Solidarity

[poppy60]

When I think of the word solidarity,My mind goes back to the polish shipyard of gdansk in the 80s.

 

[krtek a houby]

Sometimes use the word as a stronger version of empathy.

Use it to show support for strikes and protests and people all around the world.

To show support, understanding and shared experiences with people going through hard and heartbreaking times.

 

[Humberto]

I guess there has to be a practical element to it. We as individuals each acting in the collective/mutual interest where we can.

 

[friendofdorothy]

My mind goes back to the 1984 miners strike.

 

[brixtonscot]

There’s lots of good descriptions and examples of solidarity been posted.
I’d go back to this quote from Jeffrey Weeks in 1978
“…..what is the relationship between these autonomous groupings and the wider struggle, especially that of the working class, for socialism ?”
( eta : autonomous groupings being of women , gays , black people etc. )

Could it be said that “the relationship” JW is referring to be re-phrased as one of “solidarity” ?
ie. How to effectively work together for overall common goals , with mutual aid , understanding , respect , support etc.

- and a quote below from the Beyond the Fragments initiative around same time.
I find it’s relatively “easy” to understand these principles in theory - it’s applying them in practice that’s the big problem.

With the more recent prioritising of “identity” over politics in IDPol hugely problematic , promoting competing interests of “equality” for some , rather than co-operation and solidarity for all.

“As Hilary Wainwright writes in the original introduction, what we must grapple with is how we go about ‘gathering together all the different sources of strength, uniting the social power of the community with the industrial power of those in production, and pitching this popular power against the existing state’.
Beyond the Fragments is more than history

 

[friendofdorothy]

There’s lots of good descriptions and examples of solidarity been posted.
I’d go back to this quote from Jeffrey Weeks in 1978
“…..what is the relationship between these autonomous groupings and the wider struggle, especially that of the working class, for socialism ?”
( eta : autonomous groupings being of women , gays , black people etc. )

Could it be said that “the relationship” JW is referring to be re-phrased as one of “solidarity” ?
ie. How to effectively work together for overall common goals , with mutual aid , understanding , respect , support etc.

- and a quote below from the Beyond the Fragments initiative around same time.
I find it’s relatively “easy” to understand these principles in theory - it’s applying them in practice that’s the big problem.

Solidarity in the 70s and 80s seemed easier to understand in some ways. Eg We boycotted South African goods, we contributed money to anti apartheid causes, we attended the rallies and sang 'Free Nelson Mandela!' gay people stood vigil in protest outside SA House. Post apartheid SA was the first nation to include queer equality in its new constitution. It was clearly a just cause and support and respect flowed both ways.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Similarly with LGSM and the miners. I gave money, wore the badges went on the coal not dole marches, because I could see that Thatcher wanted to destroy industry/ unions and fuck the whole of the north. It seemed natural to show solidarity, as a northern girl it seemed instinctive.

I never knew that LGSM had such a profound effect on the TU movement till the film Pride came out, though the speech that miners wife made at Pride 85 (Sian? The one who went into politics) has always stayed with me. She said something about the friendship and support shown to her community meant that if any of her children said they were lesbian or gay she would be proud. To a crowd of queers many of whom had been rejected by their families or (like me) hadn't dared tell them - this was very moving, revolutionary even.


Love the way that bill nighy's character described solidarity in the film - how did you understand it back then brixtonscot?

Back then I had hetro lefties tell me that gayness was just a bourgeois affectation or that we might have to wait 200 years for our equality. I didn't really feel much left solidarity other wise. Apart from swp turning up with tons of banners to queer organised marches, which felt like lip service and they were piggybacking on our marches

 

[friendofdorothy]

I find it’s relatively “easy” to understand these principles in theory - it’s applying them in practice that’s the big problem.

With the more recent prioritising of “identity” over politics in IDPol hugely problematic , promoting competing interests of “equality” for some , rather than co-operation and solidarity for all.

“As Hilary Wainwright writes in the original introduction, what we must grapple with is how we go about ‘gathering together all the different sources of strength, uniting the social power of the community with the industrial power of those in production, and pitching this popular power against the existing state’.
Beyond the Fragments is more than history

I don't think we have much "industrial power," anymore. That those who are at a socioeconomic disadvantage, are largely isolated, unionised and struggling to make ends meet to have much strength left over to fight. Seems both feminism movement and the left are in tatters, split into tiny self interest groups against themselves and each other.

Where to start with ideas of practical solidarity now , I'm forever the pragmatist so practical local action is where I have started.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Mind you I'm heartened by the recent mass industrial actions and strikes, but I'm not sure the average person on the street feels much solidarity. Media loves to put people against each other.

 

[brixtonscot]

friendofdorothy is it this quote you mean ?

“When you are in a battle against an enemy so much bigger, so much stronger than you,
to find out you had a friend you never knew existed, well, that’s the best feeling in the world.”

That’s certainly one good description of solidarity , referring to feeling a sense of belonging and shared community spirit (uality?)

The depth of the solidarity expressed and experienced during the year long strike was remarkable. Firstly within mining communities themselves , and then all the many support groups , including Lesbians&GaysSupportMiners.

