Green Anarchism in INACTION!
"Consume less. Share more. Enjoy life."
Derek Wall.
A GREAT GREEN BLOG!
"Consume less. Share more. Enjoy life."
Derek Wall.
A GREAT GREEN BLOG!
A discussion of anarchism with the emphasis on anti-imperialism and green politics, as well as anti-nationalism. To me, anarchism means freedom!
One of my Anarchist Heroes!
Emma Goldman.
If one thinks about it INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY is an inevitable truth of human nature, therefore a politics that does not recognize that will fail.
A politics that has faith in human nature will succeed.
By the way I personally am a wholly NON-VIOLENT libertarian.
Individual autonomy does inevitably exist.
But everything around us in a Consumerist, Capitalist and Authoritarian Society is aimed at dampening and deadening it.
And people seem to need a bit of kick up their individually autonomous arses to get it going!
Particularly in the sense of THINKING for themselves!
This does not mean that we are not also communal and social beings that desire to be altruistic and co-operate. Of course we are. But we need to be set free to fulfill these parts of our nature.
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Emma Goldman and her partner Alexander Berkman were also Greens before the time of Green politics!....
The newspaper that she wrote for was called -
"MOTHER EARTH".
She was an early example of the strong link between Feminism and Green Politics.
Let's face it - ALL nations, countries, armies and wars are ultimately BULLSHIT.
She consistently and indefatigably stuck to that belief in human freedom and in its power to eventually do the right thing.
An inspirational person - apart from the violence.
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I personally am not a doctrinaire anarchist or trapped in the ideology of anarchism.
I see myself as primarily a LIBERTARIAN. Obviously a LEFT LIBERTARIAN.
That means I put the emphasis on individual human freedom, rather than opposition to the state per se.
Anarchists oppose coercion but not voluntary organization.
All coercive and unjustified authority should be questioned.
Tolstoy the Green!
"If the arrangement of society is bad (as ours is), and a small number of people have power over the majority and oppress it, every victory over Nature will inevitably serve only to increase that power and that oppression. This is what is actually happening."
Leonid Tolstoy. 1897.
He could not have improved on it for 2014.
Nature is on the defensive after centuries of assault by humankind.
And yes, the world is still ruled by a minority!
Leonid Tolstoy. 1897.
He could not have improved on it for 2014.
Nature is on the defensive after centuries of assault by humankind.
And yes, the world is still ruled by a minority!
Anarchists for Scottish Independence.
If people are offended by the idea of "taking down the Union Jack", imagine how offended some people are that it exists at all! It is a representation of domination and oppression.
The Saltire of Scotland -
"...is the oldest continuously used sovereign flag in the world, having been in use since AD 832 - or so legend has it."
St. Andrew himself was crucified on an X-shaped cross about 8 hundred years before!
He was executed on one. Simply for being an important Christian.
He requested the X-shaped cross - in Patras in Greece.
Maybe an attraction to the Scots was the fact that it wasn't a Latin Cross - since they would have had elements of Celtic Christianity in their lives in the 9th century!
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ANARCHISTS AGAINST THE UNION JACK!
So if you ask me what I really think about the Union Jack - I say this -
I would rather nail myself to a fucking cross than wear it or fly it! -
Here's a diagram!
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Before any nationalists get too comfy on the sofa, I will get out a little tit bit of info to leaven your puddin.
To wit, the Scots Gaelic word for Scotland is "ALBA" which is very ancient and refers to the color white.
It probably refers to the white chalk Cliffs of Dover - giving us the name Albion, another name for Britain.
Therefore "ALBA" is - in origin - a name for the island of Britain as a whole.
This type of thing points to the silliness of political nationalism!
ALL THE SAME
The Declaration of Arbroath of 1317 is one of the first DEMOCRATIC, ANTI-IMPERIALIST statements of SELF-DETERMINATION in human history and should not be forgotten in this discussion either!
