BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?

Subject: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Gulliver
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 01:10 PM

OK, this idea isn't new, so it may have been discussed before, but I came across it only recently.
This article explains it:

www.iamlost.com/features/smurfs/commies.shtml

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 01:17 PM

Yes. I've heard that before.

By a very loose definition of communism I guess they were. But to me they seemed no less communistic than any society that small would have to be. It was a children's story, not a lesson in Economics. I don't think there was any subversive message intended.

I've also seen articles whose premise was that they were a pro-gay message as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 01:59 PM

If they were, then more power to 'em, I say! ;-)

The people in Star Trek weren't capitalists either. That's one of the things I really liked about that show.

They made sure FIRST that everyone in their society was well fed, well housed, got a first rate education and got employment (of their choice and according to their abilities), and had absolutely equal access to all the material benefits of life. The motivation for getting ahead in that society wasn't based on material acquisition, it was based on experiential rewards and the respect earned from others by your own accomplishments.

That's brilliant. It's the foundation of a truly just and healthy society, based on respect for all humankind. By eliminating both money itself and material inequalities in a society you also eliminate most of the more common forms of organized and individual crimes (most of which are based on securing material or monetary gains).

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:17 PM

Little Hawk,

The only earthing I ever saw on Star Trek who wasn't a space explorer was Jean Luc Picard's brother, a Vintner who had inherited the winery. What could be more capitalist than that? What could be more elitist? what could be less communistic?

The Universal food and health care of the Star Trek Universe could only have come about through massive investments in the means of production and R&D. Obviously that society could only have come about as the logical extension of capitalist ideals.

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: CarolC
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:29 PM

"THE SMURFS SPREAD DISTENTION THROUGH COMMUNISM!!"

More likely they're spreading it with beer

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:39 PM

Oh, come now, Jack. ;-) You know perfectly well that there was a society of billions of souls (both human and otherwise) that was sending out those space ships on their exploratory voyages, and that society was based on a moneyless system where every citizen had equal access to all the normal material goods and services of life (food, clothing, furnishings, education, transportation, energy, etc).

Now as to inheriting a winery...why not? Someone's family had to have started the winery at some point, and it's logical that that family would continue to operate the winery, is it not? Just how big does a winery have to be? I'm not envisioning a gigantic operation with 900 employees when I think of Picard's brother's winery.

Wouldn't you prefer to have cities with no poverty, Jack? With no ghettos? No homeless people? No pollution? No billboards? Free public transit?

All it takes to do that is a society that has decided at the top levels to care for everyone instead of abandoning its people to sink or swim in a big "survival of the fittest" reality game...like a giant version of the TV program "Survivor". That's what we have. We live in a relatively barbaric and primitive society...(mind you, it could still be a lot worse!)

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:43 PM

"distention" Ha! Ha! Amusing.

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: CarolC
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:49 PM

I thought that was an interesting word to have in the headline for the page.

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:55 PM

I thought smurfs were those squishy blue things I stepped on when I went to the bathroom at night.

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 03:07 PM

??????????????????????????

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Ernest
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 04:30 PM

Please notice that the word "Smurfs" is a very derogative, downright insulting term.

It is not to be used anymore.

Henceforth they should be spoken of as Blue Men Group.

Seriously

Ernest

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 04:42 PM

How do we then refer to Smurfette?

"Since ma Smurfette lef' me
I gotta new place ta dwell
Down at the end of lonely street
Called, Bluesman Hotel...."

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: ToulouseCruise
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 04:43 PM

If the Smurfs were Communists, wouldn't they be Red instead?

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 05:20 PM

The Smurfs were the authentic sound of English folk music. Most of their records were made by a member of the folk group Magna Carta - he has the gold discs on his wall to prove it!

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 06:32 PM

"Are the Smurfs Communists?"

More likely Communoid.

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 07:01 PM

I too looked at 'Distention'. I imagine they meant to use 'dissension'?

Reminds me of the upscale hotel where I work part time. At the Front Desk they have 'Extention' numbers. *g*

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 07:27 PM

Indeed - my first question was where does smurfette fit into this male dominated society with her blonde hair and non specific task.


Is she the boss? weilding absolute sexual power?

Is she a hooker?

Is Papa smurf her pimp?

why hasn't there been a war over her yet?

These questions and more need answers!

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 08:28 PM

is is more than my tiny brain can ponder!

I thought "Smurfs" were characters in the right-wing comic strip Little Abner.

Oh, well!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 08:29 PM

No. evidently they were "Shmoos."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 09:02 PM

Neither one of them is as good as the Kigmes (see classic old Uncle Scrooge comic book adventure story).

Smurfette is just your token "babe", that's all. The usual nonsense.

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 03:01 AM

""distention" Ha! Ha! Amusing. "

Actually they eat onions, and so fart a lot... hence the 'distension'...

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 03:09 AM

Smurfette = Elaine Bennis?

Subject: RE: BS: Are the Smurfs Communists?
From: quokka
Date: 01 Aug 08 - 07:41 AM

I think the whole show was a front for an extended metaphor for blues/rock you know, the underdog kicking against the pricks, with Smurfette being the token woman...LOL "I've still got the blues for you" -Gary MOore

Cheers,
Quokk