==The identity of refusal++
As a revolutionary looking for new ideas, I discovered the identity of refusal. I was as bored with the socialist mantra and approach, as I was with the dominant Parliamentary Democracy idea. I mean this revolutionary change is about more than just the workers. Even if we had a socialist revolution, I'd still be a critic. Where does that leave me? As for the powers of the current state, anyone who thinks they could overtly take on the Australian defense force, let alone the American, are idiots. Their production system is based on the military-entertainment complex. We have more choice than we know what to do with, yet are still unsatisfied. People are still starving, despite the fact we have more than enough to feed everyone (UN human development report, 1994). We have gatherings like S11 and M1, yet are accused of lacking coherent goals and realistic options for change. Even if these accusations are well founded, we need more options. No one would be willing to be part of, and I wouldn't expect ppl to want to be part of, a (r)evolution they have no say in. Everyday, as Effrim from GYBE notes: "stubborn, clumsy, beautiful ideas rot on the withering vine".

Looking for new ways forward, I took to a cross between Feminism's "The personal is political. The political is personal", Hakim Bey's "Temporary Autonomous Zone" and some of the ideas culled from the Situationist's texts of the sixties, primarily Vaneigem's idea of "The Revolution of Everyday Life". Living in the first world makes revolution hard, so I'd like to start by calling it (r)evolution, to indicate two ideas meshed. Work 'em out for yrself.

Taking these threads, I discovered the idea of refusal as an option. Everyday refusal. Quiet refusal or loud refusal. Do what you can, everyday, to make the world better. Everyone has the chance to be part. Consumers rejecting products at will - why buy Nike? Why take plastic bags at the stupormarket when shopping? Why use non-recycled bleached toilet paper? Why not shout aloud. Why not talk to yr neighbour. Why not rejoice in personal revolution everyday, in whatever way. The young girl rejecting dolly's idea of "woman", yet eating at McD's, is still a revolutionary. The lowly corporate wage-slave can still be an artist. Rage Against The Machine are controlled by Sony, yet spout overtly anti-capitalist rhetoric. These are the paradox's of our time. Refusal can be anything that short-circuits the hierarchies of everyday life-between a performer and an audience, between you and your teacher or the government or the media. For one that refuses, the forms of direct action are empowering, fun, funny, and immediately gratifying. Education. Thinking. These are what's important. I personally believe (perhaps arrogantly) that a lot of my drive comes from ideas that seem self evident. Give ppl time to grow. Make the protest a party. This will have to be a bottom up approach, so start in yr own community. Make those links. Shop and buy local. Go on graffiti runs. Help old ppl. Give stuff away for free. Steal from work. Make it fun, or ppl wont want to be part. Reject the norm, question all authority, even post-(r)evolution.

This revolution is for everyone, and everyone can be part, at any level. Want change. Want an end to starvation, nuclear arms, war, discrimination, profiteering at any cost. Want an end to injustice. Want a (r)evolution everyday, in any way you can.

++The refusal of identity==
Back to Effrim who notes that this (r)evolution is dedicated to
"carpenters, waitresses and drug addicts...to secretaries, alcoholics and schizophrenics...to the boys kissing boys, girls kissing girls, girls kissing boys, and everything in between...to anxiety attacks, hangovers, worried depression, and all the other necessary by-products of trying to live free...to any endeavour who's ultimate, unreasonable goal is autonomy, self-determination or joy...to every prisoner in the world."

This is for everyone. This change is to make the world a 'better' place, so we are all more free, more caring, more hopeful. There's a record label called "Kill yr Idols". Why? What did they do? Lets take a test case, pretty easy to find one. 'I liked REM when they were more radical. Their new stuff is lame, politically. Musically brilliant, perhaps, but pretty lame.' It's good that yr idols get shot down, so then you have to create new ones. I'd suggest looking for them in yr daily life. Yr family battling against poverty. Yr neighbours resisting inappropriate development, yr little sibling at school punching the bully back. Whatever. Who needs manufactured heroes? Don't they surround us everyday? Don't the arbiters of choice change them daily? Ten years ago it was Girlfriend, five it was the spice girls, today the Popstars. Same shit, time warp.

Our friends, family and community are just as able to provide that inspiration. The Zapatista's in Mexico, the nerds on the net, the underclasses across the globe, grandparents against war, queers on the street, workers in the factory. Whoever. The heroes lost, forever, nameless.

I choose to stay nameless. I make my (r)evolution not for recognition. I want no fame, nor infamy. I want no lead role, nor bit part. This is by and for us all. I choose to remain anonymous in all I do, to provide inspiration. To act as a human conscience, without putting a name on it. No more pushing of Socialist Worker, nor Green Left Weekly. No more The Herald Sun, nor The Age. No more 'spokespeople'. No more "our idea is best".

Karen Eliot and Monty Cantsin are two "multiple names". Used by artists and activists across the globe for the last 10 years, they are irresponsible for many actions that go on, yet remain un-claimed and un-named. Identity matters not. This is for the whole planet. Not ME. Not YOU. Everyone. Thus, we remain Karen. So ppl know who to blame. To inspire others to be Monty. You can do it. We can change. Anyone can go out at night with a spraycan. Anyone can photocopy an idea. Anyone can talk to their family and friends about freedom. Break down the relationships of authority. Think for yrself. Anyone can Refuse.

We cannot even imagine the freedoms possible. Be Karen Eliot today.

Dork Admitting Terror At Kapitalisms Impending Doom
musicman@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au