So what's the anarchist version of Order of Lenin [sincere]
So I bought a heap of cheap manufacturered soviet medals on Aliexpress, and I occasionally will let people in my org award them to each other for praiseworthy stuff. But now there's anarchists in my group and they might find that offensive. So what's the anarchist version?
I'm sure some people would be cool. But many some leftists still equate the Soviet Union with totalitarianism. Anyhow, a Lenin award might not be an award to them.
I don’t get how you could equate Lenin, who basically became incapacitated in 1922, to the worst excesses of the Soviet regime in the 30s. But I guess anarchists like not reading history.
Semi-serious, because I would like it: The most anarchic of creatures are the cat and the various cephalopods, and thus the highest awards possible are a lil' sleepy cat pin, octopus tentacle holding a hammer, or cuddlefish.
there actually is popular AnCom / syndicalist imagery around cats:
This originated with so-called wildcat strikes organized by the IWW, but nowadays is used in all kinds of agitprop about becoming ungovernable. Variations include a portrait image of a black cat hissing and so on
Despite it's later formalised royal moniker, the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution), formerly the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, is still an independent volunteer force funded by charity. Kropotkin frequently cited it as an exemplar of free agreement and anarchist organisation, and rightly so. Crews who risk their lives or other people who contribute significantly are awarded medals, with almost 2500 given out over the last 200 years, and many more 'Letters of Appriciation'.
So maybe a lifeboat letter / medal?
(Yes, this was mostly just an excuse to talk about lifeboat history)
Honestly, you could just ask them. Let them know you hand out the medals for awards and put it to a vote if they mind it being an Order of Lenin medal or if they want something else or if they even care. That's probably what I'd do. Maybe first let them know that the medals are meant as a just for fun thing.