Chapter 1: The Old Radical
It was quite a contested election with former Californian governor Alan Yong and his opponent former Vice President Simon Harrison; roughly the Presidential election of 2028. Both men even though they were from opposing parties – the Common Good Association versus the Stars and Stripes – both came from the wealthy. That sparked a revolution in the United States quite similar to Mexico’s 1917 Revolution which was the first socialist revolution of the modern era before the rise of the Soviet Union. About a year into the successful revolution – the Federal government had been fully replaced by a Communist government led by a Commune Council with its leader – Carl Peters.
Now although Carl came from a wealthy background – he hated the system he grew up into and was a promoter of Trotskyite form of Communism while other factions of the council cared for either Maoism or Third Worldism.
“Our agenda today is to select a Revolutionary Defender” said Carl as he made his speech before the Council.
Carl was an advocate for erasing the free market principles of Capitalism from the United States. Since the violent revolution happened as a response to the election of the wealthy elite – elections were called off until the revolutionaries could fully secure all aspects of American life. He felt the Revolutionary Defender title, being the former Attorney General could accomplish just that. A few loud voices on the Council – Mahmoud Mustafa a Palestinian activist was one of the louder voices distrusting older people to take the helm of the revolution.
“If we are going to have a Defender of the Revolution as a title, then surely you must consider a young Progressive” said Mahmoud.
“I hate to say it” said Carl, “but first come, first serve. Only the most dedicated revolutionary would serve our purpose and our goals.”
Mahmoud was no doubt disappointed with Carl’s decision – the Council had occupied the White House with Simon Harrison and his family already fleeing the country to Canada of all places. Simon was considered an international fugitive by the Council. A few contenders for the Defender of Revolution title had signed up: At least three applicants were steadfast ready Communists – Elijah Jaffe, a well known civil rights attorney, despite his age being in the early 70’s he was vying for the top job; Gloria Mbaka, a well known Pan-Africanist radical she had applied to be either Revolutionary Defender or Economic strategist for the Council; and finally the wild card – Timothy Andrews a professor in his early 20’s willing to sacrifice himself if necessary to the council. The thing with Timothy is that he had right-wing relatives who were active in the rebellion against Communist rule in the former United States.
“I do not like the last one” said Mahmoud as he glanced at the list of candidates.
Timothy was already blacklisted by Mahmoud for even having right-leaning relatives – but for someone like Elijah or Gloria those would be the final two. They had arrived in Washington DC later in the evening. Elijah was with his son – Mat while Gloria was with her daughter Megan. Gloria was friendly to Elijah, respecting him for showing his age in wisdom during the entire Civil Rights Era fighting the corrupt Federal government at that time. It shaped much of Elijah’s beliefs over American Capitalism being the “source” of the white nationalism around the world.
