Spanish Civil War

[solinvictus]

I've just finished re-reading Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia" and it made me ask myself this question: could it happen here? Thoughts?

[JanMichael]

1. For Whom the Bell Tolls? It tolls for us.

I sure as shit hope the outcome of a potential internecine US is better that the Spanish Civil War. IIRC it's the only modern major loss by the Left to the Right in that sort of conflict.

I've been meaning to read the Orwell book, do you recommend it?

[solinvictus]

3. Orwell

Yes, absolutely. The Communists, with their wanton persecution of all other factions, broke the Republic before Franco. Orwell's book points out the fact that Spanish Communists were essentially REMFs while the Anarchists, Trotskyites, and others were the backbone of the front lines. Spanish and Russian Communists were more interested in liquidating their enemies rather than fighting Franco. They hoarded weapons while allowing the militias at the front to languish for munitions and arms.
Orwell also gives a personal voice to the story of the war. Hemingway and others romanticized the Republic while Orwell is far more realistic and expresses the disillusionment that one can read in his later work "Animal Farm".

[JanMichael]

5. Important lesson for us I'm afraid.

The Humanistic/Liberal/Non-Totalitarian Leftists must prevent a repeat of previous disasters.

It can be done but I can only assume at a steep price.

I'll get Homage to Catalonia soon, thanks for reminding me about it. I've got such huge list of "must reads" that I'm becoming forgetful of some important works.

[PurityOfEssence]

2. Great book, huh?

You premature anti-fascist, you!

[solinvictus]

4. Label..

Yep, that was what the Lincolns and others were called after they left Spain. In the large scheme, Franco was a militant Catholic traditionalist. Primo de Rivera was a fascist/populist with some reformist tendencies and on all accounts seems to have been a fairly decent man. His party lost as well once Franco suppressed them and embraced the Spanish old guard (church and wealthy). I'm ordering some books on the Lincolns and others next week from Amazon to continue study of this period. Both sides of this conflict interest me immensely.

[Julien Sorel]

6. The Left in this country has no tradition

of militarism. The Right would have the South and the military. Who would fight? Just not possible.

[pretzel4gore]

7. just finished 'The road to Wigan Pier'

on page 204 George writes (in 1937) "The choice is not, as yet, between a human and an inhuman world. It is simply between Socialism and Fascism, which at its very best is Socialism with the virtues left out."
That reminded me how the repukes went after Clinton for his fling with Monica...Clinton did wrong and was duly punished, but the same repukes do not even react when Bush lies and so on, and George Orwell's word suddenly made it clear: Clinton is judged harshly for 'adultrey' cuz he's an honourable man, Bush can commit mass murder and ruin the very land, yet he gets away with it cuz, well, he's recognized as an immoral evil thug!
I think the totals in 2000 were tens of millions out....the vast majority voted for gore, and if push=shove, the fascists would be easily crushed....
get the word out: BUSH KNEW!