A letter to MY Comrades

I wanted to write this months ago, but I have regrettably delayed this. I realize how important it is to show appreciation and respect, especially to those who are there for you and care about you so here is a letter you, my comrades.

Comrades,

In the past couple of years or so I have realized who my true friends are. My life has changed drastically with the constant ups and downs that life throws at anyone I suppose. During these times I realized how lucky I was, but not so good at showing those people in my life how much I appreciate them.

I want to start off with my friends who were there for me before I entered politics, you know who you are. ;) As corny as mushy as this may sound they were/are my rock. I could talk to them about ANYTHING. They helped me escape a relationship a couple of years ago that was toxic to me and stood by my side with many personal struggles. I want to emphasize that they also put up with me as I transitioned into a communist and we keep in touch when we can and they are still my family. :) xoxo

Next, I would like to mention my comrades in Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). It is in this group where my politics grew and so did my friendships with others. What attracted me to SDS was that they felt the same way I  about US education system, being an education major and all, and from there my political lines expanded. I was introduced to anti war, feminism and more.

Transitioning to an anti war/anti capitalist lifestyle, they helped me through losing "friendships" and a "relationship" from my pre-political life.  My comrades have been with me through thick and thin, especially when they took me in for several months and  traveled from NJ, about a 2 hour ride by bus/subway, to cheer me up when I was hospitalized in March for Crohn's Disease in NYC.


I spent 7 days, my whole Spring Break in the hospital and not only did SDS visit me but  members of WWP who was there for me during my long stay.
 It was a WWP member who convinced me to see a doctor because of a mysterious pain.  Almost everyday I had visitors and people calling me on the phone checking up on me. People bought me flowers and get well cards, WW paper, but what I enjoyed the most was talking to people because it distracted me from a pain that even the strongest medication couldn't cure.

I've had a history of being ill and hospitalized for several years, but it was during this specific time that I felt I was part of a family. I will never forget everyone who was there for me and took care of me. Even today, almost four months later, I have flair ups that tend to be painful and disgusting and despite that Crohn's is an invisible disease, my comrades do the best they can to care for me and have an understanding that not many people would have.

In recent months, my comrades have taken me in, encouraged me when I was down, made sure I didn't go hungry, helped me adjust to the NYC lifestyle, help me find employment when it always seems impossible and more!

With the feelings of frustration and hopelessness, I tend to lose sight of those around me. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without my comrades and I really do appreciate what has been done for  me.

Expressed with love,

Thea Connolly

Patriarchy and men on the "left"

      

        Before I became political, I of course, interacted with men. Some were sexist, manipulative, liars and more, but they themselves also were not political aka "masses". So when I became more political and involved in the movement I assumed that the men I interacted with were progressive and different than others I had interacted with in the past.
  
        Well its been about a year and half later and I can tell you that I don't feel the men on the "left" are really that different, especially those who call themselves M-L. This was a wake up call for me, allowing me to see things differently. Of course now I know that I shouldn't be surprised considering the "left" is full of nothing but contradictions such as being pro imperialism and so on.

         Below is a list created by my comrade, Lisa Grab, and myself. What started off as a conversation about our experiences turned into a list of  issues women in the movement face and we felt it was important to write them down and share with EVERYONE. 

     Now, I don't want you to see this as a list of complaints by two women, because that alone is a sexist thought. This list is meant to share our experiences with others and hopefully shed some light on what is really going on in the "left".  


