How I became a member of the Socialist Party
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Any takers?
How I became a member of the Socialist PartyAny takers? Press-ganged, Shanghaied, kidnapped into membership??
There was a series of articles published in the Socialist Standard in the mid-seventies published under the title of 'How I Became A Socialist'. I'd like to eventually put them on the net but I have to hunt down the actual issues of the Socialist Standard first.The only one in the series currently on the the net is this fascinating piece by a Swedish socialist that was published in the September 1976 issue of the Socialist Standard:Link: How I became a Socialist
"Press-ganged, Shanghaied, kidnapped into membership" No such excuse for you alanjjohnstone I don't really have a right to post, but that doesn't stop me. I'd be interested to read, but you might specify THIS socialist party. Also, don't really want to read about people 30+ years ago as much as now.
Went on the internet, realised there's not just one party calling themselves socialist. Went to quite a few meetings of various parties, took notes (still do in fact). Made absolutely sure I'd got a grasp of where every party calling itself socialist was coming from. Compared my notes on each party. Especially compared criticism of other parties by other parties, this is not a negative thing to do and its especially not very sectarian either. Put those criticisms to members, asked them about my concerns. Listened to the answers, did not shut up about criticisms that I feel are still valid. Narrowed down what ideology is most supportable. Decided to support, then realised I would be more effective as a member.I don't think this approach is the way most people do it. I think most people go on word of mouth or join whatever group their friends are in. Most people don't put a lot of thought into it as much as say social interest reinforced by force of habit. Some followers pick a group based on the most forceful dogmatic speaker or prettiest literature.
I was brought up in a mining community and thought I was a socialist. I did not look into the Labour Party or the parties of the left. My experience as a miner under the National Coal Board was enough to convince me that state control had nothing to do with the communism I had in mind.I am a little embarrassed to admit that I joined the Liberal Party after a bit of arm twisting by my two sisters who were Liberal Councillors. This is more easily understood – when you look at Labour’s strangle hold over politics in the North of England.My sister knew I was a socialist and introduced me to what she called a 'real socialist’: a miner who happened also to be the only SPGB’er in the village! ‘So you think you are a socialist?’, He asked.I replied, ‘Well, yes’He rolled up his sleeves.After the good hiding, I went home to lick my wounds with a Socialist Standard sticking out my back pocket but within two weeks I knocked on his door (didn’t have the internet in those days) and said, ‘well what about organising that revolution?’I took on the jobs of secretary and branch organiser but I refused to buy all the beer.It was not long before we had a thriving branch holding meetings and debates.
jondwhite wrote:Giving workers a good hiding isn't an approach I would recommend.Lol. well it wasn't a physical good hiding. He wasn't big enough and I was young and very fit! He was a class conscious worker and knew a bit more than I did.
jondwhite wrote:I wouldn't even advocate a verbal hiding.Well perhaps I was being a little hyperbole for dramitic licence.
Richard Cooper's August 1984 Socialist Standard article, 'Becoming a Socialist':Link: 'Becoming a Socialist'
The Socialist Standard ran a series of articles in the mid-70s, entitled 'Why I joined the SPGB'. I'll post the links as they become available on the net. Here's Robert Barltrop's 'Why I joined the SPGB' from the September 1975 issue of the Socialist Standard:Link: Why I joined the SPGB
Here's an early 'Why I Joined the S.P.G.B' article that appeared in the September 1938 issue of the Socialist Standard: Link: Why I Joined the S.P.G.B I'm not 100% sure but I'm guessing the author of the article was Sid Rubin, who gets a mention in Barltrop's unofficial history of the SPGB, The Monument, as the author of the novel 'My Time, My Place', under the pen name of George Camden. I read the novel not that long ago and it's actually not a bad read.
Another in the Why I Joined The SPGB series from the mid 1970s. This one by Laurie Weidberg, who by all accounts – including that of his nephew, Colin Shindler, in his football fan memoir, 'Manchester United Ruined My Life' – was a bit of a character:Link: Why I Joined the SPGB
Just posted on the Socialist Standard Past and Present blog, another from the Socialist Standard's mid seventies series of article, entitled 'Why I Joined the SPGB'.This time, it's Harry Young's ('Horatio') turn and, to put it mildly, he had quite a colourful political past before joining the SPGB. Btw, Harry Young is the SPGBer who was featured on the front cover of Robert Barltrop's history of the SPGB, The Monument.Link: February 1976 – Why I Joined The SPGB
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