This is an image of the great Anarchist, Emma Goldman. I have been reading some of her very powerful speeches from the early 1900's, and have been moved to tears. The woman spoke defiantly against U.S. imperialism and domestic oppression for 27 years, until she was eventually deported to Russia for being an anarchist, albeit an effective one. She said this to the jury in her case, shortly before they decided their guilty verdict (This was said after she had already been in prison for two years for organizing an anti-conscription movement during World War I): "Your verdict may, of course, affect me temporarily, in a physical sense - it can have no effect whatever upon my spirit. For even if I were convicted and found guilty and the penalty were that I be placed against a wall and shot dead, I should nevertheless cry out with the great Luther: "Here I am and here I stand and I cannot do otherwise." I can't wait to read her biography. What guts she had!
I have also been reading about the Spanish Anarchist movement in the late 19th and early 20th century (which Goldman joined later in her life). There was so much courage, solidarity, and organization amongst the Spanish Anarchist movement that their general strikes would shut down entire cities. At one point during a 5 week strike in the city of Saragossa, the strikers, suffering from the rigors of poverty during the strike, let 13,000 of their children be transported by a fleet of taxis, to be taken in by the Anarchists in Barcelona. What beautiful solidarity, that the ideal was held close enough to one's heart as to trust other Anarchists with their children's lives.
In one of the last great gatherings of the CNT (the name of the movement), the Spanish Anarchists began to lay out the foundation for what their new society would be based on. It included a respect for the natural world, respect and equality for women, and the right for all to pursue love freely. This was in the 1930's, in a deeply repressed parochial society. Sadly, shortly after, General Francisco Franco took power in Spain, and crushed the fierce Spanish Anarchist movement.
These people are so inspiring to me, and at the same time it is so heart wrenching to see people work so hard and know how much things haven't changed a damn bit. I mean, don't get me wrong. I do recognize their accomplishments. Because of the Spanish Anarchists, Spain was the first country the put the 8 hour work day into law. These same laws were incredibly difficult to implement in the U.S. as well. People gave their blood for the human freedom that we have now, and that work should not be forgotten. But it brings me to anger and tears to see that the same power mongers control everything. I don't have half the courage these brave souls had, and things are worse now then they have ever been. We have the knowledge and information to know that the planet is being rapidly destroyed, and yet it seems some of the best efforts made now are purchasing a permit to protest for 5 hours knowing the cops will be friendly, as long as you don't throw rocks and are off the street by 5 o' clock. I am not speaking from on high here; I don't feel I am effective either. I don't know what the fuck to do really.
But I do know that I cannot spit in the face of my courageous heros from the past. If my greatest weapon right now is education, then I will work my ass off to fire that weapon as much as possible. These stories need to be heard, and we need to think about them long and hard. Of course, we cannot do the exact same thing, or our fate will be the same. We have to find new ways to subvert the system, and end corporate destruction. But I am also only human, and so I will chip away in whatever way I can. The corporate industrial infrastructure has to go to have a livable planet, plain and simple. And yes, I am as scared as you are.
I am bringing back a video I have shown before made by my online friends, The Filthy Politicians. Very moving. Goodnight for now my friends.
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