First Part:
Lisa, I can't say thank you enough, for the AP Website, here in our time. From the history of Russia before, to the Russian Revolution, [and after] to understanding in depth of it's leadership, past to present, to that of the AP Members; we have and continue to share in learning much, no matter what our ages. Even better, we are offered understandings from actual personal stories, pictures and feelings of similar and like stories of varying issues on these many threads. I don't know where anyone could be involved in a better educative environment, immersing oneself totally history. There is no comparison, outside of living through it all. Sometimes, living through history, can be beyond words...While many of us are out of school, there are countless ages, globally entering this website, taking in all it continuously offers. We are not related, nor in anyone's employment, but remain a global community, invested in truth and ongoing education. It is exciting to be sure. Many these threads state many things, and as we continually see, for many they hold an opposite viewpoint. But I don't seriously think people are here to purposely cause disagreement or disputes. We are it seems, human hearts with differing views. This is natural, and would not be unusual if it did not transpire. It should be taken into consideration, that many youth never lived through any sort of these experiences, much less here or there in various places on the globe where stories emerged about specific historical incidences. It goes without saying, that many adults never actually lived where these incidences took place either. News stories may have carried, and on the radio, but many times, it is not the same.
I lived here, in the South, when the McCarthy trials were raging. It was a terrible time here in the United States. Many lives were forever turned upside down, with finger pointing, and people actually loosing their livelihood. Yes it affected their families, their children. Not only were there names brought to view in newspapers, on the radio, but in everyday life. Their lives came to a virtual standstill. Just think of being called "commie". It is a word that is more than deragatory. For For many who were called this name, it was to feel shame, sorrow, actually loss of self. How do I know, because as a child, I was called by my fellow playmates, and schoolchums, 'a commie'. My father was Russian, but for those who knew nothing, nor wished to educate themselves about Russians, anywhere, [including émigrés] we remained if you will, almost with labels across our foreheads, as 'enemies of the state'! My father had fled from the communists, lost his family to the communists, and came here, only to have his child labeled 'a commie' ? It took me years to get used to my name, 'Tatiana', and years more for me to say proudly, I was part Russian. People not only made fun of me because of my heritage, but because I had a funny name, that was for many more than difficult to pronounce. So, some just called me 'titanic' and laughed, or 'titianna' and laughed even harder. I became so overwhelmed by how people viewed me, and gossiped [and I was only a child] that I wanted to just disappear, anywhere but where I was. In those days, they did not have the availability of counselors, and nobody but nobody, ever thought that children would bear such indignities far after these issues had passed. If you were an émigré, or child of émigrés, then they would tell you to get over it, forget it, don't associate with anyone like this. But they did not know, that in the South at that time, everyone there more or less had those views, including their own children!
It is why in the last few days, I bothered to re-live the term, and find out from you the members, and guests, did people everywhere still feel the same way, of those I had grown up with in the South? I have gone back to read and re read what many of you have offered. It is why I was really startled by the reaction of Robert. I was not here to red bait you Robert, or anyone. After you have read what I have shared above, I hope you and other readers understand me better. I am glad David, and Belochka asked for the forum to decide the fate of the Commie in the poll, etc. It is true, many of the threads have political content, and this one need not be singled out over all the others. Sometimes it is important to hold back our feelings, and see a thread through before we jump to the wrong conclusions.
Closing this thread would have taken away understanding that, there were actual people here on this board who faced these awful remarks, living through them, children as well. I agree also, that those who are not fully educated, or are possessed by those of extreme right-wing persuasion. They perhaps, are the ones who would most use this affrontive address. I thank Elizabeth for her post, because as she stated at the end of her post, "The word "Commie' does indeed evoke memories of the McCarthy era, when it was bandied about too freely and used an excuse to destroy far too many innocent lives."
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