God forbid, they would leave a green space--open, free, for all to enjoy, a place for quiet reflection on the follies of governments. They must be taking their cues from Erdogan.
8
It is a sad commentary that Eastern Europeans who flocked to Canada to avoid the brutal mind numbing despotism of Communism would so enthusiastically support a man who supports the tyranny of corporate interests who wish to destroy the balanced, tolerant and humane approach that has always been Canada's strength.
Nonprofits use their status to fein neutrality when it comes to politics but that is so rarely the case. No city, state or country should ever allow public lands or mone to be given to nonprofits who will use their "private" status to avoid public oversight. I hope Canada wakes up to this blot Ottawa's land scape before it is too late.
Nonprofits use their status to fein neutrality when it comes to politics but that is so rarely the case. No city, state or country should ever allow public lands or mone to be given to nonprofits who will use their "private" status to avoid public oversight. I hope Canada wakes up to this blot Ottawa's land scape before it is too late.
7
They should place it at the bottom of the Rideau Canal, where it will be vaguely visible in the summer months, and hidden, while Ottawans skate over it, in the winter. Or just not construct it at all.
7
This sounds exactly like something the Koch brothers and the Tea Party would do here. A huge monument to misinform, divide, create fear and hysteria and shade their true intentions.
8
I noticed the comments which attempted to make the two side of cold war equally bad carefully selected words. Instead of free world, "capitalism" and instead of "totalitarian " "authoritarian" . The centrally controlled economy of these governments is of lesser importance than the numerous human rights violations. I hope the monument includes some educational material for those whose thinking cannot appreciate the suffering these totalitarian regimes caused. Universal human rights need statements like this to remind the world of historical wrongs. That the free world is imperfect does not prevent it from declaring what we did and do to honor human rights and what totalitarian regimes did to dishonor human rights.
8
How about a monument to the victims of ALL totalitarian regimes that abused their own people? Pinochet, Frano, Mobutu Sese Seko? To focus only on Communism as an arbiter of questionable human rights practices proves that concern about the actual victims isn't the objective at all.
11
All those covered cave-like areas seem best suited for lurking criminals. And, of course, the rendering shows it on a bright, assumably warm day, despite that Ottawa is more often cold and gray.
5
What's behind such a device? The fear that workers are getting restless again, and so labeling them as 'communists' and/or (as Scott Walker just did) the equivalent of ISIS is a new tactic in a very old war.
9
Another motivation might be the desire to ensure that the deaths of millions chronicled by Alexander Solzhenitsyn and other authors are not forgotten by those who assume that there is no enemy on the Left.
8
Paul Dewar, the Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre from the New Democratic Party, asked about this project in Question Period today. You can watch the exchange here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0USbBH-gDAE.
3
I was born and raised in Ottawa. I admire the great monuments of Washington and I think it would be a good idea for Ottawa to construct monuments of similar scale to commemorate Canada. It would create a greater sense of national pride and cohesion in a country that, culturally, is highly decentralized.
That said, I agree with the detractors in this article who say that the fall of communism is not a central event in Canada's history, even though it influenced the lives of several eastern Europeans who immigrated to the country. The prominence of this monument is puzzling.
And I am more deeply concerned about the ideological narrative underpinning the monument. The atrocities committed by communist governments, while very real and worthy of acknowledgment, are not intrinsic to the ideology of communism or Marxism itself. Moreover, Canada has a proud tradition of socialism that is reflected in its universal healthcare and high quality of affordable education. This is a strong component of the Canadian identity. By creating a monument to the victims of "communism," as opposed to totalitarianism, the monument becomes an ideological statement that undercuts the tradition of socialism in Canada. I suspect, however, that this is what the Conservative government might be going for.
That said, I agree with the detractors in this article who say that the fall of communism is not a central event in Canada's history, even though it influenced the lives of several eastern Europeans who immigrated to the country. The prominence of this monument is puzzling.
And I am more deeply concerned about the ideological narrative underpinning the monument. The atrocities committed by communist governments, while very real and worthy of acknowledgment, are not intrinsic to the ideology of communism or Marxism itself. Moreover, Canada has a proud tradition of socialism that is reflected in its universal healthcare and high quality of affordable education. This is a strong component of the Canadian identity. By creating a monument to the victims of "communism," as opposed to totalitarianism, the monument becomes an ideological statement that undercuts the tradition of socialism in Canada. I suspect, however, that this is what the Conservative government might be going for.
18
To all those advocating for a monument to the victims of capitalism, please understand that for all the suffering and inequality that capitalism can engender, it also is an incredibly creative and dynamic economic system that has provided us all with a standard of living unparalleled in human history. Of course capitalism has problems, like any system, and so must be checked by government and society in appropriate ways, but on the whole it's been good for humanity. One only needs to go from the U.S. or Canada to a country without a functioning capitalist system to know that.
Communism or state socialism on the other hand, engendered little but misery, oppression, and death for those unfortunate enough to live under its yoke. Every school child knows the tragedy of the Holocaust, but I don't think that many of them realize the extent to which global Communism matched or even exceeded that horror in the 20th century. A monument or museum would be appropriate, but as Ms. Blumberg says, in a more appropriate setting than an Ottawa park.
Communism or state socialism on the other hand, engendered little but misery, oppression, and death for those unfortunate enough to live under its yoke. Every school child knows the tragedy of the Holocaust, but I don't think that many of them realize the extent to which global Communism matched or even exceeded that horror in the 20th century. A monument or museum would be appropriate, but as Ms. Blumberg says, in a more appropriate setting than an Ottawa park.
11
I am admittedly an outsider looking in, but it seems to me, after reading further about this proposed memorial, that in its meaning, site and design it is irrelevant, inappropriate, and divisive to the nation of Canada. It is appalling that Mr Harper wants to blight the city of Ottawa in this way. And it is incredible that he wants this architectural and ideological misfit to be part of his legacy.
By the way, Canada, please don't give US politicians any ideas. We have enough zealots skulking around here who will want to follow suit by building national monuments to laboratory rats or aborted fetuses or climate change deniers.
By the way, Canada, please don't give US politicians any ideas. We have enough zealots skulking around here who will want to follow suit by building national monuments to laboratory rats or aborted fetuses or climate change deniers.
9
O Canada, I cannot think of a cogent argument favoring how communists ran their countries and relationships to other nations, but a museum? How about a capitalist museum ranging from the slave trade through forced labor in Nazi Germany that could also include exploitation of people and resources in Africa and beyond?
6
Lunacy on a grand scale. Where is the monument to all the First Nations peoples displaced and killed over the past 5 centuries. I would suggest that we build a monument to the victims of the Inquisition instead. But, since Ottawa is truly the Town Where Fun Goes to Die, this could change its image.
6
The different local and parliamentary perceptions of this out-of-scale monument reminds me of a visit to Ottawa in August 2003. It was the time of the great blackout, big in the Northeast but in terms of geographic area actually bigger in Canada. I was in Montreal (no blackout there) and wondering if I should bother traveling to Ottawa to see an exhibition at the national museum there. When I called up the local government to ask if the museum would be open free of the blackout, I received a classically North American reply: "Don't know. That's federal and we're municipal."
1
This demonstrates a dismal understanding of the difference between brutal dictatorships and economic systems. Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot were prolific killers- but power was their principle motivation, overthrow of weak governments their opportunity. Lest the Canadians forget, Hitler, Franco, Mussolini, Somoza, Batista, Trujillo, Pinochet, Argentine Juntas, Qaddafi, King Leopold and followers of South African Apartheid, the Taliban, Sheikh al-Bagdhadi, were/are all accomplished murderers. Capitalism is hardly a system denoting clean hands; the slave trade and plantation agriculture that condemned millions are instructive. The Canadian government should spike this nonsense.
