NationStates Jolt Archive

These guys (the LaRouche Youth Movement) showed up on my campus about a week ago. They set up a table in the quad area, and hailed me as I was coming out of class. I had never heard of them, or Lyndon LaRouche. I took some of their readings, and gave them my phone number; they told me I should come up to Seattle to watch his live webcast the next day. I said I had class.

"Is class more important than stopping World War III?"

I didn't know what to say, but somehow managed to keep myself from commiting. I was called a few days later and asked why I didn't come, and ended up speaking on the phone, conference, with two or three of their members for about 40 minutes.

Today I got out of class and they were set up in the quad again. Long story made short, I was convinced to walk around from classroom to classroom putting their magazines on every desk for an hour or so. Afterwards, I said I was going to go eat and they condescendingly asked if eating was more important than their movement - I mean, they're trying to take down the Oligarchy and stop WWIII. I talked a bit more with them - they mocked all of our campus movements (gay rights, domestic abuse month, etc.), like none of them mattered compared to what high-and-mighty LaRouche is trying to do. Eventually I excused myself. They said I should, again, drive with them to go to one of their meetings in Seattle (2 hours away), and I declined. They said they'd give me another call.

...
Then I came home and did some reading on their movement. I talked to my mom and she said I should just do whatever I can to stay away.


Have I just gotten involved in a cult? I know not to believe everything I read about political movements on the net, but most of it lined up pretty well with the picture I had of them already. They treat LaRouche like a demigod, and try vehemently to recruit new followers. The thing is, I didn't think anything was fundamentally flawed with their ideas - it's hard to argue with them.
But there's just something a little off about it.

Just curious.

Dude, Lyndon LaRouche (in his own way) was about as batshit crazy as Fred Phelps. I'd stay away from the LaRouchettes.

Have I just gotten involved in a cult?

pretty much

pretty much

haha ok... i'll heed my moms advice and stay the hell away.

I HATE LAROUCHE!

They come up to me on a weekly basis, asking me tons of questions. I usually just say I have a class to get to, and keep walking. Finally, one little girl just pushed me too far, and so I lashed out, and attacked them on every stance that came into my head, from comparing people to nazi's with no decent backing beyond trying to make a scene to their stance on the environment, their passiveness about gay rights and abuse (as you mentioned), and their dismissiveness of the Take Back The Night anti-rape campaign our campus is currently doing. The girl kept trying to cut in untill I finally yelled (in the middle of one of Bostons busiest streets, in between classes on one of the most crowded campuses in the US) "Jesus fucking Christ. You expect all of us to listen to you assholes every fucking day when we have more imporant things to do with our lives. You know, things like go to class and become worthwhile so we can see through the bullshit you spew at us. I'm sorry you're a fucking college drop out who can't get a real job, but that isn't my god damned fault. Now, if you expect me to passively listen to you, then you chose the wrong fucking guy on the wrong fucking day. You wanted to talk, well, we're talking. And it is my turn now, so shut up and listen for once in your pathetic life."

yeah, it was a long day, and probably over the top for me to yell that. But damn, did it feel good to say. Plus, it is always great to start a scene every now and then. Plus, it stopped the Rabbi from approaching me to see if I wanted to go in the portosukkah.

I dont know a thing about the group you are talking about, but the description you give of their conduct suggests you probably ought to disengage.

If you like their ideas and find their reasoning compelling, you can adopt (or continue to hold as the case may be) those ideas, you dont need a herd to do that, especially a pushy herd that tries to bully you and denigrate you everytime you dont want to immediately fall in with their plans.

You dont need them, and the conduct you describe (on their part) sounds like trouble to me. I think you'd do yourself a favour to steer clear of them.

I don't see what any of you have against Lyndon LaRouche. He is a distinguished political figure who has some very good ideas. He is also trying to reach out to American voters, and epecially young college students like us. See this excellent news article (http://students.washington.edu/kylec4/) for information about his latest efforts to bring down fascism.

you gave them your phone number? bad mistake.

WW3 is not something you are going to prevent by hanging around with LaRouchies,a nd its not somethign that really needs preventing right now anyway.
In short, these guys are bad news, I'd change cell numbers and if possible change dorms/apatments/wherever it is you live.

The LaRouche people I came across in 1999 said the economy would collapse in just a few months. The LaRouche people I came across in 2001 said the economy would collapse in just a few months. The LaRouche people I came across in 2004 said he had delayed the Iraq war by a year while Howard Dean had done nothing to stop it. So at least they were half right at the last encounter.

Like Zel Miller, Lyndon LaRouche calls himself a Democrat even though the Democratic Party wants nothing to do with him.

