Comments on: The Reality of the STASI State in East Germany http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/ Just another Pajamasmedia.com weblog Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:39:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: discount tiffany jewelry http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7662 discount tiffany jewelry Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:35:19 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7662 Just think, in another decade we will all be Osties. Just think, in another decade we will all be Osties.

]]> By: John "birther" Samford http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7650 John "birther" Samford Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:41:42 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7650 Just think, in another decade we will all be Osties. One nation, united. Just think, in another decade we will all be Osties. One nation, united.

]]> By: Lawrence Kohn http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7649 Lawrence Kohn Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:11:32 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7649 Radosh's excellent article points as well to strategic dangers: 1. The Checka's KGB successor, Putin, had a German portfolio when he was an agent and Putin's KGB run state remains a danger to the West particularly if we continue down the path of retreat begun this past January. Will American troops eventually be withdrawn from Germany, they who have done so much to guard against the twin evils of Nazism and Communism? 2. Radosh's reminder of the role of East German security forces in Nicaragua under Ortega should alert us to his return to that country and to the growing threat from Chavez and our President's appeasement and emboldening of these dictators. 3. The role Russia plays in arming Chavez and the role Iran and Hizbullah play in South America constitute immediate dangers to our strategic rear. We face a global enemy in both radical Islam and in neo/post communist regimes who generally work together (see Russia's supply of missile technology and nuclear facillities to Iran in my article in Midstream April 1999 The New Russia and Iranian "Moderates" and Russia's role in Latin America in Midstream December 2000, Russia, Venezuela and the Palestinian Authority). Radosh’s excellent article points as well to strategic dangers: 1. The Checka’s KGB successor, Putin, had a German portfolio when he was an agent and Putin’s KGB run state remains a danger to the West particularly if we continue down the path of retreat begun this past January. Will American troops eventually be withdrawn from Germany, they who have done so much to guard against the twin evils of Nazism and Communism? 2. Radosh’s reminder of the role of East German security forces in Nicaragua under Ortega should alert us to his return to that country and to the growing threat from Chavez and our President’s appeasement and emboldening of these dictators. 3. The role Russia plays in arming Chavez and the role Iran and Hizbullah play in South America constitute immediate dangers to our strategic rear. We face a global enemy in both radical Islam and in neo/post communist regimes who generally work together (see Russia’s supply of missile technology and nuclear facillities to Iran in my article in Midstream April 1999 The New Russia and Iranian “Moderates” and Russia’s role in Latin America in Midstream December 2000, Russia, Venezuela and the Palestinian Authority).

]]> By: Dr. T http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7648 Dr. T Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:33:49 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7648 "The really ironic thing was that my Quaker-affiliated college had arranged the visit to East Germany in order to encourage international brotherhood. All of us returned with a great sense of pity for the East Germans, but as fierce anti-Communists." In 1965-66 I was a graduate student in international affairs at the Free University of Berlin--a university that had been started by students and faculty who left the Humboldt University in East Berlin (one could still travel from east to west in the late 40's) and started the FU. The most powerful experience of my young life was a two-month break I spent traveling with a friend whose family had escaped from the "DDR" in 1954 and gone to South Africa. We traveled through Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and spent two weeks in the "DDR", mostly visiting with his relatives. I also traveled many times from west to east Berlin. Fortunately--mostly through the patience of my friend--my German had become good enough that I was able to communicate well with the east Germans I met; in most cases I was the first American they had ever seen. As with the commenter cited above, this trip converted me from a liberal who considered himself a "citizen of the world" to a fervent patriot and anti-communist. In 1990 I took my two sons to east Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland, so they could hear first-hand what life had been like just months before. We owe it to ourselves, particularly to future generations, that the failure of the "socialist experiment" not be prettied up, distorted, and blamed on poor execution (pun intended) by Stalin. One west German economist tried to tell my sons just that, but they had been told in no uncertain terms by a Pole named "George" in Krakow: "Don't listen to the people who say 'Yes, communism was bad, but socialism is completely different'". “The really ironic thing was that my Quaker-affiliated college had arranged the visit to East Germany in order to encourage international brotherhood. All of us returned with a great sense of pity for the East Germans, but as fierce anti-Communists.”

In 1965-66 I was a graduate student in international affairs at the Free University of Berlin–a university that had been started by students and faculty who left the Humboldt University in East Berlin (one could still travel from east to west in the late 40′s) and started the FU.

The most powerful experience of my young life was a two-month break I spent traveling with a friend whose family had escaped from the “DDR” in 1954 and gone to South Africa. We traveled through Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and spent two weeks in the “DDR”, mostly visiting with his relatives. I also traveled many times from west to east Berlin. Fortunately–mostly through the patience of my friend–my German had become good enough that I was able to communicate well with the east Germans I met; in most cases I was the first American they had ever seen.

As with the commenter cited above, this trip converted me from a liberal who considered himself a “citizen of the world” to a fervent patriot and anti-communist.

In 1990 I took my two sons to east Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland, so they could hear first-hand what life had been like just months before.

