US claims Communists want a world without courage, creativity and ambition, and are humiliated by capitalism. The reality of the Soviet Union proves the complete opposite.
In a speech with leaders from tens of countries, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered an anti-communist speech against an alleged danger of far-left terrorism. In this speech, he took the opportunity to explain why communism doesn't even “sound good in theory”.
Quote: “The world [communism] envisions for all of us is small, flat, grey – levelled of all exceptions, drained of all that is good and noble in the human soul. The world it envisions is a world without courage, a world without creativity, or ambition. A world without heroes or glory or great causes to stride towards. A world [...] without men who rise above the rest to do incredible or extraordinary things”.
Context. The US is greatly accelerating its anticommunist efforts, as part of its ongoing fascisation. This is happening alongside rapid militarisation, increased repression, concentration of power and war preparations. Meanwhile, American workers are experiencing worsening living conditions and deep cuts to their already limited social services.
In reality, communists have displayed boldness and determination since the very beginning, relentlessly organising and facing the constant threat of repression, such as during the Paris Commune, which ended in a bloody massacre of the communards.
► During socialist construction, the workers of the USSR displayed vast levels of heroism, self-sacrifice, and creativity, both on the front lines and in the rear. Even in the earliest years of the new workers' state, workers volunteered to work extra time in “communist Saturdays”, with a reported 270% higher productivity. Later, the Stakhanovite movement was born, where workers creatively sought ways to improve production in service of the Soviet people – with these workers being rewarded with medals, material rewards, and even becoming famous.
►Communists and the Soviet people displayed extreme heroism during armed conflict. In the Russian Civil War, the Soviets successfully defeated domestic and foreign counterrevolutionary forces. In the Second World War, the Nazis’ Operation Barbarossa was the largest military operation in history, taking the lives of roughly 25 million people of the USSR. In the end, the Red Army, in alliance with other communist and partisan forces, defeated Nazi Germany, destroying 80% of the Wehrmacht.
► The Soviet people gained access to culture and education unheard of to the working class before. Education was made free and compulsory, everyone had access to cheap theatres, museums and cinema. Free from exploitative labour, soviet workers had more time to relax, consume and create. The Soviet Union was well known for its writing and reading culture.
► The USSR went from a mostly feudal to space-faring society in just 40 years. It became one of the leading countries in technological and scientific development, as scientists, technicians and specialists had the full backing of the state to improve society, rather than produce profits. In 1954, they constructed the world’s first nuclear power plant, and was subsequently a leading country in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
► Marxism never envisaged that humans would be the same, “free from exceptions”. The policy of payment according to work recognised people’s differences and sought to reward those who displayed the most talent and dedication. Marx understood that, unlike in capitalism, where a person is forced into a specialisation and must remain in it, under communism he “can become accomplished in any branch he wishes”, so that he can “do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticise after dinner”.