Two puzzles about Russia today

kowalskil · July 25th, 2011, 08:06 PM

The 70th anniversary of the German attack on the Soviet Union was on June 21. On that occasion I visited many Russian websites. What a surprise to find that both communists and anticommunists glorify Stalin in today's Russia.

Communists remember him as a great Marxist ideologist, as Lenin's partner, as a leader responsible for collectivization of agriculture, for rapid industrialization, and for merciless destruction of traitors, especially within the communist party and the military, in the late 1930's. Briefly, they glorify him as the leader of the Soviet proletarian dictatorship, and as a military genius responsible for the Soviet victory over fascism.

The anticommunists also claim that Stalin was responsible for the Soviet victory over fascism. But they totally ignore his communist ideology, and the brutality he used to impose obedience. Logically, the attitude toward Stalinism should divide communists and anticommunists. But in reality it seems to unite them. How can this be explained?

And this is not the only puzzle. As some of you probably remember, I wrote a memoir about life in the Soviet Union during the first year of the war. It can be seen at

OOP, I am not yet allowed to post a URL.

Thinking about the approaching 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War--that is how Russians refer to their experience during WWII--I sent the above link to perhaps as many as 20 editors of Russian newspapers, giving them permission to translate and publish my memoir. Not a single one responded. How can this be explained?

Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia)
Professor Emeritus

OPPS, another URL removed
.

Jennifer23 · July 25th, 2011, 09:58 PM

Ludwik, it's great to see you here again! I'm Jennifer, the Godian. But, history is strange. Stalin's history is interesting, but I've talked to a Jewish friend of mine that said that Hitler screwed up. Instead of trying to rid Germany of Jews, he sould have recruited them for the bomb. He said that Hitler was intelligent and a very emotional speaker, but had the flaws. Richard Nixon - very intelligent but with paranoia. Jimmy Carter's ideals were great, but circumstances prevented him from realizing them. And then, there's George W.Bush - no excuse for that guy. Good to hear from you again!

sistergirl · July 26th, 2011, 11:33 PM

Thought this posted, but didn't go through...

What do you mean "he should have recruited them for the bomb" Jen?

Jennifer23 · July 27th, 2011, 09:17 PM

Hi Sister. I shouldn't have put it "the bomb" thing that way. My friend, Gary was making a point about Hitler, and that if he wanted to actually take over the World at that time in Germany, he should have used all those brilliant Jewish scientists to help him.
Well, luckily it didn't work out. The VW came out under Hitler, and that worked out.
Nixon started the EPA and had more civil rights legislation passed than LBJ. It's interesting that people that have political power can also be very flawed.

sistergirl · July 28th, 2011, 12:39 AM

Because they are all people first.

Wolf_angel · July 28th, 2011, 08:26 AM

Er Go able to do and be stupid at times! Being human only and truley means we are flawed. Sometimes its apparent yet other times its not.

sistergirl · July 29th, 2011, 12:00 AM

hey...there she is!

Wolf_angel · August 7th, 2011, 08:23 AM

sistergirl · August 7th, 2011, 05:47 PM

Wolf_angel · August 9th, 2011, 08:18 AM

I have been here just busy with college paperwork!

Jennifer23 · August 10th, 2011, 09:14 PM

sister, Wolfie and I have been back and forth on these boards for awhile now. Hi Wolfie!

Savanah · August 29th, 2011, 10:48 AM

The sad thing is that communism actually got lost in the melee of brutal dictatorships. Communism is not anti-democracy, but a system of economics that prevents the kind of concentration of wealth in the hands of the few like we are currently experiencing world wide. And the end result now we are experiencing the total collapse of the global economy.

I live in Santa Cruz CA and there's a movement here for localization - local banking, local currencies, local businesses, gardens-no-grass, etc. Does anyone else have ideas or experience with localization programs? We need to share our successes and ideas and spread the wealth.

kowalskil · August 30th, 2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savanah

The sad thing is that communism actually got lost in the melee of brutal dictatorships. Communism is not anti-democracy, but a system of economics that prevents the kind of concentration of wealth in the hands of the few like we are currently experiencing world wide. ...

What does a typical American billionaire do with his wealth? I guess that most of it, perhaps more than 95%, is invested. His standards of living are probably not very different from those enjoyed by top managers in the former USSR.

Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia)
.

Wolf_angel · August 30th, 2011, 09:40 AM

Perhaps yet if they are like that teacher who gave back his benefits and money towards his community things would be different. I agree we shouldnt have a monopoly on who has all the power. It needs to be more diversified and thus helps the community, state and country.

Jennifer23 · August 30th, 2011, 10:47 PM

Kowalski, I totally agree with you. The thing that I don't understand about this country and the world, is why professional athletes can make millions of dollars and teachers are struggling. Shouldn't we check our priorities?

