Saturday, July 28, 2007

The Main Enemy Is At Home

I remembered the gist of this quote but I found the whole article from which it was taken on line. Such prescient clear-thinking. It was written by German communist martyr Karl Liebknecht, one of the brave revolutionaries who, unlike the majority of his socialist party, resisted nationalism and patriotism in the face of world war one to stand on the side of the international working class. Here is an edited section.:

"We have seen how when war broke out, the masses were captured for the
capitalist aims of the war with enticing melodies from the ruling classes. We
have seen how the shiny bubbles of demagogy burst, how the foolish dreams... vanished, how, instead of happiness, suffering and misery came over the
people; how the tears of war widows and war orphans swelled to great currents;
how the maintenance of ...semi-absolutism... militarism, and police despotism –
became bitter truth....
The enemies of the people are counting on the forgetfulness of the masses – we counter this with the solution... learn everything, don't forget anything!...
The absurd slogan "stick it out" has hit rock bottom; it leads only deeper
and deeper into the maelstrom of genocide...
How long should the gamblers of imperialism abuse the patience of the people? Enough and more than enough slaughter! Down with the war instigators here and abroad!
An end to genocide!
Proletarians of all countries, follow the heroic example of your Italian brothers! Ally yourselves to the international class struggle against the conspiracies of secret diplomacy, against imperialism, against war, for peace with in the socialist spirit.
The main enemy is at home!"

--Karl Liebknecht, May 1915


Wow. Inspiring.

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