Join me on The Revolution of the Mind!

With recent discussions about Blue Labour, Purple labour (which I must confess still confuse me) and with the Refounding Labour website up and running, it seems we are finally having a good discussion about how the party can progress and improve. My one hope is that certain ideas do not get unfair advantage over others in terms of consideration because of the source of those ideas, but the Refounding Labour initiative with its associated events seems to go a way in involving the members.

I decided to throw an idea, an initiative into the mix, something I have mentioned quite a few times before, THE REVOLUTION OF THE MIND . During the period since my initial ideas on the subject (the election getting in the way and all!) , I have pondering what to do with it. Then through a chance conversation with a friend, I had the answer, WHY NOT START A DISCUSSION? I want your opinions on this, whether you are an MP, a councillor or even a footsoldier like me, all ideas are welcome. Here, is my introduction in order to put forth my premise:

REVOLUTION, the very word incites passion, invokes change, massive change and also evokes fear. Fear of bloodshed, violence, sudden change. Yet how about a revolution that goes beyond merely replacing one hegemony with another, how about one without the violence but could possibly achieve a lot more, one that goes beyond replacing one form of oppression for another?

I call for a revolution of a differing kind, a revolution of the mind. Since the formation of the Coalition last May, we have been presented with the orthodoxy of a deficit caused by ‘the previous Labour government’ and that cutting the deficit is the priority is the main priority at all costs, no matter the consequences. No matter the pain! Day by day, this orthodoxy has spread like wildfire through the media, the Murdoch Press and as such, they seek to control the way we think.

The Frankfurt School, with ideas derived from Karl Marx such as the everyday conditions under which we live that determine the way we think, suggested that all media is loaded with its own ideology and that knowledge of this leads to emancipation. With the media trumpeting the government’s ideological cuts on the public services and the NHS as in the national interest, we can clearly see this.

My revolution is simple. A simple 3 steps: See, Think, Resist! First of all, we must see past what we read in a newspaper, see past the lies propagated by the government. Look at other sources of information, other versions of the story, which in the age of the internet is easier than ever before. The next step is to think differently, seek new solutions such as Chuka Ummuna’s proposal to remutualise Northern Rock as a way to make banking more accountable in the light of the Banking Crisis. Propose new answers, new ideas. Think differently and speak out against the ideology that is constantly put before us, presented as gospel truth. By doing this, we come to the final step, resistance. We speak out against the hegemony, we provide more voices and create a true debate. Using blogs, using twitter, facebook, we can all speak out!

My message is one of action. What I would also propose is a series of meetings with our MP’s and other MP’s debating key issues with them, communicating our ideas and our views without fear. We would also seek to train people on how to use the new social media in order to resist more effectively, in order to get an alternative message out there.

Lets get this clear, I am all in favour of people having differing opinions as humans we naturally do. However what cannot be excused is the forcing of those views on others, the framing of only one side of the debate, and most of all, the framing it as fact. As Marx once said “philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point however is to change it”. Yet we do not need a violent revolution in Marx’s terms. We only need to think differently and see past the ideology of the media. By seeing and thinking  and acting differently can we be truly free to put forth new ideas. Its time for a change, its time to defy hegemony, ideology and orthodoxy. Its time for a revolution of the mind!

 I want this to serve as th basis for a discussion on this free from competiting ideology. Whatever your ‘colour’ or whether you wish to avoid colours in the first place, tell me your ideas. Join me on THE REVOLUTION OF THE MIND!

Challenging the myth- this scapegoat speaks out!

A year passes,

It seems an eternity since love in the garden,

Since the selling of souls, the bitter kiss,

A year passes,

Still the spout their lies,

A toxin, like a cobra they inject,

Relentlessly with the megaphone, the printing press their message they infect.

A sickness, this myth takes hold like a fever,

Infecting the mind, all but the ardent believer.

Sick of being the scapegoat are we,

Put down the knife, the ills of the world cannot be laid at thee.

Expose your lies, speak out with passion shall we! 

