Wash Your Brain

When we study history of the people who lived thousands of generations ago, it is easier to overcome ignorance and fear. 

The indigenous traditional ways of life were destroyed throughout the Americas, Africa, Scandinavia and Asia because they did not require capitalism in order to function. 

Capitalism is institutionalized greed: It thrives on manufactured scarcity, fear of failure and a rat-race, every-man-for-himself approach to challenges.  

The fundamentals of socialism and communism existed throughout antiquity. The labeling of our ancestors' ancient traditional way of life—and especially the appropriation as evident from names like Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin—are actually a slap in the face of our ancestors. 

Our ancient ways existed long before any "ism" was formulated. 

In Jai Sakai's book, Settlers, he brilliantly recounts the untold revolutionary activity of African, Native American, Chicanos and Asians who fought white supremacy in the United States—from its very beginnings. They were very much communists and socialists by the definition of the word. But most were not adherents to Karl Marx (he wasn't even born during some of their uprisings). Yet these people built self-sufficient communities and had some form of militias. In fact, many of them established organizations that would become trade unions. 

The ancestors took care of each other and learned from mistakes through the transmission of ancient lessons that we call “myths.” They strove to approach challenges collectively. 

At every point in history when these communities fell in the United States or elsewhere, we find the machine of capitalism—and its twin terror of white supremacy.  

Nowadays, whatever was spared in their struggle for independence, are called “failed states” and proof that “socialism” and “communism” don’t work. 

It’s a clever tactic to confuse us with labels: Erase the old traditions and history. Assassinate the shaman or "witch" doctors. Punish the revolutionaries. Reward those who turn them in. Elevate those who pledge allegiance to rich overlords. 

Even if someone does not call themself a communist or socialist, they will eventually be called such if they defy the belief that rich people are more valuable than poor people. If they express ideas that everyone should have a home, a food and a job that they enjoy that can provide a dignified life, they will be targeted by the one-eyed capitalism machine. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was famously labeled as a communist and eventually assassinated for the label. Paul Robeson was poisoned by the United States government because he was an open member of the Communist Party in the USA.

Fear and hatred of communists, socialists and any Robin Hood type personality keeps the billionaire corporate police state in control of the masses. 

We should guard our minds from the chains of labels. Look beyond the label and examine how deep the roots of an idea extend into the past.