Among the messages from Edit-usp yesterday there was one about political persecution of some students in the university. They have a point, I agree with their position and regret the situation. So far so good. The message was the third or fourth forwarding of an original. All the past signatures were still in the document.
One of them said "Communist Greetings".
So I thought I could write about it. Maybe some pondering on the subject - does this guy know how things were in the USSR? [American propaganda!] Has he been to China, North Korea or Cuba? [If you haven't either, you can't say a word!] Has he read anything from people who have been there? [Just more propaganda for Capitalism!] Maybe spoken to any Cuban refugee? [Bunch of ungrateful people!]
Of course, there is the possibility he does not consider USSR, China, North Korea and Cuba as Communist countries. The Marxist ideas were never indeed implemented in any of them. But Marx once said he was not Marxist. ("What have these insane people with the red flags done to my name?", he must ask from his hole in Hell.) Which leads me to the conclusion the only differences between Vladimir Lenin and a "Communist" who does not take Marx to heart and by the letter are the degree of dellusion and the number of followers.
But maybe, maybe he does indeed take Marx's words to heart and is the last true Communist in the world in the sense that old Karl meant them to be.
If that is the case, though... He is tremendously silly in using that polluted term to describe himself. It would be a parallel to wearing a swastika (the cross of thousands of years now immediately associated to Nazism) in your clothes thinking you are carrying a symbol of the cycle of life.
In conclusion, no matter how I look at it, "Communist Greetings" is a very improper way to sign a letter.
And now I wonder... To get into USP you need a certain high level of education, which is rare (but not impossible) to get without money. Therefore USP is (contradictory as it may be) filled with people of upper-mid class families. How come, then, the concentration of left-wing extremists, left-wing dellusionals, left-wing fundamentalists, left-wing anarchists, and everything else left-wing, is so high in USP? Did I miss some clausule saying "You agree to be of left alignment upon signing of this document" when I joined?
Back to school next week, by the way. I wonder how my classmates will receive me now, considering I never give many signs of my position in the political spectre in person. Problem is: now it is obvious I do not share the left-wingism (and that I did not vote for Lula). So, by definition, without further questions, I am right-wing. Oh, bah. In the worlds of Aristotle, "Each extreme sees the middle as being as bad as, if not worse than, the opposite extreme.".
But wait a minute! I must not be unfair. Take this post as is it, and do not attribute to it what I have not said. I do not think all those who believe in the ideals of Socialism are dellusional et al. No no no, I do not. In fact, even within a declared Communist there can be reason. I understand, in essence, it is a matter of opinion on very basic things. "Will John Plow be happier owning a farm or working on the government's farm?" Very simplistic question, but surely you can expand on it yourself. The premise, then, is obvious: I think John Plow will not be too happy working for the government for fixed pay, so I think he will produce less and I think this will lead to stagnation. But I think it because I have facts showing this has happened. If Kostia the Communist thinks John Plow will be happier as part of a community that shares all goods, very well, my right is no more special than his, and with proper discussion we might reach an agreement. But if Kostia the Communist thinks that way because he finds Communism cute (ie, he has no opinion on the processes and the consequences in a global and individual level), I waste none of my time with him.
That applies to everything. Especially to the few million who voted on Lula based on "mudar tudo isso que está aí" ("change all this stuff that is around", in a stupid translation). Change what, why, to what, how, and again, why? "Because the people can no longer tolerate the situation as it is!" What situation, and who asked the people (and forgot to ask me)? "..." Well? "..." Anything? "..." Thank you.
Bottomline: I respect you and your opinion if you base it on anything more solid than empty generalizations. If you cannot point a few facts to show X would be better in red than in blue, you are nothing but steering mass, space filler, number, cattle. And arguing with that is not fun or rewarding.
Just a final note. While I pondered on what to write about that signature, I came across a most interesting site / blog. The irony begins in the title. It is too bad the content often shifts into blind American ufanism, but it is a pleasure to read, no less. Here it is, The Politburo!
Posted by Etienne at February 20, 2003 02:05 PM