It seems to me that our old pro-revolutionary Anarchist literature has ceased to answer the demands of the modern day. Without going now into any discussion as to whether Anarchist literature has ever adequately dealt with the practical application of our ideas, the question at issue now is whether the time has not come for a new and more popular interpretation of our ideas, particularly in light of the World War, the Russian Revolution and the subsequent vital social developments.
I feel that with the almost generally admitted fact of the bankruptcy of Socialism and the growing conviction of the failure of Bolshevism and of revolutionary party dictatorship, the opportunities for Anarchist propaganda have immeasurably increased. Peop... (From: TheAnarchistLibrary.org.) It is only a few months now to the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution. Great preparations are being made by the Communist Party and Government of Russia for the celebration of the important event. Numerous committees are at work to make the day the most memorable in the annals of Soviet Russia, and to demonstrate to the country and to the world at large the achievements of the first decade of Bolshevik rule.
There is no doubt that the October Revolution was the most significant social upheaval known in human history. It broke all the molds of established society - not merely political forms, as was the case in previous revolutions, but the very economic foundations that support human slavery and oppression.
The spiritual ac... (From: Anarchy Archives.) Tyranny must be opposed at the start.
Autocracy, once secured in the saddle, is difficult to dislodge.
If you believe that America is entering the war "to make democracy safe," then be a man and volunteer.
But if you know anything at all, then you should know that the cry of democracy is a lie and a snare for the unthinking. You should know that a republic is not synonymous with democracy, and that America has never been a real democracy, but that it is the vilest plutocracy on the face of the globe.
If you can see, hear, feel, and think, you should know that King Dollar rules the United States, and that the workers are robbed and exploited in this country to the heart's content of the masters.
If you are not deaf, d... (From: Anarchy Archives.) ALLIES: The fairies of Democracy.
BARBARIANS: The other fellows.
CONGRESS: The valet of Woodrow the First.
CENSORSHIP: The rape of Free Speech.
CONSCRIPTION: Free men fighting against their will.
CIVILIZATION: In God We Trust.
DEMOCRACY: The voice of the Gallery Gods.
FREE SPEECH: Say what you please, but keep your mouth shut.
HUNS: Loyal patriots from Central Europe.
HUMANITY: Treason to government.
JUSTICE: Successful target shooting.
KAISER: A President's ambition.
LIBERTY BOND: A bone from a bonehead.
LIBERTY LOAN: The bread line of the Unborn.
LOYAL CITIZEN: Deaf, dumb, and blind.
MILITARISM: Christianity in action.
PATRIOTISM: Hating your neighbor.
REGISTRATION: Funeral march of Liber (From: Anarchy Archives.) Who were the Bolsheviki, and what did they want?
Up to the year 1903, the Bolsheviki were members of the Russian Socialist Party; that is, Social Democrats, followers of Karl Marx and his teachings. In that year the Social Democratic Labor Party of Russia split on the question of organization and other minor matters. Under the leadership of Lenin the opposition formed a new party, which called itself Bolshevik. The old party became known as Menshevik.*
The Bolsheviki were more revolutionary than the mother party from which they seceded. When the world war broke out they did not betray the cause of the workers and join the patriotic jingoes, as did the majority of the other Socialist parties. To their credit be it said that, like most of t... (From: Anarchy Archives.) Alexander Berkman died 61 years ago on June 28th, 1936.
We enclose here his editorial for the first issue of The Blast published in San Francisco
on 15th January 1916.
Why The Blast?
Do you mean to destroy?
Do you mean to build?
These are questions we have been asked from any quarters, by inquirers sympathetic and
otherwise.
Our reply is frank and bold:
We mean both: to destroy and to build.
For, socially speaking, Destruction is the beginning of
Construction.
Superficial minds speak sneeringly of destruction. O, it is
easy to destroy -they say- but to build, to build, that’s the important work.
Its nonsense. No structure, social or otherwise, can endure
if ... (From: Kate Sharpley Library.)
