I
1) If I can remember correctly, I was introduced to ProleWiki by being directed from another online Marxist community, or from one of my friends. I've been sitting on writing a proper application for a while – apologies for the brain fog.
2) I identify as a Marxist-Leninist. After becoming aware of the contradictions in our current system of “Liberal Democracy” and Capitalist mode of production while identifying as a Social Democrat, I quickly jumped ship.
3) I have read through the principles. I have no objections whatsoever.
4) Gender consists of roles persisting to ‘traditional’ images of masculinity and femininity. I am a queer myself – I would hope that Marxists support the LGBT Community.
5) From my limited perspective – I cannot give them black-and-white denotations of good or bad. However, their contributions to Marxism-Leninism cannot be understated.
6) These are actually-existing socialist experiments. I cannot armchair and complain about them not being “actual communism/socialism” – it isn’t a switch that you can flick overnight.
7) Settler-colonialism is settling and colonizing indigenous land. The United States of America, and Israel were both founded on this practice, with the latter still ongoing. In the case of my country – the United States – the indigenous population has received nothing meaningful in the way of reparation from our government. They have faced continuous genocide ever since the founding of the nation, and have little-to-nothing in the way of self-determination.
8) I cannot condemn the oppressed fighting against their oppressor.
II
1) Dialectical Materialism is philosophical held by Marxists, which is based on the beliefs and writings of Marx and Engels. It focuses on scientific/material-based reality, and is the basis of Scientific Socialism.
4) I have read very little on Marxist feminism. I know that other practices usually revert to reinforcing patriarchal viewpoints, or create unrealistic, unnecessary conflict between sexes.
5) Proper widespread organization and action. Too many communist movements are detached from real life, solely existing in small online circles, relying on the individual themselves.
6) Compared to Marxism, other anti-capitalist movements have brought nothing to actual fruition.
8) I have read some works from Marx, Engels, Lenin, Parenti, Prashad, Stalin and Mao. Marx and Engels penned the theory, Lenin, Stalin and Mao put it into practice through the creation of the USSR and PRC. Parenti and Prashad provide some very good, understandable, modern explanations and Marxist analysis.
OPTIONAL:
I am familiar! I might need to refresh my knowledge, but I’m aware of how MediaWiki and similar sites function.