Verification
FIRST VERIFICATION QUESTIONS
1. From lemmygrad
2. Marxist-Leninist. I was a socialist since middle school. I never had any negative sentiment towards communism and I found it strange that others did. I always figured I'd have to read the the manifesto and other seminal works at some point, but not until I had enough of a grasp of science, philosophy, and some history. I didn't feel comfortable calling myself a communist until I had some kind of background theory (of the same kind that the progenitors of ML had) to back up the claim, even though I agreed with the sentiment and the principles I encountered. I think I have a good enough understanding of my field of science, not the other two (meaning ML). Essentially I started working for the first time in university, tried to unionize, was laid off due to austerity cuts (did not get very far recruiting coworkers) and wanted to find someway to meaningfully understand what happened and how to stop it from happening to myself and others. DemSoc socialism didn't cut it, vanguard party and revolution made much more sense.
3. No disagreements, I would add something about indigenous peoples struggle somewhere, probably under anti-oppression. They are erased from discourse enough as it is by mass media.
4. Gender is a social epiphenomena, normally referred to as a 'social construct'. Individuals are the ones who determine their gender and similarly how they are referred to by way of pronouns. Marxists or anyone who is materialist in any form must support gender rights, equality, and abolition of any gender-based oppression; the most significant of which at present is the patriarchy. People who transition are the gender they transition to, there is no reason to bar said individuals from gender affirming care at any point, granted it is of their personal desire and not forced upon them (i.e. conversion therapy). In areas where one is ignorant of matters (such as with alters or otherkin which are less known) it is better to defer to the individual on how they would like to be treated. Indigenous groups have had concepts of what western societies consider transitioning for centuries and of different genders besides the conventionally recognized ones, such as 'two-spirit'.
5. Joseph Stalin sought to implement many of the changes to orthodox Marxism which Lenin had proposed. He was successful to some extent when he led the Soviet Union, and created a socialist state which would last for many years. Mao Zedong was essential in shackling the chains of imperialism China had endured by the imperial powers of the west. He applied Marxist-Leninism to the conditions in China, coming up with novel interpretations which have led to offshoots in Marxist-Leninist theory, the Maoist schools of thought were not explicitly created him. His contributions, though not without fault as experimentation and failure is to be expected, inspire confidence in the modern era as China is the major bulwark against the hegemony held by capitalists.
6. Yes they are socialist. They are all countries with their own interpretations and applications of Marxist-Leninist thought to the material conditions of their respective environments. There is much contention about China being socialist, instead it is seen as capitalist due to its 'market socialist' economy. This is one of the stages of development China is going through to become a true communist country. Cuba is certainly a communist country, Vietnam is similar to China in that their economy is not what immediately comes to mind when thinking of socialist but the governing party is. To be honest I don't know much about Laos, so I will refrain from commenting.
SECOND VERIFICATION QUESTIONS
1. This is difficult but I will try. It is a metaphysical position aimed at describing the nature of the world through reference to the material nature of the world (as opposed to dualist, or monist views) and a commitment to understanding said material nature of the world through a dialectical manner, which is to say through contradictions. All phenomena are understood through this dialectical framework, as MLs this philosophy is imperative as the contradiction which forms the basis of our struggle is that of the proletariat and the bourgeois.
2. I am from the imperial core, I would like to add information from my on the ground experience as well as about the local situation with regards to organizing to help any comrades present or in the future who may join.
3. Indigenous peoples have rightful ownership of land in the US and Canada. I don't know much about other countries. The land must be transferred to them before any meaningful reconciliation can occur.
4. Not explicitly, I have read about how work which is considered 'women's work' is not compensated fairly and is therefore unjust. There are also notions that the patriarchy can not be abolished without the abolishment of capitalism, which is where Marxist Feminists seem to place the heart of their struggle. I am not well read here and thus I cannot comment much.
7. Reference to material reality (contemporarily referred to as 'physicalism' by some) which keeps Marxist-Leninists from drifting towards idealism or revisionism. As well as a vanguard party, to stymie the assured resistance which will be faced by the people who wish to return to traditional forms of governance, i.e. a liberal capitalist system. An understanding of the history of past movements and the process which must be taken to achieve communism.
DISCORD VERIFICATION STATEMENT
This is in response to CriticalResist, to verify my Discord username. I am the philosopher al-Farabi! Known for his Neoplatonism, an oft forgotten link in Socratic Greek thought.