Expecting women to know how to cook and cook for them
  
Putting down any ideas (calling them dumb/stupid)

Getting upset/angry when an action is done to them, but when its the other way around they call the woman emotional for getting upset for no reason

Staying friends with people who constantly degrade his comrades 

Arguing for feminism for all the wrong reasons 

Claiming to be a feminist

Crying / whining when sick or in pain but saying u are faking it when u are sick or have cramps

Not understanding cramps and thinking that just because they are natural you don't need any special care 

Trying to "liberate" you when they are actually controlling you

Focusing on the harmful effects sexism has for straight men 

Objectifying other female activists or women in general 

When in a group of males, collectively ignoring the female

Consciously denying that every issue is a woman's issue 

Being an apologist for patriarchy

Defending a comrade for patriarchal acts

Overlooking or underplaying a comrades patriarchal acts 

Wanting to enforce male leadership over female leadership

Forcing you to do what they think will "liberate" you

When you complain to them about their patriarchal behavior they twist it around and make it seem like you are the problem 

Not appreciating all the work ideas you contribute to activism while glorifying the work and ideas of male comrades even when the male comrades are doing less

Act like your ideas aren't good and then "come up" with the same idea and take all the credit for it 

       

  list by Lisa Grab and Thea Connolly

Left Forum Speech 2013 by T.C

 

My name is Thea Connolly, and today I wanted to talk about the importance of ideology in regards to revolutionary activism. One of the most revolutionary concepts of the ideology of Marxism-Leninism that is rarely discussed in the United States today is the concept of the Labor Aristocracy. While I myself am still quite new to the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, I have been studying this important topic, not just through readings, but through my personal experiences as a worker and an SDS organizer.

My experiences with SDS and cashier of the new Giant Stadium, unionized by Unite Here Local 100 has been a learning experience for me.

I remember three years ago when the stadium had just opened and I was hired on the spot in May of 2010. I wouldn't call myself political at the time and didn't think much about what I was in for. All I knew was that I was desperate for money and just happy to have a job.

Events were scheduled that summer and I jumped on any opportunity to work. During that time there were anti union campaigns spread by other workers. I remember one worker telling me if I signed up for the union then I would lose my job. Honestly, that didn't scare me and luckily I was guided by workers, who became close friends of mine, to inform and educate me on how unions worked and that I couldn't lose my job for signing up to be unionized.

I remember the exact day I had signed up to be unionized, July 9, 2010. A few weeks later, I was informed that enough people had signed up for the union and that we were officially unionized. There I was, a 21 year old worker who had been officially unionized, not really knowing what to expect. The starting pay for my position as a cashier was 15 dollars an hours, but what was to follow was not what I expected.

The workers had no place to eat and only 15 minutes to get food, sit either in the stairwell or closet, eat and get back to work. Legally, because we were working about 9 hours a day, were entitled to a 30 minute break. Throughout the next several months people were getting fired left and right. The stadium brought in other companies that hired other cashiers for the less the pay of unionized workers. It was clear what the bosses were trying to do.

Flash forward two years, in January 2012 I joined Students for a Democratic Society. I still worked at the stadium while playing a role in SDS. I had also learned that the Sodexo workers were also unionized by Unite Here Local 100. By the time work had started up for me at the stadium in May 2012, I decided to investigate the situation going on with the union and the stadium.

I started talking politics to my co workers and surprisingly they agreed with what I had to say. It was then when they started talking to me how the union was in fact not doing its job and how workers were getting fired for no reason at all. What really stood out to me was how our militant shop steward was no longer allowed to enter the stadium and speak to the workers...the union sided with the bosses and forbade her to enter stadium grounds.

With the help of some SDS members, I was able to start agitating the union and its leader. In the summer of 2012, with the presence of an SDS member, I attended a Union election in which I wanted to run. It turns out there was no election and people had been picked behind closed doors. I spoke to the president of the union, Bill, who happened to be a former SDSer. I told him about the issues regarding the stadium and workers in Sodexo at Montclair State University. He gave me his card and sent me to my shop steward, both who pretended to care.

The next few months following my in person visit, I had emailed the union several times a week with no response. Eventually I started getting emails stating that Bill's email was full. By the time work started up for me again in the fall, there had been an attempted union raid by SEIU 1199 where I attend school. I immediately called up Unite Here to inform them. I was told that they were coming to meet with me and talk to the workers, but I never heard from them again.

