Why Isn't Communism as Hated as Nazism? | 5 Minute Video

Summary

The script by Dennis Prager explores why the term 'communist' isn't as reviled as 'Nazi' despite the significant human suffering caused by communism. He attributes this to ignorance of communist atrocities, the unique horror of the Holocaust overshadowing others, the seductive language of communism, the lack of acknowledgment and atonement by former communist states, the fact that communists mostly killed their own people, and the left's view of World War II as a 'good war' against fascism. Prager calls for recognition of communism's evils and learning about its victims.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script addresses the question of why the term 'communist' is less commonly used as a term of revulsion compared to 'Nazi' or 'fascist', despite the significant human suffering caused by communist regimes.
• 🤔 It suggests that widespread ignorance about the history of communism contributes to its lesser-known negative reputation, especially because the left, which dominates academia, often does not teach the evils of communism.
• 🔍 The Holocaust is highlighted as a unique and unparalleled act of evil, which has overshadowed the scale of deaths caused by communist regimes, leading to a worse reputation for Nazism.
• 📖 The script argues that communism is often associated with appealing theories, unlike Nazism, which is inherently linked with heinous ideologies, influencing how intellectuals perceive and write about their histories.
• 🇩🇪 Germany's thorough examination and atonement for the evils of Nazism contrasts with Russia's and China's lack of similar acknowledgment for the atrocities committed under communism, affecting how these histories are perceived globally.
• 🏛 The script points out that communist regimes primarily killed their own citizens, which is considered less noteworthy by 'world opinion' compared to the murder of outsiders, as seen in the case of the Nazis.
• 🌏 It notes that the left views World War II as the last 'good war' against Nazism and fascism, not extending this view to conflicts against communist regimes, which affects public perception.
• 🗣️ The speaker, Dennis Prager, emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and learning about the victims of communism to counteract the ignorance and moral confusion surrounding its history.
• 🏛️ The script criticizes the continued veneration of communist figures like Lenin and Mao, suggesting that this reverence hinders a full recognition of the crimes committed under their leadership.
• 📈 It implies that the left's reluctance to condemn communism as it does Nazism contributes to a skewed understanding of 20th-century totalitarian regimes and their impacts.
• 🌱 The final message is a call to action for good people to educate themselves about the atrocities of communism, to honor the memory of its victims and to seek a more accurate historical narrative.

Q & A

Why are the terms 'Nazi' or 'fascist' more commonly used to describe evil individuals or regimes, compared to 'communist'?

The script suggests that this is due to widespread ignorance of the communist record, the left's reluctance to loathe communism, and the dominance of the left in academia which leads to less teaching of communism's history.

What is the significance of the Holocaust in shaping the perception of Nazism compared to communism?

The Holocaust is considered unparalleled