Are you active?

[lurkingeye]

I wanted to give a short response to the important views that Monsieur B. shared with us. Your heart is in the right place and I get a sense of you seeking out solutions for your primary goal of improving the world. But how and in what way remains the issue.
One of the most powerful quotes for me is a famous one by Marx:

Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.

What Marx is saying here is that we do need to interpret the world, but this remains nothing if it just stays a talking shop - an intellectual discussion or a wish list. This is really way of understanding the role of Marxism as providing a body of ideas as a guide to action. At the end of the day it is you and me and others who will make the difference - or not.
How effective and how successful is again a combination of ideas (or theory) and practice. If Marxism helps us understand the world, it can provide a guide to action. In practice, experience informs us that we need to organise and work together. Again the history of Marxism and the history of the struggles of the working class, provide experience, lessons and knowledge about what is successful, what the pit falls were and how to go about things. That is, why, we tend to attach ourselves to a group or political party, as we look at what they are doing and make a decision that working with them will be the most effective practical contribution.
Of course the details of an individuals  'activity', as this discussion board shows, will vary from country to country and also to people who will have individual circumstances. However, what what I have said, I think, remains true.

[Monsieur B.]

Thanks for the answer.

***

I don't really see philosophers as innocent thinkers that don't change the world. The philosophers write not only for themself, but for other people. People change their mind when they read them. People's actions are influenced by what they think. So even a simple idea can change the world. Maybe the philosopher himself will not do anything, but someone else, influenced by the philosopher's writings, can do something. Before all actions, there are a reason for this action. There are always a way of thinking that influence all actions.

There are people who prefer to do actions, other prefer to teach to other people. WIthout any of them, changes are impossible... And also wrinting and talk are actions...

[the_sociallist]

Ther point that you bring up about people that read a marxist work or two, and than automaticly consider themselves to be be Marxists. It is an interesting point of view and very valid.

I myself having once been quite active in the political arena and than slipping into complete obsecurity, almost over night.  I am back for several reasons and slowly but surely I am returning to the movement, I just need to get my footing and catch up on the last several years.  In a way I am like Lenin when he returned to St Petersburg from Vuborg after a long absence.

[Dylan Figueiredo]

Hello! I had belonged to the Stalinist YCL on two different occasions and was very disillusioned and politically inactive. Then, I came upon Fightback (the Canadian section of the International Marxist Tendency). Their internal organization and discipline are superb and political level is very high. I am now active on a regular, weekly basis and feel more confident about being a Marxist then ever before! I suggest that anyone here who has not joined the International Marxist Tendency seriously consider doing so. Instead of getting lost in the confusing web of mass movements, hook up with some like-minded activists! Even if there is nobody else with you, you can do reading on your own and start your own local discussion group. Here is a summary of what happened last Saturday in Toronto when we held an open Marxist Discussion Group on the recent events in Venezuela:

The Toronto branch held an excellent discussion group on Saturday night,
which attracted fifteen people.  Even though our discussion topic was
"Venezuela," the conversation focused mainly upon the nature of socialism,
the structure of socialism, and how socialism would work.  Thanks to a
passionate pro-capitalist, the comrades were able to debate the ideas of
Marxism with the entire group.  In the end, we sold three papers and a DVD;
we also became much closer to our contacts.  We collected a list of
email addresses, so that everybody at the discussion will be contacted in
the future.  On Saturday, I can confidently say that the comrades came
together like a well-organized, cohesive group to make this entire thing
possible.  Hopefully, other comrades around the country will take up this
idea of a discussion group, as it can draw out great conversation, and
potentially great contacts.

Courage, comrades: a better world is both possible and necessary. We just need to have the courage to make it so!

[New-Soviet-Teenager]

I joined Socialist Youth here in Belfast when I was 15 and have been active for about a year and a half. We have a stall every week, campaigns against low pay and numerous other activities. We have grown to actually be quite large though it is difficult to recruit people here as many are apathetic due to years of politics being the domain of sectarian politicians. I enjoy being active as many of my comrades are very funny people as well as good to discuss other matters with.

[lurkingeye]

It is very encouraging to hear form a range of different poeople, in different circumstances, facing a range of situations, how they are working at being active. We help each other by telling our stories however personal or of more expansive events - such as that from Toronto.  All are important, I feel.
What I would be interesting in hearing is how/what individual think would assist and help them in progressing the work that they do and (dialectically) along with this what discussion and theory would add to/enhance and progress that work?
If there are not people immediately around in a physical sense, is there anything via the Internet or this discussion board that would faciliate this purpose?

[umar]

Hello Comrades,

i am from International Marxist Tendency Pakistan section. i started learning marxism from the age of 16. Then i came to read about Trotsky and his works. I was little confused about how the movement can come here but that i cleared much. Then i came to know about the some trotskyte organization working here in my country. I got link from YFIS discssion board then contacted some members, now i am active part of IMT Pakistan. I am pround for that but sometimes i think why i could not find them before.

Cormades are well good, and we see true friendship without any profit. That is rare in this world. And we now going to do our national convention in November 2007. So best luck all those imtians who are active working,

red salute..Trotsky last words," Go forward for forth international........

mine msn is umar822u@hotmail.com i happy to talk with imt comrades from all over the world.

[socialism]

Well, here in Massachusetts in the US, I am ridiculed for being a Socialist.
I have no party connections in my town because there is no Socialist or Marxist party!
However, if I can find any near me, I will happily join.
Till then, the revolution is on me:(

[Christopher Hill]

I am in the WIL, but I have not yet been able to "Do much" aside from a radio show..

[onursirrimakedonski]

I have just sent an introduction message. I am  a Trotskyist but I am new in Bulgaria and don't know if any Trotskyist group exists(there is no such a party as far as I know) so I am inactive. Please lead me to people or organization from Bulgaria.

[Paula Marx]

I visit YFIS every each day and I'm trying to be active.

We're all different characters, but there's a burning will and an ideology inside us all - everyone understands it on his own way.

[Giorgi]

I am not active marxist because there is no marxist party in Georgia neither Trotskyist nor Stalinist, my sphere of activity is Georgian Internet Forum, where I try to popularize marxist philosophy.


I am very happy to see marxists from all over the world.... : )

[mohan]

im waitng till i get out of school before i started working with a party. would make my life easier that way.

It is necessary to know that the party you are trying to work with is really a revolutionary one or not!

[VNredhero]

there are 2 ways too "active"...   think or do something    are all acceptable...... if you have marx thinking,,,, you better than you have nothing at all.........

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