Back at work I continued contacting Unite Here, with minimal results. Every few weeks I was able to see the shop steward in person and demand the Union to do its job and help the workers. Finally, the idea of me running for shop steward was brought up. What needed to be done was a place to hold elections and a day to do it. Afterwards I spoke to the union, I spoke to my co workers. They seem pleased and encouraged me to run. They wanted me to be the shop steward, unfortunately despite the constant attempts to contact the Union in regards to an election, the shop steward only answered a couple of my emails and was never heard from.

Putting my experiences in a Marxist-Leninist ideological context can be difficult. Radical people are always talking about the “working class” this, or the “workers” that. People who call themselves Marxists, even “Leninists,” often say very different things on any number of issues. And nevermind the anarchists!

How are we supposed to make sense of our experiences trying to bring about a revolution and an end to US imperialism?

Studying these issues has led me to a few quotes I would like to share with you now. Very few groups on the American 'Left' like to bring these up, but as war against Sovereign states like Syria are on the horizon, led by a “Democratic” president in office, I think it is probably more important now than ever to think about their meaning.

 This quote appears from a document called “The Second Congress of the Communist International.” This is how Lenin defined the primary tasks of revolutionaries all over the world, after the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia.

Lenin tells us that Opportunism is the tool of bourgeoisie used in the working-class movement. Opportunists defend the bourgeoisie better than the bourgeoisie themselves. He defines opportunism as the primary hindrance to revolution.

“Opportunism is our principal enemy. Opportunism in the upper ranks of the working-class movement is bourgeois socialism, not proletarian socialism. It has been shown in practice that working-class activists who follow the opportunist trend are better defenders of the bourgeoisie than the bourgeois themselves. Without their leadership of the workers, the bourgeoisie could not remain in power. This has been proved, not only by the history of the Kerensky regime in Russia; it has also been proved by the democratic republic in Germany under its Social-Democratic government, as well as by Albert Thomas’s attitude towards his bourgeois government. It has been proved by similar experience in Britain and the United States. This is where our principal enemy is, an enemy we must overcome. We must leave this Congress firmly resolved to carry on this struggle to the very end, in all parties. That is our main task.”

 Here Lenin is saying that the capitalist class can not remain in power without their opportunist henchmen. They are a vital component of the whole system. They are even more keenly aware of the needs of imperialism than the bourgeoisie as a class! In terms of people we should be struggling against, this puts them above even the capitalists themselves.

As you walk around “Left” forum this weekend, I hope all of you are wondering to yourselves which organizations and individuals might fit into this role. I won't name Names *cough ISO cough* but you should keep this in mind.

 Lenin's “Imperialism and the Split in Socialism” was a very interesting document for me to read. Written before the Russian revolution, it is a massive polemic against the opportunist traitors in the Second International, nearly all of whom sided with their own bourgeoisie against the workers of other nations. Lenin quotes the liberal anti-imperialist Hobson to stress a point.

“The prospect of partitioning China elicited from Hobson the following economic appraisal: “The greater part of Western Europe might then assume the appearance and character already exhibited by tracts of country in the South of England, in the Riviera, and in the tourist-ridden or residential parts of Italy and Switzerland, little clusters of wealthy aristocrats drawing dividends and pensions from the Far East, with a somewhat larger group of professional retainers and tradesmen and a larger body of personal servants and workers in the transport trade and in the final stages of production of the more perishable goods: all the main arterial industries would have disappeared, the staple foods and semi-manufactures flowing in as tribute from Asia and Africa.... We have foreshadowed the possibility of even a larger alliance of Western states, a European federation of Great Powers which, so far from forwarding the cause of world civilisation, might introduce the gigantic peril of a Western parasitism, a group of advanced industrial nations, whose upper classes drew vast tribute from Asia and Africa, with which they supported great tame masses of retainers, no longer engaged in the staple industries of agriculture and manufacture, but kept in the performance of personal or minor industrial services under the control of a new financial aristocracy. Let those who would scout such a theory [he should have said: prospect] as undeserving of consideration examine the economic and social condition of districts in Southern England today which are already reduced to this condition, and reflect upon the vast extension of such a system which might be rendered feasible by the subjection of China to the economic control of similar groups of financiers, investors [rentiers] and political and business officials, draining the greatest potential reservoir of profit the world has ever known, in order to consume it in Europe. The situation is far too complex, the play of world forces far too incalculable, to render this or any other single interpretation of the future very probable; but the influences which govern the imperialism of Western Europe today are moving in this direction, and, unless counteracted or diverted, make towards such a consummation.”

