In the distant past, the anarchists had to rely on faulty methods of communications. Letters took weeks to arrive, travel by train was the only way to get across country, and phones were a new invention. While the people of today realize that, in some ways, there were advantages to slow communications, they sincerely appreciate (for the most part) that these methods of communications.
However, after over ninety years of going downhill and losing ground, anarchists use these methods of communication ineffectively and, very often, to denounce one another and weaken their own strength.
It is time that anarchists and their allies begin to cooperate, collaborate, communicate, and converge. Fear of centralization, whether it be power or groups, is intrinsic to anarchists, but with total voluntary cooperation a centralization of communications can occur in anarchist ranks without any significant risk. Centralized communication would make it easier for anarchists to find and communicate with each other, especially over the internet.
It is also time that there was a series of convergences of anarchists, the like of which hasn't been seen since the 1800's. Gathering, communicating, educating, networking, and planning needs to happen, and our first step is to create a web of people, to create a tightly-woven tapestry of anarchists of various beliefs and philosophies across the globe.
My hope is that we will see both. My sincerest hope is that it begins to happen soon. And, to my knowledge, there will be convergences soon, in the dead center of a land that sees very little water while still having abundant life.
6.23.2008
1.07.2008
Movement. Destruction. Creation. Coexistence.
The anarchists aren't and weren't the only benevolent force that has existed. Even among the legions of the oppressed there were those who sought to make the world better. And for a long time, things did improve.
Now, however, there are many, many who wish to make things better. Fighting and vying for some way to step in and make their particular improvement more valued than the others, the number of improvements have died down. Even worse, these reformists, anarchists, and any who wish to benevolently improve find themselves faced by the oppressors, who have secretly and covertly directed all positive efforts into a shredder. Now we are all faced with two things: that which has been labeled "hyperpluralism" and futility.
And so what we need is not millions of quick fixes and improvements to a system that was broken to begin with, that was intended to remain broken from the very start, but a new system created by a vast movement.
How do we get this movement started? First, we destroy all of our previous constructs and conceptions and look at the world for what it really is. Next, we destroy the control the oppressors hold over us and everyone else. Finally, we find people dedicated to truly making the world better, not just trying to make somebody make the world better (*coughs* activism *coughs*).
Once we have removed ourselves from the corrupt foundations we stand upon and fight against, we can begin to actually take steps forward in a very real, very meaningful way. This is by creating things anew, making new and better systems among the liberated and the anarchists in which the same things are accomplished (for the most part) as were in the old ways, but in a way that doesn't require us to destroy ourselves. Theatre and acting need not be a cutthroat, competitive industry where thousands starve and fail, for example, when we could have the wandering theatre troupes of old, or steady theatres composed of dynamic actors who trust each other and put together performances paid for by the community (or not paid for at all, and simply supplied).
We don't need to fix or amend one thing. We need to create, anew, anything and everything.
My recommendation: start with the community and the arts.
With strong foundation and close connections, communities of any size spanning any distance can be the proper and best foundation for any movement anybody can dream of. With the arts in the hands of the artists, and not that of industries or competition, thought and beauty can flow freely and vastly improve everything, all at once.
But, finally, I fear, there has to be some sort of disaster, some sort of struggle, to allow this new creation to exist. Ideally, something beautiful like an affluent, benevolent, cooperative society consisting of strong communities could simply exist or co-exist with what already stands today, and eventually peacefully replace it. But it is rare to have such a peaceful creation and transition, and nearly impossible to bring about at all, so therefore we need organizing and, inevitably, be prepared to fight.
If it's not sad that we have to be prepared to fight to exist, to help each other and ourselves freely without obligation, then I don't know what is. However, we know for certain that we will have to fight, especially if we have the plights of the Zapatistas and the Russian Anarchists to look to as a precedent.
Most importantly in all of this comes the role of the organizers, however. If there is a way to create something anew that does not rest on the corrupt foundations of old, it will take dedicated time, thought, and planning by people inclined to initiate them through organization and direct action, and if it is possible even in our dreams to do this without conflict, then it will be their task.
It will be our task: organize, act, unite.
Now, however, there are many, many who wish to make things better. Fighting and vying for some way to step in and make their particular improvement more valued than the others, the number of improvements have died down. Even worse, these reformists, anarchists, and any who wish to benevolently improve find themselves faced by the oppressors, who have secretly and covertly directed all positive efforts into a shredder. Now we are all faced with two things: that which has been labeled "hyperpluralism" and futility.
And so what we need is not millions of quick fixes and improvements to a system that was broken to begin with, that was intended to remain broken from the very start, but a new system created by a vast movement.
