Remembrance Sunday

April 2024 Forums World Socialist Movement Remembrance Sunday

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • #85151
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    As always we will soon endure the sanctimonious hypocrisy from the warmongers. 

    But is it too late for the Party to make its gesture and lay a wreath either on behave of those shot for cowardice/desertion or perhaps for the conscientious objectors jailed or simply for all the deluded workers who died in vain 

    What sort of permission is required for a contingent of party members to place a wreath with an appropriate message distinct on it, videoed by us to upload onto social media. No need for a massive turn-out of members ..one to lay the wreath, one with the camcorder. Maybe another with a red flag.

    It won't make breaking news on the BBC but we could gain a bit exposure for ourselves. But perhaps the Sun or the Daily Mail will take notice and do the job of publicity for us. An accompanying press release may assist in that department. 

    Is it too late for the media committee to issue a Party statement, anyways, condemning this ghoulish commemoration of death and destruction?

    I suggest a wreath of black poppies be used

    and the slogan "For those who died for nothing"

    I'm sure people could improve on the message with a much more poignant and pithy remark, but hopefully one designed to catch the camera. 

    Probably too late for this year…probably the suggestion will be forgotten for next year…sad

    #122861
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Perhaps we can focus on all those who have given their lives in the greater war – the class war….indeed,  "lest we forget"

    #122862
    jondwhite
    Participant

    Maybe an article would be more appropriate

    #122863
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Well, a blog is ready and scheduled for 11/11But it will scarcely attract much attention than some timely agit-prop that doesn't require even much talent to carry out, just a sense of sombre seriousness. But i suspect that there will be some bureaucratic process to perform such an act to stop the neo-nazis from upstaging the conventional wreath-layers. 

    #122864
    Anonymous
    Inactive
    alanjjohnstone wrote:
    What sort of permission is required for a contingent of party members to place a wreath with an appropriate message distinct on it, videoed by us to upload onto social media. No need for a massive turn-out of members ..one to lay the wreath, one with the camcorder. Maybe another with a red flag.

    Where are these members who would make up such a contingent, let alone "a massive turn-out" ?  As for the videoing there's hardly anyone in the party with the necessary expertise apart from the comrade who's been ostracised.  And the party's main camcorder, to the best of my knowledge, still remains in the personal possession of an ex-member of the Audio-Visual Committee.  All in all a 'poppy-show' to surpass any.

    #122865
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Gnome, i think most people possess a mobile with the video capability that would be perfectly adequate. I certainly did not suggest we would mobilise a significant presence of members and envisaged a "massive turn-out". I made a point that only two or three volunteers were requiredAnd if you think we cannot get that sort of number for a publicity event, then i'm afraid we can just simply wrap up as a Party, sell HO and all go to the pub and get ourselves blissfully blotto  Is what you really trying to say?1. It is not a very good proposal. 2. There is not a willingness within the membership to do it3. It simply isn't feasible to carry out because we would be disallowed from the Cenotaph or any other memorial to the war-dead. or 4. Another bright idea from the other side of the world from someone who won't be participating and therefore lumbering the onus onto others to carry out…

    #122866
    Anonymous
    Inactive
    alanjjohnstone wrote:
    Gnome, i think most people possess a mobile with the video capability that would be perfectly adequate.

    Yep sure.  But most people aren't party members.

    Quote:
    And if you think we cannot get that sort of number for a publicity event, then i'm afraid we can just simply wrap up as a Party, sell HO and all go to the pub and get ourselves blissfully blotto

    Yep, not a bad idea.  In fact I moved a floor resolution at ADM that we sell No.52 and relocate to a back alley somewhere.  We may just as well seeing the building is seldom open these days.  My motion was disallowed by the chair.

    Quote:
    Is what you really trying to say?1. It is not a very good proposal. 2. There is not a willingness within the membership to do it3. It simply isn't feasible to carry out because we would be disallowed from the Cenotaph or any other memorial to the war-dead. or 4. Another bright idea from the other side of the world from someone who won't be participating and therefore lumbering the onus onto others to carry out…

    1. Nope. I'm not saying that.2. Almost certainly the case.3. Almost certainly the case.4. As if !

    #122867
    jondwhite
    Participant

    I can't help thinking purposefully trying to generate controversy for publicity in this way would overshadow any genuine point or analysis and probably backfire on us.

    #122868
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Yup, you have the Small Party of Good Boys syndrome, Jon As if not courting controversy has got us anywhere.As  overshadowing our socialist case, perhaps you can direct me to where  our analysis has had a receptive hearing and has been of any significant influence?You are following the thread on Libcom, Jon…someone genuinely wondering where our presence is locally so to make some level of contact. What was that membership statistic –  a net loss of 4 members.Perhaps the mathematicians among us can forecast when we disappear….And that answer would be an optimistic one,  for we will become a non-functioning political party long before that expiry time – as did the SLP. But our dividend returns should still pay for HO upkeep (if they are not spent on campaign tools) so it can become a mausoleum.  Perhaps we can start using it for wakes, Gnome. Am i being too down-cast?Maybe. But does anybody detect any sign of the sea-change required to reverse our declining activity?So to answer you, Jon, what back-fire can we expect if we do as i suggested, act with a sombre in attitude, and i now add for emphasis,  respectful in deed, do submit a wreath to fallen fellow-workers who died in vain for their masters?  And we say just that as our reason and purpose being there – we are remembering the wasted lives, lost for nothing. "Never Again"…? Don't make us Laff…No, it should be "Lest we forget"…But as i said…Probably not get any coverage from the mass media…We are simply making our own news to spread on the social media we are on. So yes, it is publicity we seek and desperately need. 

    #122869
    jondwhite
    Participant

    I don't want to be too dismissive of new or untried ideas including this one but I would urge caution to avoid a backlash like thishttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2306165/Margaret-Thatcher-death-parties-The-Lefts-sick-celebration-Brixtons-streets.html

    #122870
    Darren
    Participant

    To be denounced by the Daily Mail should be a badge of honour.

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