Hobson, the social-liberal, fails to see that this “counteraction” can be offered only by the revolutionary proletariat and only in the form of a social revolution. But then he is a social-liberal! Nevertheless, as early as 1902 he had an excellent insight into the meaning and significance of a “United States of Europe” (be it said for the benefit of Trotsky the Kautskyite!) and of all that is now being glossed over by the hypocritical Kautskyites of various countries, namely, that the opportunists (social-chauvinists) are working hand in glove with the imperialist bourgeoisie precisely towards creating an imperialist Europe on the backs of Asia and Africa, and that objectively the opportunists are a section of the petty bourgeoisie and of a certain strata of the working class who have been bribed out of imperialist superprofits and converted to watchdogs of capitalism and corruptors of the labour movement.”

 Here we see that not only are the opportunists better defenders of capitalism than the bourgeoisie, not only are they our principle enemy, but they are the enemy of the entirety of the Third-World proletariat. They want to enslave the people of the Third-World, and subjugate them to the rule of European and American Monopoly Finance Capital. And the people who will do this will call themselves “Marxists” even “Leninists” if they need to, to accomplish this aim. All so that they can have cushy office jobs.

 Now I want to quote Stalin. Some of you may not like the guy, but I think this quote from his “On the International Situation” is necessary here. This was how the Bolsheviks were summing up the question of the opportunists and social-chauvinists in 1928.

“Firstly, it is not true that fascism is only the fighting organisation of the bourgeoisie. Fascism is not only a military-technical category. Fascism is the bourgeoisie's fighting organisation that relies on the active support of Social-Democracy. Social-Democracy is objectively the moderate wing of fascism. There is no ground for assuming that the fighting organisation of the bourgeoisie can achieve decisive successes in battles, or in governing the country, without the active support of Social-Democracy. There is just as little ground for thinking that Social-Democracy can achieve decisive successes in battles, or in governing the country, without the active support of the fighting organisation of the bourgeoisie. These organisations do not negate, but supplement each other. They are not antipodes, they are twins. Fascism is an informal political bloc of these two chief organisations; a bloc, which arose in the circumstances of the post-war crisis of imperialism, and which is intended for combating the proletarian revolution. The bourgeoisie cannot retain power without such a bloc.”

 Here Stalin harkens back to Lenin's words. The bourgeoisie can not retain power without the opportunists, who have revealed themselves to be nothing but Fascists. The goal of the misleaders and corruptors of the labor movement are indistinguishable from the goals of the Fascists.

 Now, least anyone here think Trotsky is much different in this regard, let me avail you of that notion at once! Toward the end of his life, he wrote a document called “Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decay.” It should be read by anyone who considers themselves a pupil of Trotsky. To quote Trotsky:

“Monopoly capitalism is less and less willing to reconcile itself to the independence of trade unions. It demands of the reformist bureaucracy and the labor aristocracy who pick the crumbs from its banquet table, that they become transformed into its political police before the eyes of the working class. If that is not achieved, the labor bureaucracy is driven away and replaced by the fascists. Incidentally, all the efforts of the labor aristocracy in the service of imperialism cannot in the long run save them from destruction.”

