Explaining Communism Quickly

[Redboy]

Whats a good way to explain communism quickly to a bunch of impatient 14 year old friends who have all been brainwashed by the history lessons here in the UK that communism is a Fatal illness?

I'm not at the stage when I am openly admitting it out loud at school. Because annoyingly, lots of Fascists here, who would happily use my balls as target practice.

So, my hole problem is how do I explain the hole idea in a few no-longer-then 2 minutes speech.

(Feel free to write your own views of course)

[Comrade-Upon-Tweed]

I would suggest checking out the Learning board as there are some really good threads covering the topic in most helpful detail. You could likely comprise a pretty short and effective little speech from the analysis there (probably better if you did this yourself as it would better reflect your own personal outlook as well as suit your particular group of spectators).

It is, of course, much more useful explaining Communism in layman's terms (since resorting to theory usually only confuses and/or disorientates the average cappie audience and makes you appear to be some dismissable, dogmatic drone).

As for the fascists, I wouldn't waste my time. Unless they're up for an actual, honest discussion, ridicule is the order of the day when dealing with them.

Good luck, comrade. :hammer:

[Dr Mindbender]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2007 07:46 pm
Whats a good way to explain communism quickly to a bunch of impatient 14 year old friends who have all been brainwashed by the history lessons here in the UK that communism is a Fatal illness?

I'm not at the stage when I am openly admitting it out loud at school. Because annoyingly, lots of Fascists here, who would happily use my balls as target practice.

So, my hole problem is how do I explain the hole idea in a few no-longer-then 2 minutes speech.

(Feel free to write your own views of course)
quote the dictionary definition.

[Redboy]

Originally posted by Ulster Socialist+September 15, 2007 12:03 pm--> (Ulster Socialist @ September 15, 2007 12:03 pm)
[email protected] 14, 2007 07:46 pm
Whats a good way to explain communism quickly to a bunch of impatient 14 year old friends who have all been brainwashed by the history lessons here in the UK that communism is a Fatal illness?

I'm not at the stage when I am openly admitting it out loud at school. Because annoyingly, lots of Fascists here, who would happily use my balls as target practice.

So, my hole problem is how do I explain the hole idea in a few no-longer-then 2 minutes speech.

(Feel free to write your own views of course)
quote the dictionary definition. [/b]
There can be a lot of Biast views for that, But ill check.

[Dr. Cheph]

a society run by the oppressed for the oppressed resulting in the end of all oppression.

that should only take you 2 seconds.

[Rawthentic]

Thats socialism, not communism.

Since under communism there are no classes, there are no oppressed or oppressors.

[The-Spark]

a classless and stateless society

[RNK]

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism :D

[manic expression]

Want to explain communism quickly?

"Abolition of private property".

[Dr. Cheph]

Originally posted by Live for the [email protected] 17, 2007 01:46 am
Thats socialism, not communism.

Since under communism there are no classes, there are no oppressed or oppressors.
thats why I said "resulting in the end of all oppression"

although I probably should have said

"a society created by the oppressed for the oppressed resulting in the creation of a society void of oppression"

too make it clearer

I forgot about the one above I like it, it's more classical

how bout this

Q: what is communism?

A: Progress

[rocker935]

I feel your pain, I live in the US and I am 16 years old. So i'm a sophomore in high school. I have a few leftist friends that I hang out with. But most of my friends are dunt care about politics. But they aren't the problem. its all of the other kids. Kuz unlike you I have created a leftist presence. I am known as the communist kid. In every desk I sit at I draw socialist stars, Che quotes, and Sickle and Hammers. So kidz often come up to me and ask me whats so great about communism, it failed. So I just try telling them something like this.

Imagine a place that isn't dominated by racism and greed. A world where everyone is TRULY equal. A place where rockafellers don't exist. A place where things are truely fair. A place where you have the freedom to say and do as you please. That is communism. They will prolly tell you that it didnt work in Russia and all this other crap. and that capitilism is so much better and can't fail. Give them two countries, Mexico and Iraq. I would think of more failures of capitilism and shit but im too tired right now. If someone can add to what I said or if i said something wrong PLEASE correct me.

[cenv]

I would describe it as a society where the workers democratically control all aspects of society, and hence where they control their own lives.

[Sickle of Justice]

this is for anarcho-communism, but it should be fairly simialar.

"equality".

then, elaborate:

" Imagine a society in which labour is distributed according to ability, and the fruits of that labour according to need. in which the communities support each other instead of each individual trying to steal as much as they can from their brothers and sisters.
Communism means community, anarchism means without rulers. Anarcho-communism would be a society based on community and run by the people of the community, for the purpose of the wellbeing of the members of the community. Complete equality, both of wealth and power, properly inacted, would make it virtually impossible for war to start, since all people would be codependant on each other, everyone holding each other up. Equality would all but erase the need for crime and corruption, because no one would need to grab more wealth. All forms of prejudice would dissapear, as they are nothing but a bi product of the competition and alienation that comes with capitalism. everyone would e equal. everyone would be free"

[lombas]

Originally posted by manic [email protected] 17, 2007 02:51 am
Want to explain communism quickly?

"Abolition of private property".
I thought it was "abolition of the private ownership of the means of production".

Which is something entirely different.

