The USSR was a terrible world power; most people have no idea just how terrible. I wish that history books would include just one picture of one of the poor Russians post-Bolshevik Revolution (the Communist takeover) forced to drag stones via barbed wire- wrapped around their bodies. It is hard to fathom the tens, if not hundreds, of MILLIONS of people that Stalin had killed for the sake of power. What we in the free world can and should take from this dark chapter in history is a warning and a lesson.
The term "useful idiot" is mostly associated with Lenin; but Stalin also made full use of the useful idiots he could influence. Lenin, for the less educated in history out there, was the center figure leading the Bolshevik Revolution, and the first leader of Russia after it succeeded. Of course, revolutions need support. Lenin recognized that many would support his cause without fully knowing what his intentions were. He promised a "worker's paradise" to many, and many actually ended up being liquidated. He called these people useful idiots- Idiots, because they did things that were stupid. Useful, because he could us them to further his own goals.
Stalin also loved his useful idiots, and his greatest were Communist Sympathizers in the US and Western Europe. They had no idea what he was doing: executing millions, suppressing all freedoms, making life a miserable existence of servitude to the ruling elite. These useful idiots thought that the USSR really was some kind of Utopia. They spied on the free USA's government, giving the USSR nuclear secrets that advanced Stalin's program to build an atom bomb by ten years, making him a monstrous threat to peace and freedom. Idiotic? Yes! Useful? Stalin thought so.
Stalin also coined a term still with us today, though no one knows its origin anymore. "Politically correct" is something everyone has heard of. Chartlon Heston had it right when he called political correctness "tyranny with manners." Today, being politically correct means not saying "black" but saying "African-American." It means not saying "illegal aliens," or my favorite: "invaders," but rather "migrant workers." The term "retarded" used to be perfectly acceptable for adults with the mind of a child, now it is "mentally challenged." Or "handicapped." Or whatever they last changed it to, who can keep up? There's no such thing as a "bum" anymore, just an "impoverished person." It is all about control. First they control what people say, then it is easier to control what the think.
Stalin used political correctness much more harshly, and much more literally. Politically, his party- the communist party- was the only party in power. It was unacceptable that anyone or anything be positioned in any way against his party. Therefore, if someone was not "politically correct" by his definition, meaning completely in line with the party, they were executed or sent to Siberia.
In the USA, "political correctness" has not reached this level... yet. It still regularly is used to destroy people. Don Imus, anyone? I don't care for the guy; in fact, I never heard of him before he was fired for some off color comments. But should he have been? The good ol' PC police showed up the moment they smelled a chance for action, and next thing you know Imus is fired for exercising his right to free speech. (Remember all he did was call some black girls nappy-headed hos. Rappers do this and worse daily, if not hourly, but the PC police aren't equal opportunity. That's a story for another post, though.) You see, the left only ever believes in free speech when that speech is politically correct, as they define it. The question is: why are there so many people letting them get away with it? The answer: too many useful idiots.
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