Quote:
Originally Posted by AsianDivaGirlsWebDude
As if many/any of the 15 year old kids you write about actually read any of Che's writing. 
I am an advocate for reading (and not necessarily following) a wide variety of writings.
Hell, I even read Mein Kampf. That doesn't make me a Nazi. What it does is give me an insight into the psyche of the person whom wrote those words and the motivations behind their subsequent actions.
I was a History major in college and read volumes of material, some of which enlightened and inspired me, some of which I detested and depressed me, and some which I still cannot fully fathom.
For me, it is less about the destination (especially a predetermined one), but more about the journey.
I applaud your "passion" and enjoy most of your posts... 
ADG |
I am all about reading... but there is context. How do you seperate one mans expression of ideas from propaganda to rally people to fight and die on his behalf and to fulfill his personal quest for power. I speak Russian for example and have read all socialist literature from Engels to Lenin's books to the writings of Karl Marx and Russian and English. I've read most of what Mao Zedong wrote.
My interest was always more in understanding how people could so easily manipulate people with populist ideas and turn them into killing machines... and do so, with everyone fully knowing that "revolution" rarely achieves anything other than the empowerment of those at the top and always results in an outcome worse than what everyone was decrying to begin with.
What i was attempting to convey is that the vast majority of these writings are propaganda, written a to sell the idea of a fight against the enemies of the author... whether its a vague concept like "the man", or a perceived enemy like "jews", or the overstated "corruption" of those in power.
The net result is always the same... the murder, misery and suffering of those who were so moved by the "passion" of the author that they were ready to take up arms and fight for that brave new vision.... and the murder, misery and suffering of anyone who was seen to be in the way.
I didn't major in history in college, but i'm quite well read when it comes to the topic of history, namely war and revolution and communism and socialism.
To me, there is a massive difference between
reading Mein Kampf and later stating "I was moved by Hitlers passion against the Jews"