4
With some hesitation I would like to defend Stalin. The life expectancy for enlisted men sent to fight in Stalingrad was less than 24 hours. Officers had a life expectancy of 72 hours. About the same as the Spartans at Thermopylae.
How do you get men to perform in that environment? Among other carrots, Stalin was able to offer them something even worse if they didn't perform. Our American ally Joseph Stalin, leading the Soviet people, got the job done. He does not belong on the same page as Pol Pot.
How do you get men to perform in that environment? Among other carrots, Stalin was able to offer them something even worse if they didn't perform. Our American ally Joseph Stalin, leading the Soviet people, got the job done. He does not belong on the same page as Pol Pot.
1
As long as you raised the question, I'll provide an answer. During World War II, the Soviet Union maintained several dozen NKVD divisions. The NKVD was the predecessor of the KGB and like that organization, devoted considerable effort to shooting Russians. To be specific, these divisions had order to execute any Red Army soldier found away from his unit without authorization and also had orders to fire on units retreating without authorization. Motivation indeed.
7
Stalin signed a treaty with Hitler which freed him to conquer France. Stalin's forced collectivization of Ukraine led to a deliberate famine killing 7-8 million peasants. Russian conscripts were treated as cannon fodder. There is no possible defense of Stalin.
2
Just to mention, Harper is the Canadian version of our GOP, all about bullying, anti-democratic extremism in the defense of the wealthy. And this is really disappointing, that Canada, a country which I admired as a liberal and measured nation, resisted predatory banking and the Iraq war, has come to this mess under a Conservative government.
6
If there's one thing we've learned from the mistakes of the 60's and 70's, it's that monuments that block sight-lines, create wind tunnels and provide lot's of handy places for muggers and drug dealers to ply their trade and for homeless people to sleep and pee in do not work well in urban environments, especially those located in cold climates.
3
If Baltimore can have a monument to the Katyn Massacre, why not Ottawa?
3
Because Baltimore isn't the capital, and if your were familiar with Ottawa, you'd know that this is both outsized for *any* monument there, let alone a totally irrelevant one, and also completely central. It would be like Washington placing a monument to the victims of the Sandanistas directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
5
The overwhelming number of comments and votes by the left-liberal apologists for communism is sickening. During the Cold War the same folks supported the Soviet Union (or stayed silent) and attacked the US. Now they still refuse to stare history in the face and speak the truth. Why? Because deep down inside they know they are wrong.
12
Such a knee-jerk and exaggerated reaction--Faux News' bread and butter.
No one here is apologizing for or supporting communism. Rather what we are stating is that communism is not alone in fostering injustice and savagery. And so, if you want to build a monument condemning it, you must also build one condemning the other economic systems.
No one here is apologizing for or supporting communism. Rather what we are stating is that communism is not alone in fostering injustice and savagery. And so, if you want to build a monument condemning it, you must also build one condemning the other economic systems.
7
Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Castro, , Che Guevera, Pol Pot and Ho Chi Minh are the same actors. Overthrow the government (yes, these governments were not great), but then kill all your enemies and perceived enemies, seize everyone's businesses and properties, outlaw religion, and eliminate press freedom, among other horrors.
And I read these comments, and I just cannot believe there are so many apologists for communism.
FYI - Castro could have provided education and healthcare without destroying everything else that made Cuba a great place. Can you imagine what Cuba would be today had their been reform instead of revolution?
And I read these comments, and I just cannot believe there are so many apologists for communism.
FYI - Castro could have provided education and healthcare without destroying everything else that made Cuba a great place. Can you imagine what Cuba would be today had their been reform instead of revolution?
16
The Cuban proximity to the US would have made reform impossible and I imagine Havana would resemble Kingston Jamaica not Kingston Ontario.
1
One wonders if those who seem to be embracing the theory of Communism would do if say they lived in North Korea, China or Russia. They'd last 10 minutes.
7
Yeah, and we all know the Cuban elite and its sponsors, the U.S. and the mob, would have jumped at the chance to help him enact reforms as soon as they finished partying and puffing their cigars at the Tropicana.
1
What a dumb item this concrete trinket is. The design is typical Modernist architecture school cardboard model kitsch. The concept is even worse. It should be a monument to the victims of Capitalism, if anything.
8
The victims are the 35 million Canadians who seem to do quite well despite living in an inhospitable climate. If you want to see failed economies, look no further than France and Italy, both countries with ingrained socialism. Except for Quebec, Canada has a modified capitalistic system that functions quite well.
3
It's not surprising that my Conservative prime minister has seemingly, unilaterally, decided on a poor urban planning decision which Ottawa will probably have to live with for the next few generations, to further his own sinking political fortune.
There are several other prominent sites in Ottawa where such a monument would be much better suited. The Prime Minister is a trained economist (not that he's ever worked as one), not a trained urban planner or architect, and it shows.
Why not built this ugly monument in Harper's beloved city of Calgary?
There are several other prominent sites in Ottawa where such a monument would be much better suited. The Prime Minister is a trained economist (not that he's ever worked as one), not a trained urban planner or architect, and it shows.
Why not built this ugly monument in Harper's beloved city of Calgary?
6
I did not even know about this proposed monstrosity. It will serve as memorial to the time when Canadians were stupid enough to let a divide opposition keep in power an out of control right-wing government that does not represent normal Canadian values.
They should put up a memorial for something that happened on Canadian land - like for the first Nations peoples who were robbed of their land and culture.
They should put up a memorial for something that happened on Canadian land - like for the first Nations peoples who were robbed of their land and culture.
8
This monument is part of Harper’s “New Canadian Consciousness” — a species of aggro-capitalism which trumpets nationalism, militarism, neo-liberalism and conformism disguised under a thin tissue of “multi-versity.”
A symptomatic example: two years ago the “Trans-Canada” (Hwy 1) was renamed “Highway of Heroes” announced in a large, flashy, flag-bedecked billboard, of the sort one might expect to see in countries south of the border, like Texas.
Canadian remembrance of the war dead was always softer, subtler and quieter than such bombastic militarism pretending to be public gratitude for the sacrifices of the fighting-family man (cum wife, toddler, dog, hockey stick and vague-ish place of worship in the background).
Harper is an Orwellian poster boy who is turning Canada into a grotesque parody of a certain country to the south.
A symptomatic example: two years ago the “Trans-Canada” (Hwy 1) was renamed “Highway of Heroes” announced in a large, flashy, flag-bedecked billboard, of the sort one might expect to see in countries south of the border, like Texas.
Canadian remembrance of the war dead was always softer, subtler and quieter than such bombastic militarism pretending to be public gratitude for the sacrifices of the fighting-family man (cum wife, toddler, dog, hockey stick and vague-ish place of worship in the background).
Harper is an Orwellian poster boy who is turning Canada into a grotesque parody of a certain country to the south.
13
Victims of communism? What about all the underpaid, exploited workers who died in factories, mines and farms under the toil of wealthy capitalists?
9
The latest mine disaster, one that involved dozens of deaths, took place a few days ago in the People's Republic of China. The last time I checked, their flag had a large yellow hammer and sickle rather than a dollar sign in the upper right quadrant of the national flag.
1
The Entrepreneurs du Commun collective is proposing a counter-monument, A Monument to the Victims of Liberty. Info here:
https://www.facebook.com/entrepreneursducommun
They have just received dozens of proposals for the monument and will be presenting a selection of 10 proposals for the monument at AXENÉO7 gallery, directly across the river from Ottawa in Gatineau this fall.
https://www.facebook.com/entrepreneursducommun
They have just received dozens of proposals for the monument and will be presenting a selection of 10 proposals for the monument at AXENÉO7 gallery, directly across the river from Ottawa in Gatineau this fall.
