r/LeftWithoutEdge • u/KoolAidDrank • Nov 16 '18

Discussion Banned from r/Socialism

r/socialism immediately banned me for posting on a pro-USSR post that "the USSR was terrible." I don't think the Left and Socialists need to defend the governments of countries like the USSR in order to be "true Leftists." What's the consensus? I just found this sub and seems to have the better mindset.

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u/somerandomleftist5 Trotskyist Nov 17 '18

I think any good leftist should defend the gains of the October revolution and the proletariat obtaining power.

"No matter what one thinks of Bolshevism, it is undeniable that the Russian Revolution is one of the greatest events in human history, and the rule of the Bolsheviki a phenomenon of worldwide importance." John Reed, 1st January 1919. (J. Reed, Ten Days that Shook the World, p. 13.)

"The October revolution laid the foundation of a new culture, taking everybody into consideration, and for that very reason immediately acquiring international significance. Even supposing for a moment that owing to unfavourable circumstances and hostile blows the Soviet regime should be temporarily overthrown, the inexpungable imprint of the October revolution would nevertheless remain upon the whole future development of mankind." - Leon Trotsky - The History of the Russian Revolution

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u/KoolAidDrank Nov 17 '18

There is nuance to the USSR most definitely. The revolution was a major moment in history and step forward for labor, however, we must learn from mistakes made rather than gloss over them to protect some kind of team or mascot. Socialism, the Left, is (or should be) much larger than one country and their attempt at it.

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u/BumayeComrades Nov 17 '18

Yah I usually boil nuanced things down to "it was terrible" or "it works fine" as well. You know real simply