Read "Ten Myths About Israel" by Ilan Pappe (an Israeli Jew)

https://annas-archive.org/search?q=ten+myths+about+israel

There is space for all varieties of leftism here. You don’t need to covert to communism. We aren’t a cult. Though we will poke fun at soc-dems and dem socs Glad you found some solace.

For a contemporary non-western marxist perspective, go to youtube and check out some talks by Vijay Prashad

One of the silver linings of there being so little real leftist structure in America and its buddies is that you don't have to have an immediately developed and coherent ideological position to be in on the memes and community

Putting yourself in opposition to whatever the official American foreign policy position is is a good starting point in almost all circumstances

I have no recommended reading, I just want to say welcome. Props to you for realising some of the problems in most spaces.

How do you feel about owls?

Communism is love for your fellow human, and the will to fight for that

I've already +1'd someone's recommendation of Blowback, but I realized another reason why it's such a good early listen. It's not about being a socialist, it's about big world events - the Iraq War, Cuban Revolution, Korean War, and Afghanistan. Those events have really distorted narratives in the national psyche, but simultaneously we all sort of suspect that those narratives ARE bullshit, we just might not realize the degree or know what the specifics are. It's a great way to break down certain barriers constructed by our media

by the way only the latest season is ever charged for, you can listen to all the past ones for free

I'd agree with those who posted to read Bullshit Jobs and listen to Blowback, that's a good start. I would advise patience and rigor if you want to get deep into theory, history and practice. There is a LOT to learn, and it takes time to integrate it all into a persistent worldview

Behold!! Hear his word and be saved!!! https://youtu.be/xP8CzlFhc14?si=l2-USQ51ImYZQHC0

Are you usually a reader? If you're not I can probably dig you up some material that is more in line with a person that prefers to learn via video or audio.

With that said.

If you're american there is one thing you should read first, Blackshirts and Reds. @Nematodes@hexbear.net

Consider it an act of removing placed within you over many many decades.

Lots of good suggestions here, so I'll add one that hasn't been mentioned yet: Capital is definitely daunting (although now that I've actually gotten a couple chapters in it's not that bad), so if you want a bit of a primer on some of the main ideas, there are two essays/pamphlets Marx wrote called "Value, Price, and Profit" and "Wage-Labor and Capital". I think they're a solid intro to some of the economic ideas underpinning Marx's analysis of the mechanisms of capitalism.

Blackshirts and Reds is the most important book anybody should read of they want to understand the importance of communism in the fight against fascism