It seems like you're allowed to stan China or call for autonomous zones, but as soon as you echo some Chomsky/breadtube pragmatism, all derisive and divisive language is suddenly tolerated.

What happened to left unity?

  • a_jug_of_marx_piss [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Sectarianism isn't 'criticizing other leftists', it's dogmatically not allowing criticism of your own group. It can be viewed as the opposite of radicalization.

    Sectarianism, fed by fanaticism, is always castrating. Radicalization, nourished by a critical spirit, is always creative. Sectarianism mythicizes and thereby alienates; radicalization criticizes and thereby liberates. Radicalization involves increased commitment to the position one has chosen, and thus ever greater engagement in the effort to transform concrete, objective reality. Conversely, sectarianism, because it is mythicizing and irrational, turns reality into a false (and therefore unchangeable) "reality."

    -Paulo Freire

    What actually is getting enforced here is a consequence of sectarianism, useless infighting. The electoralism vs anti-electoralism 'fight' is not useless and people aren't really sectarian about it, in my experience.

    • Guyrana [any,undecided]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I like that quote. I guess what I'm getting at is the distinction between criticism and mockery.

      Definitely gonna attract more bees with honey than with a sting.

      • ImperativeMandates [none/use name]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Freire wrote during fascist military dictatorships in South America. This there were sentences produced like: kill all pigs, cause they deserve it as they are military targets in a class war