1
Putting aside debate about the entire premise of the project, there is no question that Ottawa certainly doesn't need such a cold, windswept monument. Canada represents a sanctuary for refugees from whatever difficulties they are running from. Our climate creates the need for shelter once they arrive. The design of the monument should consider that context.
5
I don't have a view on whether this proposed memorial is architecturally appropriate or not. I do know that some memorial to the 100 million people murdered by communists in the name of equality in the 20th century would be appropriate.
3
A museum in Ottawa to commemorate the victims of Commumism isn't such a bad idea.
Speaking of Ottawa (the tribe of for whom the city is named), and the other 500-plus lost Indian nations, perhaps we could open a museum commemorating their sacrifices.
While we're at it, let's build the Matthew Shepard Museum in Laramie, Wyoming commemorating the teenagers driven to suicide by right-wing christian families and communities. Next, the Saddam Hussein Museum in Crawford, Texas commemorating the million Iraqis dead as a result of Dubya's invasion. Stephen Harper can personally cut the ribbon at the opening. But wait! There's more: the Bangladeshi Sweatshop Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, etc.
Speaking of Ottawa (the tribe of for whom the city is named), and the other 500-plus lost Indian nations, perhaps we could open a museum commemorating their sacrifices.
While we're at it, let's build the Matthew Shepard Museum in Laramie, Wyoming commemorating the teenagers driven to suicide by right-wing christian families and communities. Next, the Saddam Hussein Museum in Crawford, Texas commemorating the million Iraqis dead as a result of Dubya's invasion. Stephen Harper can personally cut the ribbon at the opening. But wait! There's more: the Bangladeshi Sweatshop Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, etc.
7
Thanks.
riskystrategies. I wasn't aware that communism is "dead and discredited." where do you find this information? I am under the clear impression that communism is very alive and very well. FYI, there are three communism states in the world - cuba, vietnam and laos. all three are orderly and well-governed. cuba provides excellent free medical care and education to it's citizens - those are UN figures. do not instinctively equate communism with stalin and the USSR. stalin perverted communism for his own purposes. informatively, china is not, in my opinion, a communist country. to the contrary, it is the very worst of corrupt capitalist countries. north korea doesn't even call itself communist.
1
I'm going to follow Hannah Arendt by suggesting a lot of "communism" is alive & well in the sense that an odious form thrives anywhere humans & their worth are reduced to their economic role & their role in an economic machinery, as in China & commonly (especially as neoconservatives & Chicago school "rational choice"/"human capital"/"neoclassical" economics would have it) the United States. Notice how comfortably Chinese communism embraces American market ideology & ethos: there is NO conflict between the two because of the shared propensity, even alacrity, to define people by their economic role and their role in an economic machinery, & willing to sacrifice virtually all other freedoms bowing at the market process idol. Notice how economic conservatives, claiming to be partisans for liberty, human dignity, & spiritual values, hush up about China as long as market processes are flourishing there. With cynical bad faith they've always pretended to believe the market would build all the other freedoms. Not only does contemporary China prove this to be a lie, it also shows that the commitment of the market idolizing neoconservative really doesn't care about these non-economic freedoms, values & principles, merely paying lip service to them, & that the Chinese & neoconservative ideologies are of a piece, specifically a kind of communism, & arguably the most inhumane form by sacrificing concern for human well-being, security, freedom & dignity to the idol of mammon.
I'm going to follow Hannah Arendt by suggesting a lot of "communism" is alive & well in the sense that an odious form thrives anywhere humans & their worth are reduced to their economic staus/function in an economic machinery, as in China & commonly (especially as neoconservatives & Chicago school "rational choice"/"human capital"/"neoclassical" economics would have it) the United States. Notice how comfortably Chinese communism embraces American market ideology & ethos: there is NO conflict between the two because they both define people by their role/function/status in an economic machinery, & are willing to sacrifice virtually all other freedoms bowing at the market idol. Notice how economic conservatives, claiming to be partisans for liberty, human dignity, & spiritual values, hush up about China as long as market processes are flourishing there. With cynical bad faith they've always pretended to believe the market would build all the other freedoms. Not only does contemporary China prove this to be a lie, it also shows that the commitment of the market idolizing neoconservative really doesn't care about these non-economic freedoms, values & principles, merely paying lip service to them, & that the Chinese & neoconservative ideologies are of a piece, specifically a kind of communism, & arguably the most inhumane form by sacrificing concern for human well-being, security, freedom & dignity to the idol of mammon.
This is not a memorial to honour the victims of a vile and despicable regime. It is a monument to the politics of fear and loathing of the other. Canadians who know Harper remember the last Alberta election where so many of the Federal Conservative caucus supported the Wild Rose Party instead of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives. The Wild Rose Party is a party of rabid right wing reactionaries dedicated to the destruction of Canada and its dedication to diversity and respect for the other.
Here in Quebec we are now seeing the owner of Canada's Sun Media and our own Quebecor Pierre Karl Peladeau being promoted to lead our own right wing reactionary forces. Harper leads by promoting hatred and division, that is who he is. the Ottawa memorial is not to honour the victims but to promote the hatred and scapegoating responsible for the victimization. It is the politics of divide and conquer.
Here in Quebec we are now seeing the owner of Canada's Sun Media and our own Quebecor Pierre Karl Peladeau being promoted to lead our own right wing reactionary forces. Harper leads by promoting hatred and division, that is who he is. the Ottawa memorial is not to honour the victims but to promote the hatred and scapegoating responsible for the victimization. It is the politics of divide and conquer.
6
The Canadian version of the Tea Party.
splendid idea. I wonder if the canadians might also construct a second monument beside this one to the "global victims of capitalism," starting with the 5% of american children who are hungry and starving - that's an official figure, from a recent issue of the NYT?
6
Do the many Canadians here who object to a monument in their nation's capital to the 100,000,000 plus victims of communism also object to the monument in Toronto's townhall square to the 100,000 plus victims of the bombing of Hiroshima? If not, why not? Because in the one case the sub-text is anti-American and in the other case it is anything but?
3
The Harper regime must fear Canada is susceptible to Communism for him to want to build this. Why else dedicate a space to condemning a thought (communism is a political theory, as easily subject to perversion as capitalism - e.g. China's current regime is more authoritarian capitalism than communism)?
2
SHEER DEMAGOGUERY
Harper wants to change the Canadian tradition to a form of authoritarianism, under Conservative pretense. Bill C-51, introduced in parliament, would strongly curtail civil liberties if enacted, while claiming to be anti-terrorist. Secret services would be under no surveillance whatever. The monument to the victims of communism is pure conservative demagoguery and has more do with pork-barrel than with communism. Tom Mulcair, the head of the NDP opposition, has repeatedly exposed Harper's public relations, and hopefully in the fall elections, this insincere government will be replaced by one that more truthfully reflects canadian aspirations.
Harper wants to change the Canadian tradition to a form of authoritarianism, under Conservative pretense. Bill C-51, introduced in parliament, would strongly curtail civil liberties if enacted, while claiming to be anti-terrorist. Secret services would be under no surveillance whatever. The monument to the victims of communism is pure conservative demagoguery and has more do with pork-barrel than with communism. Tom Mulcair, the head of the NDP opposition, has repeatedly exposed Harper's public relations, and hopefully in the fall elections, this insincere government will be replaced by one that more truthfully reflects canadian aspirations.
