How to be a socialist or communist

Ethnic guy answered the question posed by Maggie about what a person needs to believe in politically to be a potential socialist or communist.

I'm not much of a political person but I consider myself a socialist and/or communist. I can offer an answer in terms of personal requirements:

To be a socialist/communist, one must have:

A strong belief in social responsibility - we are all brothers and sisters.
An appreciation and love of all peoples and abilities.
A sense of oneself independent of work - who you are when you are being you and not a job title.
A sense of joy and optimism.
Ability to be kind.
From each according to ability; to each according to need. Live it.
Ability to fight.
Ability to grieve.
Ability to lead; ability to follow.
Ability to party and rejoice.
Ability to trust each other, be open to knowing one another and letting them know you.

Education, art, literature, cinema, history, philosophy, music are integral human needs and people must have the time for these. It's important to make time in life for these things so the world becomes a better and more tolerant place.

"Do something!" said Helen Winter, a Communist of the McCarthy era. "It doesn't have to be big - if you get on the library committee that's good."