To be clear:
the image you see here, featuring Bernie Sanders and Vladimir Lenin, was
not created by us. It was used by a student group at the University of
Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM), to promote a pro-socialist discussion being
held on the school’s campus today (March 31).
Entitled “Why Socialism,” the discussion is
hosted by the UWM Students for a Democratic Society (yes, you read that
name right) and is described on the group’s Facebook page this way: “Come
and learn about socialism, how it makes economic sense, and the case it
makes for a better society. Featuring: Professor of Economics Masao
Suzuki.”
It is not surprising that Bernie Sanders
is being used to promote a socialist agenda, as the self-proclaimed
“Democratic Socialist” provides a friendly face for the movement. The
prominent use of Lenin’s face to promote the event, however, is
shocking. Most students, however, are likely ignorant of Lenin’s violent
crusade to change Russia’s political climate, ultimately taking
millions of innocent lives. He’s become the new Che Guevara for idealistic
college kids who don’t bother to learn their history. The Students for a
Democratic Society even hung a banner in the UWM student center with
Lenin’s image, shown in this picture posted to Facebook by Raymond King:
Students for a Democratic Society isn’t just a UWM group – it is a national organization with college chapters across the country. Although it seems their use of the word “Democratic” does not mean what you and I think it means.
