Revolution #272, June 17, 2012

Changing the World with BAsics 1:13...
and Getting Ready for the Next Leg
of the BAsics Bus Tour

Over the next several weeks, be one of hundreds taking part in the fundraising for the BAsics Bus Tour and distribution of many, many, many tens of thousands of copies of this quote from Bob Avakian:

“No more generations of our youth, here and all around the world, whose life is over, whose fate has been sealed, who have been condemned to an early death or a life of misery and brutality, whom the system has destined for oppression and oblivion even before they are born. I say no more of that.”—Bob Avakian, BAsics 1:13

There is a great power in this quote... a deep truth-speaking from Avakian on the brutal history and present-day reality that has been faced, and is being faced, by generations of our youth, as he says, here and around the world. It lays the blame for this where it belongs—not because of human nature, and not because of “personal choices” but because of a system of capitalism-imperialism that plunders the globe for profit above all else, exploits and oppresses whole peoples all around the world and casts them off when it finds other sections of people to more profitably exploit. This quote taps into and draws forward something very deep from people—their outrage at things as they are, and their hopes and aspirations for a world where youth do have a future, where they can lift their heads and straighten their backs. It connects up a life experience people know—in this country, the particular oppression of Black and Latino people—with their common oppression with generations around the world... whether it be young girls from Moldova or China sold into sex slavery; children working in sweatshops in Bangladesh or Vietnam; or youth in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan facing U.S. bombs raining from the skies.

What happens when you are part of raising funds for and distributing BAsics 1:13: You raise people’s sights on a critical question—both enabling and compelling people to confront how bad things really are (there is denial, even among those who are being crushed by this system from all sides) and planting the pole of refusing to accept that things will continue to be this way. This is part of fighting the power and transforming what people are thinking about and debating with each other. You introduce people to Bob Avakian—the leader who has developed a way out of all this madness. Through his own words, people begin to learn about this leader who has developed the scientific theory and strategic orientation for how to actually make the kind of revolution we need, and who is leading the Revolutionary Communist Party as an advanced force of this revolution. BA is a great champion and resource of the oppressed worldwide, and his leadership means that millions and millions of people can rise to their full potential and play the world-historic role of being emancipators of humanity. You give encouragement to others who are taking up or checking out BA and this revolution. Too often people who are daring to lift their heads and dream and fight for a better world run into cynicism and the millions of reasons why “fundamental change is not possible.” When they see this quote around, they start to know they are not alone. Plus, others who may dismiss this the first or second or even third or fourth or fifth time will keep on seeing this in a way that gives them more than one chance to lift their heads and join in. The more that people see not only the words and leadership of BA, but also signs that others are taking this up, the more seriously they take all this and the more they are willing to let themselves consider that maybe there is a way out of all this—the more they feel compelled to engage and to take responsibility for being “part of the solution.” You join with others to have an impact that is much greater than anyone can do on their own—acting as individuals, there is no way we can change the conditions of our enslavement. But, with leadership, and acting together with thousands of others, even small things we do can be part of having a huge impact on the whole political and ideological terrain throughout the country and part of how those thousands learn and build up their capacity and grow their numbers to do even more.

Most powerfully of all, this quote is spoken by Bob Avakian, the leader whose work and leadership over decades—digging deeply into the revolutions of the past, both their tremendous accomplishments and their shortcomings, as well as broader experience to forge a new synthesis of revolution and communism—means that it is actually possible to bring into being a world where all this really is “no more.”

The mass distribution of this quote—whether through posters or palm cards, through the Revolution newspaper centerfolds or the various YouTube clips (available at youtube.com/knowthebasics1)—is part of a major campaign to project BA’s voice into every corner of society and to raise big funds to do so: BA Everywhere... Imagine the Difference It Could Make! Stay tuned for an announcement this week at revcom.us and basicsbustour.tumblr.com for plans for the next leg of the BAsics Bus Tour to kick off in mid-July. We can tell you now that $30,000 to $50,000 will be needed for the next leg of the tour, so along with raising funds to distribute and print this quote, be part of contributing and raising the funds to get the BAsics Bus Tour back on the road.

At the heart of these efforts, we need to work to bring together cores of people to spread BA Everywhere. Get together and discuss BAsics 1:13, how this message can touch thousands, especially thousands of youth, where to go and all the different ways that can be found to put it in people’s hands.

Raising funds will not only enable the mass distribution of this quote and exciting efforts with the next leg of the BAsics Bus Tour, but is a way to bring people together to engage BA and what he represents much more deeply.

As we are raising these funds and getting ready for the bus tour kickoff... think about what we can impact in June as we forge a national movement... all kinds of people coming together and many getting organized in different ways. Think about what you can be part of effecting—with many hundreds of others—as you join in distributing this quote all across the country.

Reach out on the weekend of June 22-24

• Boldly decorate a van or pickup and do your own mini bus tour. Go into areas where people need to know about Bob Avakian and BAsics. Saturate a neighborhood with palm cards and posters from Revolution newspaper... distribute BAsics and play excerpts from BA’s Revolution talk and “All Played Out” on loudspeakers.
• Organize cultural events around the theme of BAsics 1:13: art exhibits, spoken word events, music and more—and raise money!
• Take pictures, video and report on your efforts... so we can let people all over the country know what is happening where you live and how people all over are joining in this nationwide campaign. Send pictures, video, and reports to baeverywhere@gmail.com and to Revolution newspaper at revolution.reports@yahoo.com.
• Most of all, let’s get people together and work together at every opportunity. And when we do get together share your experience with others, and know you’re a part of a movement that is being born.    

 

 

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