Living in the States has me genuinely frightened. I’m not so naive as to suppose it’s not always been rough, but it’s clear we’ve entered a qualitatively different era. The moderate wing of fascism has died, and barbarism is all that remains.

I want to fight back in a substantive way, even if it’s small. I want to participate in institutions which protect the vulnerable, myself included. I don’t want to lock my doors and peek out the windows, but I know better than to engage in adventurist, individual “resistance.” I also don’t want to be in a social club where we sit and congratulate each other on having the right opinions. I’m past wanting to be on the “right side of history,” where I content myself with personally disagreeing with the nightmare we live in. Something needs to be done; the window for taking action is swinging shut.

I have almost no experience in organizing. I’ve attended a handful of protests which mostly felt like a venting of frustrations for everyone there. I’ve associated with a few comrades who had good intentions, but never accomplished much. That’s about it.

How do I actually go about being a part of something effective?

  • Redshift@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    7·
    5 days ago

    Let’s be realistic, in a world of nuclear deterrence world powers aren’t landing troops on each other’s shores. But I think you’re right about this not being a safe place if you’re not a well off, white man or woman. There is a danger of an invasion but it’s not from the Chinese, it’s from American right wing extremists. A populist right is on the rise and it’s far more powerful than any genuine movement on the left in the US. Trump is just the beginning.

    Those who are in the US could just give up and move away, which is totally understandable, but don’t pretend that pressuring the head of capitalistic imperialism in the world directly has no effect. US citizens arguably have the most potential to change the direction of world events, but they’re also the most subdued and comatose of all populations. But those of us that aren’t in a capitalistic stupor could organize and push the country in a better direction, but we will definitely be punished for it.

    If OP chooses to stay, it’s going to be a fight. Not against China but against the powers of domination and exploitation that already exist here.