Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 11:40:11 +0100
From: Richard Bos <Richard.Bos-AT-hagcott.meganet.co.uk>
Subject: Re: M-TH: Re: No more purges


Gerald Levy wrote:
> 
> Richard Bos wrote:
> 
> > When talking about these events it is
> > important to understand the attitude of mind of people, as well as the
> > cronology of events, in order to fully see the context and perspective.
> 
> a) one can not take at face value what world "leaders" say are there
> reasons for particular actions.
> 
> b) the above (a) is particularly the case when a leader is making a
> pronouncement in a public forum.
> 
> Consequently, we do not know nor can we infer what Stalin's "attitude of
> mind" was based on his official pronouncements and writings.
> 
> Furthermore, "history" judges individuals not primarily by what they say,
> but by what they *do*. While what a person thinks clearly has an impact on
> what they do, it is very rare when we have enough data to know what they
> really thought.
> 
> Lastly, the year is 1996, yet there are still defenders of a person who
> ordered and orchestrated the murder of millions of workers, peasants, and
> revolutionaries. How pathetic!
> 
> Jerry

I am not sure who you mean by the last paragraph Jerry. Neither Chris,
nor I would describe ourselves as "Stalinists". Chris can speak for
himself better than I could, but I am interested in getting some
perspective on all this. I think that 50 years on, it is about time that
we tried to learn something by at least attempting to place events in an
historical context, and get away from the emotive mud-slinging.

Most us us were not even a twinkle in our parent's eyes when the people
who still seem to cause such strong feelings were around. That means
that it is doubly important to start a healing process in the workers
movement, and not to jump up and down with rage if anyone dares to
mention the names of Stalin or Trotsky.

-- 
Comradely,

Richard.                     
      New Worker Online http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2853



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