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What is your opinion of Joseph Stalin? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 week ago by AnonomousWolf@lemm.ee to c/socialism@lemmy.ml

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I believe in socialism, but I feel Stalin shouldn't be idolised due to things like the Gulag.

I would like more people to become socialist, but I feel not condemning Stalin doesn't help the cause.

I've tried to have a constructieve conversation about this, but I basically get angry comments calling me stupid for believing he did atrocious things.

That's not how you win someone over.

I struggle to believe the Gulag etc. Never happened, and if it happened I firmly believe Stalin should be condemned.

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[–] AnarchoBolshevik@lemmygrad.ml 33 points 1 week ago (1 children)

They're inviting you to read history, not claims of the supernatural. Most of us arrived at our more reasonable assessments of the Stalin administration by studying mature works of history. If you are expecting somebody to spend only a couple minutes refuting decades of Cold War propaganda then you are unlikely to find much help anywhere.

[–] AnonomousWolf@lemm.ee 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I just wanted a discussion or good starting point Cowbee has already provided that

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I do recommend reading the history books provided, however. I fully back what my comrades here have suggested, and don't want to take away from their inputs on the matter. Rather, I endorse them, and think the idea of comparing theology to history when it comes to the notion of research is rather rude.

[–] Shatur@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think that simply saying "wrong" was rude as well; responses like that can alienate people.

Your top-level comment is a great example of how it should be done 🙂

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 week ago

While I agree, I don't fault comrades for being short of patience when combatting the same mistaken notions repeatedly. I take breaks frequently from Lemmy as a consequence.