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I have tried to answer my own question, why the appeal of Communism, and have come up with lots of fragmented answers. One of them for students is that many youngsters leave home open to new ideas, to academe, and are of the age of seeking independence, self identity, and rebellion to an extent. Many are also seeking God, or the true meaning of God, a God in which they can believe as opposed to a myth or superstition. The want proof where there is none. Their hormones are also raging to one degree or another.

That is fertile ground for planting Communist seeds. Communism is a religion that replaces God with a man-based morality and an earthly paradise. No more need to fear God and be nagged by constant guilt. All rules are off except party loyalty. Lying, cheating, both OK. Hedonism, just fine. For a youngster that is great.

The kicker is they all know deep down that it is a lie and that society in general condemns them. Therefore, they must redouble their fervor for the cause, to be adamant they are not just immoral but that they are in fact fighting for a noble, if unpopular, cause. They are not hedonists, they are martyrs.

That is also generally true of the adults, especially the wealthy adults and the intellectual elite. It absolves them of their sins and to prove they are really good instead of sinners they support all sorts of feel-good welfare programs to take care of the unfortunate or less skilled.

Unvarnished, Communism is a denial of God and all the responsibility that goes with believing in Him.

Naturally, to get away with that dissent must be silenced. Such ideas are so contrary to human nature as to beg dissent, so it must be crushed as quickly and brutally as possible less others be encouraged to do the same. Even death is sanctioned and considered necessary at times to protect the cause, and the leaders of course. And as Stalin said, sort of, the death of one is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic. All for the cause. All to deny God.

That is sort of where I am with Communism at the moment. (All prices are subject to change.) :-)

I certainly don't disagree with you. I would also suggest that, at least among my more radical colleagues, they have a feeling of superiority and they enjoy it. If they are working to "save" people that means they are capable of doing what the average person is not--or so they believe.

Like you, prices are subject to change. But: the US is so obviously functional and has worked for so many, that I have never understood the almost furious hatred so many in academe have toward the US.

McVey