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submitted 2 months ago by Makan@lemmygrad.ml to c/marxism@hexbear.net

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/5342816

Do you think that you can help bring about the revolution or do you just want a minor less risky role? What kind of role can you participate on and die with a smile in your death bed when you think about how you lived your life?

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[-] Nakoichi@hexbear.net 13 points 2 months ago

I will be the best damn fry cook a revolutionary movement has ever seen.

[-] roux@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago
[-] Lemmygradwontallowme@hexbear.net 4 points 2 months ago

Let them cook, let them cook!

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 months ago

Damn, look at that, we got Comrade SpongeBob here.

[-] Zvyozdochka@hexbear.net 13 points 2 months ago

I'm a software engineer so naturally I think it'd be fucking awesome to work on something like Project Cybersyn.

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 12 points 2 months ago

I want to write ecological theory tackling the separation of town and country/metabolic rift in the context of left urbanism. Right now I'm still building that observational understanding of the issues, but I'm keen to make a concrete plan for what a radical green city means and how that's integrated into wider rural/natural systems. Beyond that, I just want to homestead and give the surplus to an ML org doing mutual aid.

[-] TraschcanOfIdeology@hexbear.net 4 points 2 months ago

Are you me?

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 2 months ago

I can see why you call yourself "badger" hahaha

Very interesting, comrade, and very pure-hearted.

[-] NoLeftLeftWhereILive@hexbear.net 11 points 2 months ago

I have the privilege of working with marginalized folks so I am trying to slide material class conscious seeds into the communication I have with them as much as I can without losing my position. I have sadly noticed that for example poor folk have often fully internalized the all consuming neoliberal self-loathing and individualization that we live in and truly think it is them who are the problem. I want to at least raise class consciousness, to contribute to deprogramming people around me and if nothing else, make someone see the systemic issue rather than blaming themselves or othe proles. I have no idea if this matters or not, but I have hope it does.

I have a kid who honestly has a fairly low chance of "making it" with adhd in this shitty system. I also consider climate change to be a non-debatable justification for getting rid of capitalism so I think I would be willing to go all the way to whatever the situation demands of me, because I can't think of anything better to spend or lose my life on than making this change happen.

I know I really struggle to exist with awareness of all the unnecessary war, violence and plunder that we seemingly can't do anything about. I would rather do somerhing than not. I don't consider my individual life that important that I couldn't trade it for a better timeline for future generations.

[-] ButtBidet@hexbear.net 11 points 2 months ago

If I can move the theoretical understanding of a heap of people, that would be nice. I don't think we're at the active revolution stage yet.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 2 months ago
[-] MaoTheLawn@hexbear.net 9 points 2 months ago
[-] SexMachineStalin@hexbear.net 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Bus driver or high-speed train conductor

[-] Greenleaf@hexbear.net 8 points 2 months ago

I think with sufficient investigation and theory-studying, I could come up with a decent Marxist analysis of White Evangelical Christianity in the US. I think I’ve identified the principal contradiction in it. I think I’m seeing how it can barely be considered a “religion” and instead it exists to reinforce settler colonialism, white supremacy, and reaction. Just need to put it all together.

And I fully admit none of this really gets us closer to revolution. This analysis would be less valuable than more effective on-the-ground organizing. But this is a topic that I think about a lot and have an interest in, and applying Marxism to it help me work through my own issues with White Evangelical Christianity.

[-] roux@hexbear.net 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If you haven't yet, read Jesus and John Wayne. It covers the rise of evangelical Christianity throughout the 20th century up to Bush jr. I believe. It will confirm a lot of biases but also, it absolutely is what Marx and Lenin wrote about, regarding religion being a state apparatus. Evangelism isn't a cult at all, it's literally part of the Fascist state. It's at best masked as a cult but most people just look at it as normal Christianity, which also bugs me since there are leftist Christians(actual "as Jesus taught" Christians) and also the "sheep" Christians that mostly align with evangelism but are just not biblically well read and just follow the religion just enough that they think they are actual Christians, Sunday Christians, as I like to call them lol.

If you can tap into this from a dialectical point, I think it probably could help with the revolution because a lot of Christians are moving left and either don't realize it or feel disenfranchised(rightfully so) and could be potentially integral in shifting the general Biblical understanding of what it seems like Jesus supposedly was trying to convey in the New Testament.

Sorry for the ramble, I've been drinking and this is somewhat a special interest to me. I'm actually working through it a bit with my therapist.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 months ago

Evangelicals are the prime movers of fascism in the USA so I think we need that analysis of yours.

[-] wtypstanaccount04@hexbear.net 8 points 2 months ago

I just want to be part of a massive communist party

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 months ago

There are many out there, tbh.

[-] refolde@hexbear.net 7 points 2 months ago

But, who is THE Marxist Leninist?

[-] OgdenTO@hexbear.net 4 points 2 months ago

Some of us are Marxer Leninist than others, but I don't know if anyone here is the Marxest Leninist

[-] roux@hexbear.net 7 points 2 months ago

Unrealistically, but Left Unity. I don't know how I am gonna go about it but I'm gonna fucking do it and I'm taking all of you down with me in the process.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 months ago

I feel like left unity is a dead meme.

[-] Cowbee@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago

Hopefully, a dedicated revolutionary, though for now that's a far-off goal. For now, reading theory is my primary method of engaging with leftism, though I look forward to the day I can put that theory into practice beyond analysis.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 months ago

That's generally the goal.

