Revolution Trainee

Personal Narrative (feel free to scroll down):

I have a proclivity to feel ‘abandoned’ and ‘powerless’ in social relations. I use these terms in inverted commas to reflect that there are no defined words for what I feel because these adjectives and emotions are reflective of human relations. What I feel is distinctly a product of human-state relations. As a ‘good’ citizen (see Rousseau, The Social Contract) and an academic in politics, political science, political economy, I have followed the rules, I have put faith in a ‘system’, and the ‘system’, embodied by the state, has abandoned me and left me feeling powerless to affect even the most minute details in my own personal life (see the traditional ‘American’ libertarian argument). 

Is it clear yet that you don’t matter (the heart of this post):

So here’s my question to ‘Americans’: is it enough yet? Is it clear that despite your massive numbers, your political, social, and economic participation that you do not matter? Is it apparent yet that you have little control over your own lives if you do not conform and integrate fully into the systemic model of corporate, anti-privacy, anti-choice, U.S.A.?

That’s the academic question: are you ALL aware now that you do not matter to your government? Are you aware that they have violated the terms of contractual governance? Are you aware that the principle of ‘good offices’ or the clause of ‘full faith’ no longer exists?

On tumblr, most of you are. Well done you; unfortunately, this is not sufficient.

The activist question (yes, I’m setting up a dichotomy), therefore, is what are you going to do about it?

The U.S. government is making many forms of traditional political participation less accessible, in some cases even illegal (CISPA, NDAA, etc.). At this point, they are threatening ‘alternative’ lifestyles (gender, sexuality, colour, nationality and religion if you’re Middle Eastern…).

I think the question you should ask yourselves (if you are interested in remaining in the United States or lack the resources to expatriate) is why. Why are historic methods of social, economic, and political life now being restricted or reversed by your government?

I hope, I sincerely hope as someone who has a vested interest in many of the bodies in your country, the answer to that question will inform your response to the activist question I posed previously.

My very best wishes to you. I speak for all citizens of the world when I say we are all watching, we are all part of the ‘trickle down’, we stand in solidarity, and we fear for your safety and ability to lead your life as you see fit (without causing harm).

The Flaming Lips

My mate, Pavlos, asked me to read and circulate to as many people as possible. Could I please ask all that come across this to do the same?

Dear friends and comrades,

I have just received the following urgent call for international solidarity from comrades in Greece. We would all appreciate it if you can circulate it widely. I am including below the English language text. As you probably already know, the situation in Greece has been critical for quite some time but it is getting worse. Hard fought for rights and social gains are being laid on the butcher block. The greek parliament has become nothing more than a rubber stamp for the marching orders from the IMF. Greece has been marked for becoming an example for the world, an example of how international capital can beat a country into subservience. Yet, throughout all this there has been a lively and ongoing resistance within Greece. This resistance needs international solidarity now more than ever. While the mainstream media focuses on the repugnant attempted rape of a chambermaid by the head of the IMF, they disregard the ongoing rape of entire countries and peoples by the IMF itself. It is up to people of good conscience to make sure that the real story of resistance and hope doesn’t get buried.

Please circulate and post this urgent call to all your comrades, friends, and organizations.

In solidarity,

pavlos

Greece: Urgent call for international solidarity!

Comrades, 

The purpose of this message is to inform you briefly about what is happening the last days in our country and to appeal an international call of solidarity to all anarchists worldwide. 

Greece is at a critical turning point, and many critical changes are taking place in a societal as well as a political and economic level. The disintegration and dissolution of the dominant - until recently - model of power and exploitation is more than evident, so it defines what is commonly called ‘crisis.’ What we are experiencing now is the total failure of a system that is unable to secure any longer the social consensus, thereby is engaged in a frontal attack that is unconditional and with no pretext. 

Initially, at the beginning of this condition which was called ‘crisis,’ the attack occurred in materialistic terms. With the devaluation of labour, the horizontal reduction of wages, the ‘flexible’ working conditions, the institutionalization of insecurity, the increase of the price of consuming goods and public utility bills, the increase of taxes and the cuts in welfare benefits. At the same time, the sale of public wealth to private individuals, the widespread police presence on the streets, the auctions, the rising of unemployment began… 

In addition, the unprecedented attack by means of propaganda was unleashed. The mass media controlled by the State and Capital unleashed a staggering rate of catastrophology and publishing of disaster scenarios and production of calendar milestones of ‘disclosure’ such us… ‘If Troika does not approve the next installment of the loan, we will fall apart…’ With all these, the communicative mechanism of Power manages continually to blur the water and maintain a state of terror ensuring the paralysis of society via extortion. 

However, the resistance has never stopped for a part of the Greek society and the proletariat. Occasionally, declarations for general strikes are surrounded in a different degree by people who actively resist and express their willingness to fight against the conditions imposed by the State and Capital. 

At the general strike of May 11th in Athens, once again thousands of protesters marched and voiced their opposition to the Greek government’s new anti-social measures which effect the workers and the majority of people. During the demonstration, while a big part of the protesters had passed by the parliament and were heading to an end, the cops attacked without provocation and viciously the most radical demonstrator blocks - anarchists and anti-authoritarians, neighborhood assemblies, rank-and-file labour unions, extra-parliamentary left - beating them with unprecedented savagery and firing hundreds of tear gas against them, until these blocks were dispersed. More than 100 demonstrators were hospitalized, while others underwent surgery. 

Comrade Yannis was the protester whose health right now is in the most critical situation. Having suffered a murderous attack by the cops which caused him severe head injuries, he was transferred to the hospital in an antemortem (pre-death) situation -according to the medical report issued later. After the doctors ascertain the breadth of internal head bleeding, he immediately underwent surgery; he has been intubated in the intensive care clinic since. His situation remains critical but stable, without having escaped the danger for his life or health. 

It is obvious that these murderous attacks against demonstrator strikers on Wednesday, May 11th, had a single purpose: to intimidate people and all those who resist to the attacks of Power and capitalist State. It was an act for exemplification aiming at the subjugation of people that seemed to send the following message: stay home, quit and disciplined. 

In the content of this very procedure the sovereignty recently enlists more and more the right-wing and/or its parastate offshoots. The outbreaks of racist violence recently multiplied across the country, and reached a climax last week. In the light of the cold-blooded murder of a resident in the centre of Athens with intent to robbery, for which many immigrants have become a target, an unprecedented pogrom against migrants has been unleashed. Groups from organized and/or autonomous fascists, racists and extreme rightists took the opportunity to gather every evening to attack immigrants, injuring several while the death of an economic migrant also seems to have resulted by them. At the same time, the neo-Nazis alongside with the police also attack squats in the city centre, leading comrades into a condition in which we have to defend ourselves at the risk of our lives against police and fascist brutality. 

The gravity of the situation is obvious. Once society accepts an unprecedented attack in materialistic terms the most radical political parts - one of the main being the anarchist milieu - are under police and fascists attack (literally this time, if one considers the murderous rage). 

This is the reason why we urgently call for international solidarity! With comradely greetings ,

Group of libertarian communists

Eutopia 

See also the following internet links:

http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/ additional information about recent events in Greece

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1288989 video: police attacks the demonstration

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1290982 video: fascists and police in co-operation attack immigrants

http://www.demotix.com/photo/688561/demonstration-stabbed-greek-turns-riots-and-racist-acts photos: nazis attack immigrants

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1288923 photos: police attacks the demonstration

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1289018 photos: police attacks the demonstration

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1289114 photos: police attacks the demonstration