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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  • SevenSkalls [he/him]
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    edit-2
    3 months ago

    I think I made my partner spiral and I'm not sure what to do. Godamn DNC lol

    Personal Relationship Drama I need to Get Off my chest

    They're a very progressive lib, I love them to death, we're even getting married. I read and listen to more about socialist stuff, but they 100% do more IRL praxis and organizing than I do both in work and their free time, while my job pays the bills, but is a multiplier of the capitalist hellscape we all live in. Anyway, they were on cloud 9 all week, loving the DNC, was super happy after the last speech, etc. Unfortunately they brought up Palestine, I think trying to cheer up my maybe less than enthused reaction because they know it's something I care about, and said at least they mentioned it a couple times, and they probably can't talk about it too much because of on going negotiations, but we should see how things shake out in the next week or so, etc. I couldn't help myself, and said I will try to believe that to cope.

    "Cope?" "Well ya, I would love to believe that, I just find it a little hard. Bibi has been dangling a ceasefire forever. What happened to the one the UN approved before? That was supposed to be be "Israel's" deal. But now Hamas is coming off as the reasonable ones for not wanting to negotiate because they keep changing the negotiations until they can kill the next negotiator. I would stop negotiating if I was them, too!"

    I then went on to say that I wish I could've been swept up in the hype, too, and I was sometimes, but I didn't enjoy it as much as them because every time the speakers talked about sticking up for the voiceless, the minorities, the people, I thought about the Palestinians they didn't let give the most DNC-basic speech ever. Every time they talked about not tolerating bullies, I thought about the US cozying up to one of the biggest bullies in the world in Israel. Every time they said Israel has a right to defend itself, I asked myself why doesn't Palestine. They let families of the hostage speak, who then said more about Gaza civilians than our own politicians. It was hypocritical.

    Well, then my partner cried themselves to sleep, and has been silent and sad all today, too. They said they feel stupid for being the only one to enjoy it, that they were feeling so elated and full of hype and now it's gone, and they feel kind of like a fool for feeling that hype. I guess I knocked the wind out of their sails, and apparently the "h" word hit super hard because they said they've been thinking about it all day. Not sure in what way. Are they going to come at me angry and with some counter argument later, or if do they feel as guilty as I do for being caught up in this colonial project and is feeling about it weird that way, too? Idk. Guess I'll find out when I get home later tonight.

    All I know is that they've been anxious all day, apparently on the verge of a panic attack, terse and muted in texts, not even sure they've enjoyed their outing with friends. Fuck. Idk what to do. They're happiness and optimism was kind of keeping me sane. I should've just kept it all balled up inside of me like I usually do lol. I want to tell them that these have been my thoughts all week, that the contradictions have been causing me unease and psychic damage. But then I know they'll feel even worse and I don't need them taking on my emotions when they are clearly going through something and can barely handle their own right now.

    I need some release on these feelings that won't backfire on our relationship. Hopefully organizing helps. I already said in another thread this might be the push I need to join a local org. If they do come for a fight later today, they can accurately point out that I don't do much than post and read, and I've even been reading less recently; there won't be anything I can say to that but get owned lol. If it helps them feel better, it's probably worth it for the mood in our house to improve. And maybe that will help me push me more to do something active, touch grass, talk to people, and that will in the long run help me feel better about living in the imperial core, where I benefit from these abhorrent policies.

    • ashinadash [she/her]
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      edit-2
      3 months ago

      I guess I'm a bad person because I think you did the right thing. Doesn't sound like you were rude, harsh or unreasonable.

      every time the speakers talked about sticking up for the voiceless, the minorities, the people,

      Those fuckin losers don't speak for anybody but the ruling class! Hopefully your partner comes back to you in a reasonable fashion and there's no fight.

    • Commiejones [comrade/them, he/him]
      ·
      3 months ago

      I'm gonna be a dick.

      A lib spiraling because you dashed their delusional cope is a good thing. (it being your romantic partner is not ideal) If you can bring them to a realization that the democratic party is a genocidal colonialist party that supports white anglo supremacy you are doing good things.

      The questions for you are whether 1)you put your political views above your relationship 2)they put their political views above your relationship 3) whether you can come to a consensus based on materialist reality. (aka can you radicalize them to the immortal science of Marxist Leninism)

      If it destroys your relationship that is sad but do you think a stable relationship is possible when one party clings to a fantasy that ignores materialist reality? Being in a relationship with someone who clings to delusional cope is probably not sustainable. Better to work this out before you sign legally binding documents.