Before My Head Freaking Explodes Please...(Communism Debate in Classroom)

11/03/2009

[My Favorite Headache]

I have discussed with Freepers over the last 4 months that I am back in school earning my Masters degree. Today my head about exploded when not only my professor but people (grown adults) said Communism was a fear on paper but never a real threat to the U.S.

Let me give you direct quotes taken from today's lecture.

"Exactly where does communism fit in today's classroom, newspapers, and television sets? It doesn't, only the right wing fringe in this country wants you to believe that is the case, where is the proof?

America feared communism based on it being different than what we believed to be the correct government. It was never a world wide threat and the "red" invasion was nothing more than a fear tactic designed to paint a clear target on a superpower.

Communism, as an ideology, did not present a treat to a democratic U.S. Soviet Russia endangered U.S. interest when the Red Care reflected fears that the Bolshevik revolution in Russia might spread to the United States. They were described by the post as a compound of slaughter, confiscation, anarchy, and universal disorder.

Famous journalist, Ray Stannard reported that Americans were not in favor of the war. National leaders made huge efforts to get Americans to support the way by stating this would be a benefit the economy. This was the US first major military conflict on foreign soil which changed American life. The European powers led to international tensions within Central Powers and the Allies. International Law permitted neutral nations to sell or ship war materials to belligerents. American looked to the war for economic recovery. In mobilizing for the military, the government put the economy at risk to centralized management and develops policies to control public opinion. The Allies were able to buy American goods. The order for steel explosives, uniforms, wheat and other products helped pull the country out of the recession. Due to labor shortages, the war opened the job industry for women and new job opportunities appeared for black women. Issues with the government arose and civil rights were being violated.

The fear of the Bolshevik party was fear of an unknown type of Government and being different than what we viewed as the only type of government that would work. The mounting support in Russia to a communist state worried the country. Personally I don't believe that it was justified. The fear of communism forced us to view Russia as our own great enemy through out the rest of the 1900's. Had we been a little more rational with their government we probably could have gained their trust and worked towards more diplomatic and lest costly solutions throughout the years.

[My Favorite Headache]

Honestly, I covered that. So tomorrow I have to return with a list of examples of where in history and in today’s media (TV, Print, Film, Radio, Music) communism exists.

[RinaseaofDs]

Certainly, the White Russians and the Romanovs would agree with you. They were the first to die at the hands of Marxism. What is interesting is that even before the Revolution in Russia, the Commies had built an extensive and very skilled intelligence department.

What you face is entrenched leftist academia. Nothing more. Remember that the average drooling slob would pick Communism over Capitalism any day of the week. Any system that lets them ride along and still eat is preferable to one that demands they contribute meaningfully.

[netmilsmom]

It’s free online

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Black+Book+of+Communism%2c+Crimes%2c+terror%2c+repression-a076471915

[Timocrat]

Ask your prof about the Venona intercepts and Harry Dexter White. Ask him about the Weather Underground and the Students for a Democratic Society. Ask him why so many in the AFL-CIO fought the infiltration of that organisation by closet communists. Ask him if he has read Radical Son by David Horowitz.

The Roosevelt administration was riddled with communists and fellow travellers.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Simple. Quote them the Marxist phrase: "To each according to their need, from each according to their ability." Watch them nod their heads in assent. Then ask:

"Who determines who is in need? Who determines who has the ability?"

Ask them to seriously consider the answer to the question and get back to you with a valid working plan that doesn't involve genocide.

They will not be able to do it.

[My Favorite Headache]

Wish I could say that this is nothing in the grand scheme of things...but these t-shirts have become quite the hot item as of the last 3 weeks with them being sold all over the net and e-bay. I had no idea why a few local kids were wearing such trash the other day when my family was shopping at Wal-Mart so sure enough I looked more into the fashion trend. It is none other than Obama supporter and rap star Lil' Wayne with Jay Sean who is wearing it in the #1 video in the country on BET, VH1, and Much Music in Canada. This is just one link to the many e-bay sales for them. http://cgi.ebay.com/COMMUNIST-T-Shirt-WOMENS-lil-wayne-jay-sean-down-tee_W0QQitemZ130325707424QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101 If you haven't heard or simply forgot...Obama went out of his way to cite Lil' Wayne as one of his favorites last summer. From Time magazine: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/07/08/the_politics_of_lil_wayne/ "You are probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you are the next Lil' Wayne, but probably not, in which case you need to stay in school," Obama, D-Ill., told a cheering crowd, brought to a standing ovation at a town hall meeting in Powder Springs, Georgia. The presumptive Democratic nominee was speaking about high school drop out rates and the need for people to be committed to working hard in school so they can get a job after school. Obama said he knows some young men think they can't find a job unless they are a really good basketball player. "Which most of you brothas are not," Obama, who played basketball in high school, a sport he continues to play to this day, said jokingly. "I know you think you are, but you're not. You are over-rated in your own mind. You will not play in the NBA." http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/07/08/obama_says_this_hope_stuff_onl/

