Communism is one of the three "flavors" of totalitarianism we will be talking about this month. It is the most widespread and, in a certain sense, most successful flavor of totalitarianism--and probably the most important for you to understand.What did the Harvest of Despair video teach you about Soviet Communism that you didn't know before? What insights did you gain on the motivations and methods of those who supported the movement? Did anything here help you understand why this particular flavor of totalitarianism survived longer (and did more damage) than other totalitarian systems?
Something that I didn't really know about was the famine that had affected the areas. I knew about the suffering of the people but, I didn't know fully understand why. The insights that I gained were learning how sick and twisted it all was. I feel like this happened just because people wanted to force their views on others. It was a disgusting time in history but it is important to know about and understand so that it doesn't happen again. I feel like the ways that they tried to hide it from visitors to the countries was part of the reason that it survived as long as it did.
ReplyDelete-Haley Zerr
I was completely blown away by this video. I had no idea the extent of damage that the Soviet Union did on the Ukraine and it's surrounding areas. To think this was happening and other countries were oblvious because the goverment was so good at hiding it is rediculous!
ReplyDeleteThe people who were interviewed that had been activists at the time discussed that they didn't really know the extent of what was happening and it just came up from no where to be this horrible and terrifying experience.
I think this type of totalitarianism worked so well because the leaders crept in from the inside, working in the police stations, and eventually slowly taking over every aspect of the Ukrainians lives.
Overall, I learned a lot from the video and the over looked severe troubles with Ukraine and other countries under Soviet rule.
-Ashley Acker
Well just watched it in the wed. night SI. It definitely was insightful. I had no clue this even took place.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why the government still does not acknowledge the famine. Obviously it would make them look bad, but now that the cat is out of the bag they look like liars along with the bad.
This does illustrate how free markets need to be maintained and government take overs only lead to more corruption, classism, and overall inequalities.
-Rich Hilgemann-
I had watched this video on the internet and had no idea how extreme it was. A total of 7 million people dead! How the army blocked off the border so no food could come in or out was sickening. I cant beleive a government would do something like this!
ReplyDeleteKipp Cross
The government thought they were doing the right thing "for the people" but they weren't. I can't believe someone didn't try to overthrow the government to end the famine. Usually when someone doesn't like what the government is doing they take it upon themselves to change it. The famine is terrible,especially considering there was food available to eat, but the government wouldn't give it out to anyone.
ReplyDelete-Jennifer Kilber
Good Video to enlighten,
ReplyDeleteSad things we do as humans. I have Ukrainian friends online and you even hear about it today. It's simply amazing the things that others/we seem to allow or don't question when going on.
Many times in history like this you look at the dire situations and say to yourself "Just if someone said NO STOP!". Would of it mattered?
The ramifications didn't end when the horrific treatment and rule ended. Still today, that is the real truth of what happened. People not even born then, feel the pain of those before.
Even though, I feel NATO is a joke, and the UN does very little... I would hope that the simple carnation of those authorities themselves today might stop this type of thing before it ever happens again.
-Tanner Myers
I just watched the video online and was sadly enlightened but not surprised. I have a friend that I played soccer with and even though he was about 14 when he left he had a great deal to say on the subject. I could clearly see after watching the video why it was such a personal matter to him.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe how the people were being treated like cattle. They just blocked off all their food both from outside their country and within. It's crazy but you see it time and time again in history how one or a group of people can gain your trust and slowly at first make changes and soon enough your without food at all and 7 million are dead and you had no clue what had just happened.
Still it's just crazy to think of the sheer number of deaths that could have been avoided. The numbers just don't do justice.
-Michael Schaub