What is your opinion of Joseph Stalin? - eviltoast

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.

  • Boomkop3@reddthat.com
    17·
    16 hours ago

    (Sorry for the stupid question, I only know what I’ve been taught in school.)

    If it wasn’t authoritarian or a dictatorship, why’d they build those absolutely giant statues? Just a democratic flex?

    • Davel@lemmy.mlEnglish
      10·
      16 hours ago

      Why did “they” build Mt. Rushmore or the Lincoln Memorial?

        • Davel@lemmy.mlEnglish
          7·
          14 hours ago

          under Stalin’s rule

          You are still speaking from the cold war framing of Stalin being a dictator and not an elected official who tried to step down multiple times.

          Joseph Stalin was elected as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU in April 1922 during the 11th Congress of the Party. Between then and until his death, he asked to be relieved of his duties as General Secretary a total of four times — all of which were rejected.