Is Communism Worse Than Nazism?

Forward ^ | October 3, 2017 | Cathy Young

[sparklite2]

I don’t know. What we see today, though, is Nazi symbols in the hands of the far right. It’s unfortunate. They often have the confederate battle flag, too. What does that mean?

[henkster]

Competing brands of the same product.

[x]

That's a present day American point of view. Things looked different in Europe 80 years ago.

The old European right wasn't in love with freedom and individualism, any more than the old European left was pacifist and omni-tolerant of all manner of ethnicities and lifestyles.

Communists and Nazis/Fascists were fighting in the streets. Millions joined one side or the other, and that's what defined right and left for that generation.

[a fool in paradise]

Define the principles of “far right”.

[sparklite2]

That’s interesting. I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

[Still Thinking]

Potato, potahto. “National Socialist Worker’s Party” sounds indistinguishable from communism to me.

[sergeantdave]

“I think Jews would disagree.”

Jews aren’t the final arbiter about whether communists or Nazis were more evil. Communists and Nazis were the ultimate Marxist competitors.

Read about the Stalinist Holodomor in the Ukraine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

[dfwgator]

Many of the SA were former Communist street brawlers who were recruited by the Nazis. They offered better beer.

[FreedomPoster]

Wilson certainly was. He and Mussolini were a mutual admiration society.

[a fool in paradise]

Communism is viewed as an expression of “humanity’s historic striving for social justice and comradeship,” a noble dream turned to horrific nightmare. Nazism, on the other hand, stood for racial supremacy and brutal oppression of “lower” races.

I don't see Communism as striving for Social Justice. It subjects the populace with the promise of a utopia that never comes. But the animals at the top of Animal Farm sure live well.

What of Mao's cultural revolution was a "noble dream"? Destroying the artifacts of ancient Chinese nobility? Students killing and eating their teachers???

[a fool in paradise]

Communism is viewed as an expression of “humanity’s historic striving for social justice and comradeship,” a noble dream turned to horrific nightmare. Nazism, on the other hand, stood for racial supremacy and brutal oppression of “lower” races.

And Japanese Imperial Shintoism also pushed racial supremacy and brutal oppression of "lower" races. Medical experiments on prisoners, rape farms. But they weren't white so it gets a pass and is forgotten.

[SJackson]

And to be clear, a “liberal of the old type”, “those who really believe in individual freedom” is clearly a modern conservative. Our current Left, who fancy themselves “Liberals” are anything but,

Exactly, these arguments about Communism/Fascism/left/right really shouldn't exist in a European context relative to America. Left and right, when defined within a system based on individual freedom and individual rights take on a very different meaning than in the European context of governmental supremacy. We're arguing apples and oranges, though I acknowledge the European leftist vision has taken hold on the American left.

[sparklite2]

Further, I would argue that anyone marching under the swastika today is anything but “right wing’

---

Using the metrics of race and anti-Semitism, I see it otherwise.

[a fool in paradise]

Do you see an oppressive or racist or suprmacist message in this image of Johnny Cash with Muppets?

[a fool in paradise]

Are there anti-Semites among the so-called “anti-fascist” protesters?

Ever ask them about “God”?
Ever ask them about Israel?

[jmacusa]

Actually I see it in reverse. Communism didn't appeal to Germans at that time because communism states that the revolution would take place in an already industrialized society. At the time of the revolution in Russia I think only about 3% of Russia was industrialized. That's why Stalin had to start the forced collectivization and the massive industrialization drives. Germany on the other hand had a system of industry and private ownership for at least a thousand years. Nazism, which was really fascism gives the pretense of private ownership in that yes , you can own your own factory but we , the state control the production process. Yes, you can own your own home but we, the state, are going to tell you how you're going to live in it. Both systems however do not allow for the private ownership of one’s thoughts or speech or writings.

[sparklite2]

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.
Until there is a definition of what constitutes
‘right-wing,’ discussion will be splintered.

[ought-six]

Nazism advocates national socialism, whereas communism advocates international socialism. They are both totalitarian abominations.

[sparklite2]

No. Do you?

[ought-six]

Actually, the correct wording should be “had have won.”