The idealized "Stalin committed no crimes" mentality is overreaching and a turn off, but beating the Nazis isn't the only good thing Stalin did, and pushing back on the narrative of "Stalin is just as bad as Hitler" is important.
I think the best approach is to couple Parenti's "compare the revolutionary generation with the generation that came before it" with "compare the USSR with like countries that existed at the same time."
It's probably not good to open up your organizing with a discussion of Stalin, but I'm also not mad that Stalin crushed the landowning class of Ukraine. Destroying power structures that preserve themselves through anti-semitic violence is good.
Still, your definitely right about scaring people off. Here in America you shouldn't bring up that the main criticism of Stalin is literally fascist gaslighting until you have a very deep and strong relationship with someone.
outside of beating the nazis, stalin sucked. defending him will just scare people off -- and for good reason.
edit: I don't mean that beating the nazis was the only good thing stalin did. my point still stands: criminalizing homosexuality, mass deportations involving mostly women and children and rape apologia just aren't a good look.
The idealized "Stalin committed no crimes" mentality is overreaching and a turn off, but beating the Nazis isn't the only good thing Stalin did, and pushing back on the narrative of "Stalin is just as bad as Hitler" is important.
I think the best approach is to couple Parenti's "compare the revolutionary generation with the generation that came before it" with "compare the USSR with like countries that existed at the same time."
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He ded
It's probably not good to open up your organizing with a discussion of Stalin, but I'm also not mad that Stalin crushed the landowning class of Ukraine. Destroying power structures that preserve themselves through anti-semitic violence is good.
Still, your definitely right about scaring people off. Here in America you shouldn't bring up that the main criticism of Stalin is literally fascist gaslighting until you have a very deep and strong relationship with someone.
Whyd he suck?
not qualified to produce a comprehensive list, but off the top of my head: criminalizing homosexuality was kinda cringe