I think as marxists it is necessary to not have illusions about morality. Often we have to engage in bourgeois morality in order to justify our actions to both those we are trying to win over and ourselves. But in the end, we have to realize our struggle is based on power, not morality. Morality is a mere afterthought that justifies the power relations that exist, not the other way around. Our violence will not punishment as an end, but a mean to transform power relations. Our very position guarantees that all of what we do are just.
That's akin to my point: that it's psychologically appealing to see the people who are causing so much harm as nothing but pits of depravity and bile, and while that is true for some of them most are more complex and some may even do some good things, and that we have to understand that that complexity and nuance doesn't change a single thing about what must be done. There's not some moral scale to weigh their good deeds against their evil ones, and we don't need to pretend that such a scale must tip overwhelmingly one way in order to justify ending the harm they are doing and taking measures to stop further harm.
I think as marxists it is necessary to not have illusions about morality. Often we have to engage in bourgeois morality in order to justify our actions to both those we are trying to win over and ourselves. But in the end, we have to realize our struggle is based on power, not morality. Morality is a mere afterthought that justifies the power relations that exist, not the other way around. Our violence will not punishment as an end, but a mean to transform power relations. Our very position guarantees that all of what we do are just.
That's akin to my point: that it's psychologically appealing to see the people who are causing so much harm as nothing but pits of depravity and bile, and while that is true for some of them most are more complex and some may even do some good things, and that we have to understand that that complexity and nuance doesn't change a single thing about what must be done. There's not some moral scale to weigh their good deeds against their evil ones, and we don't need to pretend that such a scale must tip overwhelmingly one way in order to justify ending the harm they are doing and taking measures to stop further harm.