Hey thanks for sharing! Your stuff Rocks!!

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Poetry Contest - Phone Sex

Many thanks yet again, my friend. We all want peace. You take care as well.

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God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

Thanks for your reply.

I probably didn't realize that a majority of communists know all the crimes that have been commited to try establishing a communist state, but due to my country's and familiy's history, I have a very negative view on it. The symbol of your movement is a red flag with hammer and sickle, and to me, it has too much blood on it to be acceptable in any way, though I wouldn't know any other symbol myself that all people would immediately recognize and know what it roughly stands for. It just bothers me that it was the same symbol on tanks that came to crush the will (and take the lives) of the people on several occasions, thats all. Like I said, it never came to my realisation that the people supporting communist tendencies are aware of all the wrondoings that took place over the last decades.

To be honest, I have the fear that, as always, humanity hasn't learned from its mistakes, which is obvious to me when seeing the US go to war again, destabilizing what was once a stable and, compared to others in that area, pretty liberal country. We've had all kinds of discussions about the newest war, and about how it might have been caused by he influence of the military industrial complex etc. but the essence is that people haven't learned that a war must be avoided at all costs, due to the huge amount of misery, death and destruction it causes. It might be because US citizens haven't felt what it was like to have a war raging on one's own soil, but they were not united in opposition but fairly patriotic. I have the fear that the same will happen when we'd try to introduce communism, namely, the same mistakes will be made by the people who know better. I have the fear that as history tends to repeat itself, one or several of those more equal than others will try to get to power, to gain control, and if the people are not united in opposition right away, we'd end up in the USSR again. Its very hard to trust people these days, especially with the Hungarian prime Minister having told bold faced lies, having admitted them, and still remaining in office. Would we trust each other in a communist system? How do I know my neighbor isn't helping himself to more than he'd need? Some have said that I'm to honest for this world, and the influence the former sovjet-style systems had on the people, was that the dishonest ones will win. If you don't want to wait 15 years for your Trabant, you have to get it through contacts, or smuggling something in turn etc. Would we really want to live in a society with all those people, who have been lied to, and now know it? Who would we trust apart from ourselves? There are so many obstacles I see that to my mind would make communism completely impossible, the term untopia completely applies here. Animal Farm by Geroge Orwell probably portrays this correctly, as there was the idea that everyone was equal and everyone was working for the common good. To all according to his need, from all according to his abilities, it worked fine until one wanted to be more equal, took over, and created a situation in which he was living in luxury, while the rest was worse off than before. Just what happened in real life. And I have the fear, that it will happen again, because we're humans.

Of course, I don't say that you shouldn't be dreaming of it, we all have dreams, and they often go unfulfilled, but you probably understand that I'm extremely sceptical about your dreams coming true, as I don't think it will happen in the near future, maybe it will never happen.

At the moment, I'm simply happy that I live in a developed country, a peaceful country, one which has endured the struggles of both national socialist and socialist dictatorships, two world wars and the holocaust. The people are opposed to any sort of military involvment due to this, which I consider a good thing. I'm happy that I have safety, a roof over my head, and the chance for higher education, which I took, so that one day, I might have a positive influcence on the world.

Take care

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I have faced it, a life wasted, I'm never going back again
Having tasted, a life wasted, I'm never going back again
I escaped it, a life wasted, I'm never going back...again

I must say you have made a truely epic commentary. You have pointed out to me, not just from a philisophical point of view but a personal one, the exact flaws and traits in humanity that indeed make our struggle rather futile. But we are all allowed to hope for a better world, and indeed I do. Communism is my dream. As an American born and raised, I am perhaps the greatest of hypocrits in my support of Communism. I am not even old enough to have seen world events like Prague. I was but a wee little kid when the tanks in China rolled in to crush students of all people. Not much older when the USSR collapsed. I cannot imagine the horrors of Stalin, the stagnation of the 1970s. I look at the history of Communism from the comfortable chair of hindsight. Thus, considering the times I've grown up in, I've often wondered if I had been born ten years earlier if I would have become a Communist. I can't relate to the scorn and contempt my elders may have for everything done in the name of Communism. Do I expect for there to be a drastic and sudden outpouring of philanthropy and genuine charity to the "have nots"? Sadly no. Perhaps my belief is flawed, but at the very least I try to believe in something that isn't selfish. Does this make me think I'm better or wiser then anyone else? No. In the face of things like you speak of, what should I say? Usually, I'm very much so at a loss for words. All I can do is try and convince others that the majority of Communists know all too well the crimes commited by those that came before us. Just as the Germans as a society became the bearers of guilt, so have I.