3
It will be a gravemarker for Harper's retro reactionary governance period.
2
Defintely need a monument to the victims of Capitalsim right next to it. Maybe some deformed people suffering from Miyamata disease, and older dissmissed workers dying on the streets during the depression.
Or the guy that was left locked in the Walmart nighttime warehouse with the broken leg while he waited for a supervisor to show up four hours later to let him out for medical attention.
There are lots of options. The workers leaping to their deaths from the triangle fire, the dying workers in the recent Bangladeshi garmet workers building collapse, striking miners being murdered by the National Guard in West Virginia at the behest of the mining corporations. The list is enormous.
I become ill thinking of it all.
Or the guy that was left locked in the Walmart nighttime warehouse with the broken leg while he waited for a supervisor to show up four hours later to let him out for medical attention.
There are lots of options. The workers leaping to their deaths from the triangle fire, the dying workers in the recent Bangladeshi garmet workers building collapse, striking miners being murdered by the National Guard in West Virginia at the behest of the mining corporations. The list is enormous.
I become ill thinking of it all.
1
The opposition to the monument is political, not aesthetic. The critics, who are invariably on the left, don't want a large and public reminder that the communist dream to bring Heaven to earth, brought it Hell.
4
This writer's contempt for Ottawa architecture is a bit much. Canada's Parliament Buildings, just down the street from this site, are grand, gracious, well planned, and display effective but subtle symbolism. Certainly, it is among the best parliamentary precincts in the world. But, Mr. Austen sniffs, the main tower is not tall enough for him. I'd take Ottawa's Parliament over that outre wedding cake Capitol in Washington! Most people of taste would too.
1
Sir: You rather missed the point. It's *precisely* the "modest" nature of Ottawa architecture that makes this such an intrusion. This isn't the objection per-se of a monument. That's a whole other argument, it's the objection to it being completely out-of-place, a grosteaque aberration, a nuance that appears beyond your ability to comprehend or appreciate.
1
This is great. Canada is trying to expand its trade relations with China. I can just imagine Stephen Harper giving the Chinese President Xi a private tour on his next state visit to Canada. Oh, wait a minute, maybe they'll have to cover the whole thing with a massive tarpaulin. Canadians, after all, never want to offend anybody. They're just so nice.
4
Don't confuse good communism with bad. In good communism there is ample place for business to trade and make money as long as this market freedom does not open the door to messy and unnecessary (the kinds that distract from business and getting money) freedoms like political, religious and intellectual. Chinese communism can be our friend because it has an open market which "will" (heh heh down the road can/might theoretically, just don't hold your breath) open up these other freedoms.
Better they should build a memorial to all the past, present, and future victims of tar sands folly.
5
To those who say communism was not a part of Canada's history: I suppose you have the same objection to the Holocaust memorial in Washington DC? After all, the Holocaust didn't happen here. Besides, what are 11.5 million dead when compared to over 100 million eh?
3
How about a monument to the victims of Capitalism? I can think of 500,000 victims in Iraq since 2003 right off of the top of my head.
2
Rubbish. Saddam Hussein and the Syrian/Iraqi Baathist Party were Soviet-sponsored Stalinists. They were the ones gassing the Kurds and the people of Syria. They were the ones who refused to give up power and continued massacring their own people. The core of ISIS is the remnants of the Iraqi Baathist Party. Do your homework.
4
The scale of murder in Iraq was nothing compared to what happened in 2003 when a nation sponsored by and acting in the interests of oil companies overthrew Saddam.
There would be no ISIS if Saddam was still in power.
Do some thinking.
There would be no ISIS if Saddam was still in power.
Do some thinking.
1
I often think fondly of Joe Clark and Kim Campbell two former Conservative Prime Ministers who still strive to make the world a better place. When I think of Steven Harper I think of Edmund Burke the 18th century Whig politician who sowed the seeds of anger and dissension where ever he went.
The poet Irving Layton said, "Stop talking about the Holocaust, you don't want to give them any ideas." I think of Mr Harper and his ruthlessness and I know what Layton meant. The history of our species is one of the strong attacking the weak. The Communists blaming the other for their own failures whether it be the Jewish doctors or the Ukrainian peasants surely we have virtue on our side. Putin is an oligarch but the enemies remain the same. Maybe we need a monument to those who blame the other for the morning headache and the wife's infidelity. I watched in horror as our Prime Minister questioned our opposition leader's patriotism this week and was reminded of Dr Johnson's quote about Edmund Burke. "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Canada is ill served by those willing to blame the other for every failure of ideas and ideology.
The poet Irving Layton said, "Stop talking about the Holocaust, you don't want to give them any ideas." I think of Mr Harper and his ruthlessness and I know what Layton meant. The history of our species is one of the strong attacking the weak. The Communists blaming the other for their own failures whether it be the Jewish doctors or the Ukrainian peasants surely we have virtue on our side. Putin is an oligarch but the enemies remain the same. Maybe we need a monument to those who blame the other for the morning headache and the wife's infidelity. I watched in horror as our Prime Minister questioned our opposition leader's patriotism this week and was reminded of Dr Johnson's quote about Edmund Burke. "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Canada is ill served by those willing to blame the other for every failure of ideas and ideology.
5
It should be a memorial to all the victims of American aggression and micro-aggression: blacks, Native Americans, Koreans, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Iraqis and the drone strike victims.
As a man of the left, Like the President, am concerned that the U.S. is the source of evil in the world, and these monuments set in concrete a necessary national shame so that we get off our high horse and behave better. It also shows the world that we know we are bad. This helps me with my personal conscience and confidence issues as well.
As a man of the left, Like the President, am concerned that the U.S. is the source of evil in the world, and these monuments set in concrete a necessary national shame so that we get off our high horse and behave better. It also shows the world that we know we are bad. This helps me with my personal conscience and confidence issues as well.
For Canada a more fitting memorial would be to the victims of colonialism--after all, they had it from two European powers--three, if you count the Vatican.
2
“Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?” Gen. Jack D. Ripper, in Dr. Strangelove. A quote that should be placed in great big letters at the top of this monument, as a tribute to the hundreds of millions of flouridation victims with so few or no tooth cavities, not to mention the many dentists deprived of work.
2
There already exists a "bleak and oppressive" monument to the victims of Communism -- North Korea. Ottawa shouldn't waste one of its remaining natural spaces on a stillborn concrete tribute.
3
How about a corresponding memorial to the victims of capitalism, including Africans deprived of their liberty, Native Americans deprived of their land, and the millions of people who today are deprived of just compensation for their labor.
A much more appropriate monument would be to pay tribute to the First (Native) Americans wiped out by the European conquest and colonization. Think of all the millions of people in Canada, and the rest of the Americas, that were brutally killed and enslaved so their lands could be stolen the Europeans. The Communists had nothing to do with that!
3
Back to the future! Back to the Cold War! Back, back, back!
• The plan, put forward by a private group but heavily championed and partly financed by the current Conservative government....
By the oxymoron that is the "Progressive Conservative" Party of Canada, a plan worthy of Stephen Harper himself.
• “It would be like the Americans putting this on the Mall in Washington.”
...a plan worthy of the Tea Party and the GOP majorities in the U.S. Congress, something I would expect on the Mall in Washington. Americans do claim credit for the "defeat of Communism."
• ...one that does not commemorate any direct event in Canada’s history....
Why not a monument to The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion (The Mac-Paps), Canadian Volunteers of the International Brigades, Spain, 1936-1939, in Ottawa – a monument to the first Canadians to recognize the threat of and actively fought Fascism? There's already one in Toronto at Queen’s Park.
http://www.torontoplaques.com/Graphics/Mackenzie_Papineau_Battalion_Plaq...