We owe it to ourselves, particularly to future generations, that the failure of the “socialist experiment” not be prettied up, distorted, and blamed on poor execution (pun intended) by Stalin. One west German economist tried to tell my sons just that, but they had been told in no uncertain terms by a Pole named “George” in Krakow: “Don’t listen to the people who say ‘Yes, communism was bad, but socialism is completely different’”.

]]> By: Tristan Yates http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7642 Tristan Yates Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:44:35 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7642 Good article. It's really important to get the message out about communism, especially to the younger generation. The only improvement I would say is to make sure that both bookends are presented. The stasi represents the final police state, but long before that was a leader that promised a better life if you would give up just a few more of your freedoms. Next thing you know a few troublemakers get rounded up and sent to the gulags and forget about a better life, its just a question of staying alive. Good article. It’s really important to get the message out about communism, especially to the younger generation. The only improvement I would say is to make sure that both bookends are presented. The stasi represents the final police state, but long before that was a leader that promised a better life if you would give up just a few more of your freedoms. Next thing you know a few troublemakers get rounded up and sent to the gulags and forget about a better life, its just a question of staying alive.

]]> By: Gozer the Carpathian http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7641 Gozer the Carpathian Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:53:00 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7641 It would be nice to set-up an exchange with Cuba for all of those who are pining away for the "Good old Days" of East Germany. Cuba is closer, tropical, and very similar in their ways. So why not let those who want those days exchange places with those who want the get the heck out? Heck that'd be great for Fidel too since he'd get brand new workers! :D We'd get people who actually want to be here and are thankful of it. It would be nice to set-up an exchange with Cuba for all of those who are pining away for the “Good old Days” of East Germany. Cuba is closer, tropical, and very similar in their ways. So why not let those who want those days exchange places with those who want the get the heck out?

Heck that’d be great for Fidel too since he’d get brand new workers! :D
We’d get people who actually want to be here and are thankful of it.

]]> By: carbonware http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7640 carbonware Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:32:17 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7640 A lens focused on all you do, your intentions and affiliations... Sounds just like England today and where America is heading. Only the Western powers figured out to do it slowly and with subtly while convincing everyone it was for their own good. Once our freedoms are all gone the State Police will be right behind to ensure conformance with the same brutality, disappearances and manipulations. Makes me wonder why Obama says he needs his own private internal police, loyal to only him. Or maybe we all know exactly what it's for. A lens focused on all you do, your intentions and affiliations… Sounds just like England today and where America is heading. Only the Western powers figured out to do it slowly and with subtly while convincing everyone it was for their own good. Once our freedoms are all gone the State Police will be right behind to ensure conformance with the same brutality, disappearances and manipulations.

Makes me wonder why Obama says he needs his own private internal police, loyal to only him. Or maybe we all know exactly what it’s for.

]]> By: Richard A. http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7639 Richard A. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:04:02 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7639 It is great to read this, also chilling. God help us if we, in our stupor, stumble on to this path of one party rule. One wonders how far down this road we have already passed, and how much longer before we roll out 1776 v2.0. It is great to read this, also chilling. God help us if we, in our stupor, stumble on to this path of one party rule. One wonders how far down this road we have already passed, and how much longer before we roll out 1776 v2.0.

]]> By: David Thomson http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7638 David Thomson Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:05:11 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7638 “The principle is equality of property, the problem is enforcement – who is to do the enforcing, what are the consequences for incentives, etc.” This is why the peculiar writings of John Rawls are so popular within the leftist community. Any attempt at equality---inevitably leads to the empowerment of elites. They literally become benevolent dictators. These folks also will be amply awarded for their efforts supposedly on our behalf. Rawls, in his heart of hearts, was a soft totalitarian. These people subconsciously do not give a damn whether our national economy eventually reminds one of the former DDR. They take it for granted that the system will make sure they are guaranteed an affluent lifestyle. The hell with the rest of the unwashed masses. “The principle is equality of property, the problem is enforcement – who is to do the enforcing, what are the consequences for incentives, etc.”

This is why the peculiar writings of John Rawls are so popular within the leftist community. Any attempt at equality—inevitably leads to the empowerment of elites. They literally become benevolent dictators. These folks also will be amply awarded for their efforts supposedly on our behalf. Rawls, in his heart of hearts, was a soft totalitarian. These people subconsciously do not give a damn whether our national economy eventually reminds one of the former DDR. They take it for granted that the system will make sure they are guaranteed an affluent lifestyle. The hell with the rest of the unwashed masses.

]]> By: PAthena http://pjmedia.com/ronradosh/2009/11/20/the-reality-of-the-stasi-state-in-east-germany/#comment-7637 PAthena Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:52:38 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronradosh/?p=1381#comment-7637 David Hume predicted and described Communist tyranny in a few paragraphs of his chapter "On Justice" in his Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. The principle is equality of property, the problem is enforcement - who is to do the enforcing, what are the consequences for incentives, etc. David Hume predicted and described Communist tyranny in a few paragraphs of his chapter “On Justice” in his Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. The principle is equality of property, the problem is enforcement – who is to do the enforcing, what are the consequences for incentives, etc.

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