Paul Robeson was a great singer and a passionate activist for human rights.
But Robeson naively believed that Stalin - the murderous tyrant who killed millions of Russians and imposed tyranny on the Soviet Union - was a great man.
For example, when Robeson met with an old friend in a hotel room in Russia, the friend tried to tell Robeson that he was under arrest, was being persecuted, and might be killed by Stalin. But - the story goes - Robeson was so full of naive admiration for the communist leader that Robeson didn't notice what his friend (who disappeared shortly thereafter) was trying to tell him.
Robeson even wrote a poem called "To You Beloved Comrade" to honor Stalin.
Robeson and other Americans who were duped by the communist leaders - like playwright George Bernard Shaw - were called "useful idiots" by Lenin and Stalin. "Idiots" because they couldn't see the communists for the tyrants they were, "useful" because those tyrants could use them to spread propaganda to the West.
Useful Idiots in Modern America
Idiots were not just useful for the USSR.
Today, in modern America, there are useful idiots on the right who blindly support anyone who attacks Obama because Obama is a so-called "liberal".
Equally, there are useful idiots on the left who blindly support Obama and try to defend his bailouts of the financial giants, his escalation of the Afghanistan war, his defense of Bush administration torturers and war criminals, and other indefensible acts because they think he is the great liberal savior.
Stalin's useful idiots - like Robeson - were blind to the reality of what the communist tyrants were actually doing. They were too caught up in ideas about what was happening, instead of looking at the effect of the actual policies being carried out.
Those on both the left and the right who fall for the rhetoric of the Democratic and Republican party leaders are useful idiots who are failing to look at the effect that those parties' policies are actually having.
So if we are idiots for following the leaders of the left and right , but who do those of us who do neither follow. A a heard that have no leader is called hanging meat.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. I agree totally.
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Twenty-First Century Revolution
There are always idiots, aren't there? I mean, that's why people flock around the television to watch stupid comedies and buy stupid music. I mean, it seems that more people in general, throughout time, have always been a little stupid, whether we like to admit it or not. I'm not sure how you can cure such a "problem." For sure, I understand your point, but for many years I tried to rally against stupidity and realised that I was losing, so might as well just let them destroy themselves. I'm through trying to be a crusader. I devote my time to animal rights now.
ReplyDeleteSean Hannity, that intellectual giant, has finally noticed that there is indeed a conspiracy for one world government run by bankers and government busybodies, and that the CFR really exists. I supposed he'll be apologizing soon for calling Ron Paul and his supporters "kooks."
ReplyDeleteWe have real leaders: men such as Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, Tom Tancredo, and, of course, Chuck Norris. But no one wants to hear what these men are saying because it means that Americans would have to get their heads out of the clouds, give up their many welfare checks and government subsidies, and stop playing the stupid RedTeam-BlueTeam game. The liars and fools on the radio and TV keep the peeples confused and believing that the government is their savior.
ReplyDeleteUm, Rusty, Chuck Norris? Really? What is he going to do, reform us by putting a home gym in every mortgaged or foreclosed-upon home?
ReplyDeleteI hope you're joking.
GW, I just read your post re: torture techniques at Zero Hedge (I have followed ZH for several years as a lurker), and wanted to let you know that I am very appreciative of your considered analysis of our broken society (nay, broken species!). I don't always reach the same conclusions as you, but I always appreciate your opinions.
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