Without a hint of sarcasm, I would like to say that I’ve truly enjoyed reading your comments. Thanks for the thoughtful and informative discussion. It was a bright spot in my day.
In Blackshirts and Reds, Parenti goes in great detail about the deficiencies of the former Eastern Bloc in Chapter 4. It’s a great book overall, and easy to read.
I downloaded it and will try to give it a read. As was pointed out by one of your comrades, I have to sound out the words so sometimes a lot of the context is lost on me.
I know this is digging up an old thread, but I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on Blackshirts and Reds?
For me, the historical context provided in this book was very eye-opening and a big part of what led me to dig deeper into how socialism works outside of the anti-communist propaganda I’d been fed throughout my life and formal education.
I’m sorry for the delay in replying. The book is incredibly eye-opening but it’s one I will have to read more than once. My struggle is not just what I’ve been taught in the past but also how little I looked for myself. It’s shocking how much I have to Google while reading it.
It’s shocking how much I have to Google while reading it.
We all go through it, even if it’s just learning terms we’re unfamiliar with. Your other points resonate with me as well. It can take a lot of effort to work through (because there’s so much to read!), but I’ve also found it’s been very rewarding.
Thank you for taking the time to read it. Most people we encounter don’t even bother to engage with anything that opposes their established worldview. It’s not trivial and requires an inquisitive mind. Many people don’t care enough to even try.
