Communism

[fuzzy moonunit]

Since socialism/communism seems to be the hot talking point these days...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/5412850/North-Korea-the-dead-land.html

It's pretty rare reading firsthand accounts from NK, but always interesting when they do come out.

And in honor of the 20th anniversary of the TianAnMen square "incident" on thursday...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/02/tiananmen-square-protests-1989-china

Another cool firsthand account.

[SFC]

Since socialism/communism seems to be the hot talking point these days...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/5412850/North-Korea-the-dead-land.html

It's pretty rare reading firsthand accounts from NK, but always interesting when they do come out.

And in honor of the 20th anniversary of the TianAnMen square "incident" on thursday...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/02/tiananmen-square-protests-1989-china

Another cool firsthand account.

Needs moar tabloid.

[Fosters]

Since socialism/communism seems to be the hot talking point these days...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/5412850/North-Korea-the-dead-land.html

It's pretty rare reading firsthand accounts from NK, but always interesting when they do come out.

I was nine when I saw my first execution. The man had been condemned to death for stealing copper wire to sell in China, crossing the border under the cover of darkness

I was 8 when I saw my first execution. Mine was on tv though; on Christmas day - Ceausescu and the "first lady". That is some reality tv - the fall of communism... Too bad tens of thousands of people had to die in the process of taking down that government...

[Max Power]

I was 8 when I saw my first execution. Mine was on tv though; on Christmas day - Ceausescu and the "first lady". That is some reality tv - the fall of communism... Too bad tens of thousands of people had to die in the process of taking down that government...

You had TV. How bad could it have been?

[00Formula]

You had TV. How bad could it have been?

I had TV, black and white, 3 channels of govt controlled goodness FTW

[fuzzy moonunit]

I was 8 when I saw my first execution. Mine was on tv though; on Christmas day - Ceausescu and the "first lady". That is some reality tv - the fall of communism... Too bad tens of thousands of people had to die in the process of taking down that government...

Very Work Warning!

Are you then referring to this?

https://rapidshare.com/files/57771548/Ceau2_NEW.wmv.html

My Romanian isn't too good, but I'm pretty sure Ceausescu's words roughly translate to "Hey ya'll, this some straight-up bullshit."

[kineda]

My Romanian isn't too good, but I'm pretty sure Ceausescu's words roughly translate to "Hey ya'll, this some straight-up bullshit."

[Stormwalker]

I was 8 when I saw my first execution. Mine was on tv though; on Christmas day - Ceausescu and the "first lady". That is some reality tv - the fall of communism... Too bad tens of thousands of people had to die in the process of taking down that government...

Yeah, Romania was one of the more violent ones during the late 80s, huh?

Wasn't the new government not much better than the old one?

[Fosters]

I had TV, black and white, 3 channels of govt controlled goodness FTW

I'll see if I can dig up some pics of our old tv. roughly 13" diagonal, black and white, and yeah... we were on the good side of the building to get russian and bulgarian channels - the other side had trouble getting bulgarian channels - so we were ballin'. the romanian tv station aired 3 hours at night only, and on sundays it aired for another 2 hours around noon, where we had 5 minutes of cartoons.

[Fosters]

Very Work Warning!

Are you then referring to this?

https://rapidshare.com/files/57771548/Ceau2_NEW.wmv.html

My Romanian isn't too good, but I'm pretty sure Ceausescu's words roughly translate to "Hey ya'll, this some straight-up bullshit."

That would pretty much be it, best christmas present ever . The dude was so paranoid and had so many bunkers and ways to get away in an event like this, we seriously thought he wasn't ever gonna be found...

He kept blabbing on about how it's a "coup d'etat" (best translation for the term i could find) and how his so called "trial" is unlawful and he'll only answer before the people ('the great gathering of people'). They hadn't realized that the people revolting had the army on their side - which had turned against him, and was the actual prosecutor in this military tribunal.

They were both so deluded into thinking they were loved by the people, you wouldnt believe it... She was much funnier during that - she kept saying "my kids, i raised you like a mom"...

[fuzzy moonunit]

That would pretty much be it, best christmas present ever . The dude was so paranoid and had so many bunkers and ways to get away in an event like this, we seriously thought he wasn't ever gonna be found...

He kept blabbing on about how it's a "coup d'etat" (best translation for the term i could find) and how his so called "trial" is unlawful and he'll only answer before the people ('the great gathering of people'). They hadn't realized that the people revolting had the army on their side - which had turned against him, and was the actual prosecutor in this military tribunal.

They were both so deluded into thinking they were loved by the people, you wouldnt believe it... She was much funnier during that - she kept saying "my kids, i raised you like a mom"...

I would absolutely believe it. Once you have absolute power and and start going down the slippery slope of using brutality to accomplish your goals you can't help but become deluded and removed from the people. Your only source of info comes from people who are terrified to tell you anything other than what you want to hear.

It's kind of sad. From what little I know about him Ceausescu didn't sound like such a bad guy. History is full of people who are almost forced into evil by circumstance; I bet Nicolae and Elena honestly thought they were the saviors of the people and were beloved by all of Romania for their saintly deeds. I guess the road to hell really is paved with good intentions.

[Fosters]

Yeah, Romania was one of the more violent ones during the late 80s, huh?

Wasn't the new government not much better than the old one?

Pretty much.. same corruption in the government... The new president was even more in bed w/ russia than the old one. At one point (june 2000) the new president called in the pitchfork crowd (well actually, mine workers) to come get rid of protesters that had been gathering in the capital (for over a month) against the new government and to try and get them to abide by a new demand by the people that stated that old communists (president included) were not allowed to serve in the new government...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineriad

Guess what flashbacks I got of the pitchfork crowd outside AIG offices sending life threats to the execs...

[Fosters]

I would absolutely believe it. Once you have absolute power and and start going down the slippery slope of using brutality to accomplish your goals you can't help but become deluded and removed from the people. Your only source of info comes from people who are terrified to tell you anything other than what you want to hear.

It's kind of sad. From what little I know about him Ceausescu didn't sound like such a bad guy. History is full of people who are almost forced into evil by circumstance; I bet Nicolae and Elena honestly thought they were the saviors of the people and were beloved by all of Romania for their saintly deeds. I guess the road to hell really is paved with good intentions.

He tried to implement communism/socialism at it's best - the egalitarian society where everything is owned and ran by the government, priced artificially so that everyone could afford it (it was much easier back then for everyone to get an apartment, hence why they keep electing the same idiots), which basically resulted in a shortage of everything (healthcare, food, etc), and subsequent rationing of everything..

[Gear Slammer]

He tried to implement communism/socialism at it's best - the egalitarian society where everything is owned and ran by the government, priced artificially so that everyone could afford it (it was much easier back then for everyone to get an apartment, hence why they keep electing the same idiots), which basically resulted in a shortage of everything (healthcare, food, etc), and subsequent rationing of everything..

This is starting to sound frighteningly similar to a certain plan I've heard Oh, that's right!! HOPE & CHANGE baby HOPE & CHANGE!

[fuzzy moonunit]

This is starting to sound frighteningly similar to a certain plan I've heard Oh, that's right!! HOPE & CHANGE baby HOPE & CHANGE!

Do you get paid to show up and shit on interesting threads or is it just a hobby? Also, is the stupidity you display real or is that part of an act?