LOS ANGELES (US), Nov. 18 – Sixty members and friends of ICWP celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution with a half-day conference and dinner. We were a multi-racial group of women and men of all ages, long-time comrades and new friends, including groups of transit workers and high school students. The frank and lively workshop discussions raised many questions that will keep us talking for a long time.
The opening session featured greetings from South Africa, the poem “Good Morning Revolution” (recited by four high school students) and the singing of the Internationale, led by a group of workers. A garment worker comrade gave the main speech – his first! He spoke passionately about what the Russian Revolution means for workers today.
We then broke into three groups. (See reports from the Discussion Group Leaders, to the right). The conversations didn’t end when they were supposed to because everyone wanted to keep talking. To the extent that collectives had previously read and discussed Red Flag’s Bolshevik History series, the discussions were very rich. Everyone took home packets of articles to read and study later.
The day ended by breaking bread together. There were more songs and poems. We raffled off two revolutionary posters and four books about Soviet history. The final speaker said,
“We have learned from the Bolsheviks that the masses, organized by their communist party, can destroy the bosses’ state power and defeat their armies – sometimes from within.
“We get it now that the Bolsheviks didn’t think enough about how they would lead society. That’s what we’re preparing to do. Not only to take power into the hands of the masses but to organize communist society. That’s why we need to get more practice in talking to people about communism. In mobilizing them for communism.”
Some Party collectives did well in preparing for the event and bringing friends. Others which were less successful are figuring out how to mobilize more workers and youth for May Day. The organization and functioning of the Party collectives is key.
A young worker comrade concluded, “The dinner and further discussions we had were rich and encouraging for a communist future.”
Discussion Leaders Report:
Group 1: Why We Need the Party
Our group started by discussing how this anniversary is commemorated around the world. Since Russia has shifted over the decades into an openly capitalist state, it wasn’t celebrated there. But a few older people still carry the memories of the past.
We also discussed the power of the workers through current events. Mexico’s earthquakes devastated the country and claimed many lives, one comrade said. Another pointed out that when the buildings started to collapse “people ran towards them instead of away” to help people who were buried under the rubble. This provided a clear example of the self-reliance of the working class when the government fails them.
We elaborated on the importance of communist workers’ power and being in the party. The party is central in organizing, planning and carrying out actions. We need organization before anything. We closed our discussion with great hope, talking about how things will be once we take state power.
Group 2: Communist Workers’ Power
Comrades shared ideas on why ICWP fights for communism, not socialism. Analyzing the failures of the Bolsheviks after the revolution, we decided that socialism leaves too many remnants which make capitalism so volatile, mainly the wage system. A comrade who previously lived in a socialist state attested that socialist society pretended as being equal but workers could clearly still see the divisions in labor. You would call someone a “comrade” but you knew they were your supervisor and made more money.
Then we discussed what it means to take state power. One comrade associated the word “power” with a negative connotation and wondered if we should use the word. There were people on both sides.
Near the end a comrade expressed concern at not seeing our party make progress. They felt they always saw the same faces and discussed the same topics. Another comrade said that we should not measure our success just by turnout at big events. We should focus on the success of Red Flag and the growth of the party around the world, including South Africa and India.
Group 3: Resolving Contradictions in Communist Society
Building communist liberated areas will require the mobilization of millions to create a society where money is not used. The leadership of the revolution will come from the Party. The masses’ initiative will be the key to resolving contradictions among the masses. In creating the new communist society, the needs of people will be put first. The ideals of the revolution must lead the masses in their day to day work. The Party must provide the example and the guidance for success. How do we figure out what the masses want and need? By the Party and the masses, through discussion, criticism and debate. By listening to the masses and recruiting the most vigilant into the Party.
One thing I learned was that it is important to learn from the history of the struggles of the working class so that we draw the necessary conclusion so that we can win.
Front page of this issue
