This is a great guideline for groups to support each other rather than damage each other. I particularly like AA's choice/inability to take a position on outside issues, and I think more people and organizations should ask themselves whether particular political issues are within their scope, and if taking a position is helpful or limiting for the person or organization.
Awesome manifesto! What a great concept. I love the AA Fellowship and love how you frame a socialist movement in the same way. I am a member of the Green Party and interested in local socialist activities, but here in Ireland one may only be a card-carrying member of one political party at any time.
This gave me chills! Seriously, brilliant idea. I really hope you and Clementine pursue the formation of Socialist Montreal, and that its success provides a model that can be adopted in other areas. Portland, OR for example would greatly benefit from this kind of an organizational structure for some of its political/social justice groups. The infighting there is catastrophic to so many well- meaning but ultimately ineffective orgs.
Good read. I'm with you on much of this- it reminds me of Sarah Schulman's discussions about what worked about Act Up! back in the day: a loose structure, which allowed for plurality and (vehement) disagreement. The methods can be argued about heatedly, but a large mass can take diverging actions, if we agree on but a few simple principles.
If you and Clementine started this, and if the name was more geographically unbounded, I would consider starting a BC chapter ;)
For a poetic and generous interpretation of communist splinter groups and/or publications, have you read Cometbus' zine issue about the now defunct Bay Area publication Iskra (the issue number evades me right now)? The portrait of the shrinking world of obsessive and unbearable passion in hyper-specific sects reminded me so much of that - except perhaps some of the conclusions you reached about it.
This is a great guideline for groups to support each other rather than damage each other. I particularly like AA's choice/inability to take a position on outside issues, and I think more people and organizations should ask themselves whether particular political issues are within their scope, and if taking a position is helpful or limiting for the person or organization.
Awesome manifesto! What a great concept. I love the AA Fellowship and love how you frame a socialist movement in the same way. I am a member of the Green Party and interested in local socialist activities, but here in Ireland one may only be a card-carrying member of one political party at any time.
This gave me chills! Seriously, brilliant idea. I really hope you and Clementine pursue the formation of Socialist Montreal, and that its success provides a model that can be adopted in other areas. Portland, OR for example would greatly benefit from this kind of an organizational structure for some of its political/social justice groups. The infighting there is catastrophic to so many well- meaning but ultimately ineffective orgs.
I like that you kept the Anonymity requirement. This might make it possible for some of my more timid corporate wage slave friends to join.
Good read. I'm with you on much of this- it reminds me of Sarah Schulman's discussions about what worked about Act Up! back in the day: a loose structure, which allowed for plurality and (vehement) disagreement. The methods can be argued about heatedly, but a large mass can take diverging actions, if we agree on but a few simple principles.
If you and Clementine started this, and if the name was more geographically unbounded, I would consider starting a BC chapter ;)
For a poetic and generous interpretation of communist splinter groups and/or publications, have you read Cometbus' zine issue about the now defunct Bay Area publication Iskra (the issue number evades me right now)? The portrait of the shrinking world of obsessive and unbearable passion in hyper-specific sects reminded me so much of that - except perhaps some of the conclusions you reached about it.
Thank you for the read!