5 ms·

Better than being ruled by communists, that's for damn sure. That was my experience, anyway.

by mnm1 6y ago

TimTheTinker 6y ago
I’m really curious: what is your experience that you’re referring to?
- stqism 6y ago
  Not the person you’re replying to, but I know a number of people with this sentiment. They’re all former residents of the Soviet Union and were able to get out as refugees to the US when it collapsed.
- muro 6y ago
  I grew up in a communist country. Good riddance to them, only a shame that so few were prosecuted for ruining the lives of so many.
  - TimTheTinker 6y ago
    Who in their right mind downvotes this ^? If you do downvote, I'd really like to know why. Communism is manifestly a negative influence on mankind's well-being... don't know how anyone could rationally think otherwise (unless you grew up in a communist country and believe the propaganda).
    - throw1997throw 6y ago
      > unless you grew up in a communist country No, chances are the person who downvoted you is someone who never has actually lived in a communist country and likely did so from the comforts of an overpriced western coffee shop. They probably think they're an intellectual who wouldn't be first against the wall in such a situation. Take the downvote with pride, since you're speaking truth to abuse.
    - FabHK 6y ago
      In particular as GP didn't even make a political statement about theoretical political systems whose veracity could be discussed on some abstract grounds, but made a personal statement about themselves and their direct experience.
    - FabHK 6y ago
      This makes me wonder: USSR : "The Gulag Archipelago" :: modern China : ? Anyone got a suggestion for a well written modern book that exposes the sins of the CCP?
- CWuestefeld 6y ago
  My wife grew up in the PRC. Before Communism they were a very prominent family (her great uncle was a literary pioneer; his brother, her grandpa, a judge prominent enough that he was mentioned in the movie Lust Caution; and their brother a successful MD), and as a result were "black" under the Communist regime. With the exception of my wife's grandmother, every member of her extended family spent time in either prison or forced-work camps. One of her aunts translated for me the "confession" she was forced to sign. None of this was related to what we'd consider crimes, but was entirely political. The Communists took the family's house. They had a refrigerator and a piano, which the Red Guard destroyed on the basis that if everyone didn't have such bourgeois goods, then no one should. When TVs were made available for neighborhood viewing, my wife wasn't allowed to attend. And there's the malnutrition and squalor they were subjected to. They shared one floor of a brownstone with 2 other families - so, 3 entire families sharing one kitchen and 1.5 baths. There was insufficient food, to the point where they had to eat insect-infested grain - while Party members got plenty. So, all in all, my wife's experience with Communism wasn't positive, and having lived through that, she's the first to speak up against anything that exhibits any of those traits.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - GordonS 6y ago
    This is of course terrible, and I'm sorry your family went through any of it. I though think it's worth mentioning that the China of today is absolutely not the China of the 50's. I've personally spent quite a bit of time in China, and it's never seemed particularly "communist" - the middle class has long since been established and continues to grow, and capatalism is very much thriving. On a personal note, I've always really enjoyed my time in China. I'm not saying it's a model of wonderdrous virtue either of course; there is a lot of corruption (hardly unique to China, mind), many people wouldn't even dream of openly criticising the CCP, there is little press freedom, and of course the Uigher (spelling?) camps are an abomination. Yet the overwhelming majority of the population have never had it better, and are happy with the way things are (of course, few will know everything about the way things are).
- mnm1 6y ago
  Eastern bloc country. Grandfather tortured for being a priest after his house got confiscated and family ran out of town. My other grandfather had a similar experience but got his house back eventually. Constant persecution. Fear of anyone who was not family because they could be spies for the state. Food rationing. 6 day workweek. Bribe doctors so you don't die on the operating table and everyone else too. Can't read in public. Tons of censorship. I was very young and my family was doing well, the communist equivalent of middle class. Others had it much worse. Being a child I was shielded from a lot but children are not stupid. Imagine having murderous hate for your president at seven, eight years old. Education was quite good though, but I missed most of that. Highly doubt China much different in many respects from my visit there.
  - muro 6y ago
    My grandfather spend time in jail as well (also a priest), in uranium mines. That was a favorite for "enemies of the state". Apart from reading in public and murderous hate for the president, can relate to everything you wrote. Never been to China to comment.

