John Maclean, born on this day in 1879, was a Scottish schoolteacher and revolutionary Marxist, sometimes referred to as "Scotland's Lenin". His Marxist evening-classes produced many of the activists who became instrumental in the Clyde revolts during and after WWI. MacLean was appointed both an Honorary President of the first Congress of Soviets and Soviet Consul to Scotland in recognition of his consistent socialist position on the imperialist war and his tireless work in support of the Bolshevik revolution.
Maclean's revolutionary politics were well-known, and in 1915, he was arrested under the Defence of the Realm Act and fired from his job as a primary school teacher. As a consequence, he became a full-time Marxist lecturer and organizer, educating other Glaswegian workers in Marxist theory.
Maclean supported Irish independence on an anti-imperialist basis, describing the Irish War of Independence as "The Irish fight for freedom" and even condoning the assassination of a magistrate, Alan Bell. He saw the war in Ireland as strengthening the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, arguing that "Irish Sinn Féiners, who make no profession of socialism or communism...are doing more to help Russia and the revolution than all we professed Marxian Bolsheviks in Britain".
MacLean was at odds with much of the British left and dismissive of the newly-formed Communist Party of Great Britain. He had already turned his back on economism and the syndicalism favoured by the Clyde Workers’ Committee, had recognised the nature of British imperialism and come to the conclusion that revolution could only come about through the destruction of the British Empire.
Maclean was also noted for his outspoken opposition to World War I, and, in 1918, he was arrested for sedition. During the trial, Maclean gave the now legendary "speech from the dock", expounding on his position. He was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, but was released after the November armistice.
In captivity, Maclean had been on hunger strike, and prolonged force-feeding had permanently affected his health. He collapsed during a speech and died of pneumonia, aged forty-four.
"I have taken up unconstitutional action at this time because of the abnormal circumstances and because precedent has been given by the British government. I am a socialist, and have been fighting and will fight for an absolute reconstruction of society for the benefit of all. I am proud of my conduct. I have squared my conduct with my intellect, and if everyone had done so this war would not have taken place...
...I appeal exclusively to [the working class] because they and they only can bring about the time when the whole world will be in one brotherhood, on a sound economic foundation. That, and that alone, can be the means of bringing about a re-organisation of society. That can only be obtained when the people of the world get the world, and retain the world." -
--John MacLean, from the "Dock Speech"
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It's probably worse living with chuds but the libs I live with are, of course, insufferable right now and I must ventpost for the sake of my sanity.
I can tell they respect my opinion, and they aren't idiots, but at this moment it means they want to hear me echo their enthusiasm and when I don't they are upset with me. And I'll admit it does drive me nuts to see them march around as the self-appointed warriors of Good and Reasonable Opinions while also having a huge Gaza-shaped blind spot. I'll admit it's probably not easy to force oneself to think soberly when the smell of victory is in the air but I think they can detect how appalled I am to see them just handwave away an ongoing genocide. I guess I can just hope that maybe the reason they keep probing me about it is because they feel that contradiction and they're hoping to discover a way to resolve it without having to admit they're being immature (ironic because they are older than I am)
They're not blind. They know and they're doing it on purpose. Murdering Palestinians goes against their narrative and to defend themselves and their culture they're using social violence to enforce conformity. They're just a different kind of Nazi. Instead of punching you in the face they'll use stolen language of liberation and justice to set an ultimatum; shut the fuck up and fall in line. If you don't comply willingly we'll socially isolate and ostracize you. Honeyed words, poisoned wine. They'd slit your throat and leave you in a ditch if you got in the way of their pathetic victory and having outsiders challenging their narrative of righteousness is harshing the vibe. If they were honest fascists they'd have already beaten you badly and ordered you to keep your mouth shut but they've got no dirt under their nails so they use this front office gossip bullshit to try to keep people in line.
It's pretty disturbing to see people who are dozens of years older than you and they barely grew out of their high school liberalism at least to me.