From what I've gathered from other various threads, I've realized that most Americans don't have any idea what communism really is. It's almost scary, to the point that communism has become synonymous with totalitarianism. Thoughts?
It's easy to misunderstand Communism or other ideologies. Look at the Communist Parties around the world and what they have done to the populations. Some have done good things, but many have committed massive atrocities. It's easy to equate Communism with totalitarianism. Just like it is easy to equate Islam to terrorism. Or Christianity with fundamentalism. Or poor people to violence and gangs.
Trends have a major impact on our minds. In the town I teach in, there are six main gangs. All of them are for blacks only. So when I see an African American with tattoos, flashing gang symbols, not paying attention, getting all F's, and wearing clothing that gang members tend to, I tense up. I am more aware of them than the white girl who wouldn't hurt a fly. I don't think I'm being racist. I am just looking at the facts. The fact is that all the major gangs only accept blacks. Of the 8 students of mine that have been expelled for drugs, violence, and crime, 7 have been black. The trend is that Blacks in my school commit more crime, thus I am more aware when they are around.
The same goes for ideologies. Communism has a history of brutality, genocide, and mass murder. Why should Americans and others not make the correlation of Communism = totalitarianism?
I know that in theory Communism is not like that at all. But in the end, most Communist parties boil down to oppression.
I agree, I find it very aggravating when people are talking about communism and are talking about dictators and such. I try to explain that in Communism everything is equal. They then say something along the lines of "ya well when the U.S.S.R. was around everything wasn't fair!" Of course they wont accept that was Totalitarianism. Communism has an unfair reputation because of past Communist leaders who turned their party into Totalitarianism but still called themselves Communists.
The same goes for ideologies. Communism has a history of brutality, genocide, and mass murder. Why should Americans and others not make the correlation of Communism = totalitarianism?
But one of the main problems with that thought process is that the USSR wasn't communist. Yet, many modern Americans fail to realize that, they just slap the label on it without knowing what it is.
I understand what alt is saying and have noticed similar things but, and this is what I don't understand, why Americans? I know there are a higher ratio of them here and therefore more chance of one not knowing/understanding Communism being here but I don't think that is all it is.
I understand what alt is saying and have noticed similar things but, and this is what I don't understand, why Americans? I know there are a higher ratio of them here and therefore more chance of one not knowing/understanding Communism being here but I don't think that is all it is.
America is the epicenter of the ignorance. There is more anti-Communist propaganda here than in many other countries, plus I live in the USA right now, so I couldn't notice it anywhere else now.
I understand what alt is saying and have noticed similar things but, and this is what I don't understand, why Americans? I know there are a higher ratio of them here and therefore more chance of one not knowing/understanding Communism being here but I don't think that is all it is.
I agree with 'thisisnotanalt.' But also, we were the ones who butted heads with Communism. The Cold War was two sides, Capitalism vs. Communism. In order to win the Cold War, the government had to promote as much hatred to Communism as possible. Propaganda is such a powerful tool. People like to think it does not effect them, but it does. The US government demonized Communism so much that even to this day most Americans have a negative view on it.
I completely agree with you, thisisnotanalt. America is ignorant about topics like communism and the people here in America often make uneducated points. But i'm not saying that some people actually know what they're talking about. I have one friend who hates Maoism and actually can back his arguements with logic.
lol. I swear, I'm probably the only American who actually understands communism that I know, counting the adults. . .well, my parents sort of do. . .>.>
Not only is propaganda a part of it, but the lack of any strong Communist Party in the US also plays a role. Honestly, why should most people know about Socialism or Communism when not a single party with those ideologies received over 10,000 votes in the last election? They are not major players at all in American politics. So there is really no reason to know the basic positions.
just this morning i was visiting my sister and i said something about communism 'cause my nieces were watching some show that was teaching them Chinese and my sister told me not to say it around them because she didn't want them saying it so yeah i would say the amount of misconceptions are frightening especially when it makes just saying the word communism something to be shunned
Um, for better explanation of the different communisms, please look here.
In this thread, it explains in general terms, pure communism, russian communism, and cambodian communism. It may also explain others. I don't remember.
Luckily, due to my lust for knowledge, and my proper education, I know what true communism is. I'm not going to mix this up with the bad versions of it that occured after the natural greed of humanity set in.
Pure communism is only good in theory, since with human nature making some people naturally want to be leaders messes it all up, not making everyone equal.
I'm American, and I understand this. At first, I thought this was going to be the USA's ignorance in general, which I would've agreed with even more, but now I see it's focused on misconceptions of communism. I still agree with this, but not where I live. We have a good educational system that makes sure we don't get fed lies or get opinions forced upon us.