July 25th, 2011, 08:06 PM	#1
kowalskil Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 62	Two puzzles about Russia today The 70th anniversary of the German attack on the Soviet Union was on June 21. On that occasion I visited many Russian websites. What a surprise to find that both communists and anticommunists glorify Stalin in today's Russia. Communists remember him as a great Marxist ideologist, as Lenin's partner, as a leader responsible for collectivization of agriculture, for rapid industrialization, and for merciless destruction of traitors, especially within the communist party and the military, in the late 1930's. Briefly, they glorify him as the leader of the Soviet proletarian dictatorship, and as a military genius responsible for the Soviet victory over fascism. The anticommunists also claim that Stalin was responsible for the Soviet victory over fascism. But they totally ignore his communist ideology, and the brutality he used to impose obedience. Logically, the attitude toward Stalinism should divide communists and anticommunists. But in reality it seems to unite them. How can this be explained? And this is not the only puzzle. As some of you probably remember, I wrote a memoir about life in the Soviet Union during the first year of the war. It can be seen at OOP, I am not yet allowed to post a URL. Thinking about the approaching 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War--that is how Russians refer to their experience during WWII--I sent the above link to perhaps as many as 20 editors of Russian newspapers, giving them permission to translate and publish my memoir. Not a single one responded. How can this be explained? Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia) Professor Emeritus OPPS, another URL removed . __________________ "Diary of a Former Communist: Thoughts, Feelings, Reality." My testimony is based on a diary kept between 1946 and 2004, in the USSR, Poland, France and the USA. Ask Google for Ludwik Kowalski.

July 28th, 2011, 08:26 AM	#6
Wolf_angel A survivor of chaos Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Where my heart is Posts: 3,147	Er Go able to do and be stupid at times! Being human only and truley means we are flawed. Sometimes its apparent yet other times its not. __________________ May you walk in the shadow of the Great Spirit~To help others is a special gift we can either give or take~The more you give the more you receive~

August 7th, 2011, 08:23 AM	#8
Wolf_angel A survivor of chaos Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Where my heart is Posts: 3,147	Who? __________________ May you walk in the shadow of the Great Spirit~To help others is a special gift we can either give or take~The more you give the more you receive~

August 7th, 2011, 05:47 PM	#9
sistergirl Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 648	you!

August 9th, 2011, 08:18 AM	#10
Wolf_angel A survivor of chaos Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Where my heart is Posts: 3,147	I have been here just busy with college paperwork! __________________ May you walk in the shadow of the Great Spirit~To help others is a special gift we can either give or take~The more you give the more you receive~

July 25th, 2011, 09:58 PM	#2
Jennifer23 Jennifer23 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 3,187	Ludwik, it's great to see you here again! I'm Jennifer, the Godian. But, history is strange. Stalin's history is interesting, but I've talked to a Jewish friend of mine that said that Hitler screwed up. Instead of trying to rid Germany of Jews, he sould have recruited them for the bomb. He said that Hitler was intelligent and a very emotional speaker, but had the flaws. Richard Nixon - very intelligent but with paranoia. Jimmy Carter's ideals were great, but circumstances prevented him from realizing them. And then, there's George W.Bush - no excuse for that guy. Good to hear from you again!

July 26th, 2011, 11:33 PM	#3
sistergirl Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 648	Thought this posted, but didn't go through... What do you mean "he should have recruited them for the bomb" Jen?

July 27th, 2011, 09:17 PM	#4
Jennifer23 Jennifer23 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 3,187	Hi Sister. I shouldn't have put it "the bomb" thing that way. My friend, Gary was making a point about Hitler, and that if he wanted to actually take over the World at that time in Germany, he should have used all those brilliant Jewish scientists to help him. Well, luckily it didn't work out. The VW came out under Hitler, and that worked out. Nixon started the EPA and had more civil rights legislation passed than LBJ. It's interesting that people that have political power can also be very flawed.

July 28th, 2011, 12:39 AM	#5
sistergirl Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 648	Because they are all people first.

July 29th, 2011, 12:00 AM	#7
sistergirl Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 648	hey...there she is!

August 10th, 2011, 09:14 PM	#11
Jennifer23 Jennifer23 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 3,187	sister, Wolfie and I have been back and forth on these boards for awhile now. Hi Wolfie!

August 29th, 2011, 10:48 AM	#12
Savanah Savanah Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 5	The sad thing is that communism actually got lost in the melee of brutal dictatorships. Communism is not anti-democracy, but a system of economics that prevents the kind of concentration of wealth in the hands of the few like we are currently experiencing world wide. And the end result now we are experiencing the total collapse of the global economy. I live in Santa Cruz CA and there's a movement here for localization - local banking, local currencies, local businesses, gardens-no-grass, etc. Does anyone else have ideas or experience with localization programs? We need to share our successes and ideas and spread the wealth.

August 30th, 2011, 09:40 AM	#14
Wolf_angel A survivor of chaos Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Where my heart is Posts: 3,147	Perhaps yet if they are like that teacher who gave back his benefits and money towards his community things would be different. I agree we shouldnt have a monopoly on who has all the power. It needs to be more diversified and thus helps the community, state and country. __________________ May you walk in the shadow of the Great Spirit~To help others is a special gift we can either give or take~The more you give the more you receive~

August 30th, 2011, 10:47 PM	#15
Jennifer23 Jennifer23 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 3,187	Kowalski, I totally agree with you. The thing that I don't understand about this country and the world, is why professional athletes can make millions of dollars and teachers are struggling. Shouldn't we check our priorities?