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I watched last night's Olympic Winter Games closing ceremony and it was pretty spectacular. Russia was evidently trying to send a message about the value of Russia's contributions to world culture, though it really only highlighted its ballet and literature. Are these the only major areas in which Russia has contributed? What are the other Russian “products” which have influenced the world to the present day?
Isn't religious iconography a Russian specialty? What about… That is about all I can think of except Vodka.Oh yeah, the Amber Room too. Of course, that is probably at the bottom of a swamp now.
Vodka and AK-47 and communism and MacCarthyism 8)1918 as a starting point for decades of worldwide peace
Communism is German in origin, or if you really want to stretch it, it is French. The first true socialists were Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Charles Fourier, and Henri de Saint-Simon. Don't forget the Paris Commune of 1871 and there was also a French guy that tried to set up a socialist Utopia in the 1830's but I can't remember his name.Russia originated Leininist-Marxism. A more virulent strain than the western European variants.
The French guy you're mentioned is probably Claude-Henri de Saint-Simon .If you look at the origins of communism, some trace it back to ancient times: e.g. - the Spartacus slave revolt in Rome and the 5th century Mazdak movement in Persia.Communist ideas can also be traced back to the work of 16th century English writer Thomas More, in his treatise Utopia (1516). Even the puritan religious group like the "Diggers", in the UK, advocated the abolition of private ownership of land.Of course you also have the French touch with Jean Jacques Rousseau; and later, following the upheaval of the French Revolution, communism emerged as a political doctrine. (there is always a Frenchman when something awfwul happens ... 8)What I wanted to say is that the 1917 October Revolution in Russia was the first time any avowedly Communist Party, in this case the Bolshevik Party, seized state power. And gave us MacCarthyism as well.
Yes, you are right. The communist ideal probably does stretch at least as far back as ancient slave revolts. I had not even thought about Utopia as being one of the drivers of modern communist thought. That is a very good and valid point as well. I guess the best answer is that so many people and cultures have had a finger in the creation of modern communism that it would be best to call it a European/American Creation. I include American because their are plenty of academics and others in the US that still admire communism for some reason. You still hear people complain that problem is not the ideology/theory but its application and that if someone just "did it right," then all would be well. They even spout such pap with a straight face.
I think you guys missed the big one, from Acts 2:44-47 (DR version):
And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common. 45Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need. 46And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart; 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.
http://biblehub.com/drb/acts/2.htmOf course, I don't think this passage was meant in the same way that Marx was presenting his message. Likewise, I would not consider Thomas More's Utopia to be "communist".