Unlike Britain and the United States, where a significant number of students and intellectuals enlisted, the Canadian contingent was almost wholly working class, labourers. Canadian volunteers included members of the Communist Party.
• Mr. Gorczynski, who was born and raised in Poland....
Mr. Gorczynski can go plant his monument to the victims of Communism in Warsaw, where he hails from and where it better belongs.
My homage – http://www.atelier-rc.com/Return.html
• The plan, put forward by a private group but heavily championed and partly financed by the current Conservative government....
By the oxymoron that is the "Progressive Conservative" Party of Canada, a plan worthy of Stephen Harper himself.
• “It would be like the Americans putting this on the Mall in Washington.”
...a plan worthy of the Tea Party and the GOP majorities in the U.S. Congress, something I would expect on the Mall in Washington. Americans do claim credit for the "defeat of Communism."
• ...one that does not commemorate any direct event in Canada’s history....
Why not a monument to The Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion (The Mac-Paps), Canadian Volunteers of the International Brigades, Spain, 1936-1939, in Ottawa – a monument to the first Canadians to recognize the threat of and actively fought Fascism? There's already one in Toronto at Queen’s Park.
http://www.torontoplaques.com/Graphics/Mackenzie_Papineau_Battalion_Plaq...
Unlike Britain and the United States, where a significant number of students and intellectuals enlisted, the Canadian contingent was almost wholly working class, labourers. Canadian volunteers included members of the Communist Party.
• Mr. Gorczynski, who was born and raised in Poland....
Mr. Gorczynski can go plant his monument to the victims of Communism in Warsaw, where he hails from and where it better belongs.
My homage – http://www.atelier-rc.com/Return.html
5
@ Myself
CORRECTION: There already IS a Mac-Pap monument in Ottawa so I might propose one for Halifax, right smack in the middle of the Citadel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie%E2%80%93Papineau_Battalion#mediav...
CORRECTION: There already IS a Mac-Pap monument in Ottawa so I might propose one for Halifax, right smack in the middle of the Citadel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie%E2%80%93Papineau_Battalion#mediav...
1
Absent the discussion about the proposed design and location of the monument why the narrow focus on communism's cause of deaths. Why not a grander statement about totalitarian regimes? 100 million pales in comparison to the brutality and deaths caused by fascists, communists and intolerant religious fanatics. Communism may have a very personal relevance for Mr. Gorczynski but with what is going on in the world now there is a much higher calling.
1
People everywhere are victims of some sort, shall we build monuments on every green space for every cause? Ridiculous that this was even proposed.
It's like seeing those mini shrines along the highway with stuffed animals and faded plastic flowers it's like driving through a cemetary. Stupid idea.
It's like seeing those mini shrines along the highway with stuffed animals and faded plastic flowers it's like driving through a cemetary. Stupid idea.
2
I am embarrassed for Canada. Stalin was a nasty guy, but without the sacrifices (20 million people!) of the Soviet Union in WWII we North Americans might not have had the chance to do D-Day. If they must do this, a similar memorial to the victims of colonialism (aka rapacious capitalism) should go up next to it.
I liked a lot better what I saw vacationing in the Caribbean in the 1970s and 1980s. When small island nations got their independence from Britain in the 1960s, Canada built each of them a new airport with a modest plaque proclaiming friendship.
I liked a lot better what I saw vacationing in the Caribbean in the 1970s and 1980s. When small island nations got their independence from Britain in the 1960s, Canada built each of them a new airport with a modest plaque proclaiming friendship.
31
Stalin was not the only mass murderer in the USSR. Millions of people died during forced collectivization in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.
That said, I find the memorial inappropriate for Ottawa. Some parts of the city still have the feel of a frontier town. Canada is a wonderful country, and the limited space in Ottawa should be used to memorialize Canadians or celebrate Canadian accomplishments.
That said, I find the memorial inappropriate for Ottawa. Some parts of the city still have the feel of a frontier town. Canada is a wonderful country, and the limited space in Ottawa should be used to memorialize Canadians or celebrate Canadian accomplishments.
11
You forgot about the mass starvation, and the execution and/or enslavement of millions by the Soviet Union. And after the war, they terrorized, enslaved and murdered millions in Poland, the Balkans, and a host of other countries.
Good for Canada.
Good for Canada.
6
Stalin sacrificed those people so that he could maintain power. He refused to acknowledge prisoners and he ordered the NKVD to shoot anybody who retreats in the back. Subsequently, after the Germans were pushed back, he placed Eastern Europe under the tyrannical yoke of authoritarian communism. Additionally, the reason why Stalin was able to push the Germans back was in no small part because of the thousands of half-tracks, M-4s, and other supplies that the US sent over to Uncle Joe. If we have holocaust museums in cities all across the world (not just Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and the Netherlands), then I don't see why we shouldn't have a memorial to the tens of millions who died (Katyn, Holodomor, Great Purges, The Great Leap Forward, October Revolution, and the list goes on) and the hundreds of millions who suffered from a failed social experiment.
10
Dear Canada, Sorry your right wing is ridiculous, too. When you build that monument don't forget to put a giant picture of Ronald Reagan on it.
67
WE intend to relegate harper and his Canadian version of the Tea Party to third part status in the next election thus making the monument a non starter.
Our neo-cons learned a lot from Reagan. I remember Reagan going to Philadelphia Mississippi to honour the lynch mob and I remember Reagan's visit to lay a wreath on the graves of the SS freedom fighters. I personally have trouble honouring the Polish officers who died at the hands of the Russian soldiers. The millions of my kinfolk who died at the hands of the Polish officers does belong in the Capital city of a country that gave my father and his siblings sanctuary 100 years ago.
My wounds will never heal Harper's monument does nothing to promote the peace, love and understanding that is the only remedy to stop this happening again.
My wounds will never heal Harper's monument does nothing to promote the peace, love and understanding that is the only remedy to stop this happening again.
4
Although the fall of totalitarian communism was a good thing (and I look forward to the same in Cuba and N. Korea), I cannot imagine this being anything more than a reminder of all of the past and future victims of capitalism.
28
That's a great idea. Now, we should recall that The People's Republic of China where we get all our stuff is communist.
This must rank as one of the stupidest decisions on record. Not only is communism dead and discredited it is crass to use this for political ends.
Quote "the winning bid, by Abstrakt Studio Architecture, was “bleak and oppressive,” giving a “very literal and brutal depiction of violence.” Unquote.
Not only is the design brutal neo-communist in style, it should go well with the bleak, cold depressing winters just compounding the misery of winter months.
For fun, I will take a walk through this monument when it is minus 30 and blowing a blizzard, from the north preferably Really!.
The problem is that this monstrosity will last forever and long after the architects have disappeared and left this aberration for all to admire.
Quote "the winning bid, by Abstrakt Studio Architecture, was “bleak and oppressive,” giving a “very literal and brutal depiction of violence.” Unquote.
Not only is the design brutal neo-communist in style, it should go well with the bleak, cold depressing winters just compounding the misery of winter months.
For fun, I will take a walk through this monument when it is minus 30 and blowing a blizzard, from the north preferably Really!.
The problem is that this monstrosity will last forever and long after the architects have disappeared and left this aberration for all to admire.
