A Brutal Dictator
In ‘Inspirations’ we write focused on the good – because it's impossible to find anything inspirational in evil itself. We write our novels, beginning with Adam in Taoland, with the purpose of inspiring our readers. We write believing that ‘we the people’ must not be defeated by or surrender to evil, but inspired by dreams that never were, and united in common purpose – knowing that while we are all different, we are all the same.
That said, we have never before written about a brutal totalitarian dictator. But December 6 marks the birthdate of Joseph Stalin in 1878, a man we all wish had never been born at all – and we ask: Is it possible to draw any positives from the life and crimes of this horrid man who ruthlessly ruled the Soviet Union from 1929 to 1953?
As we reflect in these Inspirations on so many good historical figures who inspire us, we must also learn from history so as not to repeat it. Evil, the absence of good, will always exist – and ignoring its existence always leads to peril. So let us learn lessons not only from the good – but from the most horrible history, such as Joseph Stalin – so that the world might never repeat the negative lessons from his life.
We trust that Stalin is widely, we might hope universally, regarded as one of the most brutal leaders in human history, responsible for countless millions of deaths and atrocities. But perhaps we might learn important lessons as we ponder Stalin’s abhorrent actions.
Let’s explore why he was able to rule for 24 years. Well he ruled by fear – sadly one of the most powerful of all motivators. But he also promoted an intense sense of national unity and patriotism among the Soviet people, especially during World War II. Absent a free press, Stalin portrayed himself as a strong and benevolent leader as he preached what he claimed were positive ideals of communism and socialism. In a bizarre way, he was able to unite the people of the USSR in fear about another evil – fascism and Nazi Germany.
He used propaganda, education, and art as tools to spread his ideology throughout the USSR but globally. Such tactics are used today, have been throughout modern history, and likely will well into the future – unless the world somehow unites against them. We need to expose evil via free press and media early. We need free people to listen and have the courage to voice their wills in opposition to oppression. That of course requires courage and the rejection of apathy. It also demands that any free press act without bias or untoward influence – and therein lies a serious flaw in societies today all over the land.
Stalin’s rule exposed the dangers and flaws of totalitarianism, dictatorship, authoritarianism, and a totally controlled press. His regime was marked by repression, censorship, terror, purges, gulags, famines, and genocide. He repeatedly violated human rights, civil liberties, and democratic principles. He suppressed any opposition or dissent, even from his own allies and comrades.
He created a climate of fear and paranoia that affected many millions of people. Stalin’s rule demonstrated the limits and inefficiencies of central planning, as well as the corruption and bureaucracy that plagued the Soviet system – and plagues other societies worldwide to this day. Any corrupt society is not truly free.
In both Adam in Taoland and in our second novel soon to come, Homeland Rescued, Adam and Tariana experience and overcome evil at a number of junctions . We see in Novana that AI, intended by design for good, unintentionally create the evil of purposeless human life.
We discover in Taoland the evils of greed, corruption, chemical abuse, and deceit throughout the chapters. We find in Galtland, in our second book, how focusing on differences that divide led to the brink of an all out civil war. We learn from and are inspired by how Adam and Tari and their teammates overcome.
Let us all take our heads out of the sand. It is ‘we the people’ alone who can and must eliminate the threats that today threaten the very survival of the world we all want. Let us reject apathy in favor of involvement – and choose courage over fear. Let us all agree – the world must never again allow the emergence of another Joseph Stalin.