If you were convinced to walk around from classroom to classroom putting their magazines on every desk for an hour or so, don't tell anyone about it or people will think you're stupid.

I don't see what any of you have against Lyndon LaRouche. He is a distinguished political figure who has some very good ideas. He is also trying to reach out to American voters, and epecially young college students like us. See this excellent news article (http://students.washington.edu/kylec4/) for information about his latest efforts to bring down fascism.

I don't see any rolleyes smilies, but I hope you're kidding. If he's working on bringing down fascism, it's so he can install his own brand. (linky (http://www.publiceye.org/larouche/nclc1.html))

As far as distinguished, I can say that he IS distinguished in that he ran for president (the 1992 attempt) while serving an 8-year prison sentence.

you gave them your phone number? bad mistake.


i didn't know...

Seriously, read that link, you guys! Lyndon LaRouche is for real, and he's going to win in 2008. He just needs your help.

Seriously, read that link, you guys! Lyndon LaRouche is for real, and he's going to win in 2008. He just needs your help.

Ah, my mistake -- had me at the byline. Convert or die. (LOL, my apologies Ginnoria.)

I don't see any rolleyes smilies, but I hope you're kidding. If he's working on bringing down fascism, it's so he can install his own brand. (linky (http://www.publiceye.org/larouche/nclc1.html))

As far as distinguished, I can say that he IS distinguished in that he ran for president (the 1992 attempt) while serving an 8-year prison sentence.

All lies, of course. I'm pretty sure that both Chip Berlet and Joel Bellman have been discredited as former Nazis in at least one of LaRouche's erudite pamphlets. Plus they're most likely British.

Seriously, read that link, you guys! Lyndon LaRouche is for real, and he's going to win in 2008. He just needs your help.

You're so creepy.

Plus they're most likely British.

one of my favorite parts of laroucheism

All lies, of course. I'm pretty sure that both Chip Berlet and Joel Bellman have been discredited as former Nazis in at least one of LaRouche's erudite pamphlets. Plus they're most likely British.

Indeed. If House proves anything, it's the ease with which British guys can pass themselves off as American.

Ooooh, I just scared myself.

Being that I am lazy and for the benefit of my fellow lazy...guys. Can someone give me a quick run-down on what these people believe and stand for?

Can someone give me a quick run-down on what these people believe and stand for?

i don't think that even they could do that

Being that I am lazy and for the benefit of my fellow lazy...guys. Can someone give me a quick run-down on what these people believe and stand for?

Read this: http://www.publiceye.org/larouche/nclc1.html

Or at least the first couple of screens.

You're so creepy.

you still haven't read the article, have you?

you still haven't read the article, have you?

I have, thanks, but I fail to see the relevance.

Indeed. If House proves anything, it's the ease with which British guys can pass themselves off as American.

Ooooh, I just scared myself.

Indeed, did you know that Jefferson Davis, Lynne Cheney, and Pat Robertson were/are all British?! I didn't, but then I started listening to LaRouche and he set me straight.

Indeed, did you know that Jefferson Davis, Lynne Cheney, and Pat Robertson were/are all British?! I didn't, but then I started listening to LaRouche and he set me straight.

Indeed, I heard.

Being that I am lazy and for the benefit of my fellow lazy...guys. Can someone give me a quick run-down on what these people believe and stand for?

Lyndon LaRouche and his supporters believe in democracy. They believe in self-determination, world peace and economic stability. They subscribe to a foreign policy of good will a la Franklin D Roosevelt.

LaRouche is also a hero. He has saved the United States and the American way of life many times from certain destruction. The collapse of the economy has been averted solely by Mr. LaRouche's quick action countless times. Why, LaRouche has even cured measles, and has made blind kittens see.

You're so creepy.

Thank you! :)

Read this: http://www.publiceye.org/larouche/nclc1.html

Or at least the first couple of screens.

I was going to say that link wasn't all that helpful and the amount of reading required, not to mention clicking that hyperlink, was almost offensive to my lazy-ian beliefs BUT then I came across this little gem and it told me everything I needed to know about these guys, thanks for the link :D

A September 1973 editorial in the NCLC ideological journal Campaigner charged that "Concretely, all across the U.S.A., there are workers who are prepared to fight. They are held back, most immediately, by pressure from their wives. . . ." The problem with making the revolution, LaRouche apparently had concluded, was that women are castrating bitches. One former member left in disgust when she was told women's feelings of degradation in modern society could be traced to the physical placement of female sexual organs near the anus which caused women to confuse sex with excretion.

I have, thanks, but I fail to see the relevance.