27
I think it is quite edgy to propose such a memorial in the center of the Ottawa capital, especially if located near Justice building as it would serve as a compelling reminder as to what a democracy is and how it is worth defending. However, I feel that it just doesn't /do enough/, particularly in regards to Mr Klimkowski's comment about the "wonderful story about Canadians and Canada's refuges". Perhaps I missed something, but where are the interpretative story elements or archive library that should unequivocally be attached to such a grand idea. Or more seating and trees to contemplate what 100 million actually means to me or you. Will there be historical film screenings projected onto the face of the "folded zig-zag"? What happens at night? I don't have a problem with a brutal or violent monument, but I do have a problem for designing for the dead without taking into account the living, especially if the whole purpose is to ensure history does not repeat itself for future generations. Invest in the story, make it a place people want to stay in, and you'll be imprinting a message that will stay far longer in people's memories than a monument that you tick off as a tourist attraction.
7
In the nineteen eighties, it was the Polish trade union Solidarity that led the way in dismantling communist rule. If the goal of the monument is to celebrate Eastern Europeans and their contributions to Canada, let's get Katyn and Gdansk into the same room.
Most people don't realize that Stephen Harper comes from an Evangelical Christian background, and has surrounded himself with believers from a minority so small that it's practically un-Canadian. The real motivation behind this "memorial" is religious, and I'm sorry to see people with real reasons to honor the victims of communism being so shamelessly used.
Most people don't realize that Stephen Harper comes from an Evangelical Christian background, and has surrounded himself with believers from a minority so small that it's practically un-Canadian. The real motivation behind this "memorial" is religious, and I'm sorry to see people with real reasons to honor the victims of communism being so shamelessly used.
37
Your anti-Christian bigotry is what's appalling here. What does Christianity have to do with this?
1
For a democratic country to erect a monument to the victims of any political ideology seems very undemocratic to me.
Whether you think they're crackpots or not, in a democratic society people are allowed to have any ideology they want and vote for it. This seems like a propaganda move to me.
Also, it really shouldn't be a monument to the victims of "communism" anyway. More appropriate would be the victims of what Stalin called "Marxism-Leninism" and what was later called "Stalinism", concepts that many would argue are quite different from Marxism and Leninism.
We could erect a monument to the victims of democracy or capitalism since democracy and capitalism produced the Nazis (sure the Nazis ran with an undemocratic platform but they were democratically elected). Or how about a monument to the victims of oligarchy? This would make more sense at least, having an oligarchy next door.
Whether you think they're crackpots or not, in a democratic society people are allowed to have any ideology they want and vote for it. This seems like a propaganda move to me.
Also, it really shouldn't be a monument to the victims of "communism" anyway. More appropriate would be the victims of what Stalin called "Marxism-Leninism" and what was later called "Stalinism", concepts that many would argue are quite different from Marxism and Leninism.
We could erect a monument to the victims of democracy or capitalism since democracy and capitalism produced the Nazis (sure the Nazis ran with an undemocratic platform but they were democratically elected). Or how about a monument to the victims of oligarchy? This would make more sense at least, having an oligarchy next door.
22
Stalin's theory and praxis grew directly out of the leadership of Lenin and Dzerzhinsky, founders of the Cheka. Mass murders started with Lenin with the enthusiastic support from the majority of Marxists at the time. Stalin also had the support of the majority of Marxists around the world. He was more popular at the time than Mao was in the 60s.
This unwillingness to face the facts of communism is typical of the left.
This unwillingness to face the facts of communism is typical of the left.
1
100 million pieces ? Unfortunately,they need to leave room for future expansion.
2
How about a monument to the victims of totalitarian regimes? It could expressly identify totalitarian communist and fascist regimes as the primary perpetrators of mass murder and oppression of the people under their control. It could force the most destructive ideologies of the 20th century into the same space of ignominy and contempt. That would be a powerful monument.
9
The article states that Voytek Gorczynski, the founder of Abstrakt, is Polish and had to deal with oppression in Poland. Therefore, put this monument in Poland, where it would actually have some kind of meaning and resonance. When was Canada a communist country ruled by Stalin? But first, he'd have to create something better than the poor design he envisions.
The other thing I want to address is the laughable notion that everyone opposed to this is liberal or left-wing. For starters, how would anyone know the politics of an individual who thinks the monument is just plain ugly? Does the right-wing now have a litmus test for aesthetic thinking? If you oppose brutalist architecture and the destruction of a greenspace, you're a leftie? That actually sounds like something the Soviet communists would do.
The other thing I want to address is the laughable notion that everyone opposed to this is liberal or left-wing. For starters, how would anyone know the politics of an individual who thinks the monument is just plain ugly? Does the right-wing now have a litmus test for aesthetic thinking? If you oppose brutalist architecture and the destruction of a greenspace, you're a leftie? That actually sounds like something the Soviet communists would do.
30
Actually, if you have studied political philosophy and been active on the marxist left, you can recognize the confused strains of leftist ideology in the comments of most of the anti-monument comments. Some of it is quite explicit, actually.
1
There is this wild, unsubstantiated, believable, speculation that since the Chief Justice handed the Prime Minister a couple of decisions he did not like, the PM decided to dump a block of concrete in front of the Supreme Court building to let her know that he still has some tricks up his sleeve.
15
Knowing this prime minister, this may not be so wild.
2
A monument to the victims of communism is a good idea. Hollering from sympathizers notwithstanding, with the possible exception of Nazism, no other ideology in the 20th century resulted in the systematic and deliberate murder and oppression of more people.
But everything else about this design--the scale, location, design--seems poorly thought out. Blumberg is right: a monument of this kind belongs in a historically relevant location.
But everything else about this design--the scale, location, design--seems poorly thought out. Blumberg is right: a monument of this kind belongs in a historically relevant location.
37
What about the victims of totalitarian right-wing regimes: Pinochet, Franco, Mobutu Sese Seko, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? Is their suffering somehow less deserving of our remembrance, simply because their oppressors didn't adhere to communism?
4 stories high is a huge monument? A townhouse around here is taller than that.
Perhaps the scale is off, but the idea is correct. The twins of National Socialism and Socialism underlie most (not all) of the evils of the 20th and 21st centuries, and it is urgently necessary to recognize this fact.
Of course, those who bitterly cling to the destructive game which has captured the minds of bureaucrats, the power hungry, and legions of useful idiots since Rousseau will howl in protest.
Perhaps the scale is off, but the idea is correct. The twins of National Socialism and Socialism underlie most (not all) of the evils of the 20th and 21st centuries, and it is urgently necessary to recognize this fact.
Of course, those who bitterly cling to the destructive game which has captured the minds of bureaucrats, the power hungry, and legions of useful idiots since Rousseau will howl in protest.
1
Are you offering your back yard?
1
I personally find this monument offensive and represents a totally subjective view of a particular regime and a period of history that is not shared universally and certainly not by myself, not that I am particularly for Communism or for that matter capitalism or any ism -- I do however think that a monument such of this does cater to Canadians or immigrants who lived in the former USSR and have an axe to grind against that regime, not that I blame them at all, it is just not my axe to grind nor I believe of the majority so why do this? There are so many other less contentious things to glorify-- maybe our democratic way of life and adherence to democratic principles such as transparency and consideration of all views, two elements that don't seem to have been particularly followed in choosing this design, from what I am reading.
Apart from all of the above, the size of the thing and the disproportionate amount of concrete to grass, seems to put too much importance to it in the context of a memorial commemorating a very focused and specific period of time and group of victims.
All in all a stupid decision and I hope it will be reversed and something more all inclusive and positive will be put up.
Apart from all of the above, the size of the thing and the disproportionate amount of concrete to grass, seems to put too much importance to it in the context of a memorial commemorating a very focused and specific period of time and group of victims.
All in all a stupid decision and I hope it will be reversed and something more all inclusive and positive will be put up.
