On the 7th of january in 1919, the "Semana Trágica" began in Argentina when police attacked striking metalworkers in Buenos Aires, killing five, after workers set the police chief's car on fire. The city was quickly placed under martial law.
The "Semana Trágica" (Tragic Week in English, not to be confused with the Spanish Tragic Week) was the violent supression of a general workers' uprising, beginning with the attack on January 7th. In addition to the actions of the police and military, right-wing vigilantes launched pogroms against the city's Jews, many of whom were not involved, in order to suppress the rebellion.
The conflict began as a strike at the Vasena metal works, an English Argentine-owned plant in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. On January 7th, workers overturned and set fire to the car of the police chief Elpidio González. Militant workers also shot and killed the commander of the Army detachment protecting González. Following this, police attacked, killing five workers and wounding twenty more.
On the same day, maritime workers of the port of Buenos Aires voted in favor of a general strike for better hours and wages. After the police attack at Vasena, a waterfront strike began: all ship movements, and all loading and unloading, came to a halt.
Rioting soon spread throughout Buenos Aires, and workers battled with both state and right-wing paramilitary forces. Police utilized members of the far-right Argentine "Patriotic League", who targeted the city's working class Russian Jewish population, which they associated with the rebellion, beating and murdering many uninvolved civilians.
On the 11th, the city was placed under martial law, and the military restored control over the city over the next several days. Estimates of the death toll range from between 141 to over 700. The United States embassy reported that 1,500 people were killed in total, "mostly Russians and generally Jews"
La Semana Trágica - el historiador
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should i get a bust of Lenin for my home office???
idk. I honestly have mixed feelings about the "Five Heads of Socialism". I think the elevation of these individuals, as important as they are, to heroic status isn't necessarily in line with socialist ideals like "From each according to their ability, too each according to their need". I like Soviet Realism bc it tends to depict idealized forms that are intended to represent the accompliremovedts of all socialists, or even all people.
That said, Lenin statuary looks cool as hell and I do have a soft spot for art-deco.
I think one of the things that really separates Socialism from religion and most other ideologies - It wasn't invented, it was discovered. Marx analyzed the British industrial economy and drew testable conclusions from his observations that can be evaluated in the face of current events and historical events. Darwin observed the behavior and form of animals to draw his conclusions. Early Anarchist theorists expanded on Darwin and combined it with observations of human behavior. That's what makes many leftist strains scientific in nature; There are ideals we believe in and a vision towards which we strive, but our practices and theory are mutable and can and do change in the face of emerging evidence. We can be wrong, and when we're wrong we can change to better reflect what we observe in the world. Many ideologies, rooted in mythology or idealism, are unable or unwilling to do this. And sure, we struggle with it, dogmatism and idealism are something we've always struggled with. But Socialism was fundamentally discovered, and Communism, like big C, moneyless stateless classesless what everyone wants to achieve communism, is a goal that seems feasible and desirable in light of the available evidence.
I think, to some degree, elevating specific theorists and leaders above others does them a deal of disservice; From what I know of Lenin he was a tireless worker far more dedicated to his position in the state bureaucracy than any notion of legacy or personal prestige. I think he might prefer to be thought of as one worker among many workers, toiling away at the work to which he was best suited.
idk, this is something I think about a lot.
Edit; I'm trying to figure out how "accomplishments" got caught in the slur filter. Language is weird and I love it.
Confusing indeed
accomplisements
Yep
What if Lenin had a bust