[Swiss]

Why don’t you ask your teacher if Al Quedia and Bin Laudin was just misunderstood and not a threat. It has been 20 years since the end of the Cold War and most students today can’t relate to that but they do remember 9/11.

I would also point out the repeated terrorist attacks on America from marxist or left wing groups from the late 19th century to early 20th century before the Soviet Union was even a threat. The 1920’s bombing at Wall Street for example.

Of course if you really wanted to have fun you could point out that it was liberal democrats such as Woodrow Wilson and his Palmer Raids and liberal Harry Truman that stroked the fear of communism. Then you could mentioned how the Democrats has been the party of racism in the past as well. I say making your professor compare the communists with today’s Islamic threat would be the best course.

[Tucsonican]

You can always tell a good political philosophy by the number of Gulag’s it requires to be sustainable.

Do the Cuban refugees know that Communism isn’t so bad? How about the folks that got shot trying to escape East Germany across the Berlin Wall? Did they know that Communism wasn’t so bad? I’m sure that the North Koreans would be happy to let us know the benefits of Communism but they sure don’t seem to get out much.

[ichabod1]

Your Problem, Komrade, is that you don’t understand that Fundamental CHANGE has come to Amerika, and that means COMMUNISM. We are being assaulted by communist propaganda morning, noon, and night, all this service crap, the bailouts, the takeovers, and it’s no surprise that they want to sugarcoat what the commie bastards did back in the day, and what the red chinese and norks are still doing today.

I had one on Facebook telling me that the old labels don’t apply, there’s no such thing as socialism or communism any more they are just 20th century concepts. I said F-U you columbian commie bastard and unfriended him. It’s the same old crap in a new package, and they can call it cotton candy if they like but it’s STILL FREAKING COMMUNISN, it’s STILL FRICKING SERVITUDE it’s STILL FRIGGIN DEADLY and its STILL A FREAGIN POLICE STATE. There is no “Nanny state” there’s only an ugly, communist goverment full of individuals doing their best to enslave you and me. F them. Don’t ever cooperate with a goverment commie bastard. Shun them. Shun the feds of all stripes. It’s rough out there for a fed.

[KC Burke]

This is a version of the old argument that communism failed or had bad side effects because of how it was applied in country X and not due to integral features of the Marxist Doctrine.

It is being extended to say, “we were threatened by a totalitarian regime and not by their ideology.”

The counter argument to start with is why were the totalitarian aspects were so central to the ideology that it foisted totalitarianism upon every society on which it was tried?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Also ask why communism is so expensive in lives, resources, and money. If the idea is that great it should be cheap. Don’t forget to ask the prof why communism has to be implemented by force of arms or subterfuge.

[listenhillary]

Very interesting. They seek to take the power away from the word. Rewire the meaning of the word. Defuse the impact with ridicule of those that would use the word.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Here is a very interesting site I ran across. It’s similar to the Holocaust museums and is dedicated to those who have died under communism:

http://www.globalmuseumoncommunism.org/museum

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Perhaps...you might wish to take a different tack and extol the virtues of Communism by saying that if it weren’t for COmmunism, there would probably be a billion more people (those 170 or so million and their offspring) using up mother Gaias’ resources and emitting carbon incessantly.

[ichabod1]

It’s their need to stifle and shut up their opponents that LEADS to the beatings, killings, mass murder, and in the end genocide.

[Tzimisce]

Communism is very popular with the people who believe that they’ll be leading the society.

I’ve always thought it was funny that a classless society would have “leaders”.

[Deb]

Wow. That’s amazing. You’re amazing!

[cld51860]

Good! We must fight them on every front!!!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Communism is very popular with the people who believe that they’ll be leading the society.

They're usually among the first one's shot.

[My Favorite Headache]

You notice how Obama did nothing but speak negative to those kids in that article? You will not make the NBA...you are a legend in your own mind...you are not a good rapper like Lil Wayne so you need to go back to school.

Such hope! Such dreams!

F-cking idiot.