How can I make fellow teenagers aware of politics?

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

I am almost pulling my hair out it seems politics are now officially hereditary. How can I convince people that politics is relevant and that claiming you support a party because your parents support them?

We have some nazis in our school who are BNP supporters because of there parents (I feel fash bashing in a school would go badly so thats not a option ) Conservatives are the most popular amongst parents.

I see no reason why people would support the Government or any of the other mainstream parties. Our school is becoming / has become a shit hole because of them yet its alright because "its a Christian school".

People hold onto the god squad as if its something that "must be right" they don't even read the bible , they just believe (do is a diffrent matter ) I had a argument in religious study s over abortion which i could simply win by luring my opponent into saying that "its unchristian" to which I responded "I don't really give a fuck i don't believe in god".

Theres just too much blind faith in the school its sad. I am tempted to use stealth and put up posters ( for which i will need to make one person a fellow far lefty so i can have a look out while I place them up).



I think the school has so much potential and all it needs are people to stop doing what is the norm.



Any advice please for making my fellow students more left wing?

[RedAnarchist]

Maybe create cheap postsers which advertise this site?

You could try to start discussions with your friends, see if you can find an interesting topic to start off with.

[Keyser]

I see your new to RevLeft, so welcome.

Whilst I can understand your frustrations at the seemingly blind approach most people have to politics, it is important to realise that such uninformed and simplisitics ideas (that most people hold) can be demolished with logic and by a person armed with theoretical, ideological and policital knowledge and clarity.

Are there any issues at your school which have a political dimension, for example a teachers/school workers strike, an issue about the privatisation of the education system or to do with school funding?

If your school does not have an anti-war group, look into setting one up.

If any of the above issues or any other issues are present at your school, I would suggest you link up with like minded students, teachers and school workers to address such issues. Through work like this you expose the audience to a wider political message.

I see that your fourteen, I'm making an assumption here so correct me if I am worng but I guess your new to politics yourself?

If you are, then I'll post a few links to left-wing parties/groups/movements and links to Marxist theory and famous socialist, communist and anarchist writers and thinkers.

Links to all the left-wing parties and groups in Britain:

http://www.broadleft.org/gb.htm

Links to online resources on Marxist theory:

http://www.marxists.org/

http://www.marx2mao.com/

Other links:

www.stopwar.org.uk (http://www.stopwar.org.uk)

http://www.cseweb.org.uk/

http://www.labouruniondigest.org.uk/

If you wish to contact me, just send me a PM, maybe I can help you out by putting you touch with someone in the area you live in.

[Colonello Buendia]

I am almost pulling my hair out it seems politics are now officially hereditary. How can I convince people that politics is relevant and that claiming you support a party because your parents support them?

We have some nazis in our school who are BNP supporters because of there parents (I feel fash bashing in a school would go badly so thats not a option ) Conservatives are the most popular amongst parents.

I see no reason why people would support the Government or any of the other mainstream parties. Our school is becoming / has become a shit hole because of them yet its alright because "its a Christian school".

People hold onto the god squad as if its something that "must be right" they don't even read the bible , they just believe (do is a diffrent matter ) I had a argument in religious study s over abortion which i could simply win by luring my opponent into saying that "its unchristian" to which I responded "I don't really give a fuck i don't believe in god".

Theres just too much blind faith in the school its sad. I am tempted to use stealth and put up posters ( for which i will need to make one person a fellow far lefty so i can have a look out while I place them up).



I think the school has so much potential and all it needs are people to stop doing what is the norm.



Any advice please for making my fellow students more left wing?
Same thing in Bearsden basically. I stick to voicing my opinion whenever I can, in debates when the Teacher does some lefty bashing when mates talk about how great Starbucks is. don't force your opinions on anyone but appeal to thinks that may concern them e.g. health workers kids should be spoken to about how great socialism would be for the NHS. you don't need another person for leafleting and posters. I plastered the school with anti-zionist and stop-the-war stickers and leaflets. I also covered my local area with adverts for mayday. make contact with your closest left wing group and spread their info. if you have any other qs PM me.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

I think I will target the Library. Yes I will try and get people to this site but still i need some ways of making people wake up.

[Colonello Buendia]

get msn, then we can talk in real time
it'll make helping alot easier

[F9]

i think that you cant make their minds "change".If they want to get on with politics they will get the interesten by their own!Effort is never pointless or hurts although!;)

Fuserg9:star:

[shorelinetrance]

well, i don't think i have much to contribute but a fellow comrade of mine dweist, i think thats his forum name, just started talking about leftist ideas a few years back, been lurking the forum, reading theories ever since, it's been so long i even forgot my original forum account :].

open minded intelligent people are more likely to listen to what other people label "boring", thats what it comes down too, don't waste time preaching to people who are obviously too wrapped up in rightwing thought to even fathom what a world would be like without money etc etc.

the youth will inherit revolution, stat there.

