Why we joined the Socialist Party

BILLY MATHER and AMY TAYLOR have both recently joined the Socialist
Party in Southampton. Here they give their reasons why they joined. If
you’re reading this and aren’t already a member why don’t you join too?
Get involved and add your voice to the fight to build an alternative to
this rotten system.

I was furious and upset that Great Britain and America carried out an
unjust war against Iraq despite a two million-strong protest in London.
I felt as though I had no voice to speak out against injustice.

I managed to turn my anger into something more positive by signing
petitions opposing things I felt were unjust. Certain films I’d seen and
songs I had been listening to contained socialist themes or ideas and I
looked up ‘Socialism’ in the dictionary. I then found out about a local
Socialist Party branch meeting and I went along to find out more.

It is harder to ignore an organised group as opposed to an
individual. It is reassuring to know your ideas and feelings are shared
with people of many ages and different backgrounds.

Socialism is about equality, justice and compassion for others. The
ideals of socialism can be applied in all aspects of life, including
learning.

Billy Mather

I REALISED that there wasn’t much fairness in the world around me. It
seemed ridiculous that there are people all over the world that are
suffering when the people who run the country live the most comfortable
lives of all.

Events like the invasion of Lebanon made me realise how frustrated I
was and I wanted a chance to be able to do something about it.

Until recently I wasn’t really aware of socialist ideas, but learning
about the anti-war campaigns that the Socialist Party was involved in
made me want to join and say what I think. We are currently campaigning
against war and terror – I am asking people to sign the petition and
read our views about the war in Lebanon, and trying to get socialist
ideas across.

I went to a branch meeting in my local area and it was exciting to
see and hear people sharing the same ideas and concerns that I had. It’s
easy to be angry at the world, but at the same time it’s just as easy to
conclude that there is nothing you can do about it.

Being in the party gives me the chance to ask questions, become more
aware of what is actually happening in the world, and also gives me the
encouragement to do something about it.

Students have a lot on their plate, trying to juggle fees, rent, a
part-time job, studies, and also a life outside of all these things. The
problem is that if students can’t manage, then what can they do about
it?

If socialist ideas, including the right to a free education and not
being forced to put their studies last, provides an alternative, then I
think plenty of students will be interested.

Amy Taylor