Heh, laughing through the tears, Thomas ;-)
From a egads, Norman Thomas Socialist in N. Carolina. Michael
------- Forwarded message ------- From: Redlabour at aol.com To: SP Members List <members at sp-usa.org>, sp-nc at yahoogroups.com, ncsocialist at yahoogroups.com, SPUSA Nat Com <socpartynclist at topica.com> Subject: [ASDnet] WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GOOD REVOLUTIONARY! Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 03:01:42 EST
Comrades,
The LEFT is in such a mess in this country. Since the 1950s, our society has seen a hand full of honorable and semi honorable groups of the left split and counter split into several hundred sects. Some of it was the government infiltrating, and some of it was ego. Whatever the case, each group has movements that don't see eye to eye on matters. Anyway, I compiled a list of what it takes to be a good revolutionary.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GOOD REVOLUTIONARY! 13.) Let's avoid having a sense of humour, for a sense of humour is counter-revolutionary. A sense of humour means that we are not serious about challenging the day to day hardships of capitalism. We must have an apocalyptic black and white outlook toward the world, because visions of violent clashes between the haves and have nots, visions of long breadlines, and general austerity is the only way to prepare for Revolution.
12.) In order to be a good revolutionary against American imperialism, support all brutal heads of state around the world on the grounds of "an enemy of my enemy is my friend" In other words, praise Saddam Hussein, Slobdan Milsovich, and Kim Il Jung. Criticize the sensible left that are bothered by American military intervention (but wants actual rogue states to be democratic, pluralistic, and open). Don't let them off the hook if they make an exception for Fidel Castro or the Cuban Revolution. Denounce them as a social democrat or a Trotskyist if they dare embrace supporting the International 3rd Camp. Better yet, call them a State Department Socialist and/or a Shactmanite.
11.) If one must work with others, let it be the Sparts, the Worker's World Party, or the Revolutionary Communist Party. If they are not violent enough, search the internet or go to Peru and ask the Shining Path what it takes to be a good revolutionary.
10.) Refuse to work with anyone on the sensible left that's too your right. Perceive them as moderate (i.e. anyone a little to the left of the late Paul Wellstone, Ralph Nader, Jim Hightower, Jesse Jackson, Bernie Sanders, Gloria Steinem, or Michael Moore).
9.) Be suspicious of everyone to the point that paranoia is becomes the norm.
8.) Call all your enemies reformers, market socialists, social-democrats, liberals, or the ultimate insult --- a Norman Thomas Socialist.
7.) Be politically correct and put all your revisionist opponents under the ideological microscope - -- and denounce them as racist, sexist, or homophobic if they disagree with you on just one small detail on any issue. Let there be no exceptions!
6.) Declare war against people that has an outlook based on reality. Reality will slow down the revolutionary analysis toward society, and could turn one into "a Blairite."
5.) Declare your small organization in a Messianic complex like manner, while others are to be denounced as heretics. That small cadre is the only way, and everyone else in the world is wrong.
4.) Be angry with everyone, and posture yourself as a negative person toward the world. An unhappy person is the key to the revolutionary cause.
3.) Send emails through someone else as though you're using a channel to communicate from the grave.
2.) Don't smoke! Annoy people who do, as if there are not 10 million other pollutants in the air more dangerous than smoke from a cigarette.
1.) In order to keep your revolutionary morale going, say the word IMPASSE in just about every conversation, email post, letter, and long winded statements.
-- Michael Pugliese
>From "Marx at the Millenium, " by Cyril Smith, Pluto Press. Footnote 5, pg.
178, "...The Three Priciples of Democratic Centralism...by Don Cuckson: 1
Father Knows Best 2 Not in front of the children 3 Keep it in the family.