Remembrance Day, in “Canadian” national mythology, signals the end of World War 1, an imperialist travesty where the ruling classes of France, Germany, England, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Russia fomented war fever against each other, which also distracted from and weakened working class uprisings in their countries, harnessing energy instead towards squabbles over imperial carve-out rivalries globally. As Canada’s then Prime Minister Robert Borden saw it, the fight in supporting the British, was “to put forth every effort and to make every sacrifice necessary to ensure the integrity and maintain the honour of our empire.”
We will be discussing anarchist sentiments leading up to World War 1, including anarchist critiques and anti-war resistance organizing, as well as the problematic history of some prominent European anarchists, such as Peter Kropotkin, that had supported sentiments leading up to the bloody First World War.
We are discussing three small readings packaged together: Patriotism: a menace to liberty (1905) by Emma Goldman, Anti-War Manifesto (1915) by The Anarchist International, and The Manifesto of the Sixteen (1915) by Sixteen Comrades. Goldman’s Patriotism investigated her country’s (at the time small, but growing) United States military in regards to nationalism and national identity as dangerous distractions. She positied that patriotism both obscured the real interests of working class people and caused unnecessary bloodshed. Anti-War was a manifesto written by anarchists opposing the prospects of a Great European War and pleading to other anarchists to cease warmongering activities. Manifesto of the Sixteen was written by anarchists encouraging the prospects of a Great European War and promoting anarchist activities and support statements for the victory of the Allied Powers over the Central Powers during the First World War.
The readings are available as single pages/screen or as custom imposed zine PDF (short-edge).
We ask you to please read the pieces ahead of time. We also encourage everyone to bring suggestions for our next readings.
As always, we meet at Camas Books, 2620 Quadra Street, on Lekwungen Territory. The next meeting is Sunday November 24th @ 6:30PM.
PS: Our friends at Food not Bombs serve free vegan food for revolution every Sunday 4-6PM at Spirit “Centennial” Square. They are always looking for extra support from volunteers.
PPS: A global majority-prioritized Liberation Reading Circle, unaffiliated with VARC, has also started at Camas. Their first meeting is Wednesday, December 4th from 6:30PM-8:00PM. Get their reading here!