Communism vs. Capitalism, which is better? The debate still continues to this day, even after 40 plus years of this ideological and political debate being on the global battlefield. The arguments for Communism, a classless society where everyone works for the greater good, sounds ideologically wonderful in theory, but has many shortcomings and flaws in its application. With the conclusion of WWII, many Eastern European & Asian Marxist / Socialist countries came under control of Communist political parties and leadership. Cuba, Korea, China, The USSR, Laos, Angola, Mozambique, Bulgaria, Romanian, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Vietnam all fell under communist regimes around this time. Although some communist societies still remain today, namely Cuba (Columbia & India currently have strong communist based political movements), most of Communistic regimes have been abandoned. Communist took a huge blow in 1991 with the collapse of the Society Union, which separated into many smaller countries whom desired political autonomy. The causes and effects of the fall of Communism in China, which still has a strong communistic / socialist political party (The Communist Party of China) and Russia shared some commonalities. The major argument against communism is that it requires each individual be altruistic and to understand the The Tragedy Of The Commons, meaning people have to be willing to work for the greater good of society, not just themselves. They will not receive all of the fruits of their labor which creates a failure in the incentive mechanisms that as so basic to human nature. Some of the undesirable symptoms or effects of Communism are poverty, with an equal distribution of wealth, human rights abuses, and a lack of incentive for progress for individuals, which result in a slowly progressing society as a whole. Capitalism is currently thriving in the world today, but it does not come without its fault either. Capitalist societies suffer from poverty too, but in a different way as there is a vastly unequal distribution of wealth (a few people are rich, while most are poor), waste (garbage and a complete failure to recognize The Tragedy of The Commons), greed, injustice, and selfishness just to name a few. Topics on this DVD include:The Cold War, Communism vs. Capitalism, Anti Communism Propaganda, Pros and Cons of Communism, Causes and Effects of Communism, Fall of Communism in China, Fall of Communism in Russia / USSR/ Soviet Union, Joseph (Josef) Stalin
Included Films:
The Challenge Of Ideas
The Challenge Of Ideas
Produced: 1961
Length: 25 Minutes
The Challenge of Ideas is an amazing vintage film that features John Wayne, Edward R. Murrow, Helen Hayes, Frank McGee, and Lowell Thomas all making separate speeches defending the American way of life and capitalism or denouncing the Soviet Union. The journalist hero Murrow sits behind his desk, smoking, while images of the military roll by. John Wayne sits in a directors chair, smoking and talking about how Americans appreciate beauty while images of female wrestlers, beauty queens, and women on the beach are shown. All of the narration is aimed at promoting the idea that God was on Americas side and the Commies are a bunch of thugs who want to rule the country someday. The film captures various patriotic images throughout each speech, including footage of the Liberty Bell, folks square dancing, factory assembly lines, schools, and the Statue of Liberty. There are also many scenes from the Soviet Union, including Moscow, Joseph Stalin, Khrushchev, and tanks in Red Square. This is a superb 1960s film with unparalleled cultural icons.
Communism
Communism
Produced: 1952
Length: 10 Minutes
This engaging film is a didactic assault on communism as it was viewed in the 1950s. Theres some excellent footage of Stalin, and it also includes a discussion of leaders fighting for and against communism, why communism was such as threat to the United States, the history of Marxs Communist Manifesto, the revolution in Russia, and more. Scenes include Churchill, Truman, and Stalin at Yalta, Cossacks on horseback, Russian factories, farm workers, food shortages, and more. This film uses harsh anti-communist rhetoric. For example, the film states that if communism is allowed to spread, it will be a grave threat to our nation, to our freedom, and to the peace of the world.Overall, this film is a mixture of vitriolic rhetoric, rare footage of powerful leaders, and fascinating historical perspective.
Red Chinese Battle Plan
Red Chinese Battle Plan
Produced: 1964
Length: 25 Minutes
Red Chinese Battle Plan is an anti-communist China propaganda film that contains powerful footage from China, Vietnam, Cuba, and more during the years 1921-64. It charts the rise of Mao and the Peoples Republic government, painting China, the Yellow Peril, as more of a threat to the U.S. than even the U.S.S.R. Scenes from China include the young Mao speaking to and leading communist revolutionaries, battles between the Nationalist army and communist guerrilla fighters, posters of Mao and Chiang Kai-shek, a show with dancers and balloons in Peking, Japanese planes bombing Shanghai, Chinese farm workers, starving Chinese peasants, and Chinese leaders signing deals with various world leaders such as Nikita Khrushchev. Though the film possesses an undeniably bombastic and jingoistic tone, it contains valuable documentation of this important time in the history of China.
The Crime Of Korea
The Crime Of Korea
Produced: 1950
Length: 15 Minutes
Powerful, bombastic, and often graphic, The Crime of Korea is a bracing brief documentary of the Korean War. Most unusually, the Koreans are painted as tragic victims while accepted racism of the time is casually used (such as the term jap). This humanizing of the Koreans served one purpose: to make the communists look like monsters. The film is icily narrated by a hardened war correspondent who is outraged at the injustice to the Koreans, their beautiful cities, and their culture. Gorgeous shots of Korea, specifically Seoul, are peppered with images of brutality. A wonderfully produced film, The Crime of Korea is an enriching historical experience.
