Does one have to be an iconoclast or revolutionary these days to be validly left? I consider myself to be left of center, and very much in favor of progressive policies. (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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However I find myself being disagreed with quite often, mostly for not advocating or cheering violence, "by any means possible" change, or revolutionary tactics. It would seem that I'm not viewed as authentically holding my view unless I advocate extreme, violent, or radical action to accomplish it.

Those seem like two different things to me.

Edit: TO COMMUNISTS, ANARCHISTS, OR ANYONE ELSE CALLING FOR THE OVERTHROW OF SOCIETY

THIS OBVIOUSLY ISN'T MEANT FOR YOU.

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[-] nephs@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 3 months ago

We're not advocating violence. Your premise is wrong.

But we know our adversaries commonly use violence, so we're aware it exists, and we know we have to prepare for it.

Are colonialist governments not violent? How do you remove from office a government that commits violence against their people, en masse, to destroy their land with mining operations?

Concrete example: how would the Congolese vote the French out, when anyone organising peacefully against the French is assassinated?

The point is not violence. But it would be naive to ignore the violence of our adversaries.

this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2024

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