article for freedom

I don’t know when I first came across anarchism to be honest. My memory of coming across anarchism is scattered. Many sources spring to mind; the lyrics of Immortal Technique, the Zeitgeist films and my results on the political compass test which made me Google ‘anarcho syndicalism’. I also remember writing ‘fuck the system’ on my hand and wearing a Che Guevara (Stalinist turned pop art icon) tee shirt I still guiltily have to this day. But I, like everyone, had to start somewhere.
I will not pretend I have progressed far in my journey since, well, I don’t know when. However, I am content with my current location in this long tunnel, which seems to have a light at the end. This light, emanating from red and black stars, that flickers at times, but shines very brightly at others. My political life currently revolves around the forums at libcom.org and my A level politics class at school. As of yet, I have only been to one demonstration, the June 30th marches and protests. I am yet to read all the classics; Bakunin, Rocker, Kropotkin, the founder of this publication, and know all of the Marxist jargon. I like to think I have some understanding so far of the nature of capitalism and the nature of the alternative we propose to it, which is apparently enough to make me now consider calling someone a Trotskyite or a Leninist, a feared insult. The journey has had its ups and downs, both emotionally and intellectually.
Intellectually, anarchism can liberate you and change your whole world view. Anarchism has been a fascinating epiphany, a revelation. I hope others have experienced the same thing, because it feels really good. Emotionally, it’s a double edged sword. If I wanted to, I could easily say that I don’t like something about anything most people take as a norm, which I often find myself doing whilst in a bad mood. Casual passing comments made by friends can become a depressing reminder of the effectiveness of the brainwashing coming from the state. The media, perhaps the state’s favorite puppet, is everywhere, so it can be a constant and relentless source of torment. It becomes difficult to separate people from their politics, beliefs that they often don’t know they even have. Having such a fundamental disagreement in principal with what is now the norm of the whole world can give the impression that I am always depressed and hate everything. But at the best of times, I can be so passionate about how good things could be I can’t begin to explain it. So over all, my experiences coming from the outside in haven’t been perfect, but what is?