Better than being ruled by communists, that's for damn sure. That was my experience, anyway.

by mnm1 6y ago

Better than being ruled by communists, that's for damn sure. That was my experience, anyway.

TimTheTinker 6y ago

I’m really curious: what is your experience that you’re referring to?

stqism 6y ago
Not the person you’re replying to, but I know a number of people with this sentiment. They’re all former residents of the Soviet Union and were able to get out as refugees to the US when it collapsed.
muro 6y ago
I grew up in a communist country. Good riddance to them, only a shame that so few were prosecuted for ruining the lives of so many.
- TimTheTinker 6y ago
  Who in their right mind downvotes this ^? If you do downvote, I'd really like to know why. Communism is manifestly a negative influence on mankind's well-being... don't know how anyone could rationally think otherwise (unless you grew up in a communist country and believe the propaganda).
  - throw1997throw 6y ago
    > unless you grew up in a communist country No, chances are the person who downvoted you is someone who never has actually lived in a communist country and likely did so from the comforts of an overpriced western coffee shop. They probably think they're an intellectual who wouldn't be first against the wall in such a situation. Take the downvote with pride, since you're speaking truth to abuse.
  - FabHK 6y ago
    In particular as GP didn't even make a political statement about theoretical political systems whose veracity could be discussed on some abstract grounds, but made a personal statement about themselves and their direct experience.
  - FabHK 6y ago
    This makes me wonder: USSR : "The Gulag Archipelago" :: modern China : ? Anyone got a suggestion for a well written modern book that exposes the sins of the CCP?
CWuestefeld 6y ago
My wife grew up in the PRC. Before Communism they were a very prominent family (her great uncle was a literary pioneer; his brother, her grandpa, a judge prominent enough that he was mentioned in the movie Lust Caution; and their brother a successful MD), and as a result were "black" under the Communist regime. With the exception of my wife's grandmother, every member of her extended family spent time in either prison or forced-work camps. One of her aunts translated for me the "confession" she was forced to sign. None of this was related to what we'd consider crimes, but was entirely political. The Communists took the family's house. They had a refrigerator and a piano, which the Red Guard destroyed on the basis that if everyone didn't have such bourgeois goods, then no one should. When TVs were made available for neighborhood viewing, my wife wasn't allowed to attend. And there's the malnutrition and squalor they were subjected to. They shared one floor of a brownstone with 2 other families - so, 3 entire families sharing one kitchen and 1.5 baths. There was insufficient food, to the point where they had to eat insect-infested grain - while Party members got plenty. So, all in all, my wife's experience with Communism wasn't positive, and having lived through that, she's the first to speak up against anything that exhibits any of those traits.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- GordonS 6y ago
  This is of course terrible, and I'm sorry your family went through any of it. I though think it's worth mentioning that the China of today is absolutely not the China of the 50's. I've personally spent quite a bit of time in China, and it's never seemed particularly "communist" - the middle class has long since been established and continues to grow, and capatalism is very much thriving. On a personal note, I've always really enjoyed my time in China. I'm not saying it's a model of wonderdrous virtue either of course; there is a lot of corruption (hardly unique to China, mind), many people wouldn't even dream of openly criticising the CCP, there is little press freedom, and of course the Uigher (spelling?) camps are an abomination. Yet the overwhelming majority of the population have never had it better, and are happy with the way things are (of course, few will know everything about the way things are).
mnm1 6y ago
Eastern bloc country. Grandfather tortured for being a priest after his house got confiscated and family ran out of town. My other grandfather had a similar experience but got his house back eventually. Constant persecution. Fear of anyone who was not family because they could be spies for the state. Food rationing. 6 day workweek. Bribe doctors so you don't die on the operating table and everyone else too. Can't read in public. Tons of censorship. I was very young and my family was doing well, the communist equivalent of middle class. Others had it much worse. Being a child I was shielded from a lot but children are not stupid. Imagine having murderous hate for your president at seven, eight years old. Education was quite good though, but I missed most of that. Highly doubt China much different in many respects from my visit there.
- muro 6y ago
  My grandfather spend time in jail as well (also a priest), in uranium mines. That was a favorite for "enemies of the state". Apart from reading in public and murderous hate for the president, can relate to everything you wrote. Never been to China to comment.