I don’t remember who said it, but somebody once said being a successful communist requires you to be the most organized disciplined person at the shop. There’s a lot of truth in that, and I think that’s what Brace is getting at here when he talks about ‘getting your house in order’.
Let’s face it the western left is a joke and is deeply unserious mostly. If we want to get serious on organization we will need to go to every day people (even the 99% that don’t agree with everything we believe). That means ‘being normal’ as he said, or rather don’t be the most aggressive off putting weirdo in the room. Be relatable to everyday people. Organize and work with others to DEMONSTRATE how leftist organization can benifit them. Do the grunt work, even when it isn’t glamorous, it’s boring, and difficult.
If you’re serious about social movements then you will have to be social. ‘Touch grass’ as they say. That’s just the bottom line if we want to get anywhere. No serious leftist should have a problem with this.
Yeah the big schpeel a local organizer has been giving before our canvassing for an election here is pretty much this, most people want to hear and talk about surprisingly everyday things (wages and healthcare, but also potholes and graffiti) and also probably have some pretty bad opinions, but you don’t need to be teaching them about dictatorship of the proletariat or teaching them why the cuban revolution is actually a good thing
I don’t remember who said it, but somebody once said being a successful communist requires you to be the most organized disciplined person at the shop. There’s a lot of truth in that, and I think that’s what Brace is getting at here when he talks about ‘getting your house in order’.
Let’s face it the western left is a joke and is deeply unserious mostly. If we want to get serious on organization we will need to go to every day people (even the 99% that don’t agree with everything we believe). That means ‘being normal’ as he said, or rather don’t be the most aggressive off putting weirdo in the room. Be relatable to everyday people. Organize and work with others to DEMONSTRATE how leftist organization can benifit them. Do the grunt work, even when it isn’t glamorous, it’s boring, and difficult.
If you’re serious about social movements then you will have to be social. ‘Touch grass’ as they say. That’s just the bottom line if we want to get anywhere. No serious leftist should have a problem with this.
Yeah the big schpeel a local organizer has been giving before our canvassing for an election here is pretty much this, most people want to hear and talk about surprisingly everyday things (wages and healthcare, but also potholes and graffiti) and also probably have some pretty bad opinions, but you don’t need to be teaching them about dictatorship of the proletariat or teaching them why the cuban revolution is actually a good thing
Exactly be pragmatic and pick your battles.