It is a similar document to the American Declaration of Independence, except 400 years before it!
It was presented as a plea for Scotland's freedom to the Pope of the day!
Historically, Scotland after that time sadly had its freedom denied.
I hope that is no longer the case.
The current Pope - for example - seems far more concerned with the Falklands/Malvinas.
Who cares what the Pope thinks anyway?
A great historian and a good man
An unsung English anarchist hero: Joseph McCabe.
His rejection of Catholicism and all religion was the right thing to do.
He was also a good historian and careful scholar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCabe
His rejection of Catholicism and all religion was the right thing to do.
He was also a good historian and careful scholar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCabe
MY CURRENT FILOSOFY FOOTBALL T-SHIRT
ATHEIST HERO -
NUMBER 9
MIKHAIL BAKUNIN
STAR STRIKER! -
Planet Earth F.C.
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NUMBER 9
MIKHAIL BAKUNIN
STAR STRIKER! -
Planet Earth F.C.
The Orange Order has nothing to do with Theology.
The Orange Order has nothing to do with Theology.
Maybe they could have more to do with it!
The Orange Order was founded in Loughgall, Co.Armagh, Ireland in 1797 by the
English Monarchical regime in Ireland.
The Irish Presbyterians of Ireland were specifically and explicitly banned from being members.
Some were associated with a move to secure Irish independence.
The Orange Order was created as part of a policy of divide and rule in the English Empire. Its basic purpose was nothing more than securing the English Empire.
It was - for its first years of existence - "Anglican"-only!
The Anglican landowners only could be members.
One of its ostensible reasons for existence is to -"oppose the errors of "ROMANISM"".
There may well me many of those! (See elsewhere in my blogs).
So I am full of sympathy with this aim of the organization.
In fact, one of its EXPLICIT reasons for existence is "to oppose Roman Catholicism by all legal means." Is that a good reason for existence? Something so negative? Doesn't this lead to oppression of Roman Catholic people? Would such an organization be founded today?
Wouldn't it more legitimate and more acceptable to frame such an organization around what it actually supports?
But in Ireland and elsewhere the real reason for the existence of the Orange Order is to express support for the English Empire.
And specifically the Act of Union with (Northern) Ireland of 1801.
Even today.
If the organization were to be about celebrating a Christian culture and NOT about opposing a specific religion or supporting a specific regime then its existence would be less questionable.
As it can't really disappear overnight, nor should it necessarily, wouldn't it better to reform it in the light of these observations.
"Semper Reformandum" - always reforming. That was a slogan originating in Catholicism. But it should be applied to everything really I think.
I think that because they play good tunes and they are far better at banging drums than many people then perhaps they should be allowed to continue. (Though they nicked most of their tunes of their fellow native Irish).
If it is a Christian organisation - why does it have Union Jacks?
Union Jacks are political - nor religious!
I don't recall their being any Union Jacks in the Bible. Thank God! It's grim enough as it is!
If anything,I would have said Jesus was an anti-imperialist.
One of his quotes is "My Kingdom is not of this world!" which is quite explicit and clear really.
It's obvious anyway that Christianity is not really supposed to be about hating and opposing other people. I would have said it's about loving yourself, your neighbour, the stranger and even loving your enemy!
I propose that each march have a large Orange (the best are probably from Tesco's - "Every Little Helps") at the front. Rather than a Union Jack. Just an idea.
Putting 5 year old children at the front of martial marching bands
waving Union Jacks - what is Christian about that?
Christianity is about the whole world and all humans!
That's why at Christingle - children hold oranges, not national flags!
Anyway, I hope that people are guided by the light of the Christian gospel to a better way of doing things.
I am fully aware that the people in the Orange Order are sincere Christians and I try to bear this in mind in all my reflections.
With best wishes to all,
Citizen Sofa.
Maybe they could have more to do with it!
The Orange Order was founded in Loughgall, Co.Armagh, Ireland in 1797 by the
English Monarchical regime in Ireland.