But , I feel it’s bittersweet as the strike was defeated and Thatcher and neoliberalism emerged victorious , the consequences of such are still being felt.

 

[friendofdorothy]

I see XR are trying to build some solidarity in reaching out to all sorts of community groups.

The Big One - Extinction Rebellion UK

Sign up for The Big One and help us make history. From 21 April 100,000 people will gather at the Houses of Parliament. Make sure you’re there for the biggest climate protest the UK has ever seen.

extinctionrebellion.uk

 

[friendofdorothy]

Another thought on solidarity - it's the 24th anniversary this April of the nail bombings of Brixton, Brick lane and Soho. (Please DONT post that murderers name or photos of the victims PLEASE! I find it very upsetting)

Those three communities have come together over the years to remember those affected. Last year to there was an interfaith service of remembrance at St Paul's. A anti hate crime awareness charity called 17-24-30 is called after the dates of the bombings (hope I have dates correct)

There was a 3 sided memorial bench in St Anne's church yard made out of 3 woods, to remember the 3 bombs, 3 communities, 3 dead. I wonder if it's still there.

 

[friendofdorothy]

“When you are in a battle against an enemy so much bigger, so much stronger than you,
to find out you had a friend you never knew existed, well, that’s the best feeling in the world.”

Yes I think it was. And the symbol of the handshake that was on their banner.

 

[hitmouse]

can you stick together and support one another by sitting at home not lifting a finger and just thinking about it?

Very belated, but since no-one else has pointed this out yet: yes, if there's a strike on then the best thing to do is to turn up and picket, but failing that I'd much rather people sit home not lifting a finger than going into work. Maybe this is pedantry but maybe it isn't, I dunno.

 

[hitmouse]

I don't think we have much "industrial power," anymore. That those who are at a socioeconomic disadvantage, are largely isolated, unionised and struggling to make ends meet to have much strength left over to fight. Seems both feminism movement and the left are in tatters, split into tiny self interest groups against themselves and each other.

I suppose this is the difference between potential power and actual power, or something like that? I'm not going to pretend that everything is great cos obviously it's not, but then it's still our work that makes the world run, so there's still potential power to be tapped into there. Hopefully.

 

[ska invita]

Very belated, but since no-one else has pointed this out yet: yes, if there's a strike on then the best thing to do is to turn up and picket, but failing that I'd much rather people sit home not lifting a finger than going into work. Maybe this is pedantry but maybe it isn't, I dunno.

i think what you describe is an action in the boycott category, actively refusing to do something you would otherwise have done

 

[hitmouse]

i think what you describe is an action in the boycott category, actively refusing to do something you would otherwise have done

Yeah, that makes sense. Just thinking about how that kind of active/passive refusal stuff can potentially be really powerful.

 

[LDC]

I see XR are trying to build some solidarity in reaching out to all sorts of community groups.

The Big One - Extinction Rebellion UK

Sign up for The Big One and help us make history. From 21 April 100,000 people will gather at the Houses of Parliament. Make sure you’re there for the biggest climate protest the UK has ever seen.

extinctionrebellion.uk

Urgh, that looks grim.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Urgh, that looks grim.

I don’t even know their politics tbh. Stop the world from burning; yeah, but what?

 

[friendofdorothy]

Saving the Earth sounds important enough to me. Unite to survive is a clear call to solidarity.

More from XR:

.... building alliances between groups and what we are calling The Big One, which is happening later this month. I'm hoping it will be of interest to you and please do forward to anyone who you think it may also be of interest to.

We are aiming to bring 100,000 people together at the UK Parliament in London from 21st-24th April - in the spirit of peace and dialogue about our future. Will you be amongst us? Already we are being joined by Friends of the Earth, the PCS Union, Earth Day, NHS Workers Say No, Black Lives Matter, and many more organisations big and small.

The idea behind The Big One (21st-24th April) is not to cause public disruption. We are being joined by environmental charities, social movements, and community groups like yours as well as protest groups. We will Unite to Survive.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

My mind goes back to the 1984 miners strike.

Mine doesn't remember it well despite being there

 

[bendeus]

I think I just experienced it. As posted on the protest subforum my lovely hometown has recently been infested by a small but troublesome infestation of fash. On the day my friends/comrades and I rocked up at the meeting point to be joined by an absolutely lovely and diverse bunch of people who weren't from 'round here' but who cared about what happened here. Their presence, experience and strength was an absolute shot in the arm; we probably could have done it without them but by fuck their presence was welcome and galvanising. I haven't been active for a long time - since Newbury, in fact - but the experience of joining together with a random bunch of humans who cared about what I care about was just brilliant. Still buzzing, still celebrating. Ms Bendy and I have resolved to do the same for others - next time the boneheads show up in S Wales we'll be there to support the next bunch of people unfortunate enough to have to 'host' them in the same way that those others did for us.

I think we've had solidarity beaten out of us as it doesn't really do much for capital. Feeling it coursing through our veins makes us feel good, worthwhile and useful. I can only imagine the world of my miner and union activist great grandfather in the early 1900s when he believed that that solidarity would genuinely lead to a better world. Perhaps that's my next shift......