 Here Trotsky only differs slightly from how Stalin saw the situation in 1928. The opportunist and social-chauvinist Labor Aristocracy, who Lenin says the bourgeoisie could not maintain power without, become the POLITICAL POLICE inside the labor movement. Who here has encountered one of these political cops in their movement work?

 The last quote I want to read is again from Lenin's “Imperialism and the Split in Socialism.”

“Neither we nor anyone else can calculate precisely what portion of the proletariat is following and will follow the social-chauvinists and opportunists. This will be revealed only by the struggle, it will be definitely decided only by the socialist revolution. But we know for certain that the “defenders of the fatherland” in the imperialist war represent only a minority. And it is therefore our duty, if we wish to remain socialists to go down lower and deeper, to the real masses; this is the whole meaning and the whole purport of the struggle against opportunism. By exposing the fact that the opportunists and social-chauvinists are in reality betraying and selling the interests of the masses, that they are defending the temporary privileges of a minority of the workers, that they are the vehicles of bourgeois ideas and influences, that they are really allies and agents of the bourgeoisie, we teach the masses to appreciate their true political interests, to fight for socialism and for the revolution through all the long and painful vicissitudes of imperialist wars and imperialist armistices.

The only Marxist line in the world labour movement is to explain to the masses the inevitability and necessity of breaking with opportunism, to educate them for revolution by waging a relentless struggle against opportunism, to utilise the experience of the war to expose, not conceal, the utter vileness of national-liberal labour politics.”

 Here Lenin goes so far as to say the opportunists are literally the agents of the bourgeoisie. It is as if the bourgeoisie had a paid political police force inside the unions, whose only duty it was to propagate lies to the workers.

More significantly, Lenin says the only thing Marxists should do inside the labor movement is utilize the war to expose these political police. Today, that means utilizing the Syrian conflict to tell who is working for the imperialists inside the labor movement.

 How is this idea supposed to inform our activism inside the labor movement? Namely, that if we don't keep this in the back of our minds, we could become pawns of the opportunists and social-chauvinists. In America, than means becoming a pawn of the Democratic Party. Carrying out Lenin's line requires a ruthless struggle inside the unions, to break the power of the opportunists inside the unions. While this may sound like an impossible task in America, Lenin defines it as the only task befitting anyone who calls themselves a Marxist.

Thank you.

Red Youth- NYC

Who is Red Youth?

 By now I am sure most people on the "left" has heard about Red Youth NYC and with such existence has come many accusations and unanswered questions. This blog is written specifically for the doubters and the questioning with answers from the horses mouth.

The co- founders

It all started with a late night conversation and some idea tossing between Caleb Maupin (Occupy Activist) and Thea Connolly (Montclair State Students for a Democratic Society). An idea that has become a reality.

Red Youth

Red Youth is an organization of Communists under the age of 30 in the New York City area.
We are furious about the fact that this system has no future to offer the youth. We want jobs, education, and healthcare for all. We want an end to police terror and the prison system. We want an end to the wars the U.S. wages around the world. We know we have only one hope for getting beyond the horrors of everyday life under capitalism… REVOLUTION!
The Wall Street class of billionaires needs to be brought down, along with their pentagon military machine, their cops, their prisons, and all other means of repression. The people around the world who want to resist U.S. imperialism must be supported. The working class in the first world must align with the people of third world. Racism, sexism, anti-LGBT bigotry and all other forms of oppression must be smashed.
Working class power must be built. Fighting organizations must forged.
We will raise the red flag in the center of the empire!
Its time for this whole oppressive system to come to down, and for justice to prevail!

 Members

 Current members in the group  make up of several different communist parties, SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), and students in high school,college  and OWS. 

What do we do?

The group meets every week for meetings to discuss current events and plan future demonstrations and events. Besides agitating in the streets we also meet for our weekly  reading group. We read Lenin, Marx, Engles and MORE!

Red Youth Presence 

2 DPRK rallies-Red Youth event

The Truth about Communism-Red Youth event

International Women's Day

People's Power Assembly March to DC

Stop the Cops March

May Day

Technion Rally/March

Tent State (MSU)

Myths

Ok, now here is the "fun" part...debunking the Red Youth Myths.

