Continuing our series speaking to comrades about what being in the ACN means to them we speak to Rachel from Leeds
How did your first encounter anarchism?
I first encountered Anarchism when I met my partner 10 years ago. I was ignorant about politics, I have always been raised to believe that everyone is equal and I didn’t understand why we needed money and why we didn’t help those who where poor or suffering. I had voted labour a few times but then Tony Blair got in and the Iraq war happened. At this point I started to spoil my ballot paper as there was no-one I felt I could vote for but I believed at this point that voting was the only way of changing things.
When I met my partner, he explained to me what anarchism was and I told him he was naive and laughed at him as I thought it was a nice utopian dream.
This started long period of heated debate and sometimes screaming arguments. I got so annoyed with him in the end as he always “won” the debate I decided to educate my self to prove him wrong.
Well I started with the political compass and learned about left and right, authoritarian and libertarian where the political parties sat on the compass. My partner would answer my questions if I didn’t understand a term or a historical point. I started reading about different political theories and borrowing books from my partner on Anarchism.
To cut a long story short the more I read and understood our debates became conversations then agreement and to my chagrin I realised that I agreed with him I then wanted to be active and do things. It has changed my life and has filled a hole I didn’t realise was there. I have been an “ active” Anarchist now for around 7 or 8 years now.
Do anarchists support terrorism?
For myself I think that direct action that is targeted at the elite or those that are actually the problem big corporations, banks, Govt.
Terrorism seems to me to be about spreading terror and often seems to target the working class and harm innocent folks.
Why is class important?
It is important to recognise the distinct inequalities in our society today and the basis for that. The fact that the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger all the time. Big corporations are getting more and more control over our lives. Capitalism is unsustainable and the planet cannot support ever expanding growth and this headlong greed and drive for profit. The COVID pandemic showed what has always the case in that without the WC and certain key workers society grinds to a halt yet these key workers are often the lowest paid and seen as “unskilled”.
Folks are working 40+ hours a week and still cannot afford to heat their homes or feed their families. Governments are using poverty as a weapon to force folks into low paid bullshit jobs that just increase the profits of the capitalist class and keeps folks stressed and tired jus trying to survive. This combined with right wing biased media means that folks are not inclined to fight back and they remain disunited.
It is important to recognise how class still divides us and the multiple ways this violence is used against us. We must unite in the struggle to overthrow capitalism
Anarchism, activism and health. How do you remain active when struggling with various physical and mental health problems?
I believe that mutual aid, solidarity are essential. For me knowing that I am not alone, that I am part of a community that sense of belonging and being supported is essential.
So how do we begin making the connection between health and the class struggle, and to what end? I could begin by telling you my personal story about my battles with poor health and other related issues. But as therapeutic as that may be, it would individualise what is in part a societal problem. Our emotional and psychological problems are often consequences of social stratification, patriarchy and the other dysfunctional elements of society.
Just understanding this doesn’t help much in finding ways of coping with the battles we face every single day.
I am sometimes unsure being political is a help or a hindrance. Sometimes when I am having a bad time, the general status of the world just adds to it. I cant bear to watch or read the news. However I also feel that it is very optimistic we are fighting for freedom and equality so that everyone can live the life they choose and for the world’s resources to be shared equally and in a sustainable way.
So knowing that I’m not the only person who thinks we should be doing it differently and who is angry and appalled at the state of the world, feeling part of a community, having Comrades and friends who think and feel the same as I do It gives me hope. Also feeling that we are trying to make the world a better place helps to feel more in control of a situation where it is easy to feel powerless.
The end
Not sure how I am supposed to conclude but can’t think of anything else so I will simply say
“ Solidarity, anarchy and love Comrades” ✊
AnarCom Network 