Update to Readers:
Setting the Record Straight on the Real Experience of Communist Revolution
May 1, 2013 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
We live in times when the world cries out for revolution. Yet, as Raymond Lotta put it in a speech, “Everything You've Been Told About Communism Is Wrong: Capitalism Is a Failure, Revolution Is the Solution,” “It is as though a warning label were affixed to the discourse on human possibility. Danger: anything that fundamentally challenges capitalism is at best a pipe dream and at worst an unworkable utopia imposed from above that will result in nightmare.”
This wrong “verdict” sits like a ton of bricks on the backs of all who dream of, or should be dreaming of and fighting for a world without oppression. The real story is that in the 20th century, the first socialist societies were forged out of monumental revolutions. The wretched of the earth rose up and seized state power, first in the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1956, and then in China from 1949 to 1976. These were the first attempts in modern history to create societies free from exploitation and oppression—socialism. And the experience of these revolutions actually showed that world does not have to be this way. Building on that experience, with the new synthesis of communist revolution, humanity can go even further and do even better in a new wave of revolution.
Early this year, we issued a call to readers to volunteer to work on a special issue of Revolution that will “boldly project the truth of what was accomplished in the first socialist revolutions, refuting the lies that spew out constantly about communism, and speak to how we can do better in the next stage of communist revolution.” Volunteers who responded to that call have contributed important insights, suggestions, and research.
Through that process, our understanding of the need for this issue, the questions it needs to address deeply, and the audience for this have sharpened—particularly in light of the challenge posed by Bob Avakian in the aftermath of the premieres of the film Revolution—Nothing Less!: THIS MOVEMENT FOR REVOLUTION MUST NOW BECOME A REAL FORCE, POWERFULLY IMPACTING AND INFLUENCING ALL OF SOCIETY.” In order for that to happen, this movement must have the ideological tools to dive into “all of society” to take on and refute the lies and distortions of the experience of communist revolution, and reframe the whole conversation over whether or not capitalism represents the “end of history” and the best humanity can do.
Initially planned for winter, the special issue of Revolution is now scheduled to be posted online (with a print edition as well) this fall—timed to connect with students entering or returning to school, as well as being a resource to use in the inner cities and other communities, and—in the print version—in prisons.
Between now and this fall, Revolution will be posting material that begins to bring to light the truth about the experience of communist revolution. The edited version of Raymond Lotta’s speech “Everything You've Been Told About Communism Is Wrong: Capitalism Is a Failure, Revolution Is the Solution” is available at revcom.us and is being serialized in print. And Revolution reposted the quiz “You Think Communism is a Good Idea but Doesn't Work? Take This Quiz and Think Again.”
There is much work to do between now and when the special issue comes out in the fall. What we are identifying is that it is going to take a lot of work, mostly political work, to produce an issue with the necessary ideological impact. So, if you have been working on this issue, please check in right away and let us know where things are at with projects you’re working on. Or contact us and join the process now. There is something for everyone to do. And, continue to send insights, ideas, suggestions on the overall conception of the issue, including what we need to address in a main article, and how we should address it.
We’ll be in touch. And we need to hear from you.
And we encourage all readers to study the edited speech and the quiz, to begin to circulate them, and send your thoughts, suggestions, disagreements or questions to feed into ongoing coverage of the experience of communist revolution, and the special issue that will come out in the fall.
To correspond on and contribute to the special issue, email: strs.revcom@gmail.com. Or write to RCP Publications, PO Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 60654 ATTN: STRS issue.
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