FIGHT FOR COMMUNISM!
	International Communist Workers Party
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SEATTLE, WA —Soon after a comrade returned from the successful ICWP conference in South Africa, we hosted a festive gathering at our home. It was a good way to get together with an integrated group of friends, neighbors and co-workers who have been curious about the struggle in Africa, and about communism and what it means.
For some of our guests this was the first social event they have attended that so prominently discussed communism. Not only did they not freak out, but they invited us to their homes to continue the conversation with more of their friends, family and their co-workers. Some people took our paper, Red Flag, for the first time. Others called the next day to say how much they liked the conversation and how inspiring the struggle was.
First the comrade showed some great pictures of the workers and their families who participated in the conference. He talked about the history of the movement generally, and  about the specific experiences of many new ICWP members.
Some are seasoned fighters who were once in the ANC and the South African Communist Party. Some are their children who cannot support their families because of itinerant work with abysmal wages. And some are young students who are angry because they cannot afford the increase in university fees.  The promises of the post-apartheid government are not coming true.
We realize that now is a moment in history…when workers want to know how an alternate communist world would work. Capitalism clearly does not work for us, no matter who is elected. In the past, we made a big mistake by not talking about how communism would work, causing some good people to drift away from the party.
Suddenly the conversation in our living room took off! One young man asked if it was possible for workers to manufacture a plane that could be as good as what Boeing builds now. More people joined in, wondering how people’s way of thinking and attitudes could change.
“Some people get gratification from what they can buy, others from what helps the most people. How could communism deal with these competing perspectives?” asked a high school student.
Capitalism organizes society to support production for profit. The profit system requires the bosses to super-exploit sections of the working class: even more so in this era of economic crisis. Racism, sexism, and imperialism are all a byproduct of the wage system, the material basis of our society.
Under communism, we would produce for the common good. The material basis will change. “So you say we could change the whole morality of the society,” concluded our high school friend.
“Yes, by changing the material basis with a revolution and then a big prolonged struggle against old capitalist ways of thinking, culture and organization,” answered a comrade.
“These communist ideas did not just spring out of our heads,” he continued. “Many before us have lived in a society without wages.”
We talked about the Chinese Red Army. Later we talked about aspects of war communism immediately after the Russian revolution, and experiments during the Cultural Revolution. These attempts were eventually sabotaged by the old communist movement’s strategy of “socialism first” but there is a treasure trove of experience there we can build on. 
After a short break to grab some coffee, a teacher told us about a struggle at Sealth H.S.
Some students in the Black Student Union wanted to start a campaign against the increasing racist violence against Muslim youth. But when they put up posters, the Principal had them torn down (more next issue). Once again the question is raised:  How would communism deal with racist attacks?
Lastly, someone asked how we managed to organize this conference. After all, we didn’t have any well-heeled sponsors like a non-profit or a church. This brought up the role of the party and the potential of masses mobilizing for communism--now and after the revolution.
… And the immediate need for workers to help in every way, including financially. In the next few months, we’ll need help printing the paper in South Africa and raising the money to send a contingent to the Los Angeles May Day march.
“I haven’t figured all this out,” admitted the young man who asked all the questions, referring to the afternoon’s discussion. He was, however, ready to tackle the problem. He took a book about the experiences of young comrades immediately after the Russian revolution.
“OK, I’ll read this and write a letter to Red Flag on how I think communism could succeed.” Communism really spiced up the holiday season for all of us this year.

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