I Can't Believe It's Not An Anarchist Manifesto!

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#1
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Ceannairc
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Joined: 6-04-04
Apr 7 2004 12:00
I Can't Believe It's Not An Anarchist Manifesto!

OK I guess this goes here...

Me and some friends of mine have knocked this little article together:

http://www.geocities.com/ensightingthoughts/festo.html

you can also download it in .rtf format from the same site (32kb)

Its aim is simple: to explain OUR view of anarchism from the very basics to anyone who is interested. We know that lots of people will disagree with our stance on some things, so if you want to give feedback, please do so here so we can discuss it. Hope you like it.

P.s. check out the rest of the site while you're there cos it's pretty good and a good place to put up essays and shit.

#2
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AlexA
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Apr 7 2004 12:43

Hmmm interesting.

I disagree with quite a lot of it I'm afraid! But am at work so can go into more detail later... I spose my biggest problem with it is that I don't think it has much connection with reality you know?

I mean for me anarchism has come from the living struggle of hundreds of millions of people for hundreds of years. From these struggles we can see the embryonic free society - cos they appear again and again throughout history: workers' and community councils, recallable delegates etc.. And we can also see how to get there - by mass direct action, sabotage, strikes etc.

Your article doesn't really seem to even mention that I feel... it kind of intellectualises the whole concept and turns it into a rigid dogme that it's our duty as "enlightened" anarchists to educate the masses into doing. When really all anarchist theory has come from the actions of ordinary people anyway. I don't think we have to teach anyone anything you know? Just try to act as catalysts, push struggles forward, argue for tried and tested methods people have developed in the past etc.

That's what I think, anyway - but still good on you anyway smile

One thing I don't get is the "ensighting thoughts" name - am I missing something?

#3
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Anonymous
Apr 7 2004 13:06
alexa wrote:
One thing I don't get is the "ensighting thoughts" name - am I missing something?

Probably not. It was based on Ensight Recordings, which existed for all of about a week and released 2 completely legal and authorised wink compilations of political music. The name was a cross between "encite" and "insight". A bit sad, I know, but there you have it...

...the rest I'll respond to in good time. All I really want is for people to read it so thanks for reading!

#4
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Jacques Roux's picture
Jacques Roux
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Apr 7 2004 13:12

Ceannairc you got some good ideas in there, but yeah alexa makes some important points. Its great you got off your ass and decided to explore your ideas tho smile

Welcome to the boards!

#5
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AlexA
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Apr 7 2004 13:28
Cean wrote:
The name was a cross between "encite" and "insight".

What's "encite"?

Quote:
...the rest I'll respond to in good time. All I really want is for people to read it so thanks for reading!

No worries 8)

#6
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Anonymous
Apr 7 2004 13:43
alexa wrote:

What's "encite"?

sorry I meant incite, just a case of bad spelling all round. embarrassed

#7
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AlexA
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Apr 7 2004 14:21
Anonymous wrote:
alexa wrote:

What's "encite"?

sorry I meant incite, just a case of bad spelling all round. embarrassed

Er, oh dear...

grin

#8
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Ceannairc
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May 5 2004 13:44
alexa wrote:

I mean for me anarchism has come from the living struggle of hundreds of millions of people for hundreds of years. From these struggles we can see the embryonic free society - cos they appear again and again throughout history: workers' and community councils, recallable delegates etc.. And we can also see how to get there - by mass direct action, sabotage, strikes etc.

Your article doesn't really seem to even mention that I feel... it kind of intellectualises the whole concept and turns it into a rigid dogme that it's our duty as "enlightened" anarchists to educate the masses into doing. When really all anarchist theory has come from the actions of ordinary people anyway. I don't think we have to teach anyone anything you know? Just try to act as catalysts, push struggles forward, argue for tried and tested methods people have developed in the past etc.

I was waiting for feedback from more people, but I guess it isn't coming

OK, here we go then...

just to bury the issue, the site name came wasn't my idea, so don't blame me!

