I see the word comrade get passed around a lot on the internet, particularly lemmy, and I’ve never really known the lore behind it. The only association I have with the word is that it’s a word I primarily see used by tankies (as in, authoritarian leftists who hate on authoritarianism in the west but not in the east). Does anyone know and can explain it in a relatively understandable way?
I could not explain the history of the word to you but I personally use it because its a friendly gender neutral term that doesn’t sound condescending. Like I could refer to someone as friend but I am from the south and thats disrespectful here at least. Its a also a term that to me atleast implies a sense of connection under an oppresive force but I don’t think that meaning is often communicated to the other person.
It’s someone you feel a sense of comradery with. A comrade.
Goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship.
I mostly use it ironically for false friends that pretend to be leftists 😅
But yeah, that’s a bit like giving the term to the tankies, which is a pity, as in theory it is a good way to describe people you feel are allies in the many of today’s struggles.
I would say comrade is a mix of different things but mostly, someone you feel solidarity towards/with. Friend and brother (in arms) are good substitutes too I guess.
“Mister” and “miss” used to be applied to people of higher status than you. A “comrade” is your equal. A comrade is someone who you fight with. During the revolutions of 1848, the revolutionaries, among them the nascent socialist movement, called each other comrades as a result.
The events of 1848 proved extremely influential for the left.
This was before the International split, so all lefties use the word as a consequence.
There’s also “partner”, which to me implies having aims and goals in common.
