The lies about Soviet Union are already entrenched in our collective mind. We don't remember what was happening in 1930s and mostly base our judgements on the lies spread later. That's why it's so important to read unbiased historic personal accounts to understand how deep and detestable these lies are.
Two excellent books that are best suited for this are Return From the USSR by Andre Gide (Amazon) and Moscow, 1937 by Lion Feuchtwanger (Amazon). Both these writers were not avid supporters of communism, both were honest and widely respected by their contemporaries, both were invited to Soviet Union and both had the ability to travel around the country and see everything without, not just the facade, without any pressure or control. Both include some criticism (Gide criticises more), but both admit that Soviet Union was a widely successul majestic country populated by truly happy people that loved their country, were happy to work to make it better and sincerely believed that socialism (communism) is the right way to go and saw everyday the most impressive results. They had the reason to be proud of living in the Soviet Union and people all over the world had the reason to look at Soviet Union for hope and inspiration.
It is a simple fact, Soviet Union was the best and the most forward looking country in the world. Sadly, it collapsed under the attacks from outside and from within, but it's still the best model society we ever had and the best way to build a truly free and happy society is to base it on the Soviet model.
For the people by the people - not for dictators, not for the Party, not for the capitalists or for the monarchs anointed by god, but for people. The goal was to build the just, prosperous, happy and free society and everyone shared that goal.
1 comment:
hey, nice blog (dropped in via your comments via danah boyd): the idea of the soviet as a model society brings back memories from my childhood when we visited my red relatives. I remember these arguments so well; and how it was going to bes the chinese who will actualize the red revolution, and not the post chernobyl soviets.
check out out sousveillance blog, and hope you can comment on the concept and how it relates to the left. It seems a very libertarian idea, but not sure if it really is. there are all sorts of communal experiences that can happen with sousveillance.
http//stefanospantagis.net/journal/
brin and mann seem to be more towards the right, i myself am the grandchild of devoted partisians....
aldo who has been helping put together a sousveillance art show also is very partisian and has a similar childhood experience against the right.
stef
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