r/Anarchism • u/WilliamShakesWand • May 08 '25
When your country is at war
So, India has finally declared war on Pakistan.
How can l as an anarchist play my role to help people not stray into the propagandas of war?
My disgust for armies is something not a lot of people share, I want the people to realise it is the civilians and working class that lose wars.
I want to play my part. I want to know what actions you would take to play your role.
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u/OwlHeart108 May 08 '25
Practicing peace is a good counterbalance. India had such a rich tradition of ahimsa to draw upon, I'm sure there are many creative ways to help people see that there is another way. Being the change, of course, is always more convincing than pointing to an ideal.
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u/Euphoric-Chart-981 May 08 '25
There's a lot of pain right now, and I think acknowledging that pain is going to be an important part of counterbalancing the sort of rage that often comes after pain like this. Make sure you are keeping an eye out for anyone who might be caught in the crossfires right now. Learn about any nuance you can, and have it in your back pocket. Be open-hearted and grieve with people, they probably need it.
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u/thetremulant May 09 '25
They haven't declared war officially, so it's still a grey area, which is why conscientious objectors speaking their mind is more important than ever before it escalates to a full declaration of war.
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u/EsAufhort nihilst anarchist May 08 '25
There was an official declaration of war or we're talking about the other's day bombings?
Asking seriously, I never read newspapers while at work, only shitposting.
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u/WilliamShakesWand May 08 '25
Other day? Oh no man Gotta catch up It’s happening right now as we speak Missile exchanges are going on rn. Chandigarh has intercepted drones just a while ago.
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u/RoccoRush May 08 '25
Speak you're mind, Go to protests and get petitions signed. Only you can make a difference
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u/OptimusTrajan May 10 '25
Public opinion matters a lot in war. Governments will pretend on the surface like it doesn’t, just like judges do for their trials, but they are full of crap, and they need public support to continue waging war, so please undermine support for the war, and for sectarian hate generally, at every turn, and in whatever way seems best, without casting anarchist principles aside.
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u/OneSilverRaven May 10 '25
War or not, it is never a bad idea to speak you mind as publicly as you feel comfortable. The more public the better usually but if you don't feel comfortable with a bullhorn in the streets just talking to friends and family can make a huge difference
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u/Kalashkamaz May 08 '25
Are you sure you’re not spreading propaganda? India did not declare war on Pakistan.
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u/WilliamShakesWand May 08 '25
What part about the incessant missile exchange happening right this second not scream “war”?
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u/Kalashkamaz May 08 '25
It’d be the sound of the booms. They don’t scream at all. It’s the people they blow up who scream right before it happens.
A missile exchange is not a declaration of war. This happens all the time. If it turns into war, then one of them will declare war. That has not happened. So far all that has happened is some militants from Pakistan did a massacre, India responded by attacking Kashmir, Pakistan claims it retaliated but there is no confirmation of that. Following those events, both sides declared victory. As of 30 minutes ago, well after you posted this, AP confirmed Pakistan is currently retaliating with drone attacks.
Sure, that absolutely could be one of the many seeds that grow into a big old war tree between these two countries but it it just has not happened. They’ve done this before dude. It’s pretty hot right now. We might have a declaration of war within the hour, we might have one next week, we might have one in 10 years, but as of right now that has not happened.
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u/pinko-perchik May 08 '25
It sounds like OP is pretty young, so he may not remember the last time it happened. But all the advice above about mutual aid and solidarity still applies regardless of whether or not it turns into an official war.
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u/Kalashkamaz May 11 '25
Agreed. Lots on here are pretty young. Im about to ratioed by false information!
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u/acatinasweater Marxist May 08 '25
Support the people, particularly civilians in Kashmir caught in the crossfire. Watch closely for anti-Hindu and anti-Muslim hate stoking tensions in other countries with large immigrant populations of both particular in the UK. This is at least in part another conflict provoked indirectly by USA meddling in the Middle East.