15
Honestly, your choice of wording is rather insensitive and myopic. "Cater" to immigrants from the "USSR"? Half of Europe was engulfed by communism. It did not only exist in the USSR. For a good part of the 2nd half of the 20th century, the majority of immigrants to Canada came from Central and Eastern Europe. That may not warrant a monument of this kind in Ottawa, but it would help if you looked up communism in Wikipedia before dismissing a monument to its victims out of ignorance about its reality.
2
"An ax to grind"? Half of Europe brutalized by Stalin, millions executed, starved to death, sent to slave labor camps, families torn apart, and you trivialise this by saying the victims have "an ax to grind"? And then you say "it is not my ax to grind"? Where is your morality?
2
It's a really good idea to have a monument to the victims of communism. Communism always deserves another kick it the teeth and people always need reminders of how evil communist rule really was, despite all the anti-capitalist snarkiness in these comments.
It's a shame the memorial can't be built where it truly belongs, in Red Square in Moscow, like the Holocaust Memorial in the heart of Berlin; with another version in Tienanmen Square. Or even in Warsaw. If not in Eurasia, then in Washington, D.C., since anti-communism was one of the major American projects for so long. Now that someone's had the idea, I'm surprised we didn't do it in the USA already. However: Ottawa? Oy, Canada.
But the chosen place is all wrong, Harper's motives are suspect, and the design is horrid, and manifestly a cement knockoff of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The organizers won't stop, but they should do this again the right way.
It's a shame the memorial can't be built where it truly belongs, in Red Square in Moscow, like the Holocaust Memorial in the heart of Berlin; with another version in Tienanmen Square. Or even in Warsaw. If not in Eurasia, then in Washington, D.C., since anti-communism was one of the major American projects for so long. Now that someone's had the idea, I'm surprised we didn't do it in the USA already. However: Ottawa? Oy, Canada.
But the chosen place is all wrong, Harper's motives are suspect, and the design is horrid, and manifestly a cement knockoff of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The organizers won't stop, but they should do this again the right way.
9
Shameless! Apparently, not an official government-sponsored project, but just the same a blatant vote-grabbing scheme. This Canadian taxpayer doesn't want a penny going to any part of this in any way.
19
"Tribute to Liberty" is the funding organization. I suggest they are in the wrong country with a name like that.
The article states that the Department of Canadian Heritage is responsible for the project. If that is true, it is a violation of public trust, for the overthrow of political regimes is not a part of Canadian heritage. Our soldiers used to wear the Blue Helmet until the recent governments of that ravenous wolf Harpur forced the military to change hats in tune with his foreign policy.
It would be far superior to build a monument to the history of immigrants building the country as an annex to the Canadian Museum of History, but that is what ideologues are interested in.
The article states that the Department of Canadian Heritage is responsible for the project. If that is true, it is a violation of public trust, for the overthrow of political regimes is not a part of Canadian heritage. Our soldiers used to wear the Blue Helmet until the recent governments of that ravenous wolf Harpur forced the military to change hats in tune with his foreign policy.
It would be far superior to build a monument to the history of immigrants building the country as an annex to the Canadian Museum of History, but that is what ideologues are interested in.
12
I cannot believe the number of "communism was not so bad when compared to 'so called western capitalist democracy'" here.
It is fine with me if Canadians decide not to build this monument. But please be aware that for over half of the century people imprisoned in the communist system countries were dreaming of the countries and systems you live in and take for granted: Canada, US, Western Europe. People were dying escaping the fences (literally) of the prison countries they were held captive by "communism".
Do not spit on what you have.
It is fine with me if Canadians decide not to build this monument. But please be aware that for over half of the century people imprisoned in the communist system countries were dreaming of the countries and systems you live in and take for granted: Canada, US, Western Europe. People were dying escaping the fences (literally) of the prison countries they were held captive by "communism".
Do not spit on what you have.
10
Capitalism may well be better than communism, but to fail to "spit" on what we have is to give up what we have. Capitalism, unless carefully regulated, easily turns into tyranny. Capitalism does not equal democracy. Democracy can survive only if it is criticized.
2
Hazlit, what a silly, shallow comment. The epitome of moral relativism.
2
A truly crackpot decision for the benefit of construction opportunist and ego trippers.
16
North America seems to have quite a few Holocaust memorials, so why not a Holodomor memorial?
4
Didn't they recently break ground for one in DC?
Steve,
I have no problem with a Holodomor Mememorial, I would have noproblem with a monument to the forced Irish Starvationthey are indeed testaments to mankind's inhumanity. The nation's Capital however should be Canada's testament to its own failures or achievements.
Edmonton would be a much more appropriate venue for a Holodomor memorial just as Montreal, Quebec City or Toronto would be a better place to honour the victims of the Irish Starvation.
I have no problem with a Holodomor Mememorial, I would have noproblem with a monument to the forced Irish Starvationthey are indeed testaments to mankind's inhumanity. The nation's Capital however should be Canada's testament to its own failures or achievements.
Edmonton would be a much more appropriate venue for a Holodomor memorial just as Montreal, Quebec City or Toronto would be a better place to honour the victims of the Irish Starvation.
1
Can they put up a monument nearby for the beneficiaries of Communism? There are some. Plus, the Communist Party in China, one of Canada's trading partners, might be willing to help.
Free at point of service health care? The UK has this without being communist, but the communist nature of it must be acknowledged.
Ability to defeat a technologically superior external enemy? Thinking of Russia here, not North Vietnam. Perhaps beneficiaries of Stalin should have their own monument, to communist totalitarianism. At the end of the day the Soviet Union held, and Germany lost.
Ability for people of color to walk down the street? In 1980s Moscow, if the Party had decreed that you were welcome, any citizen wanting to harass you would know better than to do so. 2015 Moscow, not so much.
Those are a few. Every ideology has it's good points and bad points. As other commenters have pointed out, plenty of people have died under slavery, where humans are capital. It makes more sense for Canadians to pick a monument relevant to Canadian history, rather than making an ideological statement.
Free at point of service health care? The UK has this without being communist, but the communist nature of it must be acknowledged.
Ability to defeat a technologically superior external enemy? Thinking of Russia here, not North Vietnam. Perhaps beneficiaries of Stalin should have their own monument, to communist totalitarianism. At the end of the day the Soviet Union held, and Germany lost.
Ability for people of color to walk down the street? In 1980s Moscow, if the Party had decreed that you were welcome, any citizen wanting to harass you would know better than to do so. 2015 Moscow, not so much.
Those are a few. Every ideology has it's good points and bad points. As other commenters have pointed out, plenty of people have died under slavery, where humans are capital. It makes more sense for Canadians to pick a monument relevant to Canadian history, rather than making an ideological statement.
15
If we're going to have monuments to victims of ideas and concepts, then I think a monument to the global victims of the color khaki should be considered. Think of all the evil done and suffering caused by people who dress in khaki.
14
communism was not something any rational person would like to live under.however, harper is a disgrace to Canada. one of the big weaknesses of a parliamentary democracy is that a political party can win a majority and govern like a dictatorship with a relatively small percentage of votes. harper won twice but with minority governments which kept him in check. in 2011, he garnered less than 40% of the vote and has run rampant over Canadian traditions built up for generations. for the first time in my life, I feel the prime minister of Canada is not MY prime minister, but a ideological thug who is only concerned with his base.
26
As the old Soviet joke puts it: communism is a system in which man exploits man. In Capitalism its the other way around.
A monument like this is just dumb. Im Australian and Ive just decided never to bother visiting Canada.
A monument like this is just dumb. Im Australian and Ive just decided never to bother visiting Canada.