The Irish Presbyterians of Ireland were specifically and explicitly banned from being members.
Some were associated with a move to secure Irish independence.
The Orange Order was created as part of a policy of divide and rule in the English Empire. Its basic purpose was nothing more than securing the English Empire.
It was - for its first years of existence - "Anglican"-only!
The Anglican landowners only could be members.
One of its ostensible reasons for existence is to -"oppose the errors of "ROMANISM"".
There may well me many of those! (See elsewhere in my blogs).
So I am full of sympathy with this aim of the organization.
In fact, one of its EXPLICIT reasons for existence is "to oppose Roman Catholicism by all legal means." Is that a good reason for existence? Something so negative? Doesn't this lead to oppression of Roman Catholic people? Would such an organization be founded today?
Wouldn't it more legitimate and more acceptable to frame such an organization around what it actually supports?
But in Ireland and elsewhere the real reason for the existence of the Orange Order is to express support for the English Empire.
And specifically the Act of Union with (Northern) Ireland of 1801.
Even today.
If the organization were to be about celebrating a Christian culture and NOT about opposing a specific religion or supporting a specific regime then its existence would be less questionable.
As it can't really disappear overnight, nor should it necessarily, wouldn't it better to reform it in the light of these observations.
"Semper Reformandum" - always reforming. That was a slogan originating in Catholicism. But it should be applied to everything really I think.
I think that because they play good tunes and they are far better at banging drums than many people then perhaps they should be allowed to continue. (Though they nicked most of their tunes of their fellow native Irish).
If it is a Christian organisation - why does it have Union Jacks?
Union Jacks are political - nor religious!
I don't recall their being any Union Jacks in the Bible. Thank God! It's grim enough as it is!
If anything,I would have said Jesus was an anti-imperialist.
One of his quotes is "My Kingdom is not of this world!" which is quite explicit and clear really.
It's obvious anyway that Christianity is not really supposed to be about hating and opposing other people. I would have said it's about loving yourself, your neighbour, the stranger and even loving your enemy!
I propose that each march have a large Orange (the best are probably from Tesco's - "Every Little Helps") at the front. Rather than a Union Jack. Just an idea.
Putting 5 year old children at the front of martial marching bands
waving Union Jacks - what is Christian about that?
Christianity is about the whole world and all humans!
That's why at Christingle - children hold oranges, not national flags!
Anyway, I hope that people are guided by the light of the Christian gospel to a better way of doing things.
I am fully aware that the people in the Orange Order are sincere Christians and I try to bear this in mind in all my reflections.
With best wishes to all,
Citizen Sofa.
"Take Down The Union Jack..."
"Take Down The Union Jack..."
Billy Bragg.
"What Union Jack are you talking about anyway?"
could be asked by
Gerard Winstanley, 1609-1676.
Billy Bragg.
"What Union Jack are you talking about anyway?"
could be asked by
Gerard Winstanley, 1609-1676.
NATIO = I AM BORN
NATION is from the Latin "NASCOR" = TO BE BORN.
We are ALL born.
John HUME (R.I.P.) talked of a "POST-NATIONALIST Europe"!
We are really and truly already living in a POST-NATIONALIST WORLD!
What we sometimes forget is that it could be said that there was a PRE-NATIONALIST Europe and a PRE-NATIONALIST world.
Nationalism is quite recent really!
We are ALL born.
John HUME (R.I.P.) talked of a "POST-NATIONALIST Europe"!
We are really and truly already living in a POST-NATIONALIST WORLD!
What we sometimes forget is that it could be said that there was a PRE-NATIONALIST Europe and a PRE-NATIONALIST world.
Nationalism is quite recent really!
The Only Famous Person I Have Ever Met.
The author of "What is Anarchism?" - the book I have as the backdrop to this blog - is Donald Rooum.
He has the distinction of being The Only Famous Person That I Have Ever Met.
