Is Lenin's frugal life an inspiration to us all?

[*Red*Alert]

Should we all be inspired by Lenin's frugal existence through out his life, never asking for reward or glory, and containing his wants to the bear minimum standard of living with the rest of the Proletariat?

I think it is an example to how only Leftists should live within the existing capitalist system, and draw upon Mahatma Ghandi's quote that you should "be the change you wish to see in the world", to support it.

Comments?

[khad]

Humble actions like this allow socialists to endear themselves to people who are not otherwise socialist. There is one story I hear about Dr. Najibullah in Afghanistan, who let a peasant beat him because he understood that the man deserved to be angry--he had lost his entire family in the war.

I've heard from others who would be otherwise anti-Mao justify the killing of Liu Shaoqi with righteous fury because of the arrogance and contempt with which the man's family treated common people.

Humility is a quality that socialist leaders should aspire to have.

[*Red*Alert]

Humility is a quality that socialist leaders should aspire to have.
Indeed, I believe that if we are to be taken seriously, we must start with our own lives.

[khad]

I wonder if any of you folks, particularly those who grew up in former socialist countries, have heard the parable of Lenin at the barbershop?

[Kukulofori]

I wonder if any of you folks, particularly those who grew up in former socialist countries, have heard the parable of Lenin at the barbershop?

I'm not familiar.

[khad]

I'm not familiar.
Lenin would always wait his turn in line, even as others offered their places to him. It's a good lesson for children to learn.

[Kukulofori]

awh. :3

[Black Sheep]

hurray for humble lenin.

http://teo.esuper.ro/wp-content/images/jesus.jpg

[New Tet]

Should we all be inspired by Lenin's frugal existence through out his life, never asking for reward or glory, and containing his wants to the bear minimum standard of living with the rest of the Proletariat?

I think it is an example to how only Leftists should live within the existing capitalist system, and draw upon Mahatma Ghandi's quote that you should "be the change you wish to see in the world", to support it.

Comments?

The aim of socialism is not to turn poverty onto a virtue but to abolish it.

[khad]

The aim of socialism is not to turn poverty onto a virtue but to abolish it.
Even if you have money, you should not strut your material wealth in front of others because that is just being an asshole. Conspicuous consumption is a capitalist disease.

[Kukulofori]

hurray for humble lenin.

http://teo.esuper.ro/wp-content/images/jesus.jpg

Wtf is that? xD

I burst out laughing and now my roommate thinks I'm an idiot.

[New Tet]

Even if you have money, you should not strut your material wealth in front of others because that is just being an asshole. Conspicuous consumption is a capitalist disease.

I wasn't talking about that. What I said was that socialism's aim is to generalize prosperity, not make it a badge of honor.

Is there anything even remotely ambiguous about that statement?

[New Tet]

Lenin would always wait his turn in line, even as others offered their places to him. It's a good lesson for children to learn.

Also, it's an excellent way to see if the barber is any good.

[Ned Flanders]

Surely people like comrade Lenin are an inspiration to us socialists regarding priorities and lifestyle. I also think a modest lifestyle is generally a good quality, regardless of political views. I´m myself used a modest standard of living, still, every now and then I like to break that pattern and do something like treat my girlfriend to a fancy dinner or add to my dvd collection:).

[Pogue]

I don't see why we'd look at Lenin's life as an inspiration. The average Russian worker had life alot worse off than him and it wasn't as if Lenin was a figure of perfection (far from it).

[scarletghoul]

Most of us are already living on low income, so have no choice but to follow the glorious frugality of comrade Lenin

[Axle]

I can't think of living any way but modestly, though it could be because I've rarely had money enough to live it up.

[Pogue]

Its cute to see Lenin kiddies doing a bit of hero worshipping.

[RedAnarchist]

I wonder if any of you folks, particularly those who grew up in former socialist countries, have heard the parable of Lenin at the barbershop?

Parable? Are you using the word ironically? I know the word doesn't necessarily have religious connotations, but 99% of the time it is associated with biblical stories.

I don't think we should be turning historical communist figures into members of our own secular pantheon.

[ls]

Parable? Are you using the word ironically? I know the word doesn't necessarily have religious connotations, but 99% of the time it is associated with biblical stories.

I don't think we should be turning historical communist figures into members of our own secular pantheon.

Indeed.

We should be taking it even further! In the wake of a communist revolution in any country, the figures of at least Marx, Lenin, Mao and probably Stalin should be erected in all city centres.

[Pogue]

Indeed.

We should be taking it even further! In the wake of a communist revolution in any country, the figures of at least Marx, Lenin, Mao and probably Stalin should be erected in all city centres.

Probably Stalin? I don't see what doubt there is, 'comrade'. I think I smell a revisionist.

[ls]

Well, we have to think of Stalin's beauty in context to the surrounding city, comrade.

