"don't think the Latvians, Poles. or Estonians had much respect for him - sneaking or otherwise."
That's the problem Al - some didn't but many did - the workers adored Stalin and looked on him as the saviour of the word's first workers state - that's why he got away with what he did
I was twelve when Stalin died and I can still remember family friends weeping when when the news broke
Stalinism was basically a war between politicians and they were Stalin's targets - the show trials, the purges, the night arrests - all aimed at those he saw as a political threat and that is how he destroyed the Socialist dream - not by "45 million murders"
Stupidities like that were dreamed to to avoid discussing the real issues, possibilities and implications of a Socialist society - it is far easier to create and target a bogeyman than it is to argue the relative merits of social and political change
I remember reading John Reed's 'Ten Days that Shook the World for the first time and being swept away by the arguments that were taking place at the first congress - inspiring
Your thread made me look up the arguments that took place at The First Worker's International between all the differing factions, including the Owenites - working men and their supporters dreaming out loud how to make the world a better place for everybody
Still raises goosebumps
That's what these arguments should be about - not ploutering around in Cold War jargon that never had a basis in reality
Jim Carroll