"I view Mr. Trump's fear, lust and sloth and I do not envy him."

[Fantastic Anarchist]

40. Yes - the Bolshevik Myth by Alexander Berkman!

Available for free online.

The Bolshevik Myth - by Alexander Berkman

But first, a primer:

Freedom and Revolution - The Bolshevik Experience

Ah, anarchism, regarding violent and peaceful tactics. There is a continuum from total pacifists like Leo Tolstoy to Revolutionary firebrands like Mikhail Bakunin. I would say most anarchists are in the middle but with a good portion who are pro-peace. I think the violent ones are urging for revolution, they want it now. I think there's merit on both sides. I, personally, am pro-peace, but I am not a pacifist. What you saw during the protests were Black Bloc Anarchists. They have protesting down to a science. What to wear, how to speak, what to do in certain situations, how to escape being arrested, how to avoid being tear-gassed, etc. They are descendants of the Bakunin branch of anarchism. Revolution now! Ironically, Bakunin's teacher, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, was pro-peace, and emphasized establishing anarchist collectives (see Mutualism) within the shell of the old society, and gradually evolving into an anarchist society. There are many strains of thought, and all have good reasons and objectives. It's really just a decision that one has to make for his or herself.

Many people think of anarchists as bomb-throwing terrorists. But, many famous anarchists were pacifists. The previously named Proudhon, the anarchist-communist Prince Peter Kropotkin, who was so influential, that the Bolsheviks allowed a public demonstration at his funeral - the last public demonstration allowed in the Soviet Union until Glastnost. That's how revered he was. His study and book, Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution (free online at the link therein), emphasized that successful societies (in the animal world, including humans) that stressed cooperation over competition, tended to be more successful. Absolutely fascinating read. Of course, the Bolsheviks outlawed anarchism - please see how Nestor Mahkno allied his Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine (Black Army) with the Red Army to defeat the reactionary White Armies. Then Lenin turned on the anarchists, and crushed them, as well.

Leo Tolstoy, a Christian anarchist and pacifist had a major influence on both Gandhi and MLK Jr. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ernest Hemingway, Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky - you have different personalities and demeanor.

We're not all assholes. We like to learn and live and let live. Some of us, though, and as with the case with anybody, when pushed enough, and feel there are no other avenues, will resort to the use of force to defend ourselves, as is only natural.

I would be remiss if I didn't provide this outstanding link that will really let you understand anarchism as a whole:

Anarchism: From Theory to Practice by Daniel Guerin

It's absolutely fantastic and will really clear up any questions you may have. Also, if you have any questions or thoughts, please share them with me.

I really do appreciate your interest. I get excited when people want to know about, what I believe, is the most beautiful philosophy on Earth.

Oh, and for a very long and in depth read about the nature of the Soviet Union, please see:

What Was the USSR? Towards a Theory of the Deformation of Value Under State Capitalism

This takes several angles from Trotsky's view that Russia was a degenerated workers' state to the ultimate conclusion that it was a form of State Capitalism. It's heavy on economic talk, but really interesting, to me at least.

I hope I've helped. Let me know if you need anything else!