This poem a reaction to the article on labourlist http://www.labourlist.org/strangling-the-lie , by Emily Thornberry MP, in which she states that “we need to challenge their lie so that we can confidently assert that there is an alternative to slashing public spending. And that the alternative is us.” Wise fiery words and ones I agree with and as part of my REVOLUTION OF THE MIND, I welcome any challenges to the hegomonic narrative that all too often is fed to us. The cuts of this incompetent government as we all know are ideologically driven and thus the blame can no longer be placed soley at our door. With great power comes great responsiblity Cameron! This scapegoat will take the blame no longer!

David Miliband – the left’s road of redemption!

David speaking at the LSE

I’m sorry for my absense from the blog, but with going down to London, yesterday I followed David Miliband’s instructions to ‘study hard’, for which I’m honoured that not only does his warm relations remain with me and Liza, but also he takes an active interest in our lives! But now I feel I must put forward my views on what was actually said at the LSE speech, as the waters have been muddied somewhat by some seeking to use the speech for their own purposes. Ok,  you ready for this?

The speech was empassioned, an intelligent analysis on why the reasons the European Left are losing elctions across the heartland of European social democracy.  He states that after the ‘nice decade’, “the right is seeking to emulate the electoral strategies of the left in the 1990s; and the left in the last decade has not been able to decide whether to disown them or embrace them, when the key is in fact to build on them.  So it is losing elections again on a grand scale.” This makes perfect sense when we saw at the election the Tories brand of ‘compassionate conservatism’ , comparing this to George W Bush winning the US election in 2000, championing education and even progressive immigration reform. 

To those who saw an attack on Gordon Brwon, like the Mirror did, David was only stating facts that in the public perception, the leader was less popular than the party, not a personal attack, but surely reflecting facts is it not? Also he actually praised some of Ed’s approach, stating that he has “effectively highlighted” the position of the squeezed middle on Ed Miliband has effectively highlighted. Rather than his point about a ‘decifit of ideas’ being a criticism of the Ed regime, I saw it as a challenge to us all to think differently and in a way, I saw a parallel with my REVOLUTION OF THE MIND , a call for people to think differently and see past the media, which in part is inspired by Movement for Change. A movement he continues to champion as a way to allow us to take part in our community and societry rather than being just being spectators.

In this speech, I didnt for one second see David challenging Ed for the leadership, I saw David engaging in more fundemental questions on how we on the left can bounce back. As my friend Liza Harding stated, whilst Atlee was the PM, Bevan still created the NHS and as such they worked together in this endeavor. So why can’t David speak his mind and by analysing this, help his brother rather than seek to supplant him. As he said “together we achieve more than we can alone”. Lets work together and take on board what David states and thus create a blueprint for us to bounce back.

For those who wish to read the entire transcript of the speech, it is here on David Miliband’s facebook page- http://www.facebook.com/notes/david-miliband/why-is-the-european-left-losing-elections/195000080533460#!/?sk=lf .

Teacher (in honour of my good friend David Miliband)

Welcome back my teacher, teach,

The error of our ways, where we have gone wrong,

Teach, we yearn for you to show us the facts,

Up on that stage to dominate the lectern,

We yearn for you to speak.

Good friend, I beseech you to teach,

How our enemies mimic us,

Use subterfuge, disguise and defeat us,

Guru, share your secret knowledge with me,

We shall study hard, the truth shall set us free.

Your lessons shall give us hope in the dark yet,

For in your own way still you are David Hamelech!

Revolution of the Mind- the rallying cry!

Unchain your mind! FREEDOM!

Since my first musings about a REVOLUTION OF THE MIND here, I have gauged your opinions about the concept asking people on twitter and most of you seemed intrigued and captivated. One person even blogged about it, http://drltmoonfruit.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/revolution-of-the-mind/ , stating that he supports ”the reformist ideas set out by Anthony, in his Revolution of the Mind – through this way, people can become enlightened to new ways of thinking instead of just listening to the right-wing media puppeted by Murdoch, which seems to dominate the British media sector.” High praise indeed, and now I feel I owe it to you all to explain fully what I mean in a quasi speech like form!

REVOLUTION, the very word incites passion, invokes change, massive change and also evokes fear. Fear of bloodshed, violence, sudden change. Yet how about a revolution that goes beyond merely replacing one hegemony with another, how about one without the violence but could possibly achieve a lot more, one that goes beyond replacing one form of oppression for another?

