So, over the past year I have learnt so much about the amazing achievements these men (and the party they were the leaders of) did that I was never taught. I’ve ‘semi-intentionally’ deprogrammed myself of so much anti-communism bullshit while having to live with that most still in the West, based upon misinformation, view them as ‘evil, 100 quintillion deaths, dictator, psychopath where muh freedoms’.
The reason I am focusing on Stalin and Mao in particular in this post is, to be very open, due to a truth-seeking hyperfixation that I must satisfy so I can move on to the next topic of intense, dopamine chasing, obsession. Yeah I love being me. Anyway, propaganda, mythologising, exaggerating and misattributed blame brushed aside, what is left?
I am quite knowledgeable of, thanks to some high quality M-L documentaries, educational videos and podcast episodes, the more obvious wrongdoings such as the Great Leap Forward killing of pests worsening the famine, purges of comrades who were legitimately innocent, re-criminalising homosexuality, support of Khmer Rouge and ethnic deportations to name a few.
I wouldn’t mind hearing more obscure examples, or a deeper analysis of the mistakes and unjustifiable actions I am already aware of. And as much as a few good book recommendations probably would give me the answers I crave, I am lowkey illiterate with long-form reading thanks to my ADHD (still waiting on meds after being diagnosed 8 months ago).
I fully agree with that. My point is actually a little different (or more overthought maybe). It’s not just “empathy”, I believe i would be a weak link as a communist. It simply requires more comradery than i will be able to give. I would be a “good weather commie” at best.
I am not saying that i will be opportunistic or corrupted, but rather that i do not wish to change my material conditions around me to take on more socialist responsibilities by making it seem like i am a hardline marxist-leninist and lead by good example.
If interrogated by a cop, i wouldn’t point a commie out - no sir, commies in this area? Never!
I wouldn’t hide you either, though - Get outta my face before the cops come and hurt my GF, backdoor is that way👉
Maybe that is still a moralistic argument? My autistic ass has not figured that out just yet. Maybe this is just self crit and i am merely figuring out my limitations.