Date: Tue, 05 Mar 1996 13:26:13 -0500 (EST)
From: SHAWGI TELL <v600a8e6-AT-ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu>
Subject: J.V. Stalin



     On March 5, 1953, J.V. Stalin, Leader of the Soviet Union and
of the socialist camp, died. His death forty-three years ago today,
was deeply mourned by the entire humanity on a scale unprecedented
in the history of human beings. Men and women around the world wept
openly upon hearing the news and gathered in memorial meetings to
pay tribute to the greatest personality of their time.
     Forty-three years later the hope of all humankind, the Soviet
Union, is no more. Neither is there a socialist camp. But still the
mere mention of the name of Stalin brings immediate fear to
imperialism, the world bourgeoisie and reaction. They still tremble
in fright for their capitalist system, lest some aspect of Stalin's
prestige, influence and teachings may inspire the working class to
action. Reaction still pounces on his personality and cheaply
maligns it, unable to attack the substantive issues for which he
fought and won victory.
     The great merit of Stalin was that he was the architect of
socialism and the great leader in the victory over fascism. All the
obsolescent forces never forgave him for his leadership on these
two fronts. The hatred born of defeat still compels the obsolescent
forces to muster campaign after campaign of vilification against a
man who has been dead for forty-three years. They try to present
him as a negative personality but it does not wash. The facts are
too stunning, the victories much too profound.
     The building of socialism stands as one of his greatest
achievements. There was no precedent for building such a system.
The decisive factor was the elimination of all exploitation of
persons by persons. It is to his merit that Stalin created a
socialist system free from all such exploitation.
     The other significant accomplishment was the heroic victory
over fascism. The key ingredient in this remarkable victory was the
building of the united front of the Soviet Union with the working
and oppressed people of the world, together with the unity of all
powers that opposed Hitlerite reaction.
     At the present time when revolution is in retreat, it is
imperative to profoundly appreciate that socialism is the only way
out of the crisis. It is the alternative. Imperialism, the
bourgeoisie and reaction realize the truth of this statement. In
opposition to socialism it still carries the most heinous
propaganda against Stalin, for they desperately want to keep
socialism away from the working class. This is the main content and
purpose of the on-going anti-Stalin and anti-communist campaign.


Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
V600A8E6-AT-UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU




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