"I guess what I'm saying is, Workers Of The World- come up with some new names."
As an activist on a college campus, I can speak firsthand of many individuals who I've talked to who have said that they would be more than willing to join the party or the YCL, but often they will not simply because we are 'communists,' saying exactly what you are saying - the negative connotation of the word limits the ability to spread the message.
I would argue a different fact, however: communism has gained a negative connotation because of the influence of media and society. This leads to several issues preventing us from simply "changing the name."
Firstly, in many other nations around the world, the word "Communist" does not have such a negative connotation, but by changing our name, we dissociate ourselves from them. Not only do we abandon our comrades by changing our name, we gain a negative reputation. Because the word "communist" is tied, by definition, to an ideology, communism, changing our name implies a distinction from this ideology.
Secondly, the negative connotations are a result of years of demagoguery and right-wing sensationalism. While a name change would, temporarily, get us away from this, it would only be a short matter of time before either the label of communist was reapplied to us (currently it is used by some as a perjorative term for any leftist activist, e.g., red-baiting). Alternatively, the negative connotation would simply follow us to the new name. Using the term "socialist" and then continuing to work as communists will only lead to "socialism" being the problem. As long as the ultra-right finds our policies threatening, they will do all they can to ensure we are seen in a negative light.
Finally, the fact is, as I said before, that we are Communists because we follow a particular ideology, of Communism. Socialism is only a section of the road on the grand journey to Communism. While we are currently following Socialist policies and moving to bring the United States into a Socialist system, that is not the end goal. We strive for a future of international communism, which in and of itself carries many implications and ideas.
Changing our name betrays the ideology for which we stand. It is at this time that we do not need to run from popular opinion, changing our name with only a short-term effect, but to stand proud as Communists, and defeat the negative opinion created by the sensationalism of the capitalist oppressors. By promoting our ideas to the masses, and letting them see for what we truly stand, we not only change their opinions towards Communists, we also show them the inherent lies of the capitalist system. They will see not only that Communism is a wonderful thing, but that they have been mistled by the capitalists.
We must not change our name to concede to the masses; rather, we must do what it is we communists do best: educate and mobilize the masses so that the negative connotations of the term "communist" fade away in light of the truth - the Truth of our message, our ideas, our actions, and our movement.
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