There has been one initiative that two projects I'm involved with have been leading the way in and it's growing. Which is communists and leftists training in martial arts for fun and to form community, rather than for self-defense or some other utility. Got a lot of backlash when this started 10 years ago but now there's a pretty good size community directly related to our projects or copying us.
There's also some leftist basketball leagues.
But definitely not enuff stuff. Love the “social” in socialism part.
Great article. Thank you, Eric. I was thinking along these lines when walking in my neighborhood park recently as one of the local evangelical churches was holding a barbecue that drew probably 75-100 people. Food, games for children and adults, and everyone looked like they were really enjoying themselves. And they had a bouncy house! Of course, there were folks staged on the periphery welcoming us to join. I'm a lifelong atheist with deep criticisms of evangelical Christianity, but there is a lesson to be learned from organizations that include fun as part of their community outreach. I appreciate your historical examples from the left. The time is now to liberate the bouncy houses (and barbecue) in the name of working class solidarity!
Thank you Eric! I just joined 🎺the SF/Oakland Bay Area’s activist Brass Liberation Orchestra (like NY’s Rude Mechanical Orchestra) & have been thoroughly enjoying the role we play🎶in the movement!
That sounds super fun — I've always wanted to join one of the Samba-type drum troupes that play at some rallies. Once Eli graduates from high school lol p.s. hope you're well, been way too long!
Unironically one of the most important pieces that like a hundred different leftists will find a way to call into the question the intention of because you're suggesting we need to not just have child care at seminars but actually make the kids want to come to the events too 😭 ✌️
I was writing on LGM, last week, that the democrats need something like a Democratic Union Hall in every town which has play dates, spaghetti dinners, dances, bowling, crafting, reading times. Even dance nights just a lot of fun community building things to get people off the doomscrolls or leftist posting sites but just getting people talking in person and organizing together. Of course there will be left ideology being pushed. Maybe people will get beaten over the head with it so they don't buy all that "common sense" nonsense that's generally pushing reactionary ideas.
Also if people are getting to talk with each other in person they might stop believing those conspiracy theories constantly being pushed online which don't encourage collective action but cynicism and a disengagement.
Also, I cannot tell you how much I’m currently thinking about joining some sort of faith organization because I miss the value based community, especially for my kids
Our lefty synagogue has been invaluable for this - the one place I’ve seen deep, true intergenerational frameworks. I think it’s hard to have that in political groups not because all lefties are young but because the drive to the next action/goal cuts against building relationships for their own sake.
Love this piece! Soo agree. When I joined Dsa in 2016, I started a socialist Sunday school for parents and kids to gather, have snack snacks and read Dr. Seuss books!
Very interesting article. I couldn’t help but think that the reason why socialists seemed to be so much better in the past at being social is that society in general was just more social. It also made me think about groups like AA. Online 12 step on zoom can be a blessing to people with limited ability to attend face to face. But there is still something very powerful about recovering from addiction in community with other people in the same room. It really does work better. Same with political organizing it appears.
Intergenerational community is important done through fun?- is that how you get the next generation to keep the flag flying high? so It's not just your parents bringing criticism and unwanted attention for their different ideas but good cookie maker Tilly and we always win when Tim the athlete is on board and wow Miss Smith the nice teacher is part of our world- we are a force- we are a beloved community-
My family was part of The Nature Friends of America, a socialist affiliated outdoor and hiking organization, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Their early 20th century flyers and periodicals have the same flavor as the ones you quoted.
Thank you for this wonderful article Eric. The thing NYC DSA is doing right is the sports clubs and I also like the Coffee with Comrades. As a senior citizen I have often felt isolated from political comrades. No longer able to canvass or phone bank (I have done plenty of both).
We can learn plenty from churches. My brother was a SNCC worker in Mississippi. While even a more diehard atheist than myself (I call myself a “spiritual” atheist) he always attended the Black churches on Sunday where the spirituals and gospel songs revived his soul.
Thank you Eric for the inspiring history of the socialist movement a hundred years ago.
Back in my day (‘60s-‘70s) we had a lot of fun. We rarely got heard about burnout. It wasn’t just parties—even our meetings were interesting, a form of fun. But above all we were winning. We put the right wing on the back foot. Our demonstrations were massive and consistently growing. We were helping stop an imperialist war and in the middle of all that we legalized abortion. We had a 2000 member revolutionary party, and even if you weren’t a member of it you got to go along for the ride.
There has been one initiative that two projects I'm involved with have been leading the way in and it's growing. Which is communists and leftists training in martial arts for fun and to form community, rather than for self-defense or some other utility. Got a lot of backlash when this started 10 years ago but now there's a pretty good size community directly related to our projects or copying us.
There's also some leftist basketball leagues.