We wouldn't want the buildings out of complement with his historic cheekbones, beautiful hair and handsome ears. That would be a deep disservice to our greatest comrade ever, comrade, in fact it would be an act of revisionism incomparable to anything else.

[Pogue]

I wonder if any of you folks, particularly those who grew up in former socialist countries, have heard the parable of Lenin at the barbershop?

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/9578/lenink.jpg (http://img36.imageshack.us/i/lenink.jpg/)

[khad]

You guys may laugh, but I have known otherwise anti-communist people from former socialist countries who refuse to criticize Lenin because of the manner in which he conducted himself among the common people.

Revolutions aren't just about turning everyone into a revolutionary--you have to also be able to sway people who are not very political. Stuff like this works very well. Call it propaganda if you will, but it works.

Incidentally, personal humility is one of the reasons why Ahmadinejad in Iran still commands a lot of support from peasants and workers.

[Pogue]

You guys may laugh, but I have known otherwise anti-communist people from former socialist countries who refuse to criticize Lenin because of the manner in which he conducted himself among the common people.

Revolutions aren't just about turning everyone into a revolutionary--you have to also be able to sway people who are not very political. Stuff like this works very well. Call it propaganda if you will, but it works.

Incidentally, personal humility is one of the reasons why Ahmadinejad in Iran still commands a lot of support from peasants and workers.

lmao

I bet the striking workers who the Bolsheviks supressed totally respected him.

And I'm sure Ahmadinejad is living it as tough as your average Iranian worker or peasant.

genius.

[StalinFanboy]

You guys may laugh, but I have known otherwise anti-communist people from former socialist countries who refuse to criticize Lenin because of the manner in which he conducted himself among the common people.

Revolutions aren't just about turning everyone into a revolutionary--you have to also be able to sway people who are not very political. Stuff like this works very well. Call it propaganda if you will, but it works.

Incidentally, personal humility is one of the reasons why Ahmadinejad in Iran still commands a lot of support from peasants and workers.
I don't call it propaganda. I call it a quasi-religious personality cult.

[ls]

Why worry, when we have Stalinist architecture!
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalinist_architecture)

That's good but :crying: it needs comrade Stalin's beauty!

Were he undead-alive today, he would be tossing in his grave.

[khad]

And I'm sure Ahmadinejad is living it as tough as your average Iranian worker or peasant.
Actually, he lives much as he did in the 80s when he was an engineer. Small apartment, walks to work, greets peasants individually when he goes to the countryside. All that stuff is good populist sense.

[Ned Flanders]

Why worry, when we have Stalinist architecture

The Moscow state university sure is beautiful!:thumbup1:

[Pogue]

Actually, he lives much as he did in the 80s when he was an engineer. Small apartment, walks to work, greets peasants individually when he goes to the countryside.

Wow, he sounds like a really nice guy, thats completely changed my view of him. Does he shake hands with the bodies of the protestors he has killed too? Does he engineer the election rigging from that small apartment of his?

[Kukulofori]

All true revolutionaries should strive to be like Ahmadinejad.

[khad]

Wow, he sounds like a really nice guy, thats completely changed my view of him. Does he shake hands with the bodies of the protestors he has killed too? Does he engineer the election rigging from that small apartment of his?
Did I ever say he was a nice guy? I said this is "good populist sense."

Don't put words in my mouth.

[StalinFanboy]

Actually, he lives much as he did in the 80s when he was an engineer. Small apartment, walks to work, greets peasants individually when he goes to the countryside. All that stuff is good populist sense.
He also personally took care of the homosexual menace. What a true revolutionary!

[Pogue]

He also personally took care of the homosexual menace. What a true revolutionary!

Don't be silly, homosexuals don't exist in Iran!

[Kukulofori]

"good populist" is an oxymoron.

If you have to rely on populist bullshit then it's not a revolution, it's bullshit.

[ls]

All true revolutionaries should strive to be like Ahmadinejad.

Yeah, I bet he personally dropped that chemical compound that made people feel a burning sensation, and even worse when they tried to wash it off out of the helicopter during one of the protests.

The propaganda is in this case true, he's a true revolutionary hero among the masses.

[StalinFanboy]

Don't be silly, homosexuals don't exist in Iran!
yes, because he kicked them out :D

[khad]

Have your cheap shots all you want, but the fact remains that his personal conduct is incredibly popular with the peasantry.

Never said he was a nice guy, but this is populist sense, and he is very shrewd.

As with the rest of you clowns, stop putting words in my mouth.

[Pogue]

Have your cheap shots all you want, but the fact remains that his personal conduct is incredibly popular with the peasantry.

Never said he was a nice guy, but this is populist sense.

I actually bumped into him down my local last night, nice guy, bought me a pint of John Smiths.

[ComradeOm]

Myths generated by Stalin and his cohorts.:rolleyes: Lenin was probably just as human as you or me.I'm surprised there's been any debate regarding Lenin's living habits at all, I thought they were quite well known. Perhaps you'd accept the word of someone less... partisan?

