September 2024
occupy movement
Submitted by silverback on Tue, 2011-11-08 14:34
Here in Sheffield there has been an occupation set up - outside the cathedral. I have attended one of their meetings, the 'general asembly'. There is something of an opportunity here, for me to talk to all sorts of people. There is a possibility of holding a 'workshop'/general talk. I have put aururas on the publications table. I have briefly spoken to the local press, but on a non-partisan bent, talking just about the eceonomics of the matter, being gentle and introductory. The group concerned is comprised of anarchos, one of whom got very upset when I mentioned I was a communist, poor little youth! There are a whole raft of christians, eco types, general independents of a loosely petty bourgeois/hippy/anarcho/new age blah blah ...
Here I am asking for any advice on approach, content etc. It has been heftily stated that being up front and trying to recruit members is not acceptable to them. Here and there it may be the case that the ordinary working and non-working public will take an interest as well as the press. Question - is there mileage for us in such a situation and if so what message to put out
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ANTI-FASCISM AGAINST THE WORKING CLASS
PUBLIC MEETING AND DISCUSSION
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While other approaches to anti-fascism involve small groups, engaged in physical confrontations with fascists, it is an approach that similarly offers no solutions to a system that breeds racism.
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I’d try a leaflet. I’ll
I'd try a leaflet.
I'll start it for you!
NO POLITICS?
Most of us are sick of the politics that got us into this mess. The politics of how to best exploit, rob and deceive workers at home and kill, exploit, rob and deceive workers abroad.
No wonder politics are out of fashion.
But if we want a different sort of society, well, that's politics. Who gets what, that's politics.
There's no pleasant way around the fact that this society can only intensify inequality, division, poverty, unemployment. The politics of the rich have to be confronted and a new society has to be introduced...the alternative is more of the same but worse.
The absolute truth is that
The absolute truth is that distribution of wealth, ownership, how we work and what we get are the essence of politics. What we need, however, are a different kind of politics.
The same old, same old leaves us ever worse off, the alternative has to challenge the status quo which will throw all its got at demonising and eventually surpressing the rising challenge.
Our politics must be based on anti-capitalism.
Against the illusion of all in it together, we have to identify the real problem - a class of people whose ownership of collossal wealth is the direct result of the capitalist economic system and it can only worsen until a new economic model, a new society is put in its place.
What is truth?
Capitalism is a class divided society and the working class can only lose by refusing the political struggle to channel its potential and challenge the brainwashing of the rich who have no fear of demonstrations, meetings, occupations until they become a movement for another society.
The current movement is potentially a great start, but only if the illusions of making the present system with its obsolete economics and politics work for its victims are ditched. The challenge is to see through a carefully constructed pack of les and grasp the root, capitalism is the crisis, the solution is anti - capitalist.
Anti-capitalism must be our banner, not reform, not single issues like bankers' pay, but a clear perspective against capitalism.
That perspective is the politics we support.
occupysheffield.org.uk Pret
Pretty horrible!
I will try this once again I
I will try this once again
I have ebeen down to the Sheffield occupy site a few days this week. I stayed the night on tuesday helping to run security. I have taken part in the generla meeting on 2 occasions. Old Auroras have been left.
One of the boards outside the camp had the message - Marx was right. Others reflect the general make-up of the camp, zeitgeist types, New Age, Quakers, otther Christians, anarchos, loose socialists. Various groups have visited the site including eco-socialists, the world socialist mob, wobblies and more.
I have given an interview to the local paper in which I concentrated on the economic basics, not being upfront party political or mentioning class politics. In other converations and informal interviews, for example with 2 Chinese journalism students I have been plain about my politics mentioning that I am a left communist and mentioning the CWO.
It has been my judgement that to be overly revolutionary in what I say will frighten off a whole number of people. I have gradually been working in to conversations more and more. Hopefully soon I will be able to be a lot more upfront about class and revolutionary politics. My major statements have along the lines of the camp being barely a toe into the whole question confronting the working class and that bigger questions will be posed and may be posed back by the working class. We all know that the pseudo-democratic notions of the camp are not the answer and further they are a diversion from the real question facing us all. However, I feel that at least for the moment I should use the potential forum to begin to put genltle framings of our politics forward. In some of the conversations I have had I have been able to push a little further but these are early days.
One point I made forcefully at the meeting the other night was that I do not support anything relating to imperialist war and so cannot stand under white or red poppies, nor will I be forced to wear one, either or both.
The camp is split between anti-capitalists and those marginally indifferent. I will gradually try to put more strictly anti-capitalist content into both general conversations and more puiblic statements. One opportunity to do this might be in a possible interview for a local radio station.
Comments and advice would be useful.
My sympathy for silverbacks
My sympathy for silverbacks predicament. Stevein7's first try at a leaflet seems helpful; the second seems long-winded. The trouble with 'anti-capitalism' as an idea is that it's wholly negative, and sort of contributes to the idea of 'no politics' because anti-capitalism doesn't include any alternative, and thus excludes anything political. On the other hand, I can see why we can't run around advocating communism (we don't want to scare everybody away) but then if we don't what are we left with? At some point, some people - presumably workers - are going to have to face the fact that there is an alternative, and that it's communism! I realize that this is not helpful to silverback, Stevein, or anyone else wishing to intervene in a revolutionary manner.But recall how Dave stood up recently in some meeting and announced that he was a revolutionary communist, explained what this meant, must have made a big impact, and survived the day. So perhaps it's time after all, and we just have to come out with it when we can. Capitalism is dead on it's feet. The moment to get rid of it approaches. The magnificent alternative is communism. Workers unite! Fraternally Charlie.
I agree, most people will
I agree, most people will reject it now but there must be revolutionary content.
WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
COMMUNIST WORKERS ORGANISATION
LEFTCOM.ORG
On a big sign...
I think that any discussions
I think that any discussions that silverback is having with people on the site is hopefully going to be productive and that the ideas he is putting to those whose willing to listen will make them reflect on the weaknesses of the occupy movement. seems to me that the amophorousness of the whole of the occupy movement is not a strength as it dissipates peoples anger. Unlike strike committees the occupy movement has no concrete focus and can only propose actions such as laying flowers in public spaces in commemoration of the NHS. facebook.com
While the above statement starts from a positive position such as saying that marches, signing petitions, fundraising has been ineffective to save the NHS their solution laying flowers is just as ineffective and in fact is counterproductive as it seems to say that the NHS is dead and we are mourning its loss.
What I'm trying to say is that we need to have concrete arguments, not only with those involved with the occupy movement but with all those who we come into contact with, around such issues and need to put forward a perspective which emphasises the solution isnt relying on capitalisms first line of defence the trade unions and the Labour Party but relying on our class's collective power.
On the point of recruting to the organisation I would say that my experience of the CWO is totally unlike the Trots who seem to think the priority is to recruit first then worry about the politics later. If after discussions people decide to become closer to the organisation then who should stop them? After all if the occupy movement beleives in free speech and democracy then why should they tyr to stop anyone getting closer politically to the CWO.
Keep up the good work silverback.