Posted on 02/15/2006 11:55:33 AM PST by sergey1973
Russia today marked the 50th anniversary of Nikita Khrushchev's "secret speech," in which he denounced the crimes committed under dictator Josef Stalin and the cult of personality surrounding the deceased Soviet leader. Today was an occasion for Russians to reexamine the impact of this legendary speech on their country's history.
(Excerpt) Read more at rferl.org ...
Khrushchev played a huge role in Stalin's rise to power including revising his entire biography and implementing the starvation policies in the Ukraine.
Growing up, I regarded Khrushchev as the closest thing to the devil himself. Now the devil rules in Iran.
Khrushchev only opposed Stalin in the end to save his own life and he stole the term "cult of personality" from his rival, Georgy Malenkov.
Ahhha, Putin's idols.
How did Khrushchev avoid being purged all that time?
Exactly what is the meaning of the term "cult of personality"?
Thanks.
Khurschev owed his life to Beria, who poisoned Stalin, before Stalin could purge the entire Politburo. Of course, it didn't save Beria's life, the following year.
Well, it was a cool song, by Living Colour back in the 80s.
"Cult of personality" was the term used to describe the state's deification of one man (Stalin in the Soviets' case) and first came to prominence after Khrushchev mentioned it in the "Secret Speech." It was actually Malenkov who first used the term at a Central Committee meeting shortly after Stalin's death (supposedly of a stroke...) three years earlier.
Interestingly, Joseph Lowery accused Coretta Scott King in 1978 of promoting a "cult of personality" of her dead husband and ignoring the contributions of other civil rights leaders. The black heavy metal band Living Colour had a great song and video about blind obedience to authority titled "Cult of Personality" which included references to Malcolm X, Mussolini, JFK, Martin Luther King, Stalin, Gandhi and FDR.
Peter Deriabin's "Inside Stalin's Kremlin" said that Beria (with Malenkov's assistance) struck Stalin in the head with a blackjack and perhaps poison was administered after the beating.
Thanks. That's sort of what I had guessed, but now I know the background behind it. Lowery isn't one of the people who spoke at Coretta's funeral is he?
And I thought that song was a Lenny Kravitz tune. WRong, apparently.
SO I hear. Big game vs. VAndy tonight. CAn you see it in Texas? Blacked out in Orlando.
Surely Khruschev was one of the key henchmen of the Stalin regime. Nobody denies it. Nevertheless, he deserves a credit for opening the world eyes to real communism with this speech and freeing hundreds of thousands of people from Gulag.
Yes, self-serving as his "thaw" was, Khruschev had the courage to transform the Soviet system sufficiently to put it on the road toward disintegration. It is interesting that while Gorbachev is largely recognized for his contribution to the USSR's peaceful self-destruction, few realize that it was Khruschev who started the process.
Great Post - what a weasal this pompous oaf.
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