[guevara2093]

The same problem here in Florida. I don't know much about British politics, but try to find people who lean towards labour (English version of American democrats, right?). Try discussing small issues with them first. Them move to bigger subjects. Though I do have one problem. How do you respond to the statement that "communism only works on paper"? My science teacher kept bringing this up when I was trying to defend it.

[BIG BROTHER]

The same problem here in Florida. I don't know much about British politics, but try to find people who lean towards labour (English version of American democrats, right?). Try discussing small issues with them first. Them move to bigger subjects. Though I do have one problem. How do you respond to the statement that "communism only works on paper"? My science teacher kept bringing this up when I was trying to defend it.

You could say that it wasn't that communist didn't work, but rather that it wasn't followed by the varios leaders, and its also hard to implement it when you got the imperialist powers against you.

[union6]

How do you respond to the statement that "communism only works on paper"? My science teacher kept bringing this up when I was trying to defend it.

last time that was said to me on a forum I came back with this: communism struggles to fully flourish as we live in a global capitalist system and so a country would struggle as the majority still use capitalist economic policies. However Cuba and Venezuela, instead of trading in money they now trade in a communist way as in exchange for Venezuela’s Oil Cuba gives them Doctors and Teachers which are put into Venezuela’s poor areas to be used as free teachers and doctors. This way everyone benefits instead of just a few company owners and bankers. Basically if you look at it as though the majority of countries in the world were communist and no one rely had any global capitalist policies then you would see the communist countries doing well and if a country tried to switch to capitalism then you would see that country struggle. Its basically the majority always win.

lol it was the best thing i could come up with in the short space of time but it did actually shut the person up lol

[redSHARP]

"communism looks good on paper"? just state that it was never relly implemented correctly in any society due to out side intervention (embargoes, imperlist scum, invasions, incompetence). to get kids interested, introduce them to the leftist punk scene. it works, i was able to take a bunch of ignorant skaters into people aware of their class and the struggle. of course them taking action is another thing, i have yet to get to that part, plus they dont know shit about combating racism and right wing scum! Dont try to alienate anyone and try to pass your self off as a moderate, this makes people comfortable, then bring in the hard lining stuff when the time is right. good luck!

[BIG BROTHER]

either that or introduce them to Che Guevara, his personility still attracts many people to our cause even though he's no longer with us.

[Revulero]

I've tried the che guevara thing and all it did was make more people waste money on those shirts. I've tried a lot of things that interest kids in politics at my school by starting off with small issues which worked out alright. Now all i have to do is get them off that hip hop that talks about making money, selling drugs, and how being a gangster and playa gets you money and ho's. It would really help if their was a rap musician that didnt talk about those things and punk doesnt really help where I'm at since its not popular here. I would also recommend that you dont mess with religous kids they're pretty ignorant since they've already been brainwashed with reactionary crap. Instead try to find kids with real potential and open mindedness.

[BIG BROTHER]

damm man, yeah it seems you have it pretty hard. That's why I'm thankfull that I've developed social consiosnes. Well I don't really have anymore advice, just keep trying comrade!

[redSHARP]

I've tried the che guevara thing and all it did was make more people waste money on those shirts. I've tried a lot of things that interest kids in politics at my school by starting off with small issues which worked out alright. Now all i have to do is get them off that hip hop that talks about making money, selling drugs, and how being a gangster and playa gets you money and ho's. It would really help if their was a rap musician that didnt talk about those things and punk doesnt really help where I'm at since its not popular here. I would also recommend that you dont mess with religous kids they're pretty ignorant since they've already been brainwashed with reactionary crap. Instead try to find kids with real potential and open mindedness.

try to get them to interested in some leftist street rap, you are on your own with that part.

[RedFlagComrade]

Im in the same situation-you can argue, discuss, debate, say all sorts of smart stuff all you like most of them have already made up their minds one way or another.Even the openminded ppl forget the stuff you told them the next day just when you thought you were winning.Thats why im on this site-like minded people.Just keep fighting.

[darktidus]

I've tried the che guevara thing and all it did was make more people waste money on those shirts. I've tried a lot of things that interest kids in politics at my school by starting off with small issues which worked out alright. Now all i have to do is get them off that hip hop that talks about making money, selling drugs, and how being a gangster and playa gets you money and ho's. It would really help if their was a rap musician that didnt talk about those things and punk doesnt really help where I'm at since its not popular here. I would also recommend that you dont mess with religous kids they're pretty ignorant since they've already been brainwashed with reactionary crap. Instead try to find kids with real potential and open mindedness.

You want: Immortal Technique, The Coup, Mos Def

among many, MANY others.