You honestly mean to tell me that an article from a news site named "The Okra", with a byline that reads "By Some Nazi Fascist Hitler-like British Imperialist Drug Dealer", a pamphlet titles that read "All Your Children are Belong to Satan", "Satans on a Plane", and "Satan Makes a Sandwich" failed to even trigger the inkling of an idea that perhaps, just maybe, the article, much less Ginnoria, isn't serious?

I don't see what any of you have against Lyndon LaRouche. He is a distinguished political figure who has some very good ideas. He is also trying to reach out to American voters, and epecially young college students like us. See this excellent news article (http://students.washington.edu/kylec4/) for information about his latest efforts to bring down fascism.

Please tell me you are joking, okay?

Please?

That'll teach me to hit the submit button sooner. Forget I said anything, okay?

i didn't know...
That's right you didnt, and if these characters are half as dubious as your accumulated interactions with them make them appear, then they are probably counting on this, and the normal human pride that prevents people from facing up to such facts as the one's you are readily admitting (that you might have been mistaken in your judgement of particular people, specifically the LeRouche Youth crowd).

You see having been 'roped in' to doing tasks for them, there is a good chance that a person will be less likely to admit to themselves that there is 'something suss' about these guys because doing so feels like admitting you got 'sucked in'.

In fact you really simply engaged in rather predictable human behaviour, the kind of behaviour that motivates neighbours to watch out for each other's homes, the kind of behaviour that facilitates cooperative projects of all kinds, the kind of behaviour that more or less functions as the primary ingrediant in the social glue that makes society possible.

So (it seems to me) that they are attempting to prey on one predictable (and meritous) human response, when that doesnt work they apply bullying and denigration in order to invoke other predictable human responses...what is supposed to keep you from balking at all this is the investment you've already made in them personally (ie buying into their mind-set and group identity at least to the point of running errands for them).

Being 'sucked in' at the earlier stages however isnt any indictment of you, it's at this point that continuing to invest (on an emotional and personal level) in the group would be fool-hearty and dangerous, but judging by your OP, you are not having it on. It doesnt take any particular bravery to refuse to share of yourself with others, to refuse to hear them out or give them a chance and the benefit of the doubt, to even become perhaps a little enthusiastic about them.

What takes smarts and a measure of staunchness is being willing to take stock and admit to yourself at this point that getting in with these guys any further isnt a smart move. You appear prepared and able to do this, so even though it might feel a little to you like you got 'sucked in' you're obviously not.

You simply behaved in a rather normal manner - if you allowed pride to get in the way of admitting it might not be smart to carry on with these guys, then you would be 'sucked in'. But you're not too scared and stubborn to admit it might have been a mistake, so you're not a sucker at all...just a person who happens to be well-natured and well-intentioned but without losing their wits while their about it. Good for you!

I HATE LAROUCHE!

They come up to me on a weekly basis, asking me tons of questions. I usually just say I have a class to get to, and keep walking. Finally, one little girl just pushed me too far, and so I lashed out, and attacked them on every stance that came into my head, from comparing people to nazi's with no decent backing beyond trying to make a scene to their stance on the environment, their passiveness about gay rights and abuse (as you mentioned), and their dismissiveness of the Take Back The Night anti-rape campaign our campus is currently doing. The girl kept trying to cut in untill I finally yelled (in the middle of one of Bostons busiest streets, in between classes on one of the most crowded campuses in the US) "Jesus fucking Christ. You expect all of us to listen to you assholes every fucking day when we have more imporant things to do with our lives. You know, things like go to class and become worthwhile so we can see through the bullshit you spew at us. I'm sorry you're a fucking college drop out who can't get a real job, but that isn't my god damned fault. Now, if you expect me to passively listen to you, then you chose the wrong fucking guy on the wrong fucking day. You wanted to talk, well, we're talking. And it is my turn now, so shut up and listen for once in your pathetic life."

yeah, it was a long day, and probably over the top for me to yell that. But damn, did it feel good to say. Plus, it is always great to start a scene every now and then. Plus, it stopped the Rabbi from approaching me to see if I wanted to go in the portosukkah.
whoah. Remind me not push your buttons.
Word of advice: try cutting down your caffiene intake.

scary.


what's a portosukkah? Is it anything like a portopotty?
Cause if it is, I really wouldn't reccommend getting into one of those with a man of the cloth.

Please tell me you are joking, okay?

Please?

That'll teach me to hit the submit button sooner. Forget I said anything, okay?

;)

whoah. Remind me not push your buttons.
Word of advice: try cutting down your caffiene intake.

scary.


what's a portosukkah? Is it anything like a portopotty?
Cause if it is, I really wouldn't reccommend getting into one of those with a man of the cloth.

haha...I have a very long temper, but when it hits, it hits hard. They happened to catch me the two days after my friend put her hand through the 1/4" plate glass door to my building, two hours after I got back a bad paper, and ten minutes after I found out my friend wanted to sue my landlord. Not a happy day in the life of Sarky.

