I agree that we need to update our language so that our revolutionary endeavors are more relevant to the culture around us. I also agree that we need to update our theoretical concepts (it is not enough to take ideas developed in the 19th century and apply them mechanically today).

However, we must also keep in mind that language at least partly constructs what is perceivable, thinkable and communicable. The “common sense” of everyday language is not a spontaneous, neutral reaction to our environment. It is shaped by determinant political, economic, cultural etc. forces (which are not disinterested). Our everyday language is colored by patriarchal, racist and other ideologies.

Getting the revolutionary message out there in language that is relevant is not simply a matter of translation. The situation calls for a much more dialectical intervention. In building a movement, perhaps we should be in conversation with the language that we, the people, are speaking on the streets, in a TRANSFORMATIVE way. If to know the taste of a pear means to change the pear by eating it, as Mao said, we must be in the business of transforming the language with which we express ourselves. This means innovation. How this is to be done is not at all obvious to me because it is a concrete problem that I, and those with whom I work closely, are struggling with all the time. I don’t know that we can work out a formula in advance. It may have to emerge out of concrete struggles.

Without arguing for the purity of a philosophical metalanguage, there is something to be said for having a revolutionary language. Acquiring such a language allows us to see more than our ideological indoctrination allows us to see.

Finally, we must also keep in mind that theoretical concepts contain information that can be lost in translation. The term “dictatorship of the proletariat” is not one that I use when I am talking to people who are just beginning to question capitalism. For most people it calls to mind tyrrany, part of which is related to the historical experiences of actually existing socialism, which had far to many authoritarian aspects. However, the term is a technical one that contains a number of important theoretical distionctions: It implies the Marxist thesis that the state is an instrument of class hegemony; although more-or-less “democratic” institutions may be present, the liberal state is one in which the capitalist class is hegemonic, and under socialism, the working class must be hegemonic in the state. How do we innovate to put such crucial distinctions into language that resonates better with our current situation? I guess one aspect of the answer is that we have to take the time to explain these distinctions regardless of the term we use. Just as we cannot expect most people to understand all that is implied by “dictatorship of the proletariat” without elaboration, we cannot expect them to understand an alternative term without elaboration.

My hosting service is temporarily down, check back in like a week and it should be working fine. 8-)

Also, hit me up if there is interest including to the podcast the FIRE Collective recent recorded interview (two parts – about 25 minutes) on a local radio station about communist refoundation, Kasama, Nepal, etc.

http://mikeely.wordpress.com/interviews/native-blood-the-myth-of-thanksgiving/

http://mikeely.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/kasama-podcast-interview-with-revolutionary-artist-emory-douglas/

Hell, I’ll struggle to put Bob Avakian on with you guys, I’ll issue the challenge and promote the shit out of a debate.

Hell, what do you folks have to fear … this is one of the greatest sites for revolutionary theory and news around, give it up.

It’s about time, but in the meantime, let’s get the hot links out and promote KASAMA …

I just played the PSA again for the umpteenth time on Radio Free Kansas. There is no “working it out” just call in and read the important news from Kasama. I won’t allow idiots on the switchboard to harass Kasama folks, unless you have the time to deal with them.

I’m not going to pick a fight. Hell, I like what you’re doing, hard to find news, links, etc.

“Break out, break free” just call in regularly, give us 10 – 15 minutes on Friday night (any night, but that’s a big listener night) on the phone. Review the latest posts on Kasama, tell us what’s going on … call block, the network switchboard operators won’t know.

Give it up, brothers and sisters.

love, solidarity and resistance,

Mike at Radio Free Kansas

Ps. And do it regularly …

We have several podcasts in the works now. But interviews would be great.