[-] LocalOaf@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago

I don't really have good people skills or tech knowledge, so being a forward facing communications person or logistics/systems person for cybernetics type stuff is off the table as fascinating as I found General Intellect Unit

I'm interested in ecology and botany and would love to be part of some kind of People's Bioremediation Corps, like a big full employment centrally planned effort to do rewilding, pollution cleanup, forest management and fire prevention, etc. As climate crisis worsens and accelerates, it's gonna require something like a full mobilization and expansion of our productive forces to get emissions to zero and start scaling carbon capture and plan for weathering extreme droughts, floods, storms and so on to maintain agriculture and prevent famines, and I think that'd be a really important thing to be a part of that I could feel proud of.

[-] puff@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago

Cybernetics, space science, and nuclear power. Red electrons, red rockets, red atoms.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 months ago

What is cybernetics, exactly?

[-] puff@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago

A branch of science or perhaps mathematics dedicated to information collection, storage, and processing specifically in the context of controlling systems. For example, automating a command economy.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 months ago
[-] wheresmysurplusvalue@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Not sure if it's petty boug of me to hope to contribute software in a way that materially supports revolution. I don't know how it'll be yet, but something like helping people communicate peer to peer securely over local networks in case they don't trust/can't use the global internet. I think Yggdrasil, Matrix (especially research into pinecone), Lemmy, ProleWiki etc are good examples of doing grunt work which sets foundations for when a revolutionary moment comes along

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 months ago

You're at least doing something; that's more than can be said for a lot of Marxist-Leninists, tbh.

[-] JoeByeThen@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago
[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 months ago

Joe!

Bye, then...

(It's me, Pluto!)

[-] RyanGosling@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

I will be a slave to capital until I am released from this mortal coil

[-] EelBolshevikism@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

probably some nerd shit

[-] TraschcanOfIdeology@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

My chosen area of struggle is ecology and food justice, and I just want to contribute something to have a better, more conscious way of feeding ourselves and what's around us. I want to homestead, cook for people, read ecological philosophy and maybe by accident write/say something that could help heal our broken food system by connecting with the world and each other using our taste.

[-] Edamamebean@hexbear.net 4 points 2 months ago

Idk honestly. I used to be out there organizing all the time, and it gave me a big sense of purpose. Back then I probably would have had a good answer for you. But then I got arrested, saw the inside of a jail cell, have to deal with the legal fallout, and now my anxiety is so bad that when I'm not at work I just hide at home. A better world will take so much more than getting arrested. Sometimes I'm not sure I'm strong enough for the fight.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 months ago

That's... understandable. I'm so sorry, comrade...

I think many of us aren't the only ones though.

[-] FanonFan@hexbear.net 4 points 2 months ago

Meat shield for people smarter than me

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 2 months ago

Have more self-love, comrade!

[-] FanonFan@hexbear.net 3 points 2 months ago

Meat shield for people equally smart as me

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 2 months ago

There you go!

[-] Inui@hexbear.net 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I hope to synthesize my own religious interests with Marxist theory in a way that is respectful of both.

Right now this is just head canon but I have a very extensive idea regarding the compatibility of Marxism and Pure Land Buddhism, which is the largest sect in the world, with most adherents in China.

Chanting gives people a collective voice and power during times of both victory and protest, and its the primary practice in Pure Land. However, most Pure Landers chant in the hopes to "orient their mind to the pure land", meaning that's where their mindstream goes when they die. Then they get to hear the Buddha's teachings emanating from the very environment and live in a lotus flower, etc. They essentially go to a pocket dimension more conducive to Buddhist practice without the strife of daily life, but it's also temporary and they have to put the work in.

There's a relatively niche idea that we're already in Shakyamuni's Pure Land. Or a less niche idea that there exists a Pure Land not as a physical place, but as something thst touches all of existence. I think chanting can be seen as orienting one's mind toward a better (socialist) society and restoration/maintenance/establishment of that Pure Land on Earth. A place that allows people more freedom to, in a Buddhist sense, practice the dharma wholeheartedly. In many ways by doing things one ought to do in a just society already, by providing for the needs of others without a perverse profit motive.

It's a constant affirmation of one's dedication to improving the lives of others and viewing even ones enemies with compassion (which isn't synonymous with tolerating them, but recognizing the root causes of their actions).

Buddhists have been revolutionaries in many cases, and several AES countries have some of the highest traditional concentratrations of Buddhism, yet Buddhists and socialists have also not always been friends. I want to acknowledge and bridge that gap, deal with contradictions (non-violence vs. revolutionary thought), and explore a Marxist-Buddhist synthesis I don't feel has been strongly attempted at the theoretical level. Only in a historical sense, and often by orientalist European thinkers who had no firsthand experience with Buddhism or access to the variety of texts we have today.

First [we must transform] society, then [we must transform] ourselves. Socialists are the bodhisattvas of our time seeking the betterment of humanity through wisdom (theory), collective perseverence, and self-sacrifice. Once the people are free, only then can we attain nirvana.

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 months ago

Have you read Roland Boer's work? It could help you with this mission.

[-] Inui@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago

I haven't, but I would welcome any such suggestions. I've only recently began delving into Marxist theories of religion after he came up in a class I took back in uni a while ago. I'm mostly studied on the Buddhist side of things, but even then, I've not traditionally been a Pure Lander. I've mostly studied Buddhist ethics and theories of reality from figures like Nagarjuna. So I have a ways to go, but this is a synthesis that seems so natural to me the more it develops.

[-] CliffordBigRedDog@hexbear.net 3 points 2 months ago

i want to be a forced worker in a gulag

[-] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 2 months ago
[-] AndJusticeForAll@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago

I'd like to get Philipp Mainlander-style Marxist pessimism as the dominant strain of political thought on the planet. I'm achieving this by playing through Elden Ring and limply lying around on the floor like how Maria does on the Silent Hill 2 OST cover.

this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2024
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