Deafeatism - Are we refusing to tackle obstacles in our path?

I'd like to begin with a definition from the Oxford dictionary :

obstacle
Pronunciation:/ˈɒbstək(ə)l/
noun
a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress:

We have all encountered obstacles in our lives at some point and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes; A physical obstacle that blocks our path, an economic obstacle that stand in the way of us from having access to the things we want or need, biophysical obstacles that mean our own bodies struggle to do what we want and the thing that I would like to concentrate on - political obstacles that mean that our ideological ambitions are hindered by events and situations that stand in the way.

There are a whole range of obstacles that stand in our way of being able to live in a democratic society that is based on fairness and equality and justice. Lack of resources, numbers, influence and even physical barriers such as the policeman's truncheon, or security measures put in place to maintain the status quo stand in the way of progress. Whenever action is proposed, we quickly find these these obstacles standing in our way and just like we would when our path is blocked by a physical obstacle, we are presented with a number of choices in how to overcome them:

1. Tackle the obstacle and remove it.
2. Find a way to go around it.
3. Give up and go back the way you came.

I'm sorry to say that the attitude of many parts of the movement in the 21st Century has been to take the 3rd option, regardless of whether that is the best course of action or not. The defeatist attitude presents itself very clearly with the cries of "We don't have the cash to do that", "We don't have the numbers to do that", or even "There's too many coppers in our way" and it is left at that. Any suggestion of finding ways to get more numbers, cash, or manoeuvrability on the streets is dismissed. While, there is parts of the movement that approach obstacles more logically and evaluate the best response to them, others seek to excuse their own inaction by writing off methodical action as "impossible" the instant a challenge is put in our way. These people themselves have become an obstacle in the path to an Anarchist society.

The choice to take a course of action should always be determined by the potential risks and gains and nothing should be ruled out until this evaluation has been carried out. However, what is certain though, is that by taking the 3rd option we always going to leave the status quo determining our destinies. Or as a Staff Sergeant, I used to know, put it, "What you tolerate, you validate!"

If you're looking for a more progressive individual to persuade you, then I refer you to the words that a certain Spanish car mechanic made in 1936:

We have always lived in slums and holes in the wall. We will know how to accommodate ourselves for a while. For you must not forget that we can also build. It is we who built these palaces and cities, here in Spain and America and everywhere. We, the workers. We can build others to take their place. And better ones. We are not in the least afraid of ruins. We are going to inherit the earth; there is not the slightest doubt about that. The bourgeoisie might blast and ruin its own world before it leaves the stage of history. We carry a new world here, in our hearts. That world is growing in this minute. - Buenaventura Durruti

While politicians of the Spanish Republic bickered over how Franco was too powerful to resist and began suggesting surrender from the get-go, militias like those that Durruti was part of, weighed up the risk of allowing a fascist
 like Franco to seize power. They assessed the risk of disobeying the Republic and made the decision to take action. Spanish workers stormed the armouries and began fighting to make sure that they, not Franco, would determine their destinies.

Franco was an obstacle that stood in the way of their freedom and had to be opposed. The Republic's bureaucracy and bumbling stood in the way of what had to be done to preserve freedom and had to be navigated around.

I'm guessing that the people reading this are aware of how the story ends, however there is little doubt that the actions of the militas were nothing short of the most responsible course of action to take, given the situation. After all, what does it mean to be an anarchist, if you are not prepared to take responsibility for your own actions, or for that matter, inactions?

I fear that if history had been repeated, many would cry "Franco has guns! We can't oppose him!", or "The people are not ready to oppose Franco. We must wait until the middle classes begin to suffer too!".

Some may read this and interpret it as a call to take up arms and begin randomly attacking our oppressors, their supporters, or the infrastructure they rely upon to oppress us with. That is not my intention. While I won't go as far as to say that violence is never the answer, I strongly believe that no tactic should be written off on principle, but its use be guided by that same risk/gain evaluation that we should use whenever any form of obstacle stands in the way of our freedom.

If an obstacle stands in our way and it is in our best interests to avoid it, then that is what we must do. If an obstacle stands in our way and it is in our best interests to tackle it, then that we must also do. How we assess this is best left up to democracy to deciede, but make no mistakes, when we agree to inaction, we must also accept the consequences of allowing our rulers to carry out their attacks on us unopposed. By choosing to not resist, we send out a message out our rulers that we are content and to go further - deserve everything that they do to us.

We should not shy away from doing what is right, just because it is hard. We must find ways to tackle the difficult issues we face and not cower like a defeated people. The state and the rich bastards that command it, are already panicking at the thought of this realisation dawning upon the 99% and have begun violent repression in a desperate bid to prevent the spread of this idea. Our people really have got the rich rattled.

Obstacles are there to be overcome. 

Say no to defeatism. Say no to closed minds. 

Say yes to whatever it takes!