But definitely not enuff stuff. Love the “social” in socialism part.
Great article. Thank you, Eric. I was thinking along these lines when walking in my neighborhood park recently as one of the local evangelical churches was holding a barbecue that drew probably 75-100 people. Food, games for children and adults, and everyone looked like they were really enjoying themselves. And they had a bouncy house! Of course, there were folks staged on the periphery welcoming us to join. I'm a lifelong atheist with deep criticisms of evangelical Christianity, but there is a lesson to be learned from organizations that include fun as part of their community outreach. I appreciate your historical examples from the left. The time is now to liberate the bouncy houses (and barbecue) in the name of working class solidarity!
100%. I think we have a ton to learn from megachurches in particular
No more late-stage capitalism projects please.
Thank you Eric! I just joined 🎺the SF/Oakland Bay Area’s activist Brass Liberation Orchestra (like NY’s Rude Mechanical Orchestra) & have been thoroughly enjoying the role we play🎶in the movement!
That sounds super fun — I've always wanted to join one of the Samba-type drum troupes that play at some rallies. Once Eli graduates from high school lol p.s. hope you're well, been way too long!
I love that all the historic examples are from deep-red parts of the country now.
Unironically one of the most important pieces that like a hundred different leftists will find a way to call into the question the intention of because you're suggesting we need to not just have child care at seminars but actually make the kids want to come to the events too 😭 ✌️
As a fan of new phrases and labels in politics: 'bouncy castle communism' is a banger. WELL DONE.
I was writing on LGM, last week, that the democrats need something like a Democratic Union Hall in every town which has play dates, spaghetti dinners, dances, bowling, crafting, reading times. Even dance nights just a lot of fun community building things to get people off the doomscrolls or leftist posting sites but just getting people talking in person and organizing together. Of course there will be left ideology being pushed. Maybe people will get beaten over the head with it so they don't buy all that "common sense" nonsense that's generally pushing reactionary ideas.
Also if people are getting to talk with each other in person they might stop believing those conspiracy theories constantly being pushed online which don't encourage collective action but cynicism and a disengagement.
Also, I cannot tell you how much I’m currently thinking about joining some sort of faith organization because I miss the value based community, especially for my kids
Our lefty synagogue has been invaluable for this - the one place I’ve seen deep, true intergenerational frameworks. I think it’s hard to have that in political groups not because all lefties are young but because the drive to the next action/goal cuts against building relationships for their own sake.
intergenerational *friendships* of course
Yah, me too!
Love this piece! Soo agree. When I joined Dsa in 2016, I started a socialist Sunday school for parents and kids to gather, have snack snacks and read Dr. Seuss books!
Very interesting article. I couldn’t help but think that the reason why socialists seemed to be so much better in the past at being social is that society in general was just more social. It also made me think about groups like AA. Online 12 step on zoom can be a blessing to people with limited ability to attend face to face. But there is still something very powerful about recovering from addiction in community with other people in the same room. It really does work better. Same with political organizing it appears.
Out in Pittsburgh, the local DSA and Planned Parenthood both sponsor the wild and inclusive indie promotion Enjoy Wrestling!
https://youtu.be/5b5GPuNk_ko?si=_yDmsCgrh8eWD47G&t=4062
Intergenerational community is important done through fun?- is that how you get the next generation to keep the flag flying high? so It's not just your parents bringing criticism and unwanted attention for their different ideas but good cookie maker Tilly and we always win when Tim the athlete is on board and wow Miss Smith the nice teacher is part of our world- we are a force- we are a beloved community-
These are the strategies Mark Fisher was looking for.
My family was part of The Nature Friends of America, a socialist affiliated outdoor and hiking organization, so I know exactly what you're talking about. Their early 20th century flyers and periodicals have the same flavor as the ones you quoted.
Thank you for this wonderful article Eric. The thing NYC DSA is doing right is the sports clubs and I also like the Coffee with Comrades. As a senior citizen I have often felt isolated from political comrades. No longer able to canvass or phone bank (I have done plenty of both).
We can learn plenty from churches. My brother was a SNCC worker in Mississippi. While even a more diehard atheist than myself (I call myself a “spiritual” atheist) he always attended the Black churches on Sunday where the spirituals and gospel songs revived his soul.
Thank you Eric for the inspiring history of the socialist movement a hundred years ago.
Back in my day (‘60s-‘70s) we had a lot of fun. We rarely got heard about burnout. It wasn’t just parties—even our meetings were interesting, a form of fun. But above all we were winning. We put the right wing on the back foot. Our demonstrations were massive and consistently growing. We were helping stop an imperialist war and in the middle of all that we legalized abortion. We had a 2000 member revolutionary party, and even if you weren’t a member of it you got to go along for the ride.