I don't expect the majority of people to be supportive of Communist principles. I have no such delusions. But I can't allow myself to believe in something that shows no compassion for my fellow man. I grieve for what has happened to your family, but I don't expect that makes the past forgivable. It is wise never to forget the wrongs. But as you said, human nature prevails over my dedicated belief in something greater. Sadly, as much as I hope and dream for a harmonious world, I truely believe I will never see it happen. Does this make me a fool? Perhaps. What can I say or do short of completely changing my views on life? What besides becoming another glutton of cash, a selfish and greedy individual? I guess I would rather live out my days as a fool and hypocrit then become just another typical Capitalist. I'm sorry for what has been, but I can't change myself because of what has happened. My only justifications for being a Communist are ethical. To most people, that will never be enough. I'm very pleased that you put so much effort and thought into your comment. All too many people would simply insult or degrade me, or come up with hostile arguments. You have honored me with your time. And for that, I have only been able to give you a simple and insufficient response to answer the "why" of my ardent support of a tainted and despiesed system.

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

Hmm... I don't really want to start any debate, but it always fascinates me in a bad way how prevalent communists seem to be here on DA, and how much you believe in your principles. However, I don't know whether you realize the negative way in which the attempts at establishing communism have shaped the world, especially the eastern European states. To me, the picture of the sickel and hammer represents the same as a swastika, totalitarian systems that have no mercy for the individual. You correctly pointed out in several of you comments that these attempts to establish a communist system have effectively failed, and instead established a totalitarian socialist state, but you still believe in the principles put forth by Marx and Engels. I think your principles are fundamentally flawed, simply by the fact that we’re all humans.

You've written: “Communism demands that everyone contribute to the betterment of human life. Not everyone will, whether they are of criminal persuasion or just plain lazy or unmotivated. The inate need for recognition and compensation of ones achievments (in most cases some sort of favor or wealth.) tends to over-ride the greater fact that you are doing it because it shall help everyone. Most people are unwilling, in my opinion, to do something merely for the greater good. This human element is most likely what plagues most forms of government, but it is my belief that Communism in particular is hard hit. Communism is a form of government that requires the relinquishment of personal gain. As of yet, there has not been a population willing to sacrifice the needs of the few for the needs of the many on a personal level."

In my view, you’ve summed up everything that prevents communism from ever being established. First off, the current situation of the world clearly shows that a great majority of the people simply doesn’t care about others and the betterments of the lives of the poorest people. As long as they have a decent life, they couldn’t care less about other dying of hunger somewhere. As bad as that may sound, a great many people think that way, and they’d probably be very opposed to communism. The compensation and recognition of my achievements does indeed override the fact that you’re doing something because it helps everyone. What can I do with the knowledge of having done something? Can it buy me food, can it buy me clothes, do I have any use for it? Even if you assume that basic needs are fulfilled, it’s probably human nature that makes us strive for wealth, for power, that makes us want something more than a nice little life and the knowledge of having done something good for others. Many people “waste” their money on big cars and other luxury goods that have no immediate advantage apart from showing everyone that you’ve got money instead of donating it to the world’s poorest. This human element doesn’t plague communism in my view, it makes communism a utopian dream, something that can never be achieved. How do you expect people to sacrifice the needs of the few for the needs of the many on a personal level, if you yourself say that there has been no population that has done it? What makes you think that such a population will come into being? It is humans that makes communism impossible, and its humans that keep capitalism running despite its obvious shortcomings. You know why? I guess you do. Capitalism rewards those who don’t care about others. Those who take as much as they can get and give as little as they can will beat those who still have ethics and don’t just do it for profit. Capitalism is perfect for the human being, as long as you’re on the right side of it, in this case the developed and industrialized countries, that enjoy the benefits, while the world’s poorest, even though larger in numbers, stay poor even today. In my opinion, capitalism has the same flaw as communism, as it probably relies on the human kindness of those in control, so that they prevent the exploitation of many in favor of a few. It doesn’t work without harming the majority for the benefit of the minority, though in theory, it wouldn’t be that much of a problem. Communism also relies on humans giving up personal wealth and success for the benefit of the majority. It simply won’t work, as we’re humans, and humans are far from perfect. Even if many among us are kind at hart and are willing to sacrifice, many others won’t do that, and you have to take those into consideration as well, as they have the same right to decide about their government. The fact that no state was able to create a communist system because the people who were more equal than the other gave in to the possibility of power and wealth shows the flaw that prevents the theory from becoming a practice, and therefore I simply can’t understand your support for communist ideas.

