Over the course of history, people have used fancy ideologies and control the masses and gain power - and they prosecute them afterwards.
It can be seen in past history, especially with regards to countries who chose Communism and its classless society, but failed. The elites still systematically remove the disadvantaged who do not fit into the elites' plans. The People's Republic of China prosecuted more than 55 million people and stymied the economic and social development of the PRC for 2 generations, through the Great Leap Forward and then, the Cultural Revolution. Much cultural heritage is destroyed and lost. When the Soviet Union existed, more than 20 million people were sent to labour camps, or being exiled. All because of Communism, some utopian ideology.
Even 'freedom' and 'democracy' comes at a price. These systems fail. People do not get enough to eat, and live with fear of prosecution. So creation and innovation grinds to a halt, limiting the potentials of these systems' economies and their people. Subsequently, the PRC has to institute market reforms to ensure continued order, whereas Soviet Union has already disintegrated.
Indeed, you can't deny that communism brought some benefits for both the former Soviet Union and China. These countries have great sporting facilities like the old Lenin Stadium; great railway systems consisting of track and bridges, in the form of the first bridge over the Yangtze River, the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, built with Sino-Soviet cooperation; great universities with grand campuses, with its grand Soviet-era dormitories, such as the Moscow State University. However, much as all these glorious structures stand to these days, they are stark reminders to oppressed past and hurt in both China and the old Soviet Union.
Some things will never change, after all. Today, the seemingly all-inclusive but impractical and exclusive ideal of Communism has been replaced with fundamentalism, racism and nationalism. We see the rise of the British National Party, One Nation in Australia, Front National of France, and Al-Qaeda. Unless the whole population really has a say and the collective power to decide and act on what's best for them, these political parties can do nothing but to make empty promises that will be broken.
I personally do not trust any form of exclusivity of some people from society, even if it means implicit us-them comparisons, as it breeds groupthink as well as outcastes. I hope to uphold my personal freedoms as much as I can, to be free from these harmful -isms in society.
It can be seen in past history, especially with regards to countries who chose Communism and its classless society, but failed. The elites still systematically remove the disadvantaged who do not fit into the elites' plans. The People's Republic of China prosecuted more than 55 million people and stymied the economic and social development of the PRC for 2 generations, through the Great Leap Forward and then, the Cultural Revolution. Much cultural heritage is destroyed and lost. When the Soviet Union existed, more than 20 million people were sent to labour camps, or being exiled. All because of Communism, some utopian ideology.
Even 'freedom' and 'democracy' comes at a price. These systems fail. People do not get enough to eat, and live with fear of prosecution. So creation and innovation grinds to a halt, limiting the potentials of these systems' economies and their people. Subsequently, the PRC has to institute market reforms to ensure continued order, whereas Soviet Union has already disintegrated.
Indeed, you can't deny that communism brought some benefits for both the former Soviet Union and China. These countries have great sporting facilities like the old Lenin Stadium; great railway systems consisting of track and bridges, in the form of the first bridge over the Yangtze River, the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, built with Sino-Soviet cooperation; great universities with grand campuses, with its grand Soviet-era dormitories, such as the Moscow State University. However, much as all these glorious structures stand to these days, they are stark reminders to oppressed past and hurt in both China and the old Soviet Union.
Some things will never change, after all. Today, the seemingly all-inclusive but impractical and exclusive ideal of Communism has been replaced with fundamentalism, racism and nationalism. We see the rise of the British National Party, One Nation in Australia, Front National of France, and Al-Qaeda. Unless the whole population really has a say and the collective power to decide and act on what's best for them, these political parties can do nothing but to make empty promises that will be broken.
I personally do not trust any form of exclusivity of some people from society, even if it means implicit us-them comparisons, as it breeds groupthink as well as outcastes. I hope to uphold my personal freedoms as much as I can, to be free from these harmful -isms in society.
