Jury still out?

Submitted by Frank (United States), Jan 30, 2006 at 15:10

In all honesty, I recently received a copy from a friend and to date I have finished half of the 1964 classic. I have researched many of the quotes referenced/attributed to many that J. Stormer accusses of Communist sypmathy or collusion and have found that the quotes are at the least accurate, although as is usual for political pundits they are not always complete. That is, Stormer was not the first to sample and spin.

I believe the term conspiracy may be used too broadly in this case as Stormer paints a bigger picture of rediculous foreign policy influenced by long-suspected Communists (Hiss et al.) and based upon utopian ideals, which in the end provided direct support to the Communists. He also points out the misinformation efforts with the American press, the stifling of internal government personnel, the misdirection or withholding of funds and aid, and the erosion of the American Education system. This stuff is par for the course in the Beltway! It was aorund before Eisenhower and exists in an every craftier variety today.

I have found the chapters I have read so far to be thought provoking. Are the dots connected in an air-tight argument? Maybe not, but they do suggest the act of submission through acquiessence. Stormer strongly suggests that Communist supremacy and ultimate victory over the United States and other western powers would not be by force but rather piece by piece through the passage of time and the erosion of our values, norms and morals in terms of our children. He suggests that we will defeat ourselves and join their ranks if things progress unchecked and unchanged. Has this all taken place in the last 41 years? That's arguable depending on the point in question and your perspective. To some degree I found parallels in my own education and the politics of my generation. There are some truths in what he suggests, but grand conspiracy may be a tough stretch.

For me, two basic questions have formed so far: 1) Whether one believes that Stormer has gathered and connected all the necessary dots correctly?, and 2) Whether he has interpreted them correctly? So far the jury is still out, but I can say that many of these issues are still at the forefront of contemporary politics in the United States. The Russians may no longer be the emphasis du jour, but I do think that it is easy to say that Commuinism is dead and gone or that the free world should let it's guard down or that the Communism that we knew forty years ago is the same strain we're facing today. I'll post back when I complete the book later this week. Take care.

Frank

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