I call for a revolution of a differing kind, a revolution of the mind. Since the formation of the Coalition last may, we have been presented with the orthodoxy of a deficit caused by ‘the previous Labour government’ and that cutting the deficit is the priority is the main priority at all costs, no matter the consequences. No matter the pain! This orthodoxy has spread like wildfire through the media, the Murdoch Press and as such, they seek to control the way we think, in this way their opinion becomes hegemonic.

The Frankfurt School, with ideas derived from Marx that he states that is the everyday conditions under which we live that determine the way we think, suggested that all media is loaded with its own ideology and that knowledge of this leads to emancipation. With the media trumpetting the governments ideological cuts on the public services and the NHS as in the national interest, we can clearly see this.

My revolution is simple. A simple 3 steps: See, Think, Resist! First of all, we must see past what we read in a newspaper, see past the lies propgated by the government. Look at other sources of information, other versions of the story, which in the age of the internet is easier than ever before. The next step is to think differently, seek new solutions such as Chuka Ummuna’s proposal to remutualise Northern Rock as a way to make banking more accountable in the light of the Banking Crisis. Propose new answers, new ideas. Think differently and speak out against the ideology that is constantly put before us, presented as gospel truth. By doing this, we come to the final step, resistance. We speak out against the hegemony, we provide more voices and create a true debate. Using blogs, using twitter, facebook, we can all speak out!

Lets get this clear, I am all in favour of people having differing opinions as humans we naturally do. However what cannot be excused is the forcing of those views on others, the framing of only one side of the debate, and most of all, the framing it as fact. As Marx once said “philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point however is to change it”. Yet we do not need a violent revolution in Marx’s terms. We only need to think differently and see past the ideology of the media. By seeing and thinking differently can we be truly free to put forth new ideas. Its time for a change, its time to defy hegemony, ideology and orthodoxy. Its time for a revolution of the mind!

"We need a revolution of a different kind, a revolution of the mind!"

No one man should have all that power- well he does if he’s Murdoch!

Jeremy Hunt- the man who handed our 'plurality' on a plate!

 

In my blogpost last night, http://anthillel.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/111-years-of-labour-the-shadow-of-uncle-karl-and-a-revolution-of-the-mind/ , I called for a “REVOLUTION OF THE MIND” , involving a ” new way of thinking that defies this orthadoxy put forth by a hostile media. New ideas of making life better, such as Chuka Ummuna’s proposal to remutualise Northern Rock.” Well today, an event has transpired that has shown the relevance of such a philosophy.

Today, Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, gave the green light to the takeover of BSkyB by Rupert Murdoch, following News Corp’s offer to spin off Sky News as an independent company. However as Murdoch would still have some shares in Sky News and will fund it , as my friend DRLT asks as “the “independent” executive and chairman are all going to be people who are going to be quids in with Murdoch and his henchmen, why would Murdoch put someone at the top of the company that wasn’t on the same lines as him?” – http://drltmoonfruit.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/id-rather-labour-supported-by-trade-unions-unlike-the-tories-controlled-by-murdoch/ .

This is obvious and represents the Gov dutifully bending the knee before Murdoch, and as such in reality undermines the plurality of cultural interpretation which has been served up by Mr Hunt. This makes the case for a change in mindset beyond the media even more vital as an orthodoxy seems more likely to become dominant. Lets defy them and think freely! Challenge the hegemony of knowledge now and see past the slash and burn ideology. Join the revolution of the mind!

Challenge what you read,

See past the words, read between their lines,

What they tell you you need,

What they tell you to think,

Like the pied piper they intend to lead.

Challenge what you see,

Your freedom given freely to the big HE.

If we see beyond his lies, think critically,

Revolt with your mind, he shall not shackle your thoughts,

If we think his yoke shall not enslave you,

His chains of ink and pixels shall not enslave me!

111 years of labour, the shadow of Uncle Karl and a revolution of the mind!

This week saw the party turn 111. Since Hardie first set up the party in 1900, we have achieved some truly remarkable things such as the minimum wage and the creation of the NHS, which seems to resemble in flesh the phrase “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Whoops, I refered to the M word and by extension the S word, maybe I shouldnt say them out loud, since Tony Blair’s removal of state ownership from Clause IV sent a signal of an exorcism of both.

