LETTERS, CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS
Let us be one, comrades!
I joined ICWP two years ago. When I joined I was aware of communist ideas as I grew up with people who were fighting the government. But I had lost interest in the fight.
When I joined I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. On the other hand I was living a capitalist life. I was selfish, only looked out for me and those who were close to me. I used to use alcohol to forget my problems. If I had food, clothing, and other important basic needs in my house, I would use the rest of the money for alcohol, and cigarettes for my husband.
But as I read the Red Flag and other reading material, I realized that I can get drunk and be happy for that moment but in the morning, my problems were still bigger as I would have a hangover and I would not have the money that I needed for my basic needs anymore.
And as I engaged in struggle with other comrades, I slowly got rid of the habit. And with the criticism from the collective, I admitted that I had a problem and I started criticizing myself. And I am happy to say that I feel like a new person. My comrades have more faith in me now and I am able to do more work for the party and I feel good. I know I’m where I am supposed to be. I am fighting for what is right and what I believe in.
I have also learned to be a team player and to delegate, as I used to want to do everything by myself. I am also able to rely on my fellow comrades for help and for support. I am now in a good space. I am much calmer. My interacting skills have improved as I have been struggling with the masses.
We are not perfect. We all make mistakes. But we need to learn from them and it starts with accepting criticism from fellow comrades and showing remorse for any wrong doing so we can move on.
We have a lot of work ahead of us. Mobilizing the masses all over the world for communism is not a small thing. We need each other and everyone to be alert always. As ICWP soldiers we must carry our weapon, the Red Flag, at all times. Let us be one, comrades, in order to fulfill our dream of a communist society.
Aluta.
—-Comrade in South Africa
Organizing for May Day in South Africa, 2017
Comrade, Study History!
The following is part of an ongoing struggle that a comrade is having with his friend:
Comrade, I do understand your point but what I would advise you is that you must study history so that you can see that we can live without money. We don’t need money to survive. Our black ancestors before 1652, a few centuries ago, lived without money. And even during the 18th century, 2 centuries ago, in this area I believe we were living without money.
So we don’t really need money. We need to distribute what we produce among the people for everyone’s use.
I think, my brother, that you should study history. I know that you have studied engineering, but it doesn’t teach you how to think for yourself. It teaches you how to work for big business.
We workers have many skills. So if we can take the means of production from the bosses, then we can use our skills to produce the products and then distribute them so that all the people can get what we need.
—Another Comrade in South Africa
Thoughts of a Student
I am writing from Mexico. I am a student. One of the things I like to do is read because I consider that knowledge is a powerful weapon. I have been reading some history books about how the peoples in Latin America were abused and exploited.
I have only known about the communist movement for a short time and its objectives interest me. Yes I still have many doubts about how the new system will develop. What I am clear about is that we must continue investigating and looking for solutions to fight oppression of the unprotected and exploited classes.
We must continue advancing as a society and as people, carrying out actions and forming strong bonds of cooperation to destroy the capitalist system that has us subjugated.
I think that there is still a lot to do, but we can’t get discouraged. Let’s continue with firm steps. We must keep in mind that to win the struggle, we have to know the capitalist system and we have to know the communist system, to have a clear idea of the actions that we must carry out.
—Greetings from Mexico
Red Flag in the mountains in the south of Mexico
Mutual Aid
I think that the ICWP needs to take the question of mutual aid more seriously. Mutual aid (as opposed to competition) is a basic principle of communism and we don’t wait for when we have communism to practice it. But I think the ICWP could do a better, more organized, job.
Recently two comrades got into a jam – one suffered a sudden serious illness and her husband was confronted with caring for his partner while working and carrying out party activities. Luckily family and friends (including political friends and comrades) pitched in and the situation was difficult but manageable.
However the comrade husband was critical and self-critical about the way the party responded to this situation and others like it in the past. Other comrades agreed that we can learn from this situation. But how?
I suggest the ICWP organize something formal. I’m not sure what form it should take – a help line, a rescue squad, or a mutual aid ‘officer’. We’ll have to experiment. But everyone in and around the ICWP should know that our party is ready to organize people to help in whatever way they can. We could even advertise this ‘service’ in Red Flag.
Workers like to help each other. I’ll bet that there are a lot of friends who don’t usually come to meetings and other events but would be eager to help out fellow workers in trouble. We should organize them in the name of the ICWP and let everyone know that we are practicing communist mutual aid. For example, when we go to someone’s house we should bring Red Flags and pamphlets.
Obviously, we won’t help only ICWP members. We should help friends (political and/or social) family, even workers who don’t know us very well. Helping or being helped is a good way to get to know us.
Of course we should always make it clear that mutual aid under capitalism is no substitute for communism. But we don’t have to wait to practice what we preach.
—Comrade in Canada
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