He is an anarchist and an exceptionally good writer and cartoonist. Author of the fantastic Wildcat series.
He may be perplexed to see himself mentioned in the context of the below. Probably not though.
Anarchism is my belief too and this is therefore of course relevant - as hopefully will become clearer still.
He has the distinction of being The Only Famous Person That I Have Ever Met.
He is an anarchist and an exceptionally good writer and cartoonist. Author of the fantastic Wildcat series.
He may be perplexed to see himself mentioned in the context of the below. Probably not though.
Anarchism is my belief too and this is therefore of course relevant - as hopefully will become clearer still.
"Dissident Republicans" and "The Irish Republic".
"Dissident Republicans" and "The Irish Republic".
Dissidents? What?
Are they absurdist playwrights who throw dice and drink vodka - like the Soviet "Dissidents"?
Ireland is a republic. People who are aware of that fact may call themselves Republicans.
Why does "NewSpeak" insist that the only remaining variety are "dissidents"?
Also, take a look in your Atlas. You will find that there is nowhere in the world called "the Irish Republic". Hence the reason why the BBC ever uses this meaningless phrase will always be a mystery.
Peter Taylor - the veteran English journo of The Troubles - is on the telly or radio once again talking about "Dissident Republicans".
If he means people committed to violence - who I personally thoroughly repudiate - why does he not say so?
He is a nearly perfect metafor for the role of the English State in Ireland.
He seems to be an impartial, disinterested arbiter between two recalcitrant warring parties.
And yet the English State is a part of the problem - at least according to one side!
As is the way the problem is reported as "Not England's problem - they are just mad Paddies etc." - when English rule is of course part of the problem there IMO!
-------------------------
An interesting detail is that in the early 70s people like Taylor would interview a chap called Se'an MacStofia'n who was a fanatical "Provo" at the height of the Troubles/War in Ireland.
He gave the air of being a real "hardnut" - the hardest IRA man of them all. And probably was.
But I can't help but find it amusing that he was born in Leytonstone as John Stevenson!
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It cannot be said enuff that the first Irish Republicans in history were English-speaking Protestants from the Belfast and the North (c.1790s).
They were anti-imperialists. They were from a different era of Irish nationalism.
They were the ones who led the ideal of abolishing the differences between Irish people - whatever they may be.
Who is preaching that message now?
...................................
Dissidents? What?
Are they absurdist playwrights who throw dice and drink vodka - like the Soviet "Dissidents"?
Ireland is a republic. People who are aware of that fact may call themselves Republicans.
Why does "NewSpeak" insist that the only remaining variety are "dissidents"?
Also, take a look in your Atlas. You will find that there is nowhere in the world called "the Irish Republic". Hence the reason why the BBC ever uses this meaningless phrase will always be a mystery.
Peter Taylor - the veteran English journo of The Troubles - is on the telly or radio once again talking about "Dissident Republicans".
If he means people committed to violence - who I personally thoroughly repudiate - why does he not say so?
He is a nearly perfect metafor for the role of the English State in Ireland.
He seems to be an impartial, disinterested arbiter between two recalcitrant warring parties.
And yet the English State is a part of the problem - at least according to one side!
As is the way the problem is reported as "Not England's problem - they are just mad Paddies etc." - when English rule is of course part of the problem there IMO!
-------------------------
An interesting detail is that in the early 70s people like Taylor would interview a chap called Se'an MacStofia'n who was a fanatical "Provo" at the height of the Troubles/War in Ireland.
He gave the air of being a real "hardnut" - the hardest IRA man of them all. And probably was.
But I can't help but find it amusing that he was born in Leytonstone as John Stevenson!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It cannot be said enuff that the first Irish Republicans in history were English-speaking Protestants from the Belfast and the North (c.1790s).
They were anti-imperialists. They were from a different era of Irish nationalism.
They were the ones who led the ideal of abolishing the differences between Irish people - whatever they may be.
Who is preaching that message now?
...................................
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