September 27, 2007
Remembering Stalin
Reuters reports:
Despite Stalin's record, recent polls have shown many young Russians have a positive view of the former Soviet leader and there have been attempts this year to play down his excesses, which have found an echo among the country's youth.Fifty-four percent of Russian youth believe that Stalin did more good than bad and half said he was a wise leader, according to a poll conducted in July by the Yuri Levada Centre.
More good than bad?! History Posted by Harrison Bergeron at September 27, 2007 2:08 PM
He was just misunderstood, you know.
Similarly, Americans revere FDR despite the true history in front of them. At least the Russians acknowledge Stalin did some bad things; most Americans are ready to beatify FDR.
Posted by: Perry Eidelbus at September 27, 2007 5:04 PMI hear you. Watching Ken Burns's "The War" documentary after reading Amity Schlaes's "The Forgotten Man" is a bit like jumping out of the sauna into an icy pool.
One might rightfully his war leadership. Burns echoes the lie that his economic policies ended the depression. A longer post about Mr. Burns and his film when I finish.
Posted by: jk at September 27, 2007 7:08 PMIf FDR had actually been a great wartime president, he'd have recognized what was happening in Europe and stopped it in the 1930s.
It's not a modern phenomenon that Democrats abhor a preemptive strike against our enemies, no matter how justified.
Posted by: Perry Eidelbus at September 28, 2007 1:43 PM"Preemptive?" He**, Churchill's Britain was at war with Germany for more than TWO YEARS before the "great wartime president" acted. Even then, it wasn't until after both Japan AND Germany had declared war against the U.S. Even CANADA went to Britain's aid from the start.
Even in the frenzied anti-war environment of the present day I'm certain that any US president would act immediately to defend an ally the likes of England were she to come under military attack. Instead, FDR spent two years trying to figure out how to play Churchill and the Brits out to wear down the Germans. Shameful.
Posted by: johngalt at September 28, 2007 3:34 PM | What do you think? [4]