As for the caffine...NEVAR!


the portosukkah is this little sukkah one of the local rabbis puts on the back of his truck. He drives to the college campuses, and invites everyone to go in and eat something. It's really nice, but they are always only there right when I have class

I don't see what any of you have against Lyndon LaRouche. He is a distinguished political figure who has some very good ideas. He is also trying to reach out to American voters, and epecially young college students like us. See this excellent news article (http://students.washington.edu/kylec4/) for information about his latest efforts to bring down fascism.

Ho-kay, I'm not sure if this is serious or sarcasm. So, I'm going with the one that is more obvious than the other, and say serious.

In which case, I'd like to point out


LaRouche himself has cited the involvement of the CIA, the United Kingdom, Methamphetamine dealers, and the Antichrist in a conspiracy to prevent his candidacy, but has voiced hopes for the 2008 election.

Oh yeah, I can definately see this conspiracy. Methheads, the CIA, the UK, and the Antichrist all have it out to get him.

He is batshit insane.

Not the "Everybody hates me because I hate everybody" batshit insane of Phelps, but more along the lines of "Oh, so THAT'S why you put tinfoil on your head." batshit insane. One you hate, the other you pity.

Honestly, though, I have never heard of this group, and if one tried to come on my campus, I would rent a spot right next to them, with a big sign that says "Douche Bags---->", with the arrow pointed at them. I would then create pamphlets and such that all it really said was that this group of people were the biggest douche bags in the world(Not to be confused with the Biggest douche in the Universe, John Edwards from "Crossing Over").

Same thing happened to me with Scientologists and the Christian Science group. In both cases I explained I was a militant atheist and a user of various recreational and prescription drugs, they both backed off. You just need to be firm and imposing. Oh and it helps put on the facade of being more committed to your lifestyle than they are with theirs. In my case I masqueraded as the Marquis de Sade, it worked rather well, they didn't want me to be a member.

If the LaRouchies give you any trouble just wear a big T-Shirt with a picture of Israel on the front and Aristotle on the back. That'll slow 'em down.

You honestly mean to tell me that an article from a news site named "The Okra", with a byline that reads "By Some Nazi Fascist Hitler-like British Imperialist Drug Dealer", a pamphlet titles that read "All Your Children are Belong to Satan", "Satans on a Plane", and "Satan Makes a Sandwich" failed to even trigger the inkling of an idea that perhaps, just maybe, the article, much less Ginnoria, isn't serious?

Ah, dammit. Didn't notice the connection of "Okra" to "Onion"(Both cooking ingredients), and didn't look at the other articles. I wasn't having my sarcasm meter on for this one.

Ah, dammit. Didn't notice the connection of "Okra" to "Onion"(Both cooking ingredients), and didn't look at the other articles. I wasn't having my sarcasm meter on for this one.

Yeah, I just saw the title and a couple of words the first time. Second time, I read the byline and felt like an idiot. :)

thank you all...

i'm going to go drink the Kool-Aid now.. :D

I HATE LAROUCHE!

They come up to me on a weekly basis, asking me tons of questions. I usually just say I have a class to get to, and keep walking. Finally, one little girl just pushed me too far, and so I lashed out, and attacked them on every stance that came into my head, from comparing people to nazi's with no decent backing beyond trying to make a scene to their stance on the environment, their passiveness about gay rights and abuse (as you mentioned), and their dismissiveness of the Take Back The Night anti-rape campaign our campus is currently doing. The girl kept trying to cut in untill I finally yelled (in the middle of one of Bostons busiest streets, in between classes on one of the most crowded campuses in the US) "Jesus fucking Christ. You expect all of us to listen to you assholes every fucking day when we have more imporant things to do with our lives. You know, things like go to class and become worthwhile so we can see through the bullshit you spew at us. I'm sorry you're a fucking college drop out who can't get a real job, but that isn't my god damned fault. Now, if you expect me to passively listen to you, then you chose the wrong fucking guy on the wrong fucking day. You wanted to talk, well, we're talking. And it is my turn now, so shut up and listen for once in your pathetic life."

yeah, it was a long day, and probably over the top for me to yell that. But damn, did it feel good to say. Plus, it is always great to start a scene every now and then. Plus, it stopped the Rabbi from approaching me to see if I wanted to go in the portosukkah.

Now if I saw that when I was in Boston..

Now if I saw that when I was in Boston..

haha...let me know the next time you're up...I'll try to make a public scene then