Great, Anna. I trusted Melgunov when he wrote that the Shastny trial was the most disgraceful example of Bolshevik injustice, but I didn't realize what a towering injustice it really was. Sometimes I wonder what someone like Captain Shastny thinks about as they are leading him to the execution grounds. Certainly he comprehended the magnitude of the injustice, the betrayals he must have endured, the catastrophe that had befallen Russia. Did he feel Anger? Hatred? Sorrow? Fear? Regret? If he felt hatred, I'll bet it wasn't the Bolsheviks he felt it for.
I get a lot of deja vu when I'm reading Melgounov. It seems to me that during the Red Terror, they shot people with bullets and they died immediately. Now they shoot people with "vaccines" and they die later.
Yes, planned out ahead of time-and with a network of collaborators, who made an active study of previous massacres, genocides, and revolutions. What worked? What didn't?
I like the way Anna is presenting Melgunov's account of the Red Terror in the same order Melgunov did. I hadn't seen very clearly the technique attached to the structure of the book. It's like a house of horrors where each successive room is more terrifying than the last. If he took us to the last room first we would probably just step inside, scream, and run away. As it is, you finish a chapter, you've had more than enough, and Melgunov is like, "Last one? No, I'm afraid not. There is yet a lower level still. This way, please."
Even the paragraphs of dry statistics (place name, victim count; place name, victim count; place name, victim count; place name, victim count...) produces its own horrible effect like someone yelling your name over and over to wake you out of a deep sleep. Eventually, the magnitude of what the Russian Christians endured during the Red Terror penetrates (did you know Trotsky is included in the permanent installation of "Jewish Heroes" at the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv?).
I hope more and more people make it a project to listen to Anna's podcasts front to back. A sense of urgency is called for.
"If he took us to the last room first we would probably just step inside, scream, and run away."
Yeah, and I'm one of those scaredy cats who would have run away. Seriously.
Before discovering Melgounov, I'd read short descriptions about the worst of the Red Terror, involving the torture methods the Bolsheviks used. The stories were so terrible I just wanted to turn away, and I would always question the authenticity of the information, thinking (hoping?) that someone was just using hyperbole to make a political point.
Being eased into the horror is helping me to realize what really did happen.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your mom at such a young age. That's a wonderful gift she gave you - the love of reading. Some parents manage to do a lot for their kids in a very short space of years.
I really appreciate your adding to this discussion with your knowledge about the China CCP and Mao - that's a rabbit hole I have only explored at the "upper layers," so to speak.
I have read that Mao was deeply influenced by a circle of Jews he met at Yale - do you know much about that?
Great, Anna. I trusted Melgunov when he wrote that the Shastny trial was the most disgraceful example of Bolshevik injustice, but I didn't realize what a towering injustice it really was. Sometimes I wonder what someone like Captain Shastny thinks about as they are leading him to the execution grounds. Certainly he comprehended the magnitude of the injustice, the betrayals he must have endured, the catastrophe that had befallen Russia. Did he feel Anger? Hatred? Sorrow? Fear? Regret? If he felt hatred, I'll bet it wasn't the Bolsheviks he felt it for.
Very well read Anna and Craig. Hopefully not prescient but the signs are there.
I get a lot of deja vu when I'm reading Melgounov. It seems to me that during the Red Terror, they shot people with bullets and they died immediately. Now they shoot people with "vaccines" and they die later.
Yes, planned out ahead of time-and with a network of collaborators, who made an active study of previous massacres, genocides, and revolutions. What worked? What didn't?
How true. Same people - same plan.
I like the way Anna is presenting Melgunov's account of the Red Terror in the same order Melgunov did. I hadn't seen very clearly the technique attached to the structure of the book. It's like a house of horrors where each successive room is more terrifying than the last. If he took us to the last room first we would probably just step inside, scream, and run away. As it is, you finish a chapter, you've had more than enough, and Melgunov is like, "Last one? No, I'm afraid not. There is yet a lower level still. This way, please."
Even the paragraphs of dry statistics (place name, victim count; place name, victim count; place name, victim count; place name, victim count...) produces its own horrible effect like someone yelling your name over and over to wake you out of a deep sleep. Eventually, the magnitude of what the Russian Christians endured during the Red Terror penetrates (did you know Trotsky is included in the permanent installation of "Jewish Heroes" at the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv?).
I hope more and more people make it a project to listen to Anna's podcasts front to back. A sense of urgency is called for.
"If he took us to the last room first we would probably just step inside, scream, and run away."
Yeah, and I'm one of those scaredy cats who would have run away. Seriously.
Before discovering Melgounov, I'd read short descriptions about the worst of the Red Terror, involving the torture methods the Bolsheviks used. The stories were so terrible I just wanted to turn away, and I would always question the authenticity of the information, thinking (hoping?) that someone was just using hyperbole to make a political point.
Being eased into the horror is helping me to realize what really did happen.
Try reading "Hellstorm" by Thomas Goodrich - equally difficult to stomach
I was thinking about you and Hellstorm when I wrote that comment. :)
Agreed but would likely fall on deaf ears.
It would be great to group the episodes and see them played on radio stations
I can hear it now "Shut it Down !! Shut it Down !!"
LOL
Found a copy on ebay; thank you for the reference.
https://youtu.be/3n6dp85XynY?si=rzh_5eZxd5uOaN28
What made you pick up Gulag Archipelago?
Especially at age 11. But a better wish was never made: "If only that book was taught in high school..."
Sorry to hear about the loss of your mom at such a young age. That's a wonderful gift she gave you - the love of reading. Some parents manage to do a lot for their kids in a very short space of years.
I really appreciate your adding to this discussion with your knowledge about the China CCP and Mao - that's a rabbit hole I have only explored at the "upper layers," so to speak.
I have read that Mao was deeply influenced by a circle of Jews he met at Yale - do you know much about that?
I find your lack of curiosity about the Jewish support given to Mao early in his career... curious.
Has it occurred to you that you are being distracted by the stories of dancing girls?