I used to be friends with a liberal, but he became a Marxist. Still close friends and reading Marxist texts together in a book club. I know it’s very rare, but it can happen. I had plenty less good experiences too. Another friend that I had a huge argument over Palestine with over a year ago became at least way more left and they recently apologized to me telling me I was right from the start.
I don’t think it’s even that rare, it’s just that it’s a process for most people, not something that happens overnight. Which includes people who consider themselves marxist, communist, etc.; declaring yourself to be one doesn’t immediately get rid of all pre-existing bougie schools of thought from your mind. I always think of Stalin talking about the USSR having self-crit. Or Mao’s stuff like Oppose Book Worship.
If we understand ourselves as existing in many possible stages, with a process to transition from one to another, I think it’s easier to see why it’s both feasible to educate someone away from liberalism to communism and is also likely going to take time to get there.
I used to be friends with a liberal, but he became a Marxist. Still close friends and reading Marxist texts together in a book club. I know it’s very rare, but it can happen. I had plenty less good experiences too. Another friend that I had a huge argument over Palestine with over a year ago became at least way more left and they recently apologized to me telling me I was right from the start.
I don’t think it’s even that rare, it’s just that it’s a process for most people, not something that happens overnight. Which includes people who consider themselves marxist, communist, etc.; declaring yourself to be one doesn’t immediately get rid of all pre-existing bougie schools of thought from your mind. I always think of Stalin talking about the USSR having self-crit. Or Mao’s stuff like Oppose Book Worship.
If we understand ourselves as existing in many possible stages, with a process to transition from one to another, I think it’s easier to see why it’s both feasible to educate someone away from liberalism to communism and is also likely going to take time to get there.
Yes, that’s true, thank you
Thank you for what you do in educating others.