[Red Scare]

use this (http://www.communistleague.org/whatiscommunism.html)

[Red Scare]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19, 2007 06:48 pm
I feel your pain, I live in the US and I am 16 years old. So i'm a sophomore in high school. I have a few leftist friends that I hang out with. But most of my friends are dunt care about politics. But they aren't the problem. its all of the other kids. Kuz unlike you I have created a leftist presence. I am known as the communist kid. In every desk I sit at I draw socialist stars, Che quotes, and Sickle and Hammers. So kidz often come up to me and ask me whats so great about communism, it failed. So I just try telling them something like this.

same situation, 16 in US highschool, and bunch of capitalist bigots all around me

[rocker935]

God damn i just had a fuckin teacher harass me for wearing my Che shirt. We were talking about Hinduism and out of no where this fukin history teacher is trying to bash me in a debate why capitalism is soo great. And since everyone in class is retarded and believes wat the teacher says they are all like "you got pwned". this fukin teacher made all these assumptions to justify his side. And i started off by tellin him that free market is a competition, there are winners and there are losers. And he tried to argue that if bill gates were to come out with a new product ppl buy it to make their life easier and he made money. he asked who loses. and i just told him the consumer and the worker. In America money is power and the reason why the general public has no power over their lives is because the ppl with the huge amount of green are hording all of the power for themselves. So i guess you could use that as part of an argument.

EDIT: Sorry for the random spew of sentences, I didn't realize that it was so messy till i hit enter. I dunt feel like changin it.

[Janus]

We have numerous threads covering this in the Learning forum.

Also, see this thread if you have further questions:Guide (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=25500)

[Killer Enigma]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2007 07:46 pm
Whats a good way to explain communism quickly to a bunch of impatient 14 year old friends who have all been brainwashed by the history lessons here in the UK that communism is a Fatal illness?

I'm not at the stage when I am openly admitting it out loud at school. Because annoyingly, lots of Fascists here, who would happily use my balls as target practice.

So, my hole problem is how do I explain the hole idea in a few no-longer-then 2 minutes speech.

(Feel free to write your own views of course)
I would begin by learning to spell "whole" correctly.

[Tatarin]

Ask them what they think of the politics in Star Trek.

[Vendetta]

Originally posted by [email protected] 01, 2007 09:41 pm
Ask them what they think of the politics in Star Trek.
I have doubts a bunch of kids of this time would pay attention to Star Trek, much less it's politics.

[blackstone]

Originally posted by [email protected] 01, 2007 09:41 pm
Ask them what they think of the politics in Star Trek.
What kid watches Star Trek? :wacko:

[Raúl Duke]

Just say Communism: A classless stateless society economically ran under the maxim "From each according to ability, to each according to need."

Communism as Political Theory:

"Abolition of Private Property" K Marx

However, you can chose to say: A theory of class struggle in which the working oppressed class would overthrow the ruling capitalist class and abolish the state (whether in the "long run" or "overnight"), classes, and private property.


And since everyone in class is retarded and believes wat the teacher says they are all like "you got pwned".

While I barely argue anything straight-forwardly leftist (although I "beat around the bush" ), when I do argue something, many students in my school react reversely...they usually think I pwned the teacher! (although, in most cases...I do!)

[Random Precision]

Here's a little saying I've developed for cases such as this. I am in a situation quite similar to yours, actually.

"Under capitalism, you work and someone else makes a profit from it. Under socialism/communism, you work and you make the profit from it."

That's being awfully reductionist, I know, but it should be a good hook for any of them with an open mind who are willing to learn more about it.

[Revolution Until Victory]

a short and simple defention that got a lot of appeal:

Communism: Workers, Poor, and Opressed People's Power

If you were in the thirld world, an extremely effective defention:

Communism: Anti-Imperialism. Period.


Marxism-Leninism-Maoism :D

I like that defention :P

[Killer Enigma]

I like that defention tongue.gif
Really? Do you really? Are you completely serious about that?

[Revolution Until Victory]

Really? Do you really? Are you completely serious about that?

What do you think? can't you figure it out by yourself?

[blackstone]

Originally posted by [email protected] 01, 2007 10:26 pm
Just say Communism: A classless stateless society economically ran under the maxim "From each according to ability, to each according to need."

Communism as Political Theory:

"Abolition of Private Property" K Marx

However, you can chose to say: A theory of class struggle in which the working oppressed class would overthrow the ruling capitalist class and abolish the state (whether in the "long run" or "overnight"), classes, and private property.


And since everyone in class is retarded and believes wat the teacher says they are all like "you got pwned".

While I barely argue anything straight-forwardly leftist (although I "beat around the bush" ), when I do argue something, many students in my school react reversely...they usually think I pwned the teacher! (although, in most cases...I do!)
See the problem with that, and other definitions here, are that you may be using rhetoric and definitions that they are not familiar with.


A theory of class struggle in which the working oppressed class would overthrow the ruling capitalist class and abolish the state (whether in the "long run" or "overnight"), classes, and private property.

what's private property?
what's classes?
what's the state?
Whats the capitalist class?
What's the working oppressed class?
How is the overthrow of the capitalist class a good thing?

and so on.

You might as well read excerpts from the Communist Manifesto, for all they care. It's going to go over their heads because you have defined none of those terms.

[bezdomni]

The abolition of all class distinctions generally, the abolition all the relations of production on which they rest, the abolition of all social relations that correspond to production and the revolutionizing of all the ideas that result from these relations.