Why I Became a Socialist

Guillermo Segura

I joined Socialist Alternative because despite all of the setbacks that socialism has faced, I still believe that it is the only just way to organize society.

Before I joined, I had participated in several pseudo-revolutionary Left organizations in Mexico, from Liberation Theology and the Zapatistas to Anarchist, Maoist, and Liberal groups. I broke with all of them because of the sectarian way they pretend to build the revolution. Later I started doing guerrilla theater, my way of personal and political expression. I began to participate in local and community struggles independently of the leadership that they had.

I never stopped being a socialist, but I did not participate in other socialist organizations until I came to the United States and joined Socialist Alternative. I was attracted to its Trotskyist politics. I was attracted to its participation in real, daily struggles. I want to intervene in the mass movement on issues relevant to real people. Socialist Alternative participates in elections and emphasizes the preparation of committed revolutionary cadres. All of this is extremely important to keep from becoming a sectarian organization or a party of "bosses" like many others. I am still a member of Socialist Alternative because of its true commitment to building a socialist society.

Chris Thomas

I first heard about Socialist Alternative through the campaign against Sodexho-Marriott at Oberlin College, but I wasn't interested in politics at that time. The Nader campaign, headed off by SA, was the starting point for my contact with and growing interest in socialism. From talking with friends and other members, I learned more about what socialism really means: the combined struggle of workers and the oppressed. I enjoyed working with others on the campaign, talking to people about politics, and being a part of the growing movement, so I decided to join and continue organizing in the future.

Sarah J. Vicente

As a new member of Socialist Alternative, I feel as if I have been awakened from a political coma. I have learned so much thus far about the urgency and significance of Left-wing politics in this country and around the world. I joined the organization because, not only being a worker my whole life, and growing up amidst the hard-working, and often overlooked majority of the population, I wanted to have a voice and contribute to the plight of the masses. Possessing a voice, not only for myself, but for the millions of oppressed laborers everywhere. I believe it is necessary to play a proactive role, and expose the corruptness and ignorance of right-wing politics, which seem to dominate our media in this country. By attending meetings, discussion groups, and other political forums, I feel my mind has opened and my thoughts can be expressed. I continue to learn and embrace the shared knowledge and experiences of my comrades. A struggle for one is truly a struggle for all!!

Ian Werkheiser

I knew there were serious and deeply rooted problems in our society. How could you not? But knowing that there is a problem is the easy part. The hard part is breaking the defeatist mindset that says you can't do anything about it. I was always told that you needed to look after yourself. After all, no one else will, right? I gave some money to charity, sure, joined some organizations that I didn't have to do any work for except receive a news letter every month, maybe e-mail my congressman, and feel good about myself. I concentrated on being a "private citizen": get into a good school, get a job, work towards building a good life for myself.

But ultimately I felt unhappy. There comes a point when you see the attempt to make an individual and his television the single unit of society, and you say "enough." But it's impossible to do this by yourself. For me the moment came when I saw a speech and public meeting hosted by Socialist Alternative at my university.

Here was a group of people that were motivated. They didn't just close their eyes, nor were they a single-issue activist group. They saw a way to address the underlying problem of elevating greed to man's highest good, and thinking that this will somehow result in a fair distribution of the world's resources.

They showed me that by getting people to work together, they can take control of their own lives, rather then killing themselves from overwork in wage slavery to those with money. With a real plan of working on the individual issues that are so important, while simultaneously showing that a more fundamental change was needed and constantly pushing for this socialist alternative. I knew that I had found an organization that could make a difference, and together with my comrades, I can too.