Because communists never change.
Bruce Why Russia is putting Stalin back on to his pedestal By Nick Allen in Moscow (Filed: 20/04/2005) The cult of Joseph Stalin, once worshipped as a near deity but later reviled as one of history's worst monsters, is enjoying a revival across Russia and beyond. To the dismay of many, proposals to erect new monuments to the tyrant for what apologists see as his "outstanding" war leadership have won support from figures close to President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin. The figure of Stalin in the sculpture by Zurab Tsereteli A shiny effigy of the Communist dictator in a prominent position might even put uppity foreign powers in their place, said one senior politician. "They never miss a chance in the West to rewrite history and diminish our country's role in the victory over fascism, so that's even more reason not to forget Stalin now," said Lyubov Slizka, a parliamentary vice-speaker. While usually couched in terms of admiration for his part in defeating the Nazis 60 years ago, the language of the campaign to rehabilitate the dictator suggests a more sinister interpretation, liberals fear. Under this theory, the Kremlin is seeking a return to Stalinist xenophobia, "discipline" and veneration of the state, if not the out and out terror that sent millions to perish in the gulag. Stalin's first prominent statue in modern times was to have risen in the Crimea, seated with Winston Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt at the Yalta palace, where the three leaders carved up post-war Europe in 1945. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin are to be sited in Volgograd But a change in Ukraine's leadership last year and protests by Stalin's surviving victims forced its sculptor, Zurab Tsereteli, to find a new home for the trio in the Russian city of Volgograd, the former Stalingrad. Elsewhere, and largely unnoticed, a handful of villages have already put up small Stalin memorials of their own over the past two years. Plans have also been mooted for a huge monument near the Russian city of Kursk, site of the biggest tank battle in history, that would also include Marshal Zhukov "to balance the ideological composition", the region's governor said. Officials in Moscow have insisted that no statues of the dictator will appear in the Russian capital. But his name resurfaced last year when a Kremlin memorial plaque to "Volgograd" was replaced with one to "Stalingrad". That city was renamed Volgograd in 1961. Since then, veterans' associations and the Communist Party have lobbied to have the name change revoked, citing the importance of its victory over Hitler's armies in 1943. But, while preferring to stay above the debate, Mr Putin has spoken against the move, saying: "I'm sure that it would give rise to suspicions that we are returning to Stalinist times." The resurgence of Stalin, no matter what the context, threatens to open fresh rifts in a society still traumatised by the horrors of his rule, critics argue. "Imagine the reaction to Hitler monuments in Germany - that's how we regard this," said Boris Belenkin of Memorial, a human rights group originally founded to remember Stalin's victims. "This individual has no moral or historical right to any monuments." Stalin's reputation reached its height in the last 15 years of his life when his personality cult eclipsed that of Hitler's. The "father of nations" was portrayed as all-powerful and all-knowing, almost divine. But three years after his death in 1953 he was publicly denounced by the Communist leadership and in 1961 his body was removed from its place of honour in the Red Square mausoleum. Floral tributes still abound at his bust by the Kremlin wall while millions of Russians revere his legacy to this day. In a nationwide poll published before Stalin's birthday last December, 29 per cent of respondents credited him with the Soviet Union's survival and victory in World War Two, despite compelling evidence that his tactical misjudgments nearly proved disastrous. A further 21 per cent saw Stalin as a "wise leader" who built a "mighty, flourishing" country. And 16 per cent said only a similar figure could restore order in today's Russia. Previous story: Ethiopia rejoices as Italy returns plundered obelisk Next story: War of the black magic cults brings death to Nigeria's universities ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. Fund a student project in NYC/NC today! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EHLuJD/.WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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