On our website, currently here, I attempted to set up a blog. I did it, but upon coming across this site, I decided it would be a better idea to set it up here. Here was the first entry:
By m(A)tt
So here we are, closing in on 2007, and CLASH has finally broken onto the blogosphere. I feel so… savvy. I, for one, am leaving one horrendous job for another which will at least, hopefully, give me some hours that will allow me to get some organizing work done. I’m living back at my mom’s in Glastonbury, again, after a couple of years of living in and around Hartford. So, the ‘H’ in CLASH is currently being held down by Jerimarie in the West End. But between work, organizing, and soon-to-be school, I’ll be in Hartford a big chunk of the time as usual.
After a much-needed semester off from Capital Community College, I’ll be going back with a new major: library tech. The certificate is 24 credits, which will get me out of retail sooner rather than later, and start me on the road to relative financial stability. Becoming a teacher has become less and less attractive the more I think about it. It seems like all the good ones have to struggle enormously against everybody, to little or no avail. The whole dual role as mentor and prison guard also doesn’t sit well with this little anarchist. But I’m really looking foward to this. It’ll give me the tools I need to do research in an intellectual and idealistic setting that is not only working class, but quite progressive as well.
Last semester I did terribly, which I primarily blame on my inability to limit what I put on my plate. So, between staffing the infoshop, doing the bike courier gig, maintaining a relationship, and trying not to be a complete slob at our apartment, school just didn’t fit in the equation, despite my willingness and ability to do well. But I feel like this past years’ misadventures were a good learning experience, and I have some great things to show for it already. For the first time, I feel like I’m in control.
For the upcoming year, building SDS at my school is central, followed by building it locally and regionally, and finally beginning direct action against the war. I’ve been whining about the antiwar movement for almost as long as I’ve been in it, and it’s long overdue that those of us who believe in militancy get our act together and just fucking do it. Fortunately, it’s been budding in places near and far, and that gives me genuine hope.
Aside from that, it would be nice to organize some local support for the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, which there seems to be support for, but there needs to be some initiative. If it’s going to have to come from me, it’ll have to wait a little while, at least until CCC SDS is doing well. Fortunately, CCC is of course a commuter working class school, and through doing SDS tables, hopefully we can also promote the union. Being a retail worker, Wobbly, and SBUX union enthusiast, my little wet dream is to get a Retail Workers Union going here. In CT, there’s only so many entry-level jobs out there, and retail is at the top of the list, and also the suckiest. Just waiting to be organized!
The other thing that would be nice is to actually expand CLASH beyond the four of us. It can’t be that hard - I meet supportive and interested people all the time. It’s just a matter of making the effort to invite people to this or that meeting. Then again, maybe CLASH’s purpose should remain limited to a point of reference for anarchy in the area. Put out a zine, do some events, agitate, organize larger groups, etc. Sometimes, small is beautiful, and easier as well. Getting people to the same place and time is a pain in the ass.
