A little bit of theory

A little bit of theory In the form of a Twitter thread

Dec 3, 2021

We know Mao wrote a pamphlet on opposing book worship. But one thing I learned today is that Stalin also held the same sentiment. It started with a tweet I’m very thankful to have seen.

apollo 🌇🦉 @apollo1509

Stalin said oppose book worship, lol

So I felt compelled to expand .

Materia ☭ Conditions @Selphplusplus

All actually existing socialist nations are socialist experiments. We have to remember this is the first time in human history word capitalism has a chance to be replaced by the next mode of production. It won’t be prefect or even linear necessarily.

apollo 🌇🦉 @apollo1509

Stalin said oppose book worship, lol https://t.co/jHIiOfGAkL

Application of a dialectical understanding of historical materialism.

Materia ☭ Conditions @Selphplusplus

Just as Stalin called the USSR an experiment, Mao and the CPCc also saw/see China as an experiment. The cultural revolution was admittedly by the CPC the incorrect line. Deng Xiaoping and his opening up and reforms, Xi Jinping, all an experiment. Well we can learn real lessons.

Socialist nations , actually existing socialist nations, and I forgot to add Venezuelan, Nicaragua and Bolivia to this list, but they belong there as well, are all experiments. We should be paying attention and learning from their successes and mistakes. And applying those lessons as they apply within our own countries.

Materia ☭ Conditions @Selphplusplus

In Cuba, Castro government, another experiment, the DPRK another experiment, Vietnam, Laos all more experiments on how to build Socialism, and they all have one thing in common. They’ve adopted Marxism Leninism to their own countries’ material conditions.

These are my thoughts on what it means for the United States, And the communists and socialists that live here.

Materia ☭ Conditions @Selphplusplus

The other thing they all have in common, is they have been attacked relentlessly by western neoliberal capitalist geopolitical ambitions. In the US, this guides us to two conclusions.

During WWII, Mao chastised the German and Japanese socialists as defeatists, for not doing more to stop the fascist rise and imperial expansion of the two countries. I’d add that Italy could be added to that list, and Antonio Gramsci wound be in agreement.

Materia ☭ Conditions @Selphplusplus

The other thing they all have in common, is they have been attacked relentlessly by western neoliberal capitalist geopolitical ambitions. In the US, this guides us to two conclusions.

Parenti wrote about patriotism in the proletarian sense as such.

Instructing us in a similar vein, in our own path to build socialism in the US, it’s not the people that are our enemy.

Sure the Superpatriots Parenti defined as the far right wing defenders of empire, are indoctrinated to defend the state despite it being against their material interests—they are not the majority. The majority of Americans are apolitical or non-participants in politics because of their disenchantment with a system that doesn’t work.

Our job is it dismantle and change it for the betterment of the working masses.

Materia ☭ Conditions @Selphplusplus

The absolute best thing American socialist can do, is there a patriotic duty to stop imperialist wars, to stop expansion of western empire, and we do that by fighting for a better republic at home.

Materia ☭ Conditions @Selphplusplus

Parenti, again, making the distinction between the American state and the working masses. Echoing Mao here, “we” are not the state. We are the people who upon awakening mass class consciousness, will dismantle the bourgeois state for populist interests.

Dear Reader,

My work is entirely reader supported, my content is free and will always be free.

One of the biggest way to help spread more independent journalism is by word of mouth, so share it, post it to your social media, subreddits, and sign up for my mailing list so you’ll never miss a post.

If you enjoy reading my work, consider making a donation to keep the lights on. Solidarity, comrades. -Z

The Red Roundtable

A little bit of theory

A little bit of theory In the form of a Twitter thread

Ready for more?