I might be overly critical of this system, but it had an extreme influence on my family history. My great grandparents property, from mill, over plantations to the sawmill, everything they’ve worked for and put their effort in it was taken from them during the nationalization after WW2, and everything was destroyed. The machines were not dismantled as if they were to be used in the soviet union as they were told, but rather like they were being sold as scrap. They were given a small one room apartment as compensation, which was great, as they weren’t just killed for having done nothing. They lived in fear of their lives, as any time, the secret service could come and take you away, nobody will know what happened to you. My great grandfather was hauled to a prison and almost beaten to death, though he didn’t do anything. When people wanted freedom in 56, they came with tanks and soldiers. Even though you correctly said that communism itself has nothing to do with this, it still makes me angry that people wave the sickle and hammer like the murder and treason it stands for from my perspective can simply be forgotten. Imagine someone saying “National socialism was a really good idea, but they carried it out incorrectly” to a jew and waving a swastika in his face, then you can imagine how I feel when people glorify communism. No offence, but when I hear communism, all alarms go off in my head.

--
I have faced it, a life wasted, I'm never going back again
Having tasted, a life wasted, I'm never going back again
I escaped it, a life wasted, I'm never going back...again

Well, dear sir, I am grateful for the fact that like Gorbachev to Regan, I was able to prove Communists are NOT mindless robots. You are, of course, welcome back at any time with any comments or observations. I always look forward to refreshing conversation.

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

Well you have convinced me that not all of the people in your party are not mindless cretins, none the less there are some things I would like to discuss with you and others in your party at a later date.

MrSammy/GambleMe

I would suggest you take it up with the writer of the Manifesto then. You almost seem to be hostile toward us. I find that truely a pity, dear sir.

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

Yes, I very much agree that Stalin was a maniac. That is hard to deny. Lenin's NEP should have been the plan. Sadly, history led elsewhere. What can I say in the face of pure historic reality? Just for the shortfallings and extremely bad choices, not to mention many charlatens and pretenders, do you wish it that I change what I believe? Hell, thats right up there with a friend of mine recently saying I'd be far better of as a Democrat!!! HA, I say. If it makes you any happier, I've considered myself as a Leninist (or Marxist-Leninist). Do I contradict myself at times, do I take sips of the proverbial kool-aid? I believe we are all guilty of this at times. But I also have faith in the fact that there must be something better then Capitalism. As for my little icon, this will now be the second time I've had to explain...

Firstly, it has a funny little file name called Spetznas. Clever, no? I personally do not know who created it. I had a hell of a time finding icons to fit dA's restrictions. As for the imagery used, I proclaim to be a Communist, hence the hammer and sickle. The skull, whilst it could be taken many ways, is to me a reference to my screen name "The-Necromancer". It was a name I'd chosen before I'd become as political in life (for the second time) and I'd looked into occultism and many other forms of belief. Today, being "The-Necromancer" is just one of a few names I go by. A skull is perhaps a typical image to associate with that name. I'm not implying we send people to GULAG or execution. I'm hoping I've explained myself to you in a satisfactory fashion. And because I cannot call you comrade, I shall just call you dear sir. On a side note, how is the weather in Australia this time of year?

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God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

I have noted several mistakes in the manifesto of your party; I look forward to pointing them all out at length in the future.