How do we get this movement started? First, we destroy all of our previous constructs and conceptions and look at the world for what it really is. Next, we destroy the control the oppressors hold over us and everyone else. Finally, we find people dedicated to truly making the world better, not just trying to make somebody make the world better (*coughs* activism *coughs*).
Once we have removed ourselves from the corrupt foundations we stand upon and fight against, we can begin to actually take steps forward in a very real, very meaningful way. This is by creating things anew, making new and better systems among the liberated and the anarchists in which the same things are accomplished (for the most part) as were in the old ways, but in a way that doesn't require us to destroy ourselves. Theatre and acting need not be a cutthroat, competitive industry where thousands starve and fail, for example, when we could have the wandering theatre troupes of old, or steady theatres composed of dynamic actors who trust each other and put together performances paid for by the community (or not paid for at all, and simply supplied).
We don't need to fix or amend one thing. We need to create, anew, anything and everything.
My recommendation: start with the community and the arts.
With strong foundation and close connections, communities of any size spanning any distance can be the proper and best foundation for any movement anybody can dream of. With the arts in the hands of the artists, and not that of industries or competition, thought and beauty can flow freely and vastly improve everything, all at once.
But, finally, I fear, there has to be some sort of disaster, some sort of struggle, to allow this new creation to exist. Ideally, something beautiful like an affluent, benevolent, cooperative society consisting of strong communities could simply exist or co-exist with what already stands today, and eventually peacefully replace it. But it is rare to have such a peaceful creation and transition, and nearly impossible to bring about at all, so therefore we need organizing and, inevitably, be prepared to fight.
If it's not sad that we have to be prepared to fight to exist, to help each other and ourselves freely without obligation, then I don't know what is. However, we know for certain that we will have to fight, especially if we have the plights of the Zapatistas and the Russian Anarchists to look to as a precedent.
Most importantly in all of this comes the role of the organizers, however. If there is a way to create something anew that does not rest on the corrupt foundations of old, it will take dedicated time, thought, and planning by people inclined to initiate them through organization and direct action, and if it is possible even in our dreams to do this without conflict, then it will be their task.
It will be our task: organize, act, unite.
12.05.2007
The Fragmentation of the Anarchists
After a while, the believers and liberators, the Anarchists, became divided and fragmented. Many lost sight of their hopes and dreams, and many more were to never discover them. And soon, Anarchists became a legend from the past, a faltering remnant stumbling along aimlessly.
Now, once again, the numbers are growing, and the forces of the oppressors are feeling our return with growing alacrity. But the fragmentations of the past have irrevocably caused divisions amongst our own ranks, so that we even go so far as to oppress ourselves through means of conflicting routes to our dream.
A multitude of anarchists call for violence, called for insurrection against the oppressors whose numbers are pulling from the ranks of the oppressed with alarming speed. While the Anarchists slumbered and some were waiting to be resurrected, the oppressors were learning from their past mistakes and using this newfound malicious wisdom to prevent anyone from escaping their grasp…
Another multitude, just as strong, demanded non-violence and pacifism to combat the ranks of the oppressors, believing very strongly that the oppressed would simply fear the Anarchists if they were violent and flock more strongly into the arms of the oppressors, never to leave. While the Anarchists slumbered, new lessons were learned about ways to combat the oppressors, ways which would not turn away the oppressed and would lessen the casualties among the liberators and oppressed alike.
But in their foolishness, both the insurrectionary and the pacifistic anarchists were emulating the ways of the oppressors, falling in for their traps, and allowing themselves to become intimate oppressors of those who were their brothers, sisters, and comrades!
And from this point in history we come to our present day, where the visions of Anarchism have so divided our ranks that nothing notable is being achieved. While we quibble about the fine points of acceptability, billions upon billions are falling into the hands oppressors, or descending into their ranks, instead of doing something meaningful about it!
We must stop bickering amongst ourselves.
Many have claimed themselves into the ranks of Anarchists who wish no more to harm and destroy, to cause chaos and destruction for the sake of it. First we must unite in our positive vision and allow the oppressed to see that our vision of the future is not chaos, but peace and progression toward the ever illusive Utopia. We must educate people to see what the true vision is, so that the falsehoods cried out by the false-Anarchists will be rejected by Anarchists and Oppressed alike, and we may possibly heal the hearts of the false-Anarchists and bring them into our fold as vigorous and healthy brothers, sisters, and comrades!
