So where does socialism start? Well, let's just say it can start on Wally's farm in Geneva, Ohio, with 33 YCLers revved up to discuss Marxism, coalitions, and elections. The buckeye state hosted students and young workers from 14 different cities. A "tent city" was built that was called home for four days along with the chickens, cows, pigs, and cats.
The workshops covered a wide array of topics from the use of hip hop/youth culture as a weapon to a crash course in political economy.
Other workshops included the political moment which was an analysis of current events locally and globally, from the AK Steel Strike to the AIDS crisis in Africa. The fight for unity workshop covered the different aspects of racism, sexism, and homophobia in the U.S. and how all these institutions are used by capitalists to make profit and divide the working class. At the ideolgy workshop YCLers asked and answered many questions regarding Marxist theory and socialism in the U.S.
A recurring topic at the school was corporate controlled media and culture. Aisha Anderson-Oberman of Baltimore said, "The media is telling us that we are in a period of prosperity and the stock market is riding high.Young people are realizing that they are not the ones benefitting from this economic boom and want to rebel.ä Indeed with 7 to 8 million homeless, 44.3 million without healthcare and 46 million below the poverty line in America, one can see who is not prospering. The YCLers talked about the different forms of struggle today including progressive hip hop, electoral struggles, and the anti-globalization movement and how they relate to each other.
All of the YCLers had their share of fun. Whether while roasting marshmallows over the campfire for s'mores or while playing a competitive game of volleyball, YCLers forged fast friendships. "It was high for my morale seeing other young communists come together. Singing the 'Internationale' around the campfire was cool," said Justin Smith of Florida.
It was truly amazing watching the fire glow in the eyes of the YCLers as they sang "Solidarity Forever" and shared spoken word poetry.
The recreational highlight of the weekend was going to the county fair. Whether it was discussing international politics over pink and blue cotton candy or strolling through the 4H Club tent looking at skilled crafts, everyone just hung out and had a good time.
As the school came to a close people were motivated to go back into their campuses and communities to work on the elections. Reflecting on the weekend, Cori Marshall of Illinois said, "The YCL school was great and I came home with a lot of new ideas."
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