With all the respect you are due, please do not call me comrade, you may be part of the majority of thinkers on the far left of the political spectrum, I am not. My views differ sufficiently from yours that we my be called, well not enemies, by no comrades either.

Moving on the more important subject of political ideologies, it is difficult to say that any nation has every really tried to move toward a fully Communist system. Taking the Soviet Union as convenient example, Lenin destroyed all hope, in his infinite wisdom, of creating a Communist system, by setting up a perfectly acceptable Socialist system. Unfortunately Stalin shit all over the possibility of anything other than a totalitarian hole with more KGB agents than there are people in my country. All other nations have ether gone down this root or used Socialism/Communism as a front for a dictatorship (North Korea). Socialism can never move toward Communism.

Also Necromancer, your little symbol, the skull with the hammer and sickle troubles me. Are you suggesting that the people represented by the symbol of the hammer and sickle, the most downtrodden of people should have more hardship and grief inflicted on them, that is the implication of the skull. As for mine, though Lenin called himself a Communist he was a socialist at heart, forming his own system from the foundations laid by Marx and Engels, it was unfortunately abandoned by Stalin. The man was good all the same. The point of the matter is that the picture of Lenin is difficult to misunderstand.

I must say, your comments are interesting. I am also very well aware of the fact that the USSR and all others have never really been "communist". But, as I recall, Socialism is the step towards Communism. As such, no country (as hard as they may have tried) has ever reached Communism. Also, Marx and Engels had said Socialism SHOULD be implemented in a country that was already at the Capitalist stage. Tzarist Russia, China, ect., had never even been developed to the point of true Capitalism. Thus, it was a jump from Imperialism right to "Communism". In the end, it was all a strict and rigid form of Socialism. I only ask that you consider the fact that many of us may be aware of what the Soviet Union and others like it really represented. I personally have a great admiration for the Soviet system, but I am not blind to it's shortcomings and failures to it's people and Communist ideaology. I look at it as an example of what was and also what not to repeat. If you still believe me to make any of us look like dictators in being, then so be it. I regard myself to be a Communist. I understand the theories of how the system is SUPPOSED to work, and I believe in the good it could bring to all peoples. I ALSO know that reality is often much different. I am a supporter of Socialist principles, but I believe it is only the stepping stone to true Communism. The methods and eventual practices of Communism cannot exist without the foundation of Socialism. To that end, I believe any "communist" nation has tried. BUT has also failed due to the times and circumstances around them. The USSR and it's doctrine were strained under the pressure of civil and world war. Strained by a siege mentality that ultimately did no good for the nation and movement at all. Ideaology and practices never hold up to real world situations. Sadly, Communism has fallen prey to a totalitarian stigma because of bad choices and external forces. That bad name, however, does not make us all merciless robots bent on enslavement of rights, freedoms, and indeed peoples. We look to our comrades and the nations that took up the red banner as inspiration and reminde. We learn from the successes and failures. I don't mean to preach on and on, but I wish to stress to you that there is an awareness amongst us all. If I am a hypocrit to you, or a mislead flag-waver, so be it. I know where I stand comrade.

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

You make Socialists and Communists alike look like totalitarians, this is not the case, but you still make it look like it.

I support your cause, but am unsure about your understanding and method.

Sorry I forgot to say I agree with the principals of the Socialist system, free education, healthcare, equal status and all of the other ideas that make the system the best in the world.

I am, as a Socialist, worried that you do not understand the basic ideals of your chosen ideology. For a start the USSR, North Korea, Cuba and all of the other nations you are glorifying are Socialist, not as you say Communist. They were given the badge Communist by some of the totalitarian leaders of them (the same that gave the system such a bad image) and the western world. So if you do some reading then do some understanding, then you can call yourselves true Socialists, a much more worthy title.

If you think you can provide a reasonable rebuttal to what I have said, coming form an understanding of the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, then I will accept your persuasion as Communist. If you continue to look upon the nations of the USSR (and the block) as Communist, not Socialist, then I implore all thinking people to reconsider their connection with you party.

hmmm, you pose a good few points I must say. The fact of the matter is not everyone will agree on how government should be. Armed insurection has always been a method for people to change thier country, although a rather extreme one. True patriots of any country would more then likely be opposed to great changes. Sadly I do not expect most Americans to see Communism as a "good idea" because of the stigma created in the US over the past 50 years. I respect disagreement and opinion, however much I may believe in an alternative. But then again, I'd expect people in the US to disagree with any form of government outside of the status quo.

