Lefty Memes
An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of the "ML" influence of instances like lemmy.ml and lemmygrad. This is a place for undogmatic shitposting and memes from a progressive, anti-capitalist and truly anti-imperialist perspective, regardless of specific ideology.
Serious posts, news, and discussion go in c/Socialism.
If you are new to socialism, you can ask questions and find resources over on c/Socialism101.
Please don't forget to help keep this community clean by reporting rule violations, updooting good contributions and downdooting those of low-quality!
Rules
0. Only post socialist memes
That refers to funny image macros and means that generally videos and screenshots are not allowed. Exceptions include explicitly humorous and short videos, as well as (social media) screenshots depicting a funny situation, joke, or joke picture relating to socialist movements, theory, societal issues, or political opponents. Examples would be the classic case of humorous Tumblr or Twitter posts/threads. (and no, agitprop text does not count as a meme)
1. Socialist Unity in the form of mutual respect and good faith interactions is enforced here
Try to keep an open mind, other schools of thought may offer points of view and analyses you haven't considered yet. Also: This is not a place for the Idealism vs. Materialism or rather Anarchism vs. Marxism debate(s), for that please visit c/AnarchismVsMarxism.
2. Anti-Imperialism means recognizing capitalist states like Russia and China as such
That means condemning (their) imperialism, even if it is of the "anti-USA" flavor.
3. No liberalism, (right-wing) revisionism or reactionaries.
That includes so called: Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism, Dengism, Market Socialism, Patriotic Socialism, National Bolshevism, Anarcho-Capitalism etc. . Anti-Socialist people and content have no place here, as well as the variety of "Marxist"-"Leninists" seen on lemmygrad and more specifically GenZedong (actual ML's are welcome as long as they agree to the rules and don't just copy paste/larp about stuff from a hundred years ago).
4. No Bigotry.
The only dangerous minority is the rich.
5. Don't demonize previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.
We must constructively learn from their mistakes, while acknowledging their achievements and recognizing when they have strayed away from socialist principles.
(if you are reading the rules to apply for modding this community, mention "Mantic Minotaur" when answering question 2)
6. Don't idolize/glorify previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.
Notable achievements in all spheres of society were made by various socialist/people's/democratic republics around the world. Mistakes, however, were made as well: bureaucratic castes of parasitic elites - as well as reactionary cults of personality - were established, many things were mismanaged and prejudice and bigotry sometimes replaced internationalism and progressiveness.
- Absolutely no posts or comments meant to relativize(/apologize for), advocate, promote or defend:
- Racism
- Sexism
- Queerphobia
- Ableism
- Classism
- Rape or assault
- Genocide/ethnic cleansing or (mass) deportations
- Fascism
- (National) chauvinism
- Orientalism
- Colonialism or Imperialism (and their neo- counterparts)
- Zionism
- Religious fundamentalism of any kind
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Stop over reacting, this is your mental health, no one else is having this strong of a reaction, you're not seeing reality, you're a black American not an immigrant so you're safe, other minorities are not afraid, what makes you so special that you think you're a target?
I've spent the last week being told these things and more by people who have admitted they're unafraid because they're white. These same people that I thought had my back and said they understood for the last 20 years. I'm literally questioning if I should prepare for the worst without my family or check myself into a mental hospital because everyone around me is telling me to wait and see what the white nationalists do. There is no imminent threat to myself.
This whole scenario is solidifying my belief that we're just alone in the world and if you're dark skinned no one is going to protect you here. My white family members and friends are calling me one of the good ones every fucking day but think because of different wording it doesn't mean the same goddamn thing. I'm so fucking pissed and disaappinted. I'm waiting to die or get arrested while everyone else is going to Starbucks and talking about future vacation plans.
F U C K T H I S.
I'm white, but also trans. Currently preparing to move across country to a state where I hope to maintain some rights.
I'm privileged enough to be able to do that, but I also am aware that my job may be at risk with everything going on. This last week has me anxious enough that my ADHD medication is barely doing anything to help me focus on most tasks.
It's the same shit MLK said about the white moderate. Anyone fine and comfy is perfectly OK with other people being denied rights because doing something to fix it means upsetting the status quo and stuff might end up a bit harder for them.
Meanwhile, so many people getting deported means we are about to enter in a massive food shortage and price hike that will effect them. But they will rationalize like they always do that this wasn't something they could have forseen desire the rest of us telling them exactly what was going to happen.
For fuck sake, there were people like that who basically claimed we were crazy for quoting the shit trump said he was going to do. Saying it was hyperbole. Like Trump even knows what that is.
I'm Jewish. I've told my family for years, especially the young ones, "we're always second. When they get through the people that don't look like them, they'll come for us, who look like them but somehow aren't"
They still look at me like I'm crazy... For now. I hope they continue to
Not only am I Jewish too, I'm clergy. I'm very publicly Jewish. My wife thought I was nuts for some time when I told her we have to have an exit plan, but then realized we need it to be safe. I'm more worried about members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community than I am about us, but I know that the Nazis will come for us too.
That's truly awful, I'm sorry you're having to find out who your friends and even family really are, and mostly, that they're getting you to doubt yourself so deeply.
Trust your gut. These people are telling you who they are, listen. Don't put your life in their hands.
I know it sounds impossible, or at least very difficult, but try and find or create a community of people who don't do that shit to you, who share your fears, or at the very least don't prioritise their own feelings and dismiss yours because they personally don't experience that kind of oppression and can see how absolutely terrifying the world is for marginalised people right now, and who are willing and ready to act in defence of one another and marginalised people at large.
You are not alone, and your fears are valid and well founded
There are many others like you out there, but they're probably just as scared as you are to reach out because they're getting the same shit from the privileged people in their lives, and are also doubting themselves and thinking they're alone too.
This is the time to find our people, support each other, build community, and resist. It is our only option.
Solidarity from the UK, stay safe friend.
Hey sibling.
I'm a trans person and I feel every word of this.
Hey! I'm really sorry you're going through this. It's devestating.
Thanks. 🫂