Once we have combated the confusion sewn into our ranks, we must next unite, vigorously and wholly! All methods, all tactics are useful, especially when applied both in the appropriate contexts and by people who believe in it themselves. All beliefs and values are useful, so long as they all bring us to the same end, so long as they are honestly and truly believed without malice. The advantages to this are so numerous, so enormous, that to not do it would be idiocy. It would first announce to the world that even though we are comrades, we are still individuals! We still hold our own beliefs, values, experiences, we are still ourselves independent from the others, and those that join us would not have to sacrifice themselves for an ideal, like the religions and nations of the world constantly force them to. Uniting in this manner would also sew seeds of confusion into the enemy and force them to use discretion and conscience when fighting against us. They gain nothing by firing into the ranks of pacifists, where they also gain nothing by bringing nothing but shields against insurrectionaries. Thus, if they use violence against the pacifists in some effort to rule with an iron fist, they will lose their oppressed and strengthen our ranks. Simultaneously, if they see we, as a group of individuals, are so devoted that we are willing to put our lives on the line to further our future, can hold our own and are actually doing something meaningful and real, we will gain even more. And by uniting ourselves, we don’t exclude anybody on the spectrum of violence and non-violence, making it possible to achieve our dream where no person is a slave anywhere on earth!
So, comrades, whether it be to arms or otherwise, let us stand together! Let not the fragmentations of the past nor the seeds of confusion which the oppressors sew break us apart, nor separate our embrace. Let us fight in whatever way we choose while still loving our brothers, sisters, and comrades in Anarchism, so that one day we can live and love freely and none shall bow in servitude ever again!
10.17.2007
Making Life
No. This does not, in this case, mean making babies. As wonderful as the act of sex may be, I am not proposing that we start having it all the time (though it's not a bad idea).
This means taking aspects of our life and making them voluntary.
Think about it.
What if the classic workplace with cubicles was something entirely different, an event of sorts, created and participated in voluntarily as an amusement. People would walk in and look at the (volunteer, randomly appearing) actors, wondering how peculiar it must be. Maybe they'd even sit down and try it out of curiosity, spontaneously becoming actors themselves. Spitball wars and the like would ensue, and each day in the cubicle offices would be created.
Or maybe you take a section of the city and install secret doors and rooms, set up fog machines and put controls on the lights so you can set how bright or dim it is. You put boards or bridges between the rooftops and have people running around at all hours acting as villians (popping out and scaring people, chasing you, etc.) or victims (running away, etc.). People could be constant actors or spontaneous actors, and the entire situation would be constructed.
What I propose we do is create entire districts of cities, with permission or without, that are like giant, constant scenes. You could have gloomy districts, crazy colorful districts (like you're walking through a real-life acid trip), districts with secret rooms, doors, buildings, tunnels, labyrinths, districts with moving walls and buildings, and whatever else the mind can come up with. Instead of creating a haunted house or a psychedelic mansion, we create a haunted neighborhood or psychedelic/insane business district.
Why is it we involuntarily enslave ourselves, going into our prisons of necessity from day to day? Wouldn't it be better if we could make these areas our own??? Why haven't we already?
Let's begin creating our world, one situation at a time. Maybe then we can free the oppressed from the persons of mean persuasion, allowing them to exist in worlds of their creation with their own voluntary participation...
This means taking aspects of our life and making them voluntary.
Think about it.
What if the classic workplace with cubicles was something entirely different, an event of sorts, created and participated in voluntarily as an amusement. People would walk in and look at the (volunteer, randomly appearing) actors, wondering how peculiar it must be. Maybe they'd even sit down and try it out of curiosity, spontaneously becoming actors themselves. Spitball wars and the like would ensue, and each day in the cubicle offices would be created.
Or maybe you take a section of the city and install secret doors and rooms, set up fog machines and put controls on the lights so you can set how bright or dim it is. You put boards or bridges between the rooftops and have people running around at all hours acting as villians (popping out and scaring people, chasing you, etc.) or victims (running away, etc.). People could be constant actors or spontaneous actors, and the entire situation would be constructed.
What I propose we do is create entire districts of cities, with permission or without, that are like giant, constant scenes. You could have gloomy districts, crazy colorful districts (like you're walking through a real-life acid trip), districts with secret rooms, doors, buildings, tunnels, labyrinths, districts with moving walls and buildings, and whatever else the mind can come up with. Instead of creating a haunted house or a psychedelic mansion, we create a haunted neighborhood or psychedelic/insane business district.
Why is it we involuntarily enslave ourselves, going into our prisons of necessity from day to day? Wouldn't it be better if we could make these areas our own??? Why haven't we already?