"Presently the heavy door opened from within, and our guide invited us to step in, himself vanishing and closing the door behind us. We stood on the threshold awaiting the next cue in the strange proceedings. Two slanting eyes were fixed upon us with piercing penetration. Their owner sat behind a huge desk, everything on it arranged with the strictest precision, the rest of the room giving the impression of the same exactitude. A board with numerous telephone switches and a map of the world covered the entire wall behind the man; glass cases filled with heavy tomes lined the sides. A large
oblong table hung with red; twelve straight-backed chairs, and several arm-chairs at the windows. Nothing else to relieve the orderly monotony, except the bit of flaming red

The background seemed most fitting for one reputed for his rigid habits of life and matter-of-factness. Lenin, the man most idolized in the world and equally hated and feared, would have been out of place in surroundings of less severe simplicity"

Emma Goldman, 'Living My Life'

[Bright Banana Beard]

This thread should be in trash, I am a Leninist and I don't have him as my idol or sitting or as a pocketknives unlike A for Anarchist. What important about the dead man but his contribution to ideas?

[F9]

This thread should be in trash, I am a Leninist and I don't have him as my idol or sitting or as a pocketknives unlike A for Anarchist. What important about the dead man but his contribution to ideas?

A for Anarchist?What do you mean?You mean this: :blackA: ? I dont think you can compare a symbol we use, with a dead man.Beside that and if i understood you, which seems i didnt, i agree with you, but i prefer leaving learning threads open and here.

Fuserg9:star:

[Bright Banana Beard]

A for Anarchist?What do you mean?You mean this: :blackA: ? I dont think you can compare a symbol we use, with a dead man.Beside that and if i understood you, which seems i didnt, i agree with you, but i prefer leaving learning threads open and here.

Fuserg9:star:Yes I meant that and our symbol is clearly hammer and sickle, but to see this many troll in this thread truly deserve to be sent to the trash. Do it for your anarchist brothers.

[F9]

Yes I meant that and our symbol is clearly hammer and sickle, but to see this many troll in this thread truly deserve to be sent to the trash. Do it for your anarchist brothers.

Wait.I use hammer and sickle too..As i use (A). You cant compare it with how some people idolizing some dead people, with a symbol that is just that, something to point out what we are..
Thread stays open, and if trolling continues i will trash the posts and issue warnings.Fair enough?

Fuserg9:star:

[Led Zeppelin]

Incidentally, personal humility is one of the reasons why Ahmadinejad in Iran still commands a lot of support from peasants and workers.

He doesn't command a lot of support from peasants and workers, or, to say it better; he commands support from "peasants and workers" in the same manner Obama does in the US (or I could name countless other populist bourgeois leaders who lived "modestly" and "had a lot of support from peasants and workers").

Think about how such bourgeois leaders get such "support". It's an irrelevancy.

Besides, it's impossible to even measure such a thing in a police-state so I have no idea how you came to that conclusion except by reading official state propaganda (the recent election results fall under that category, obviously).

I like your posts on most other issues and agree with them but on Iran you're position is hopelessly reactionary. I don't mean to offend you or anything by pointing this out. I know you disagree and have your reasons for doing so, but we must stick to our principles.

Since we're on the topic of Lenin, he derided his fellow revolutionaries quite harshly if he believed their positions were reactionary or wrong. Not for the sake of convincing them by throwing his weight around as an "authority figure" (which he wasn't, his line didn't always win the day), but for the sake of sticking to his principles.

If you don't have the backbone to do that in politics, you're useless.

[khad]

He doesn't command a lot of support from peasants and workers, or, to say it better; he commands support from "peasants and workers" in the same manner Obama does in the US (or I could name countless other populist bourgeois leaders who lived "modestly" and "had a lot of support from peasants and workers").

Think about how such bourgeois leaders get such "support". It's an irrelevancy.

Besides, it's impossible to even measure such a thing in a police-state so I have no idea how you came to that conclusion except by reading official state propaganda.

I like your posts on most other issues and agree with them but on Iran you're position is hopelessly reactionary. I don't mean to offend you or anything by pointing this out. I know you disagree and have your reasons for doing so, but we must stick to our principles.

Led Zep, I never said I supported Ahmadinejad. I merely made the point to show that he knows how to wield personal conduct as a political tool. He is a very shrewd politician. Do not take this as an endorsement of his politics. You've been reading too many of the words that some clowns have been putting into my mouth.

[Led Zeppelin]

Ok, I apologize for what I accused you of in my previous post then.

I agree with you that Ahmadinejad is definitely a shrewd politician. He wouldn't have been able to survive this long in Iran's political climate if he wasn't. Nor would he have been able to one-up someone like Rafsanjani for so long.

[scarletghoul]

Im pretty sure this is a joke thread