The Demonization of the Soviet Union in the USA

[RedHammer]

One of the most irritating things I encounter in debate is the mindless rhetoric against the Soviet Union that people employ. That's not to say that there aren't fair criticisms; there are, to be sure. But many people pull out the classic "100 million people died" or some other number which, when pressed, they cannot back up with any source. They repeat the same mindless crap about school children all getting the same grade, or people living in concrete huts and "the USSR was a complete and utter failure", and then I point out all the successes, and they bring up human rights. But they conveniently ignore the human rights violations of the USA like....oh, I dunno, massacring millions of Native Americans.

Why is there so much blind ignorance on the part of Americans against socialism?

[TheGodlessUtopian]

The short answer is Stalinism.

[RedHammer]

The short answer is Stalinism.

They don't even know anything about Stalin.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

They don't even know anything about Stalin.

Through the U.S Propaganda they do as well as whatever is partly factual from the history books (more propaganda).

[RedHammer]

Through the U.S Propaganda they do as well as whatever is partly factual from the history books (more propaganda).

Stalin did more good than harm to the USSR.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Stalin did more good than harm to the USSR.

Not according to the West; hence you have your demonization.

[JoeySteel]

Anti-communism is an integral part of ruling class ideology in the USA by economic imperative. Having another competing country to demonize added much needed fuel to the fire so to speak. Stalin has nothing to do with it, or rather an objective evaluation of Stalin does not. In Stalin's time communism had more prestige in the US than before or since. It's no wonder that the more years pass since the end of the USSR the more the ruling class again resorts to anti-communism and anti-sovietism, part and parcel with the hysteria of its imperial twilight. It didn't start with the USSR. Right in the Manifesto Marx points out


Where is the party in opposition that has not been decried as communistic by its opponents in power? Where is the opposition that has not hurled back the branding reproach of communism, against the more advanced opposition parties, as well as against its reactionary adversaries?

Anti-USSR sentiment became an integral part of anti-communism as a main ideological plank of the whole ruling class ideology because of the objective threat it posed to American capitalism and imperialism particularly, and for its virtues, not for bad things about the USSR. But the main thing in the end is that American anti-sovietism is not going to be the thing that decides the future of the USA and the working class and peoples of the USA. History will view the USSR differently than how it's officially presented in the USA, but the task of organizing the working class to lead society is an objective necessity that will be determined by the work put in and concrete conditions. Not by what people were taught in High School.

[RedHammer]

Not according to the West; hence you have your demonization.

But it's not based on any in-depth historical study. And it's not really "the West" as a whole, but specifically the USA. I never encountered this much animosity towards the Soviet Union in other places in Europe

[TheGodlessUtopian]

But it's not based on any in-depth historical study. And it's not really "the West" as a whole, but specifically the USA. I never encountered this much animosity towards the Soviet Union in other places in Europe

Propoganda doesn't need to be "in depth." Do you really think that the majority of Americans throuhgly research all the claims their government makes? No. As for why it is more intense in America is because America is the citadel of international capitalism so the slander against anything which opposes their interests must be attacked mercilessly. The dependent capitalist nations just kinda feed on what the U.S does.

[Igor]

But it's not based on any in-depth historical study. And it's not really "the West" as a whole, but specifically the USA. I never encountered this much animosity towards the Soviet Union in other places in Europe

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