m just a tad sick of LeftyHenry&#39;s confused "my party is mightier than thou" attitude. [/b]
wtf??? yeah try reading, you&#39;ll find out it was hastalavictoria who brought the RCP into this. The RCP is a party made up of the unemployed, workers, and militant students. No bourgeoisie will join a party with the RCP&#39;s hardline maoist principles and centralism. That is reserved for the anti-communist tailRAAN which, as you said, focuses essentially on anti-leninism more than anti-capitalism.

[chimx]

Why would you think RAAN is more dedicated to anti-leninism than anti-capitalism?

[Nachie]

it&#39;s only confusing to people who don&#39;t realize that Lenin was a capitalist.

[Jazzratt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18, 2007 08:12 pm
it&#39;s only confusing to people who don&#39;t realize that Lenin was a capitalist.
That was possibly the stupidest fucking comment I have ever read on this board and I&#39;ve read a lot of chimx&#39;s posts. You&#39;re out of your fucking tree if you think Lenin was a capitalist.

[chimx]

Listen son, maybe before you start with your hostile trolling, you read up on Lenin&#39;s birth into a bourgeois household, and then review his NEP policies following the suppression of worker control during war communism. Your contributions are both unwelcome and unproductive. I&#39;ve seen grunting primitivists that bring more to the table than this trash.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18, 2007 09:07 pm
Listen son, maybe before you start with your hostile trolling, you read up on Lenin&#39;s birth into a bourgeois household, and then review his NEP policies following the suppression of worker control during war communism. Your contributions are both unwelcome and unproductive. I&#39;ve seen grunting primitivists that bring more to the table than this trash.
Lenin spent his life expanding on marxism and organizing workers and advocating revolution. The NEP was a temporary and a step backwards and he clearly admitted that, but it was necessary to spark the Soviet Economy and he didn&#39;t "suppress the workers". Lenin was a revolutionary communist, to say otherwise is upsurd and shows lack of knowledge about anything he wrote.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

also keep in mind that some of the greatest revolutionary thinkers were petty-bourgieous or bourgieous. Engels and Marx were privledged, so was Proudhon and I think Bakunin too. The point is that its irrelevent, what matters is your class outlook and thought as well as actions, the proletarian line is going to bring about a revolution not narrow trade unionism

[chimx]

I don&#39;t care. This thread is about RAAN.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

alright fine we&#39;ll get back on topic but you brought it up.


Why would you think RAAN is more dedicated to anti-leninism than anti-capitalism?

because it generally is. That is how it attempts to distinquish itself from other anarchist groups which don&#39;t consider themselves marxist or for a dictatorship of the proletariat: extreme Lenin bashing.

[Everyday Anarchy]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18, 2007 05:07 pm
alright fine we&#39;ll get back on topic but you brought it up.


Why would you think RAAN is more dedicated to anti-leninism than anti-capitalism?

because it generally is. That is how it attempts to distinquish itself from other anarchist groups which don&#39;t consider themselves marxist or for a dictatorship of the proletariat: extreme Lenin bashing.
What is necessarily wrong with an anarchist and libertarian Marxist organization bashing Leninism? Every one of us knows that if Leninists ever had their way, anarchists would be imprisoned, executed, or exiled. I know I don&#39;t want Leninists getting any power during any given revolution. It&#39;s survival. I don&#39;t want Leninists getting power just like I don&#39;t want any Fascists getting power. Either way, anarchists die.

[Fawkes]

Originally posted by LH
also keep in mind that some of the greatest revolutionary thinkers were petty-bourgieous or bourgieous. Engels and Marx were privledged, so was Proudhon and I think Bakunin too.
I don&#39;t really want to continue bringing this thread further off-topic, but I just want to say that being privileged does not necessarily mean being (petty-)bourgeois.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by Fawkes+February 20, 2007 01:51 am--> (Fawkes @ February 20, 2007 01:51 am)
LH
also keep in mind that some of the greatest revolutionary thinkers were petty-bourgieous or bourgieous. Engels and Marx were privledged, so was Proudhon and I think Bakunin too.
I don&#39;t really want to continue bringing this thread further off-topic, but I just want to say that being privileged does not necessarily mean being (petty-)bourgeois. [/b]
you know what I mean, that&#39;s just splitting hairs.


What is necessarily wrong with an anarchist and libertarian Marxist organization bashing Leninism? Every one of us knows that if Leninists ever had their way, anarchists would be imprisoned, executed, or exiled. I know I don&#39;t want Leninists getting any power during any given revolution. It&#39;s survival. I don&#39;t want Leninists getting power just like I don&#39;t want any Fascists getting power. Either way, anarchists die.

Oh yeah those innocent Soviet Anarchists who threatened those who supported soviets and burned crops in protest of the state.

[Wanted Man]

Henry, you do have a point, but this thread is going way off-topic. We all know you dislike RAAN, I do, too. But what you are doing is like trying to teach a gorilla mathematics, and then get angry when they don&#39;t understand. Do something more productive with your time, seriously.

[The Grey Blur]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18, 2007 02:43 pm
Yeah, that movie displays that the sectarianism of that war still hasnt wore off <_< (pointing at the POUM)
How can you point to people who "disappeared" or were just shot in the street.