Roberto Jorquera: why I am joining Socialist Alternative
Posted by John, October 28th, 2012 - under Left unity, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Roberto Jorquera, Socialist Alternative, Unity.
I joined the socialist youth organisation Resistance and the Socialist Workers Party in 1988 and was active as a full-time organiser for many years. I came to the conclusion in 2006 that the old DSP/SWP had taken a liquidationist turn (masked as Socialist Alliance).
Together with some other comrades in Melbourne we left and formed the Marxist Solidarity Network (later Direct Action). Throughout this period we often prioritised Latin American solidarity work as one of the few viable options for practical work for our small group. In addition, a number of us had been politically formed and inspired by the revolutionary movements of Latin America. This is a continuing source of inspiration and a central part of my political history. I will continue to support the Cuban revolution and am no less inspired by the example and political thinking of Che Guevara.
In fact it is his thinking that is uppermost in my decision to join Socialist Alternative and I encourage others to do likewise. Che’s most fundamental legacy is to remind us that it is our duty to make the revolution wherever we are. The point of solidarity work – which I aim to continue to do – is to support other struggles but not to hide behind them. The most important thing a revolutionary can do for the world revolution is to build their own revolutionary movement.
I am joining Socialist Alternative because of the role they are playing in Australia. How we see Cuba or the Latin American revolution developing can be discussed over time and patiently.
Revolutionary politics is always about learning, discussion and being open to new ideas to work out the best course of action. With this approach we can work towards a more united and clear revolutionary left in Australia.
First published in Socialist Alternative.
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Comments
Pingback from En Passant » Daniel Taylor: why I am joining Socialist Alternative
Time October 29, 2012 at 3:55 pm
[...] Roberto Jorquera has also written on why he has joined Socialist Alternative, as has Jorge Jorquera. [...]
Pingback from En Passant » Van Thanh Rudd: On joining Socialist Alternative
Time October 29, 2012 at 10:36 pm
[...] who have recently joined Socialist Alternative and written about it include Daniel Taylor, Roberto Jorquera and Jorge [...]
Comment from E
Time October 28, 2012 at 2:41 pm
“According to the Victorian leaflet, the SA believes that “the differences which do exist [among socialist groups] can be contained within a single organisation”. This ignores reality. For example, the Socialist Alternative (SAlt) group while formally opposed to US threats against Cuba, considers Cuba to be a capitalist state and advocates a mass armed uprising to overthrow the Cuban government. The SA has policy of solidarity with Cuba against US threats, but it hasn’t adopted a position on supporting Cuba’s socialist revolution. Perhaps, therefore, the SA could co-exist with SAlt in a united organisation in regard to its policy toward Cuba. But how could the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), which regards the Cuban Revolution as an inspiring example to the working people of the world of socialist politics in action, get along in the same party with socialists who advocate the overthrow of the Cuban government?”
http://directaction.org.au/issue22/why_are_there_so_many_socialist_groups