this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Painting Communists and fascists as equal evils originated as a form of Holocaust trivialization called "Double Genocide Theory." The goal was to make the Nazis seem not as bad by painting the Soviets as just another evil, regardless of material reality. The reality is that Communists have historically been an overall quite positive force compared to liberalism and fascism. I recommend reading Blackshirts and Reds to see an honest comparison and critique that highlights just how wrong equating fascism with Communism is.

[–] Actionschnils@feddit.org -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

First of all: I didnt set them equal. I just said I wouldnt chose either. If you are offering me two meals: A deadly vial of arsenic and some garbage out of your trash, i wouldnt chose too.

And furthermore: Tankie (as far as I understand this word) doesnt mean communist. And the communists I know, dont want to be seen like this.

So please try not to mention the shoah thoughtlessly in such discussions. Because this would definitly mean a trivialization.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Equal or similar in awfulness, neither is accurate to reality, and again, has roots in the aforementioned method of Holocaust trivialization called Double Genocide Theory.

“Tankie” is a caricature. The idea of a tankie is the ideal vision of a McCarthyian Communist. In reality, the overwhelming majority of people labeled as such don’t actually fit that label, it’s more of a way to cast an image of someone’s positions based on, say, support for AES countries, and twist that into the evil Commie Pinko that haunts the dreams of 1960s children in the US.

No Communist wants to be seen as this caricature, they'd rather be seen as the Marxists they are, but those who use the term "Tankie" as though it has any meaning contribute to the demonization of Communists.