Originally Posted by
WB627
More like the ghost of Stalin
This is a good point. We do strongly bias our views based on our own perspective. Often that perspective is looking down the wrong end of a telescope. Sometimes it's the equivalent of Nelson's "I see no ships" and is a wilful distortion. Some atrocities are viewed as worse than others for no good reason.
A human life is a human life.
Doesn't matter what nationality they are.
Doesn't matter which god or gods they believe in.
Doesn't matter whether they are clever or stupid.
Doesn't matter if they are rich or poor.
All should carry the same weight when we judge those that murder them.
Stalin as a mass murderer is a good example. Another good example is Leopold II. Both get overshadowed by Hitler and his Nazis. Looked at dispassionately this makes no sense.
Hitler's Nazis murdered about 17 million in total.
Stalin murdered between 20 million and 60 million. The true figure isn't known. It may be as high as 60 million. Similar time frame to Hitler.
Leopold II murdered about the same number of people as Hitler, although 30 to 40 years earlier.
How is it that we place such significance on Hitler's atrocities yet don't place the same weight on those of Stalin or Leopold II?
My view is that it's because of the inherent bias we in the west have by virtue of the way we were taught history. Stalin was an ally during WWII. Leopold II was an ally during the time he was responsible for mass murders in the Congo (and a cousin of Queen Victoria). Both are views shaped by a misguided sense of empires and their protection. We can't undo history. Least we should do is try and put atrocities into better perspective.
Sorry for going off-topic. Doesn't hurt to emphasise history. Especially Russian history and the extreme atrocities and violence associated with it over the past century or more. Helps put their brutality in context.