Public or Secret?

[Mariam]

Which is better?
I can't really tell..i guess it is because this is the first im supposed to move my ass and get active!!!

Im offered "a" job in the establishment of a new political orgnazation, and because of the major risk im putting myself in (even if i went on working under this party in public) it was suggested that I stick to covert action.

Although the party is not offical yet, threats of imprisonment had reached some of the guys working on the legal issues!

Probably this week i'll be meeting the guy incharge.
So guys what do you think? Shall i take the undercover job to protect myself..or risk the whole thing??
Which one is be better?? ;)

[Demogorgon]

It is my belief that socialists should try to make all their activity as public as possible. The more people exposed to it the better.

Obviously be careful about putting yourself at risk. But little point in being secretive.

[lithium]

I was thinking about this earlier actually. You could make yourself very public, in the media or whatever, yet still be secretive in your identity. Think Subcommandante Marcos. I guess it depends on how much you value your own private life (once you're recognised the media could be all over you) and how big any actions you undertake are.

[Janus]

Well, obviously, if you really don't have much of a choice, then you just might be forced into covert actions; something that is inevitable at times in certain countries with strong police forces. However, it's always best to be wary of organizations that become too secretive.

[Mariam]

if you really don't have much of a choice, then you just might be forced into covert actions

I guess that's the only option i've got. The main problem is my family they wont like just the thought of it (that's for sure), then the opposition we'll get from the society; because we are talking about the first Communist party in this country!

[Sir_No_Sir]

Be reasonable about it, and err on the side of caution.

[Whitten]

Complete openess doesn't suit all conditions. If there is the threat of danger its best to err on the side of caution and gp with covert action.

[Leo]

Hiding your identity during political work is possible and mostly necessary. After all our real names are for our ordinary lives. However, I think that believing that we can hide our political activity from the authorities is an illusion so being secretive mostly doesn't work for good.

What is more is, when there is an "underground nucleus - legal mass organization" structure, which can become quite "dark". So I would say that, regardless of where you are working in, have a back-up plan for leaving if you understand that you have entered a command structure and that you don't even know who is giving orders.

In organizations with big legal wings and underground cadres, things can get quite dangerous. It is possible to face the danger coming from the state; yet in organizations structured like that, what is most dangerous and most common is the danger coming from the inside.