Should we stay for the revolution? If it’s even possible?

I’ve seen some on the internet (mainly TikTok and twitter, sue me) say that moving to another country to escape your problems (this is mostly directed to those in the US and Canada) is a form of colonialism and you would contribute to gentrifying the country you leave to. Do you agree?

I’ve mentioned on here a few times my disdain for living in Canada and how I am happy to leave when I am able, I’ve even had some comrades encourage me to do so if I can, so for a time I was sure that moving was an okay thing to do but now I don’t know. I don’t want to gentrify another nation and I don’t want to abandon people here who aren’t afforded the same privileges as me. I figured maybe I could help from a distance, or at the very least “visiting”to help but not living here, does that make sense?

Anyway, I really wanted to move away but now I’m not so sure and I may be causing more damage by leaving. I don’t want to colonize another place, I’m already a settler in Canada and I wasn’t planning on moving to Portugal either (locals can barely afford to live there themselves). I know I shouldn’t be taking statements made on social media so seriously but I can’t help but take these criticisms into consideration.

  • DankZedong A
    6·
    1 month ago

    I left my home country due to housing shortage over there. Wasn’t even invited to look at a house in over two years of searching. Oftentimes I was placed somewhere near spot 3000 in a raffle. Moved abroad and found a house within two months of looking.

    Now, I did move to another Western country so I guess it had less of an impact than me moving to let’s say Eastern Europe.

    Anyway, I actually moved towards a country with more revolutionary potential. I’ve found a marxist party to be a member of, which my home country is lacking.

    I don’t know if I would call it some form of colonialism per se. I guess it depends on what you offer. If you move somewhere and take away valuable resources and opportunities from local people maybe it is. I personally moved here without a degree and even without a prospect of a job. Eventually I managed to work myself up towards a good job but I don’t think it was due to some sort of white privilege compared to locals here.