Let's begin creating our world, one situation at a time. Maybe then we can free the oppressed from the persons of mean persuasion, allowing them to exist in worlds of their creation with their own voluntary participation...
9.30.2007
And in the beginning...
there was light...
...and I saw the light...
...and had no idea where it came from...
...and didn't care, for the light was beautiful...
The light illuminated the world around me, and into my view came other human beings. We gathered, discussed, understood, and cooperated, and it was good.
Then, soon after, persons of mean persuasion came into our sight and tried to join us. But when they joined us, we found that they made things not good, because they wanted to control us. They beseeched us to come from the light and away from our friends and to do greater things in the name of progress, success, and profit. They showed us the world where they had done these things, and we saw it was miserable.
We then cast these persons from amongst us, and forced them to remain outside of our lives, for we saw that the world they would have us create was one mired in misery and hate.
But these persons would not let us be free, and brought war on us. They used the force they had created in the world and brought it to bear down against us. We sought aid elsewhere, and we found societies in the same position as ours, and we found that if we stood together, and attacked these persons of mean persuasion from the shadows we could sometimes return to the light, and see the beautiful world around us.
And in the midst of these mean persons were more like us, but their eyes had been shown up and their ears blocked with lies, so they could barely even perceive their own misery. We looked upon their predicament with great sorrow, and took it upon ourselves to free their eyes and open their ears, and when they did they perceived their misery and fled in horror from the world that they were in. With eagerness, those who had lived their lives in misery joined us.
While we were freeing the oppressed from the persons of mean persuasion, we were constantly asked, "Who are you, that you would so compassionately help us, even in peril of your own life?" And, though we could tell them who we were for each individual, this became tiresome. So we convened a council, and we deliberated. We knew we were different from the persons of mean persuasion, and we were not of the ranks of the oppressed, so for days we deliberated and wrote and considered, until one day somebody said, "Long ago, there was a word that meant uncontrolled and free. The word was Anarchy. So why do we not take this word and make it our own, calling ourselves "anarchists" or "free ones?" With great delight, we took this word and used it as a rally for ourselves, for the oppressed, for all who wanted to be free from control and content in simple life, simple cooperation.
And with this in mind, we continue to fight through the world, dressed in black and moving in the dark, freeing the oppressed and fighting to maintain our freedom from the persons of mean persuasion, so that we can return to the light for brief moments and revel in the beauty of the world and those around us.
...and I saw the light...
...and had no idea where it came from...
...and didn't care, for the light was beautiful...
The light illuminated the world around me, and into my view came other human beings. We gathered, discussed, understood, and cooperated, and it was good.
Then, soon after, persons of mean persuasion came into our sight and tried to join us. But when they joined us, we found that they made things not good, because they wanted to control us. They beseeched us to come from the light and away from our friends and to do greater things in the name of progress, success, and profit. They showed us the world where they had done these things, and we saw it was miserable.
We then cast these persons from amongst us, and forced them to remain outside of our lives, for we saw that the world they would have us create was one mired in misery and hate.
But these persons would not let us be free, and brought war on us. They used the force they had created in the world and brought it to bear down against us. We sought aid elsewhere, and we found societies in the same position as ours, and we found that if we stood together, and attacked these persons of mean persuasion from the shadows we could sometimes return to the light, and see the beautiful world around us.
And in the midst of these mean persons were more like us, but their eyes had been shown up and their ears blocked with lies, so they could barely even perceive their own misery. We looked upon their predicament with great sorrow, and took it upon ourselves to free their eyes and open their ears, and when they did they perceived their misery and fled in horror from the world that they were in. With eagerness, those who had lived their lives in misery joined us.
While we were freeing the oppressed from the persons of mean persuasion, we were constantly asked, "Who are you, that you would so compassionately help us, even in peril of your own life?" And, though we could tell them who we were for each individual, this became tiresome. So we convened a council, and we deliberated. We knew we were different from the persons of mean persuasion, and we were not of the ranks of the oppressed, so for days we deliberated and wrote and considered, until one day somebody said, "Long ago, there was a word that meant uncontrolled and free. The word was Anarchy. So why do we not take this word and make it our own, calling ourselves "anarchists" or "free ones?" With great delight, we took this word and used it as a rally for ourselves, for the oppressed, for all who wanted to be free from control and content in simple life, simple cooperation.
And with this in mind, we continue to fight through the world, dressed in black and moving in the dark, freeing the oppressed and fighting to maintain our freedom from the persons of mean persuasion, so that we can return to the light for brief moments and revel in the beauty of the world and those around us.
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