Myth 1-WWP front group

T.C: "Red Youth is its own origination on the "left" here in the United States. Yes we have some party members in the group but it is made up of other parties as well. We also have members, like myself, who are not party members such as SDS, high school and college students .  We welcome young people from different communist parties to join Red Youth.

Red Youth chapters are being founded across the US by different kinds of people who contribute to the movement.

I also want to mention that WWP, IAC, SDS and many international communist group are allies of Red Youth, but we aren't a front group for anyone."

Myth 2- Cops

T .C:"Red Youth is not a cop organization nor are the members cops...thats just silly and paranoia! The slanderer uses this claim because members support  the DPRK and have held a couple of rallies against US Imperialism. Last time I checked cops don't wave around DPRK flags, they protect the bosses and the imperialists...contradiction much??"

Final Words

" I am proud of Red Youth NYC. As a group we have struggled and grown together. We have pulled all nighters setting this group up while managing work and school. The success and growth rate of the group is something I imagined would have taken a while but has  sprouted over night! Red Youth continues to grow across the US and I couldn't be happier. The Youth in this country are taking a stand against the injustices while standing in solidarity with comrades around the world. I hope for continued success and support and hope one day every state will have at least one Red Youth chapter."-Thea Connolly co-founder of Red Youth NYC

For more information...

Email: redyouth.us@gmail.com
Facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/groups/redyouth.us/
Website: http://redyouthnyc.org/

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/RedYouthUS

Who is the Witch?

Ding-dong the Wicked Witch is Dead

 

I suppose I do and dont understand at the same time why " ding dong the witch is dead" is becoming so popular. Has anyone read Wicked? Elphaba (aka the witch) is actually good! The wizard is a liar who doesnt use his "powers" for good...and Galinda is a brown noser to the Wizard to get ahead and dehumanize Elphaba in the process...sound familiar??

** Wicked the book is slightly different than the musical**


Here is the breakdown of the characters
Elphaba (aka wicked witch)-born a munchkinlander to the reverend of a unionist church. She was born with green skin and razor sharp teeth because of a green elixir in which her mother ingested in large quantities during the pregnancy. Because of her imperfections, she is out-casted by her family and those around her. She loves to learn and education, her intelligence is recognized when she is accepted into Shiz University. Elphaba becomes a political activist and tries to help the oppressed talking animals (anti-animal legislation). She confronts the Wizard about how he is oppressing the animals, but fails to change his mind. She then drops out of school and joins the underground for several years then leaves in the guise of a witch.



Galinda (later Glinda)- is a “bubbly”, spoiled rich girl who attends Shiz University with Elphaba. At first she despises Elphaba and is seen as a martyr by her classmates because she lives with Elphy. Later on she becomes closer to Elphy and tries to change her. Throughout the book Galinda seeks to appease the Head Mistress of Shiz and the Wizard, even if it means going along with their lies and turning against Elphaba, which in turn makes her popular.



Nessa (wicked witch of the east)- is Elphy's sister. She is beautiful, but born without arms, and receives sympathy by all. She attends Shiz University with her sister and Galinda. Throughout the book, she is seen as sympathetic and admirable. She is also known to be very religious, like her father. Later on she becomes the ruler of munchkinland and because she opposes the Wizard's despotic regime and makes Munchkinland an independent country from the rest of OZ. She soon becomes harsh and uses sorcery to control her subjects by justifying the killing of humans and animals.



Head Mistress Madam Morrible- uses Shiz to recruit young soldiers and spies for the Wizard. She believes that animals should be seen an not heard (anti animal legislation). She sends her mechanical servent to kill Dr. Dillamond. Madame Morrible suggests to Nessarose, Elphaba and Glinda that the three become the "Adepts" of Quadling Country, Munchkinland and Gillikin respectively. This would grant them political dominion over these areas, but, as Morrible admits, is in fact a way of maintaining the Wizard's authority in far-flung regions of Oz.