However, we lost the trust of the very people we seeked to represent. Now that we are in opposition, much to the criticism of Mandelson and others, Ed is trying to create a new identity for the party. Here I make the case for us to have another look at good old Uncle Karl. Depending on your views of the man, Karl Marx, who was voted thinker of the millenium, has had a massive influence on modern thought, for example his phrase “philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point however is to change it”  seems to isnpire activism, something that in the oldham east by election utilised with success. Whilst I don’t proffess to be an expert on Marxist theory by any means, there are some aspects of his teachings that do influence us and can tell us alot, for example he states that is the everyday conditions under which we live that determine the way we think, which was expanded by the Frankfurt school to suggest all media is loaded with its own ideology and knowledge of this leads to emancipation. With the media seeming to follow an orthadoxy of a deficit caused by the Labour party, which defies all the facts, that has to be cut at ALL costs, we can see this very clearly!

This is what I advocate what I call the REVOLUTION OF THE MIND, not a violent revolution as Marx suggests. A new way of thinking that defies this orthadoxy put forth by a hostile media. New ideas of making life better, such as Chuka Ummuna’s proposal to remutualise Northern Rock. In this revolution, I propose that rather than be scared about opening Marx’s pandoras box, we take the best ideas and make them relevant to today. This may sound like the ramblings of a mad man, but I generally believe that once we change the way we think, once we escape the chains of dogma, of orthadoxy put forth by the media we can see things with fresh ideas and thus come up with new solutions. I say the time has come for us to dust off the Red Flag, to stop exorcising Uncle Karl and to have the flag, the rose side by side! Happy 111th bday Labour and to another 111 years of being relevent and fighting for fairness!

We’re looking for a revolution,

A revolt of a differing kind,

No trading of fists and batons,

Not one of blood on the body, a revolution of the mind.

A revolt against the broken promises of the blue and yellow tories,

Against the hegenomy, the orthadoxy, the same old stories.

Against the fear, let us bring some hope to banish despair,

Let us see past the fog that clouds the air.

We need to grow again, not cut the roots,

To this barren field we need the lifegiving shoots.

In going forth we need to remember our past,

To embrace it, to redefine it,

To challenge the dogma we need a revolt of a differing kind,

Instead of anger and violence, a revolution of the mind!

Revolution of the mind! THERE IS ANOTHER WAY!

Sorry for the delay in this post, but due to working yesterday, I didnt really have chance! Yesterday, in addition to his appearance on Andrew Marr, Ed Balls wrote an article in the Independent- http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/ed-balls-same-old-tories-still-doing-it-maggies-way-2198368.html , in which he states the tories are up to their old tricks as “The relentless tax hikes and budget cuts are a high-stakes political strategy taken from Mrs Thatcher’s guide to winning elections.”

He is bang on when he says “we need to re-think. There is an economically more credible alternative to what this Conservative-led Government is doing. We need a plan that puts jobs and growth first. That’s why Ed Miliband and I are demanding a repeat of last year’s £3.5bn bank bonus tax to invest in growth and job creation this year, alongside a slower, steadier pace of deficit reduction. As Ed Miliband rightly said at Prime Minister’s Questions this week, without growth you can’t get the deficit down.”

What we need is a challenge to the hegemony in the media that these cuts are necessary, as the figures show this gamble is not paying off. Like a Jenga tower, if you take out too much, the tower collapses. We need growth, growth in jobs and cuts at a slower pace than at present. We need an alternative of hope and growth not decay and despair. I call for a challenge this yarn of the government. I call for a REVOLUTION of the MIND!

We’re looking for a revolution,

A revolt of a differing kind,

No trading of fists and batons,

Not one of blood on the body, a revolution of the mind.

A revolt against the broken promises of the blue and yellow tories,

Against the hegenomy, the orthadoxy, the same old stories.

Against the fear, let us bring some hope to banish despair,

We need to grow again, not cut the roots,

To this barren field we need the lifegiving shoots.

To challenge this dogma we need a revolt of a differing kind,

Instead of anger and violence, a revolution of the mind!