It’s crucial for communists who live in the USA’s rural areas to realize that they can’t wage an equivalent of Mao’s People’s War from their present locations. Trying to do so would be completely counterproductive, no matter how big capitalism’s contradictions become. This is because rural America, from a strategic military standpoint, is dominated by the reactionaries. But this option’s lack of viability merely means we need to search for an option that is viable.
What you do is what any intelligence agent would do: infiltrate and subvert. You need savvy and some psychology, some empathy and acting skills, buts it’s not hard. I grew up in Texas. Half of the time in the Greater Houston Metro, half in the sticks and boondocks. You can’t turn everyone, but the John Brown gun clubs and Redneck Revolt show it’s not impossible. The thing is you turn them one at a time, and you choose who is viable with care. Be mindful always.
In fact, I’d say for some, it’s far easier and safer to operate in rural areas. For one, it’s often harder to set up surveillance in rural areas. For two, federal intelligence agencies have a much stronger bond with local law enforcement in cities. Some pockets of the rural areas, local law enforcement distrusts the feds, too. You just have to know what you’re doing. But making yourself one big surveillance target in a city where the feds have resources and a good working relationship with the locals is bad.
Well said Brian. This was a inspiring read and great analysis. Found it on Reddit and I just crossposted to the Sub, r/SocialismAndCommunism.
I wish there were more writings for Revolutionary Activity for those of us in Rural-majority right wing Christian Nationalist-Areas that are .
I know there is plenty to be done like organizing labor but I wish there was more creative ideas for us stuck here.
I agitate class consciousness everywhere I go, even though my wife hates it. I do what I can, but I can do more IRL praxis instead of all my activity online.
I’m a longtime IT professional who just started writing as a hobby. I am going to try my hand at looking at how other revolutionaries in the past converted, what seemed like, a well entrenched enemy. All this in a area where they are the vast majority.
It’s easy, really. Just don’t go in with your Che tee-shirt waving a black and red flag. Be quiet and observant. People of a class generally share the same interests and needs. Just use whatever rhetoric seems less offensive to them and they’ll be doing praxis and not even realize it.
Yea I usually don’t mention anything other than class and usually try and connect their trauma or oppression to class or if they have had similar trauma as me I use that line. I guess I just wish there was more er
The thing a lot of people who weaponized ideology make is in painting them as all the same. They’re all Christian nationalist, they’re all conservative. Well, no, no they all aren’t. A lot are just working class people. Lots of libertarians who I, as an anarchist, can find common ground with. You don’t have to be fake or manipulative at all, just don’t air all of your knowledge because there are deeply held beliefs that they won’t want to have disturbed, but there are other angles and they’re not stupid. Most are just afraid.
What you do is what any intelligence agent would do: infiltrate and subvert. You need savvy and some psychology, some empathy and acting skills, buts it’s not hard. I grew up in Texas. Half of the time in the Greater Houston Metro, half in the sticks and boondocks. You can’t turn everyone, but the John Brown gun clubs and Redneck Revolt show it’s not impossible. The thing is you turn them one at a time, and you choose who is viable with care. Be mindful always.
The goal isn’t to grow numbers. I mean you do when it’s safe, but it largely isn’t. But you can make cells.
In fact, I’d say for some, it’s far easier and safer to operate in rural areas. For one, it’s often harder to set up surveillance in rural areas. For two, federal intelligence agencies have a much stronger bond with local law enforcement in cities. Some pockets of the rural areas, local law enforcement distrusts the feds, too. You just have to know what you’re doing. But making yourself one big surveillance target in a city where the feds have resources and a good working relationship with the locals is bad.
Well said Brian. This was a inspiring read and great analysis. Found it on Reddit and I just crossposted to the Sub, r/SocialismAndCommunism.
I wish there were more writings for Revolutionary Activity for those of us in Rural-majority right wing Christian Nationalist-Areas that are .
I know there is plenty to be done like organizing labor but I wish there was more creative ideas for us stuck here.
I agitate class consciousness everywhere I go, even though my wife hates it. I do what I can, but I can do more IRL praxis instead of all my activity online.
I’m a longtime IT professional who just started writing as a hobby. I am going to try my hand at looking at how other revolutionaries in the past converted, what seemed like, a well entrenched enemy. All this in a area where they are the vast majority.
It’s easy, really. Just don’t go in with your Che tee-shirt waving a black and red flag. Be quiet and observant. People of a class generally share the same interests and needs. Just use whatever rhetoric seems less offensive to them and they’ll be doing praxis and not even realize it.
Yea I usually don’t mention anything other than class and usually try and connect their trauma or oppression to class or if they have had similar trauma as me I use that line. I guess I just wish there was more er
The thing a lot of people who weaponized ideology make is in painting them as all the same. They’re all Christian nationalist, they’re all conservative. Well, no, no they all aren’t. A lot are just working class people. Lots of libertarians who I, as an anarchist, can find common ground with. You don’t have to be fake or manipulative at all, just don’t air all of your knowledge because there are deeply held beliefs that they won’t want to have disturbed, but there are other angles and they’re not stupid. Most are just afraid.