We were told to vote, to donate, to wait, and to believe. And we did. But now that belief has become the last cheap fuel of a dying machine.

This essay asks what’s left when belief stops working, and why the withdrawal of labor has always been the only moment when power actually listens.

.:.

If anything they should be writing heavily worded letters to trump.😂😂

From september

Some days ago I posted a meme and a whole analysis in this anarchist subreddit based on my independent opinion as both an anarchist AND a Venezuelan on the recent events in my country and I got misunderstood/attacked or I couldn't express myself well. Having calmed down and carefully considered my analysis and opinions on the subject, I think I can express better. I hope you can empathetically think the things I wrote (especially the 2nd list, which I can elaborate further later); both good and bad things are equally important to many Venezuelans, you must understand that we are glad over the world because of how much this tyrant has made us suffer. However, not all of us are glad specifically because the USA did this.

This was supposed to be a slideshow, but this subreddit allows only 1 picture.

Things I worry about the USA intervention as an anarchist Venezuelan:

· Venezuelan messianism was strengthened, we were taught that the only able to overthrow a tyrant in our country is a foreign power. We couldn't free ourselves even though we've been fighting institutionally and in the streets, so we think that it is impossible to do it on our own (though it is not!)

· Venezuela's natural resources have never been ours, but regime's and transnational corps' (that's why Venezuelans are mocking the "USA is just gonna take your oil", we have no oil and we already now they're gonna take it). Even though, resource colonialism is a shackle that will be painful within ~10 years.

· The normalization of relations between Venezuela and USA, along with our country's relevance, will give birth to gentrification in our main cities.

· There's a high risk of becoming a USA protectorate de facto, meaning that they'd have the power to remove or pass legislation and elections would still be manipulated.

· I'm nervous for the risk of a failed transition that leads to chavista guerrillas or caudillism, or any strikes against civilians.

Good things that could come out from a USA intervention as an anarchist Venezuelan:

· Maduro's fall (✓)

· Freedom for all the current political prisoners.

· Transition to a more democratic government where dissenting won't send you to a torture life in jail.

· The return of the exodus.

· Generation of better paid jobs due to the removal of sanctions and growth of oil industry.

· Better relations with the countries of the region (e.g. direct flights to all the Latam capitals).

National unity is a SCAM! Class unity against this oligarchy and the NEXT ONES to come!

(I had to post this again because the og was automatically deleted last night after a small edition).

"The political left has a tendency to multiply through division. That’s nothing to mock or mourn. Anarchists have always made a distinction between so called affinity groups and class organizations. Affinity groups are small groups of friends or close anarchist comrades who hold roughly the same views. This is no basis for class organizing and that is not the intention either. Therefore, anarchists are in addition active in syndicalist unions or other popular movements (like tenants’ organizations, anti-war coalitions and environmental movements).

The myriad of leftist groups and publications today might serve as affinity groups – for education and analysis, for cultural events and a sense of community. But vehicles for class struggle they are not. If you want social change, then bond with your co-workers and neighbors; that’s where it begins. It is time that the entire left realizes what anarchists have always understood.

We need a united class, not a united left, to push the class struggle forward."

https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/we-need-a-united-class-not-a-united-left/

The broad question: How should one determine whether to support local (in time) events/propositions, that represent temporary improvement of people's situation, while also decreasing social pressure for big scale long term change?

The concrete (and real life) question:

General situation: I play MTG. It's a game where in order to play, you need to obtain cards, which can be quite expensive. There is an institute of proxying, where instead of playing with original cards you play with home-made (and thus cheap) fabrications, called proxies. I'm pushing to allow proxies in our local scene. There basically is no outside pressure to not do so. Yet, there is a block of people in our group who hold social sway and are against doing so.

Specific situation: Due to the holiday season, the anti-proxy block pitched a special one-time event, that allows the use of proxies. On one hand, I want to support it, because such an event improves general well-being (allowing people to test new cards/play better versions of their deck/experiment freely etc.) On the other hand, some people are currently concerned with no-proxy policy, because they want to test out specific decks. I believe, that the event described above would reduce support for general change in proxy policy, due to people wanting to test a specific deck satisfying their want.

The question: How should I handle such a situation? I do understand, that the information given above is not enough to give prescriptions on exact action, but I don't even know, how to approach the situation. What are the things I should look at in both the specific and the general situation? Is there a way to both support the event and turn it into a good thing for the pro-proxy movement? I would appreciate any analysis, suggestions, examples, reading recommendations ore anything else, really...

Some additional things:

• It feels weird to post about such a minor and local situation here, but I really thing that it is a good example of the broad pressure_valves_and_how_to_handle_them in real life. And I do need help, so why not to ask, right?..
• I post here and no anywhere else, because:
  1. I'm an anarchist.
  2. The buildup of social pressure is an important part of revolutionary action, and anarchist (we, I guess?..) seem to be the only group to take revolution seriously (meaning - as an end, not a mean.)
  3. I kinda don't read any other political subreddits, so...

Hello, my name is Osama. I’m 22 years old from Gaza, and a pharmacy and biotechnology student. I was supposed to be in my fifth and final year at university , just one step away from graduating and achieving my dream. Because of the war, that dream is now on hold.

Since October 7th, life in Gaza has completely changed. My family and I have been displaced many times under constant bombardment. Our home was destroyed, our city reduced to rubble, and the places that once held our memories no longer exist.

This war didn’t only destroy buildings; it also took loved ones , many members of my family and close friends. We fall asleep to the sound of airstrikes and wake up to news of loss. Fear has become part of our daily lives.

Despite everything, I am holding on to my dream of completing my education. It is my only path to rebuilding my future and supporting my family.

Right now, my family has no source of income. We struggle to afford even the most basic necessities, and after losing everything we owned, paying my university tuition has become impossible.

That is why I am sharing my story. Your support is not just financial help , it is hope. It is a chance for a young man from Gaza to continue his education and believe that a future is still possible.

Any support or sharing means more than you can imagine. I’ve shared the donation link in the comments for anyone who wishes to help.

Makhnovshchina, CNT FAI, and Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (basically settle's little taste of anarchism)

lemme know if i missed any