Dr. Dillamond (talking goat scientist)- He is a life science teacher at Shiz. assisted by Elphaba and a Munchkin named Boq in researching and conducting some controversial experiments to discover the biological differences between humans, animals and sentient Animals, with the hope of proving that, since humans and Animals are the same, the Wizard's Banns have no scientific basis. He is then killed by Morrible's servent.



The Wizard- a con man and hustler who makes himself king in foreign world. He realizes he can make a coup and overthrow the Ozma Regent. He pretends to have power and knowledge but relies on those who truly have powers to cast spells for him such as Elphy and Glinda. The cruelty of animals causes the split between the Wizard and Elphaba.

"Wicked" is often called a revisionist story, but only by those who prefer the stories told by Glinda and the Wizard. To me, understanding The Wizard of Oz and Wicked is the same as understanding US history  and the truth.
Wicked isn't the only book in the series but just one of four. The rest of the series consists of Son of a Witch (yr 2), A Lion among Men (yr 3), and Out of Oz (yr 4). These books continue with the internal struggle of Oz and the politics around it which turns into a civil war.
I highly recommend reading all these books, it will make you think differently next time you watch the Wizard of Oz. In regards to Thatcher's death, I am not sure if I could place her as Nessa or Madame Morrible.

10th Anniversary of the War in Iraq

10th Anniversary of the War in Iraq. 

 

No "I'm sorry" or "oops" by the Imperialists could ever undo what has been done in Iraq. The innocent that were killed, fathers mothers, and children leaving loved ones behind. People running for their lives from bombs, just trying to survive one day at a time. The Iraqi people's lives have drastically changed because of the selfishness of Imperialism, selfishness that is cloaked with slogans of "freedom" and "democracy". But who is free and happy? Only those who profit from war...the Imperialists, the Capitalists, the 1 percent.

Many people find it easy to attack Bush but lets not forget these wars..for example look at Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo,Bosnia, Haiti,Croatia,Zaire ,Liberia ,Albania ,Sudan and now Mali.....All under Republican AND Democrat leadership.

So lets stand together in solidarity with those who have been/are under attack by US Imperialism, for one day the tide shall turn and THE PEOPLE will rule and determine the fate of these blood thirsty murderers.

"It is a divided country... [It has] poverty that grows every day, misery and an elite, a superelite, that exploits the country and society, and even poisons it, tricks it and manipulates it through a media war,"- Chavez describing the US

International Women's Day-Papariga

speech from international women's day
by T. C.

"Oppression. Patriarchy. What do these terms mean? Oppression is prolonged cruel or unjust
treatment or control. Patriarchy is control by men of a disproportionately large share of power. How
does this relate to today? It relates because we stand here where in history, oppressed immigrant
women rose up against oppression, yet suffered a cruel death of entrapment and were burned alive.

The shirtwaist factory was run by two men, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris. When there was
suspected talk of union, it became the employers biggest fear. They were worried about unions because
it would diminish their authority over the workplace. Blank and Harris relied on economic survival and
so they invested in the latest technology. Along with new technology came high expectations of the
workers. Workers were not allowed to make mistakes and if they did they were charged by pay
deductions from their paychecks. This meant for many families that they were going hungry that week.

The workers were locked up like cattle. They were not allowed to break not even for water and
when workers were finally allowed to leave, they had to go through a final inspection. This inspection
included checking the purses of the workers, preventing theft. After these inspections they left through
the only exit that wasn't kept locked at the end of the day.

For the conditions and mal treatment these women had to endure to survive, there were no
minimum wage or maximum hour laws. Naturally, those who are oppressed are faced with the
challenge and necessity to rise up against their oppressor and that’s what these women did. They
organized and went on strike in 1909, leaving the only place that separated them from survival and
starvation. The strikers were faced with physical abuse and constant arrest, yet despite this and public
indifference, they continued to strike and fight back with the hard line “WE WANT A UNION!”

