I have thought about it, and I believe that currently I lack both scientific knowledge and practical experience, and my thinking is also very backward, unable to break free from low-level interests. Therefore, my main task at the moment should be to accumulate strength (thoughts, body, skills, which I call the three preparations), to prepare for the upcoming revolution. We are not yet fully economically independent, and even after achieving economic independence, our revolutionary activities may still face direct or indirect resistance from parents and elders. So I think we must unite now, unite all possible people, not only online but more importantly offline. But at the same time, we must also pay attention to the influence of non-Marxist ideas among the people or groups we unite with. Although the invention of the internet has allowed most people with some understanding of the Chinese revisionism to discuss and exchange ideas online, I think this is not enough because we are not sure whether the people behind the online discussions are spies, petty bourgeoisie, or true Marxists. Personal experiences, family background, and ideological processes can all be fabricated. Only by truly meeting face-to-face with offline people can we really understand them, their groups, and the class they belong to, which is the only way to participate in or establish a truly revolutionary organization or party. This is a daunting task, but someone is already working on it (the Proletarian Liberation Struggle Association is currently the best example I know). But for now, our main task is to accumulate strength, with the phased tasks being economic independence and ideological transformation, because in the short term (a few months or one or two years), we cannot participate in social activities (propaganda and agitation) and have a significant impact. Plus, I am currently in a state of ideological and economic isolation because among the people I have contact with offline, only you have studied Marxist ideas and are striving to become a Marxist. So my idea is to create a form of offline mutual aid because we are currently somewhat aligned in our thoughts and life goals. However, due to our different social statuses (you are a student, I am unemployed), the groups we contact and the dominant ideas within those groups are different. Currently, some internet users and some basic labor groups (referring to workers, students, poor farmers, etc., simple labor groups) tend to only care about their own work, study, and life, and their understanding of other unrelated matters is limited to personal experiences, sharing with those around them, daily communication, or fragments on the internet. Their understanding is superficial, and this is the current situation I (we) face—information is closed off. It seems I (we) can contact many different people from various industries, but in reality, we cannot contact them specifically and frequently; these contacts are superficial. To truly unite, first those with revolutionary ideas and awareness must unite, then within industries, and finally across industries. But the prerequisite is to have a revolutionary organization or party leading (Marx mentioned in the aftermath of the Paris Commune that the working class cannot independently seize state power and needs a revolutionary party to lead). Of course, these are future considerations, sorry for writing too much by accident. In short, my ideas for this mutual aid include: 1. Exchange information (about important matters); 2. Mutual aid in economics (not to be done out of desperation); 3. Mutual aid in spirit (exchange learning, what books have been read, thoughts, trivial matters of life, revolutionary work—if you think it’s appropriate to share, then do so, if not, then don’t). I think the third item is difficult to achieve under my current situation, but I will try my best. These are just spontaneous thoughts, so there may be mistakes. If anything is wrong, please point it out.
This actually has some agnostic implications because a person’s worldview is expressed through their behavior and speech, and those who have grasped Marxism would not be so easily deceived. Therefore, establishing connections online is feasible, and given the current advanced internet, it is also necessary to promote propaganda online.
The development of revolutionary movements is accelerating, and perhaps rapid and drastic changes that seem unimaginable now may soon be realized.
By the way, does Beixi have access to many workers, or what is the situation?
I don’t quite understand what you mean by “tend to care only about their own affairs.” Aren’t many people online spontaneously supporting various victims’ rights campaigns? It doesn’t seem quite appropriate what you said.
It’s hard to say; it probably won’t be so rigid. The current prejudices that limit unity in industries can be investigated.
Why do you say that?
No, I am currently staying at home, and I have very little practical experience in how to contact workers and communicate with them.
What I am talking about here are myself and the people around me and those I come into contact with online. Most of these people have not experienced much oppression, and their family backgrounds are relatively wealthy. They are quite indifferent and numb. I do not exclude people who are advocating for rights, so I added “part” in my statement. When one’s thoughts are not firm enough and their ideological awareness is not high enough, a comfortable environment can easily cause people to slip into the quagmire of small or large bourgeoisie.
Okay, I’ll find time to investigate, but for now I still need to focus on theoretical study because my theoretical literacy, especially in history, is very poor.
The petty bourgeois mentality has led to a free and lax style, and efforts are still being made to overcome it.
Sharing thoughts and feelings shouldn’t be that troublesome, right? It’s not like you can’t find time at home.
I often stay at home and lack practical experience (I haven’t participated much in the three major practical activities), have little Marxist-Leninist foundation (I don’t understand some basic terms and concepts in philosophy and political economy), and lack a foundation in other natural sciences and social sciences. This leads me to not know how to analyze the content of news articles, how to interpret them positively or indirectly reflect other information and society. Sometimes I can’t even understand some professional terms and jargon. Therefore, I currently have no meaningful thoughts to share; what I can produce are only some hollow words and phrases. Additionally, I haven’t fully overcome my petty bourgeois ideas and style, so sharing my thoughts now would be like just filling in the gaps.
Is it possible that the willingness to understand is not strong to begin with, and when encountering difficulties, there is resistance? If you think your ideas are just hollow, it indicates that you haven’t made an effort to learn anything, and your brain is filled with garbage programs, lacking valuable things, which is why there are only hollow words and sentences. There are many world affairs and domestic issues. It might be helpful to ask yourself in the way Lu Xun would ask those who hated and died: how much have I learned and understood during this period? How much do I know about Trump’s attitude towards Ukraine since he took office, about last year’s Korean coup, or about Gaza over the past year… Thinking more will make you realize how much you are lacking, and after recognizing the deficiencies, you need the perseverance to learn and understand, rather than giving up on yourself. Transformation and communication have always been ongoing simultaneously. Your last sentence sounds like: ‘I’m too lazy now, so I won’t say much, I’ll come back after I transform myself in X months.’ Sigh… but in reality, after giving up on oneself, one still remains in the same place. If you truly work hard to transform yourself, various questions will naturally arise. As for the contact with Marxism, it has only been a short while, and she hasn’t worked as a worker for five months like you did. She also has many questions to ask and think about.