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

I know you believe communism is the right form of government, but what are your views on the people (whom you say the government is supposed to serve)
Who may or may not agree with the Concept of a Communism Government? Take americans for example, many love the ideals and notion of government that they live under, laid out in both law and constituiton. Now you express opinion saying that their will be an ideal world once communism is in place: freedom education, everyone getting what they need in the right amount. Now the qusetion that i wish for you to elaborate on is that don't you think everyone may or may not agree with your view on an ideal government? What if some are patriots for their country, and do not wish for their society to change? Do you not believe that some people may disagree with your views, and possibly try to change a world based on communism to another kind of government through politicalor armed means

P.S. Thank you for taking the time and posting your responses, I find this debate to be quite fascinating and eagerly await your response (see icon)

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Talk like a badass, think like a badass, BE a badass....

Comrades,

Now that the clock has turned to a new day, I wish to give my regards to all of you on May Day. Yes, May 1st, shall we never forget it. United we stand comrades!

HAPPY MAY DAY 2008!!!

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

Any thoughts on the seemingly unstable state of the American economy? Personally there are bad times coming comrades. The greedy and exploitive system of Capitalism is finally stagnating under the pressures of high profits and low compensation for the people. Alas, the price of petroleum has made the prices of all commodoties rise across the board. I have also heard of a rice shortage in the Orient, thus complicating matters globally in the grain sector. Ultimately, it is a problem only we the people can solve. It is difficult to say where this shall lead our struggle, but it is with no small interest that I shall continue to watch these issues in the following months...

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

FOR THE FATHERLAND!

Remember Stalingrad? Now that was something.

--
~SergeantChrisHayward =RAVE-GRL

Proud member of deviantART's Zombie Survival Squadron, ~Zombie-Squad!

If you live somewhere were Brawl hasn't been released and are annoyed about it, copy+paste this into your signature.

Obviously...
Thats why I made sure to mention Australia
so i didn't just assume they were the same everywhere

you seem to have a very one sided view there.
i know quite a few socialists here in the UK and theyre all fantastic, intelegent people who live by what they say.
im not sure what its like over there in australia but you obviously live in a very different political climate...

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Equality.

Yeah, it's a good book.

It's a nice allegory of the problems of authoritarian communism. Notwithstanding that, didn't you take heed to the critique of capitalism it also presents?

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Meanwhile everyone wants to breathe and nobody can. Many say, “We will breathe later.”
And most of them don’t die because they are already dead.

It is my sincere belief that by bringing the world into a new Communist age, that we could finally achieve all the promises the current Captilalist program has failed to achieve. There would have to be some reformation of existing Communist governments, considering they perhaps are misguided to the true goals of the People's Movement. Under a true Communist program, and I'm sure it's been said many times, equality in rights would finally be put in place. No one person would be allowed more then what they need. Of course I could go on and on speaking about the "could be" world. If I do that, I just start to sound like some coffee shop philosopher with no actual notions of the challenges posed in trying to acomplish these sunny promises. I guess for me to best give my stance on Communist government, I would have to say I have an admiration for the better qualities of the Soviet government, but a general disgust at how much waste and sufferance has come from all "Communist" governments. I truley believe that better attempts could be made. Great things could have been achieved, but the strife of paranoia and war, as well as the arms race with the West, decidedly destroyed the maximum potential of any past attempts at a truely Communist government. As far as the concepts of state owned industry over privately owned enterprise (a hallmark of Communism), it is largely benaficial. With all profits going directly to the state (and thus the people), there will be greater funding for such things as health and education. By all industrial and business profits going back into the state, it directly supports the people whom the government exists for. Perhaps I am missing the point of your second comment, but then again it IS a very broad topic you are asking me of. Anything you specificaly want my opinion on?

--
God is in his heaven...

All is right in the world.

*communism

Please, continue
I would like to know more about your stance on this concept of government