I want to fast forward to current day and briefly discuss patriarchy in some of its many forms.
I recently read Bell Hook's book “All About Love”. In this book she touches upon her own life and
discusses abuse and relationships of different types. Something stood out to me that hasn't really
crossed my mind and that is that patriarchy is encouraged not only by men for men but also by women
themselves. I have to admit I had to stop and think about this for a while until I understood; society
breeds this despite its attempt to be progressive. Women are encouraged to do the housework like
cook, clean and raise the kids while men do the “tougher” work such as mowing the lawn, fixing up
the house, going to work etc. We as women are still placed in boxes. We are supposed to be dainty,
quiet and do what we are told. Hooks also brings up that growing up she was the outgoing and assertive
while her brother was quiet and passive and her parents found this to be unacceptable.

After reading the book, I would listen to songs on the radio, watch movies and television shows
with a different perspective and understanding. I noticed these “tools” prime focus is to encourage
the dating scene, isolating women who wanted to work and be single, focus on themselves and be
independent. Society encourages relationships, making us feel like we need someone, that we have to
rely on someone else to survive and our culture thrives on that.

Even on the “left” here in America, sexism and patriarchy exist in the hearts of progressives;
it’s just harder to notice by the words they preach of revolution, justice, and liberation that are spoken
to us to ease our mind, words that are just words until put into action.

Just like the women workers that fought back, we need to continue to fight back against the
stereotypes and society's expectation of us. We need to unite with oppressed women around world,
like in Saudi Arabia where they are still seen as object without rights, enslaved to their husbands and
society.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Che “Liberators do not exist. The people
liberate themselves”

Throughout history, many historical women come to mind such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks,  and more.
 I do admire the women who rose up against capitalism to fight for justice, but one figure in modern times has been brought to my attention that I feel needs recognition and her name is Aleka Papariga, the General Secretary of Communist Party of Greece.



 Papariga was born in 1945 to the parents of  National Resistance fighters and KKE members. She started off as activist in the peace movement in 1961 which lead her to the youth section of United Democratic Left. 

In 1968, Papariga joined the KKE even though it was illegal during the Greek Military junta and was involved in the prisoners' families movement. As soon as the Military junta ended, she became a member of the Bureau of the City of the Athens Party Organization.

Being the founding member of the Women's Federation of Greece, she was part of the organization of national events for International Women's Day and contributed to the women's movement by participating
international congresses of the Women's International Democratic Federation, the United Nations and more. 

 Papariga has been a member of the Central Committee of KKE since May 1978.
On February 27, 1991  she was elected as Secretary-General of the KKE. and was unanimously re-elected as Secretary-General on May 26, 1996. In February 2009,she a was re-elected as Secretary-General which made her the longest serving General Secretary of the KKE.

As a young activist I wish to have more courage to stand up and fight back like Papariga, especially against patriarchy. 

I have realized recently I am a lot more compliant than I should be.  Yes I get angry and feel hurt while either witnessing an injustice or if I am part of the injustice, yet I do nothing. How could I allow someone to sit there and laugh at me, put down my ideas and disregard my feelings? One explanation is how society reinforces pacifism, but without sounding redundant, I shouldn't ask why, but what? 

What can I do to overcome this internal struggle? What can I do to stand up and fight back? One idea is unlearning because isn't that what this struggle as whole is about? Unlearning everything we are taught/brainwashed to form our own ideas and proper understanding? To break free of the chains that hold us back?

I may not have an answer right now, but what I do know is that I  look up to those who do fight back. Women who don't take any nonsense from ANYONE. Women who fight for others because they can fight for themselves. Us women need these figures in our lives especially for those (like myself) who are being held back. We need to study their actions, listen to what they say, feel empowered and nourish the strength that has been inside of us, perhaps this whole time.