Well certainly the thing was an intellectual exercise of theorey, but it was meant to be theorey that can be acted upon and doesn't rely on everyone being perfect. If you are going to raise the human nature point, please don't, cos I've heard it everywhere else and and it nobody has ever convinced me on that.

The idea behind the festo, or at least MY idea (and I did do most of it...), was to create a new direction, rather than basing it on what has gone before. Sure groups have formed in the past that are worth something but they were formed out of organisation, not direct action. The action may have been their aim of the time, but those groups could act in other ways and still exist. In fact, despite centuries of riots, strikes and struggles, we still have a class system, we still have a government, we are still slaves to a machine. I'm not saying that there has been no achievement there just not enough, and the system has adapted to make those tactics work against us. Nowadays, most people in the west believe that they are free, because they are told so, and so any rebel movement no longer has that support. I believe that the only way forward is to spread ideas of a better way of living so that people can see the alternative. Ideas and information are now as powerful as revolts were in times past and we HAVE to use them if we are to get anywhere.

Do I consider myself to be "enlightened"? It's not a word I would use, but I believe I have an idea that can (with much time and support) change the world for the better. Parts of this idea already have widespread support, other parts less so. Now, I'm not trying to force my idea onto people, but I'm putting it out there. If people choose to act on it then great, if not then fine as well. Thats life.

got to go now, be back tomorrow...

#9
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Ceannairc
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May 6 2004 11:04

...to say nothing new. That's it really. I'm not sayiong we should educate people by pushing ideas onto them, but I am saying that people should have access to these ideas in detail and should at least be given the opportunity to understand and act on them. If they don't, then thats up to them. The whole thing might fall at the first hurdle. I don't know if it will catch on or not, but you don't know until you try. I think most people accept a system which they don't have to accept, even if they don't much like it. People have lost hope of a better way of living and have taken the megre benefits of capitalist democracy as they best they are going to have. I believe that so much more is possible, but the last thing I want is to try and force people to act on my beliefs. That's all for now..

#10
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ClassWar
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May 6 2004 11:32

Why not finalise your manifest in time for the next general election?

You can then bill it as "the alternative" as compared to all the pasty, crap manifesto's the old parties come up with.

Copies could be distributed at the press conferences launching the Labour/Tory/Lib Dem manifesto's, and abuse given to the politicians.

Just because you are not standing, it does not mean you don't have politics for a better world!

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Lazlo_Woodbine
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May 6 2004 12:44

Shurely:

alexa wrote:
I spose my biggest problem with it is that I don't think it has much connection with *history* you know?

I mean for me anarchism has come from the books I buy from AK Press. From these books we can pretend that we live in the past of some other country. And we can also re-enact those past tactics until we're prematurely middle aged. Just try to act as grumpy old men, push struggles forward, argue and argue and argue...

Mr. T star green black

#12
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Lazlo_Woodbine
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May 7 2004 18:15

Fuck's sake. Who do you have to blow to get an argument round here?

#13
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captainmission
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Joined: 20-09-03
May 7 2004 18:22

yo sound frustrated darling, you want to talk about it? grin

any way if you want arguement then- the new legal social centre in manchester is going to shit all over the sumac centre (and in ways not just metaphorical) angry

#14
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AlexA
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May 8 2004 11:56
Lazlo_Woodbine wrote:
Shurely:
alexa wrote:
I spose my biggest problem with it is that I don't think it has much connection with *history* you know?

I mean for me anarchism has come from the books I buy from AK Press. From these books we can pretend that we live in the past of some other country. And we can also re-enact those past tactics until we're prematurely middle aged. Just try to act as grumpy old men, push struggles forward, argue and argue and argue...

Mr. T star green black

Ho.

Ho.

Ho.

Ho.

roll eyes

You liberal grin

#15
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Lazlo_Woodbine
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May 8 2004 13:21

Boring. Where's Erno when you need him?

#16
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Ceannairc
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May 9 2004 22:15
ClassWar wrote:
Why not finalise your manifest in time for the next general election?

Sounds good to me, tho come the time I may need some help with distro, if anyone is interested...