I'm not a Communist Anymore!

[PureX]

I sincerely hope you are right on that one. We could use a breakthrough so that we have some kind of future that is worth having. I'm perhaps more pessimistic, but I essentially agree with you.

People have always had to fight to be free from other people who want to subjugate and abuse them. It's just part of the human condition. We got very lazy and stupid here in the U.S. since WW2 about this need to always be vigilant, and to band together to protect ourselves from these would-be abusers, that ARE ALWAYS AMONG US. And as a result we've allowed them to gain control of the nation, again. And unfortunately, we're probably going to have to fight, and die, to get that control, and our freedom, back.

But so far, we're all too busy fighting with each other to actually fight those who are setting themselves up to more deeply exploit and abuse us. So the question becomes, how badly will we all have to be hurt before we'll stop fighting WITH each other and start fighting FOR each other? And I truly fear the answer to that question.

 

[Laika]

People have always had to fight to be free from other people who want to subjugate and abuse them. It's just part of the human condition. We got very lazy and stupid here in the U.S. since WW2 about this need to always be vigilant, and to band together to protect ourselves from these would-be abusers, that ARE ALWAYS AMONG US. And as a result we've allowed them to gain control of the nation, again. And unfortunately, we're probably going to have to fight, and die, to get that control, and our freedom, back.

But so far, we're all too busy fighting with each other to actually fight those who are setting themselves up to more deeply exploit and abuse us. So the question becomes, how badly will we all have to be hurt before we'll stop fighting WITH each other and start fighting FOR each other? And I truly fear the answer to that question.

I've begun to think it is the wrong question. We can't afford to wait until things get so bad that we experience a "shock". We have to start fighting to preserve free institutions now rather than later. There may not be much left if we leave it too long and let the ruling class simply abuse us by confusing our powerlessness with fate.

 

[PureX]

I've begun to think it is the wrong question. We can't afford to wait until things get so bad that we experience a "shock". We have to start fighting to preserve free institutions now rather than later. There may not be much left if we leave it too long and let the ruling class simply abuse us by confusing our powerlessness with fate.

We have no fight to offer until we unite. They've got the money, they've got the guns, they've got the media, and they've got us all blaming each other. The deck is seriously stacked against us. We've got nothing until we've got each other. Because together, we massively outnumber them. This is a story as old as mankind, itself.

 

[Laika]

We have no fight to offer until we unite. They've got the money, they've got the guns, they've got the media, and they've got us all blaming each other. The deck is seriously stacked against us. We've got nothing until we've got each other. Because together, we massively outnumber them. This is a story as old as mankind, itself.

the money, guns and media are just a way to be ruled. It is within our power to chose not to be ruled and that we do not need them to rule us. We can each take the first step to the new world and make it ourselves. We don't have to wait for someone to give us permission or for "events" to give us permission. We've always had the numbers so we've always had the power. It was ours to give up and we've just haven't used it because we believed the lie that we didn't have power in the first place.

 

[PureX]

The money, guns and media are just a way to be ruled. It is within our power to chose not to be ruled and that we do not need them to rule us.

But until we unite, choosing not to be ruled just makes you a criminal. Easily disregarded, and squashed like a bug. Erased from the dynamic. That's not a fight, that's just martyrdom.

We can each take the first step to the new world and make it ourselves. We don't have to wait for someone to give us permission or for "events" to give us permission. We've always had the numbers so we've always had the power. It was ours to give up and we've just haven't used it because we believed the lie that we didn't have power in the first place.

Right now those first steps will take us all in different directions. Because we're all blaming each other for the corruption and exploitation that we're suffering under. We're still in 'scapegoating' mode because we're not ready to accept that it's our own fault. And that we are aiding and applauding our own tormentors.

 

[Laika]

Right now those first steps will take us all in different directions. Because we're all blaming each other for the corruption and exploitation that we're suffering under. We're still in 'scapegoating' mode because we're not ready to accept that it's our own fault. And that we are aiding and applauding our own tormentors.

Actually, no. Both the left and the right basically agree on that corporations and governments are out of control. They both agree that the "system" isn't working and "something must be done" to fix it. It just that they disagree on the solutions even if they agree on the problems. There is something to work with there.

But until we unite, choosing not to be ruled just makes you a criminal. Easily disregarded, and squashed like a bug. Erased from the dynamic. That's not a fight, that's just martyrdom.

Its an illusion of choice dude. Everybody dies. Its inevitable. Rich, Poor, Strong, Weak, Old, Young. We're all equal before the reaper. Dying is not a question of "if" but "when". The Government will only kill you sooner rather than later. Self-preservation takes on a very different light when you take that into account.

What do you want to spend your one shot at life doing? Why would you chose to be less anything less than to be what you are capable of?

Accept nothing less than the epicness of your own freedom. Its Mine! And the ruling class are not having it! Is that not the American way?

 

[PureX]

Actually, no. Both the left and the right basically agree on that corporations and governments are out of control. They both agree that the "system" isn't working and "something must be done" to fix it. It just that they disagree on the solutions even if they agree on the problems. There is something to work with there.

I agree. But so far neither side has acknowledge that the problem is not the other side's doing. We remain divided against each other by our desire to blame each other instead of accepting responsibility for it, universally, and getting on with the task of correcting it.

 

[sayak83]

When I joined RF at the start of 2015, I said that: "I am not an apologist for communist atrocities and I realise that many people, particularly religious, have good reason to be hostile towards communists." Whilst I have often openly contemplated what such apologetics may look like as an intellectual and moral exercise, I have stuck by that position as consistently as I was able.

