You have watched “Stalin” and the “Gangland” episode on “Nuestra Familia” entitled “Blood In, Blood Out.”
How are the two similar? Different?
Lenin’s Principles of Revolution
1)a small “professional” elite of “Generals” who lead from Pelican Bay
“revolutionaries” “La Mesa” Council in prison
both small groups of “radicals”
Both Bolsheviks and Nuestra Familia leadership exiled to Siberia/imprisoned
Did this stop either or “intensify” their resistance/influence ???
Lenin & Stalin-Communist “gods” “The Cult of Personality” great, “heroic” leaders
2)strict party discipline military structure and organization
unquestioning obedience – “do what you are told”
Stalin/Sergo punish “independent” all “hits” done with permission and
Georgian communists and kulak farmers (starvation) done without “discussion”
state/group-sponsored TERROR
“and the men who spurred us on, sit in judgment of all wrong,
they decide and the shotgun sings the song” “gods” deciding life and death
Lenin: “all revolutions require a little terror” “family” members very willing
Czar and family executed to enforce (kill), ensuring group discipline
Secret police “The Czar’s police are gentle compared to yours.”
3)Conspiracy and Secrecy Generals plotting/planning against each other
Lenin vs. Trotsky vs. Stalin General Cuete embezzles and is “investigated”
vs. Zinoviev/Kamenev Kasper “”knows too much”
Stalin “purges” Old Bolsheviks Kasper “betrayed” by Cuete
as potential rivals – Kirov assassinated, Kasper “betrays” Nuestra Familia
Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin, Sergo
All “eliminated”; “show trials”
Arch-enemy Trotsky assassinated (Kasper eventually?) Should it “surprise”?
“I get myself and my family aside, if we happen to be left half alive”
LIFE LIBERTY PURSUIT of HAPPINESS
“peace” freedom chaos, confusion, hope?
versus “ individual” choices
DEATH DISCIPLINE POWER
“blood in, blood out” “do what you’re told” collective utopian “progress”
violent “victims” ready to “victimize” money ,exploitation- “sell your soul”
Worldwide in the name of the group provides “identity”/protection”
Revolution “dictatorship of the proletariat” SELF-DESTRUCTION
(think “Che”) “haves” vs. “have nots” “The revolution ‘eats its own’”
Nuestra Family vs. Mexican Mafia vs. MS-13 criminal “cannibals”?
perpetuating the “cycle of violence and destruction
“I get on my knees and pray, we don’t get fooled again.”
BOLSHEVIK-NUESTRA FAMILIA REACTION
Agree? Disagree?
_____ 1)People are like DUMB SHEEP. Most NEED to be LED.
Having an elite LEADERship that “KNOWS BEST”is necessary to the success of any cause.
_____ 2)Both the Bolsheviks and Nuestra Familia generals “FOOLED” the people they led with “BAIT and SWITCH”.
The Bolsheviks replaced one “tyrannical” Czarist elite with another (worse?) “dictatorship” of their OWN.
_____ 3)Trying to be “merciful” with the Bolsheviks and Nuestra Familia makes things worse. Exile or prison only makes their organization and cause stronger.
_____ 4)If you killed or excessively “punished” the Bolsheviks or Nuestra Familia, we become cruel and criminal “monsters” just like them.
_____ 5)”Discipline” is necessary for the success of any individual or organization. People like and require being told what to do.
____ 6)The Bolsheviks and Nuestra Familia took “discipline” to a corrupt extreme (unquestioned obedience), using it for their own power-hungry “divide and conquer”purposes, not for the well-being of the groups they led.
____ 7)Lenin was right about all change or “revolution” requiring some element of “terror”. Otherwise, people “take advantage” of freedom and life becomes “chaos”.
TERROR is a NECESSARY “FACT” of political life.
____ 8)Both the Bolsheviks and Nuestra Familia were “sadistic” – enjoying and feeding off the pain of others caused by their terror.
____ 9)Both Stalin and Cuete were corrupt leaders who “BETRAYED” the people they led and “ideals” that could have led to beneficial change.
____ 10)People were naïve fools for following “CULT of PERSONALITY” leaders.
The leader and group’s selfish hunger for POWER,exploitation and “betrayal” of anyone who stands in your way is part of “the situation.”
Betrayalis to be expected, not a surprise. “The Revolution” always ‘EATS ITS OWN’ – its “BLOOD IN, BLOOD OUT.”
____ 11)Most people can NOT be TRUSTED to GOVERN THEMSELVES.
Most people cannot “handle” life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
They seek “discipline” and need to be told what to do.” (group conformity)
Too much “individuality” leads to CHAOS and CONFUSTION.
____ 12)People CAN govern themselves without being ruthless, exploitative and self-destructive.
People can be “trusted” with FREEDOM.
____ 13)People were fools for NOT believing that violent worldwide revolution and “dictatorship of the proletariat” (Marxism) would NOT turn intoplain violence, terror and dictatorship. Likewise for the “glamour” of gangbangers.
____ 14)Gangs are “normal” in the sense that society is always going to have “have nots”that will group together to “better” their lives.
People are like “animals” who live in “the Jungle” – kill or be killed, exploit or be exploited.
We will never stop people from seeking Marxist“revolution” or joining gangs.
____ 15)People are fools for needlessly “SELLING THEIR SOULS” to EVIL gangs.
WRITING PROMPT: Pick one or two of the items from above and write a 50-word response on why you agree or disagree with the statement.