And that really captures one of the biggest problems I have with Anarchists, at least the ones I see in America:clinging to magical thinking in the face of material evidence to the contrary. I think it’s probably simultaneously their greatest weakness and their greatest strength, and a contributing factor in why they take up so much oxygen in the American Left. Magical thinking is more alluring and comforting than material analysis, and that’s perfect for a populace that has been trained since birth to ignore material reality and instead take everything on faith (in American Christianity, in American propaganda, in american “news”). Talking with them and reading their texts, so much of the language and rhetoric feels like it’s trying to weave a spell that will draw the reader into this magical mindset.
The good: faith in the dream makes true believers die-hard to the end. Faith and comfort attract people who are disaffected with the institutions that betrayed their faith, but still need the comfort of belief.
The bad: it becomes taboo to ground arguments in reality. It creates a fertile space for wacky things like " you can cure type II diabetes with a raw vegan diet" to fester, and people get offended if I lovingly try to pull their heads out of their asses so they can see reality. Magical thinking is the most sacred of all anarchist tenets, because without it how can you go on fighting? (The answer of course is that I can fight on without magical thinking, and it’s a skill issue if they can’t).
I read part of the Crimethinc book Expect Resistance years ago and my experience was basically this:
read a page waow they capture the feelings of agony and alienation from capitalism so well! This is so wise and poignant! And they dream of a better world! This is profound!
read next page wtf this is the stupidest shit I’ve ever read
Back and forth, back and forth.
I feel bad saying all this because despite my personal ruptures with anarchists, one of my best remaining friends is himself a committed anarchist who also seems very grounded in material analysis (and told me to read Mao because Mao has a lot of very wise lessons for organizers). So #notallanarchists but many I guess.
As far as unmistakable counter-revolutionaries and saboteurs of the socialist cause are concerned, the matter is easy, we simply deprive them of their freedom of speech.
But incorrect ideas among the people are quite a different matter.
(Good example of why it’s important to read texts in full lol)
If the imperialists insist on launching a third world war, it is certain that several hundred million more will turn to socialism, and then there will not be much room left on earth for the imperialists; it is also likely that the whole structure of imperialism will completely collapse.
The United States now controls a majority in the United Nations and dominates many parts of the world – this state of affairs is temporary and will be changed one of these days. China’s position as a poor country denied its rights in international affairs will also be changed – the poor country will change into a rich one, the country denied its rights into one enjoying them – a transformation of things into their opposites.
That’s magical thinking o_O
And that really captures one of the biggest problems I have with Anarchists, at least the ones I see in America:clinging to magical thinking in the face of material evidence to the contrary. I think it’s probably simultaneously their greatest weakness and their greatest strength, and a contributing factor in why they take up so much oxygen in the American Left. Magical thinking is more alluring and comforting than material analysis, and that’s perfect for a populace that has been trained since birth to ignore material reality and instead take everything on faith (in American Christianity, in American propaganda, in american “news”). Talking with them and reading their texts, so much of the language and rhetoric feels like it’s trying to weave a spell that will draw the reader into this magical mindset.
The good: faith in the dream makes true believers die-hard to the end. Faith and comfort attract people who are disaffected with the institutions that betrayed their faith, but still need the comfort of belief.
The bad: it becomes taboo to ground arguments in reality. It creates a fertile space for wacky things like " you can cure type II diabetes with a raw vegan diet" to fester, and people get offended if I lovingly try to pull their heads out of their asses so they can see reality. Magical thinking is the most sacred of all anarchist tenets, because without it how can you go on fighting? (The answer of course is that I can fight on without magical thinking, and it’s a skill issue if they can’t).
I read part of the Crimethinc book Expect Resistance years ago and my experience was basically this:
read a page waow they capture the feelings of agony and alienation from capitalism so well! This is so wise and poignant! And they dream of a better world! This is profound!
read next page wtf this is the stupidest shit I’ve ever read Back and forth, back and forth.
I feel bad saying all this because despite my personal ruptures with anarchists, one of my best remaining friends is himself a committed anarchist who also seems very grounded in material analysis (and told me to read Mao because Mao has a lot of very wise lessons for organizers). So #notallanarchists but many I guess.
Mao has some really optimistic things to say people should really read him.
What should our policy be towards non-Marxist ideas?
(Good example of why it’s important to read texts in full lol)
He’s very good at revolutionary optimism.