I have come to realise however that this is not a sustainable position and I cannot sincerely advocate either "social revolution", "class struggle", the "dictatorship of the proletariat" or "state atheism" without also implicitly advocating serious violence against members of this forum based on their beliefs. The abstract nature of Marxism makes this at first very difficult to see and it was not obvious but it has become clearer the greater my understanding that this is the political reality of communist ideology whether I like it or not or approve of it or not. After a great deal of thought and turmoil, I have not found a sustainable alternative to that conclusion and this is not a position I am willing to entertain even in principle. I am therefore effectively no longer a Communist and I am no longer willing to carry the burden of trying to reconcile my views with my conscience. my views must change as my conscience will not. Nor would it be fair for me to misrepresent Marxism to accommodate my own reservations as that kind of hypocrisy is not a truly "communist" thing to do.

I still think like a Communist as it has left such a mark on my personality and thinking and have an interest in the history, theory and philosophy, but I can no longer say there is anything "meaningful" behind it. This is sort of like being a "cultural" Communist in the way people can be "culturally" Buddhist, Muslim or Christian without accepting the theology. I will probably keep posting in the Communist sub-forum for a while on a number of communist related subjects until I know what best to do. This is not an easy thing to let go of even with the best of intentions as any one who has had deep convictions will understand. If I am not quick to respond to various questions on the forum or become uneasy in replying, it is because I don't have the luxury of certainty that I once had and will have to search more deeply and widely for the answers than I have up till now.

I gave ten years of my life to this idea and I was wrong. I want to do good, but I no longer believe that Communism can foreseeably be part of that even if I can draw inspiration from it. I feel gutted and hurt about that and these beliefs have been valuable in many unforeseen ways, but its time to move on and turn the page.

Thank you for being part of the journey and being there for me when I needed you.

Found this for you.

 

[Laika]

Found this for you.

Thanks. This is going to sting for a bit, so a little friendly light humour helps.

 

[Enoch07]

When I joined RF at the start of 2015, I said that: "I am not an apologist for communist atrocities and I realise that many people, particularly religious, have good reason to be hostile towards communists." Whilst I have often openly contemplated what such apologetics may look like as an intellectual and moral exercise, I have stuck by that position as consistently as I was able.

I have come to realise however that this is not a sustainable position and I cannot sincerely advocate either "social revolution", "class struggle", the "dictatorship of the proletariat" or "state atheism" without also implicitly advocating serious violence against members of this forum based on their beliefs. The abstract nature of Marxism makes this at first very difficult to see and it was not obvious but it has become clearer the greater my understanding that this is the political reality of communist ideology whether I like it or not or approve of it or not. After a great deal of thought and turmoil, I have not found a sustainable alternative to that conclusion and this is not a position I am willing to entertain even in principle. I am therefore effectively no longer a Communist and I am no longer willing to carry the burden of trying to reconcile my views with my conscience. my views must change as my conscience will not. Nor would it be fair for me to misrepresent Marxism to accommodate my own reservations as that kind of hypocrisy is not a truly "communist" thing to do.

I still think like a Communist as it has left such a mark on my personality and thinking and have an interest in the history, theory and philosophy, but I can no longer say there is anything "meaningful" behind it. This is sort of like being a "cultural" Communist in the way people can be "culturally" Buddhist, Muslim or Christian without accepting the theology. I will probably keep posting in the Communist sub-forum for a while on a number of communist related subjects until I know what best to do. This is not an easy thing to let go of even with the best of intentions as any one who has had deep convictions will understand. If I am not quick to respond to various questions on the forum or become uneasy in replying, it is because I don't have the luxury of certainty that I once had and will have to search more deeply and widely for the answers than I have up till now.

I gave ten years of my life to this idea and I was wrong. I want to do good, but I no longer believe that Communism can foreseeably be part of that even if I can draw inspiration from it. I feel gutted and hurt about that and these beliefs have been valuable in many unforeseen ways, but its time to move on and turn the page.

Thank you for being part of the journey and being there for me when I needed you.

Shoot I wish I had seen this a week or so go. Now I feel like a doofus. It's disheartening seeing anyone give up anything that was such a big part of their life. I know it was a very hard thing to do, but I commend you on it. I sincerely hope you find a path that you can be happy with.


P.S. Can I interest you in a "Taxation is Theft" t-shirt courtesy of the Libertarian Party? (not too soon for a lil humor right?)

 

[Laika]

Shoot I wish I had seen this a week or so go. Now I feel like a doofus.

No worries. It was a really big part of my life and I'm still sort of reeling from it. I cleared out my chest of draws this morning of old stuff from when I was still in the Communist Party of Britain (booklets, magazines, etc) from two years ago. There is a mental process of "house cleaning" going on too and that will take a while longer.

It's disheartening seeing anyone give up anything that was such a big part of their life. I know it was a very hard thing to do, but I commend you on it. I sincerely hope you find a path that you can be happy with.

Thanks. That means a lot. I'm looking to make the best of it.

P.S. Can I interest you in a "Taxation is Theft" t-shirt courtesy of the Libertarian Party? (not too soon for a lil humor right?)

yeah its fine. being able to at laugh at politics and take it less seriously have been part of getting more healthy. Fanatics completely loose their sense of humour and their emotional spontaneity but there's so much ******** you have to laugh at it. its the sanest thing you can do.

...but if I'm a libertarian not paying my taxes, I will not be walking past CCTV cameras advertising it. We have to make the governments job a little bit harder.

p.s. if you ever are at a communist party meeting, remember, the liberals and useful idiots who have no idea what the hell they are doing are the one's wearing the Che T-shirt. Its nice of them to advertise it for after the revolution for when they get purged.