As you have all noticed, this seems to be a point of contention here. This is a good thing, since it means someone will learn something.
Now we seem to be all over the place, with this general area of thought, provoking many questions. Whether or not PatSocs are socially conservative, what is position on social conservatism? Many of us are very young, both in age and ML experience, so an online discussion would be a great learning tool.
- Are socially conservative individuals allowed to be apart of the leftist movement?
- A. Are socially conservative individuals victims of bourgeois propaganda?
-B. If socially conservative people are turned away by the left, where do they go?
-C. How high of a position would a social conservative be allowed in a ML party?
-D. How has or will MLs educate socially conservative folk?
-E. &tc, &tc.
- What exactly is Patriotism?
-A. Does patriotism depend on culture?
-B Is possible for a distinction between patriotism for a country and wanting to abolish the state?
-C. Is patriotism corrupted in the Core?
-D How have post imperialist countries with Communist experiments built patriotism?
-E. &Tc &TC
- Who even are the PatSocs?
-A. If the label is too convuluted, should we make a distinction between Maupin and American exceptionalists?
-B. Who of the leaders do we consider MLs?
-C. Should patriotic socialist be distinct from socialism or is inherent in socialism?
-D. How much do WE even know if PatSocs?
-E. &Tc, &tc
We can look at the USSR and GDR for these questions. Remember the Hammer and Sickel came from somewhere.
Things to look out for about the US:
-It is the imperialist power, AND a settler state.
-Low levels of cultural development
-The culture that is there is taken from marginalized groups.
-Americas are the most propagandized people in the World.
-It is huge and incredibly diverse
More questions about the US could follow:
-Should the US be balkanized? If so how does patriotism be built in balkanized regions?
-How does land back go about? Will indigenous countries emerge, and if so should we reconsider American MLs as different MLs for the Regions in North America.
-If we see different nations and regions in North America how does that affect culture? Is the question of how we view the land a prerequisite to discussing patriotism, is it contradictory to call yourself an American Patriot if you decide to divide up the land until regions?
There is so much potential for deep political for North American based Comrades, this is a rabbit hole I do want to delve into. I’ll cross post this to GZD but I want it mainly on Leftist Infighting.
Edit: spacing issues
The only other Imperial Core countries with communist experiments are the USSR and GDR. The latter became communist right after being Nazis, so it is important to pay attention to how they denazified and educated the people to be more accepting socially. The former, was the first ever socialist state and consequently has to build proletarian culture and patriotism from the ground up, and from within the Core.
One thing Maupin (who I associate with PatSocs) believes in (which I personally don’t) is that the US working class shall take the stars and stripes, and then after the revolution decide to use them or not. This is what Castro said, supposedly, and that seems to be Maupin’s line. I think it is the role of MLs whether in the States as whole, or as an independent region of North America, to build a form of proletarian culture, and to distance from the previous “patriotic” symbols.
USSR was not an imperial core country, it was mostly feudal. GDR is an interesting case, because its the only case in history of a capitalist -> socialist transition. But it only went through that because of its proximity to the USSR, and because the USSR forced through de-nazification.
The thing with the us flag is that most people dont relate it with what it actually means. My country flag has the same problem, its related to the old royal flag, and the lies of the republic, but most people just think of it as an simbol of our gold, our sea and our forests. Lots of people say we reapropriated the flag, maybe its true, but i still think that using a flag without knowing what it trully represents is a bit ignorant, or idealist. Also both the US and our flag are soooo ugly, we can keep the colours but please throw the design on the garbage.
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I know right?! Body count of colonies, literally!
My idea for a flag in the Midwestern region where I am based is: Brown background, with GDR type wheat arcs around the center piece. Here is a simplified profile of a rooster’s bust. White head and neck facing towards the right, beak’s yellow matching the wheat, and finally a massive red crest with it’s top completing the subconscious circle from the wheat.
I don’t think the flag is really that important of a symbol to alienate potentially several allies in the working class. Is it worth losing out on support just because of a piece of cloth?