15
This is hilarious! Great job bring hilarity to this ridiculous right-wing boondoggle.
2
You clearly didn't hang out with many Russians because you got the joke backwards! Which robs it of its irony and punch and shows that you don't get it.
Every "ism" concocted by the human race has victims by the millions. Communism, Fascism, Capitalism, Catholicism, Judaism, Nazism. Any one you can name. All through history each one has gloried, or will glory, in its power by committing conquest, by oppression, by genocide, by salting fields and burning crops. If the Prime Minister of Canada has nothing better to do with his taxpayers' money, he better clear a lot more real estate in the nation's capitol to put up monuments at least as big to the victims of all those other "isms." Besides that, the durned thing is ugly as sin and the design concept is a shameless rip-off of the Viet Nam memorial wall. Pure, laughable, political kitsch.
15
All phony. Harper is the most authoritarian politician in Canadian history.
I wouldn't be surprised if this whole plan was concocted by some Canadian AM talk radio host in the ear of the Tribute to Liberty brass--a sort of Rush Limbaugh of Ottawa with a Joseph McCarthy fetish, if that is even possible. The description sounds absurd, 100 million squares on concrete walls? No thanks. Citizens of Ottawa, start a protest, bargain to build a beautiful park for people to hang out at and enjoy, something positive--not a depressing concrete memorial that has nothing to do with your history or culture.
8
There's nary a word about the fact that this entire undertaking is a massive right-wing boondoggle.
10
How ironic: This design would fit right in with the huge, stark concrete war memorials that Tito built in Yugoslavia.
5
The cold war has a special place in Harper’s heart (if he has one). The concrete monument is just the beginning. He also has a bill in the system that will declare a national day of mourning for the fall of Saigon every April 30. Canada was not involved in the Vietnam War, but never mind, it’s another way that Harper can polish his cold warrior credentials and keep Canada free of communists.
5
Seriously? In the country that honorably welcomed thousands of young American men fleeing the US draft and service in a war they deeply opposed? O, Canada!
All the rest of the problems in our sad little world, and they want to spend all that money, effort and time to do THIS?
Someone's been outdoors in the snow a bit too long. Their brain is frostbitten.
Someone's been outdoors in the snow a bit too long. Their brain is frostbitten.
9
How about one for the victims of Capitalism?
15
Impractical. By the time you include the victims of slavery, indigenous land-grabs, trade wars, and now global warming, such a monument would have to cover half the land area of Ontario.
How does one protest in Canada?
1
How about also including victims of capitalism, for example from environmental & occupational hazards. Coal mines, oil pipelines & trains, dark satanic mills … and then of course the victims in Gitmo & its cousins round the globe, the seizing of indigenous people's children, indeed the near annihilation of indigenous peoples … it's a long, long list. Gonna be a big memorial.
9
Well, seeing how a huge number of Canadians, especially in Vancouver, are former victims (or even beneficiaries) of "communism", maybe THAT is where the monument should go?
Architect Shirley Blumberg nailed it when she said:
“I would understand if we were Romania, to have this monument at the center of our democracy. It is not central to our history. It would be like the Americans putting this on the Mall in Washington.”
“I would understand if we were Romania, to have this monument at the center of our democracy. It is not central to our history. It would be like the Americans putting this on the Mall in Washington.”
7
We have a right-wing prime minister, Stephen Harper, standing at 33 per cent in the polls, versus the combined 55 per cent of the two left-wing parties. Yet Harper continues to try to remake this liberal country using Karl Rove-like, hyperpartisan tactics. His party runs deceptive campaign ads, even outside of election periods. So this unnecessary project is standard operating procedure.
62
I'm all paying tribute to the slaves who generated profits for their owners, or those who toiled and sometimes died in firey sweatshops, or those made sick by union carbide/asbestos/coal mines. A monument to the victims of Global Capitalism sounds like a great idea. I'm not sure why everyone is so upset.
27
This bit of right wing kitsch is nothing compared to the 10-story Mother Canada monument being proposed for the otherwise pristine Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia. Next comes the Monument to the Tar Sands, a toxic pool of waste the size of Lake Superior - location TBA. On the other hand, the Canadian monuments to victims of Capitalism and Imperialism are so tasteful as to be invisible.
42
Canadian "Conservatives" must be taking their cues from the USA Republicans. And the monument looks positivily Stalinist.
I mean, Concrete?
I hope this is an early April Fools story.
I mean, Concrete?
I hope this is an early April Fools story.
49
I have to agree with you on that point, architecturally has a flavor of celebrating Communism rather than condemning it. Conservatives do such a good job undermining their cause that Socialists often win by simply breathing.
Unfortunately.
Unfortunately.
1
I'm sure capitalism has led to many more deaths around the world. They should choose a regime to focus the target on rather than a theory. Targeting a poli-theory such as communism is as irrational as targeting capitalism. Instead, target dictatorships or fascism, victims of the USSR or Communist-such-and-such. Why do we keep carving up spaces to hate and exclusion (e.g. monuments to a specific religion or statutes of a historical bigot)?
9
Sorry, you're wrong. Communists in Russia, China, and Cambodia murdered far more people than died in the wars of the 20th century. This is not a "theory". Why are leftists so uncomfortable with facing up to what Communism did? Why do they keep making excuses for Lenin/Stalin/Mao?
Of course everyone dies eventually, but the idea that "capitalism has led to many more deaths around the world" is just silly. What does it even mean?
Of course everyone dies eventually, but the idea that "capitalism has led to many more deaths around the world" is just silly. What does it even mean?
8
Charles, please stop parroting sound bites. You are confusing socialism with communism. Socialism is what you call "leftist". It works in many countries such as in Scandinavia and other European countries, where social program are put in practice for the benefit of the community.
Then there's fake socialism, which is nothing more than populist dictators that call themselves socialist. Those are the Latin American "socialist" countries, like Venezuela; and lastly, there is communism, such as USSR, China, Cambodia, Cuba, etc., which were/are brutal murderous regimes led by dictators. The difference between Cambodia and ISIS is the propaganda. Both should be eradicated.
I am as liberal as one can be, or as you say, a leftist. I'm not in favor of dictatorships of any kind. I am not uncomfortable about that and I do not defend communism.
Then there's fake socialism, which is nothing more than populist dictators that call themselves socialist. Those are the Latin American "socialist" countries, like Venezuela; and lastly, there is communism, such as USSR, China, Cambodia, Cuba, etc., which were/are brutal murderous regimes led by dictators. The difference between Cambodia and ISIS is the propaganda. Both should be eradicated.
I am as liberal as one can be, or as you say, a leftist. I'm not in favor of dictatorships of any kind. I am not uncomfortable about that and I do not defend communism.
4
Actually, the communists in Cambodia murdered millions until they were stopped by communist liberators from Vietnam.
4
This is really kind of a goofy idea. It makes more sense to put up a monument to those killed by all tyrants and dictators, bullies, politicians who lie, religious leaders who pervert the teachings of their gospels, and anyone else who ever misused an ideology to justify warfare and violence. To attach it to communism smacks of ideological posturing: how many people died in World War I, a completely pointless conflagration between competing capitalist societies, which the Harper government never tires of trying to convince us was about preserving Canadian liberty and freedom? Scrap the idea and put up a monument to Paul Martin instead, Canada's finance minister who refused to allow Canadian banks to engage in the high-risk speculative money markets that wrought devastation on the world economy and, coincidentally, left a budget surplus to Mr. Harper who squandered it and now, having finally restored it, brags of his own fiscal acuity.
49
Including victims of Islam in all its nastier forms.
1
Hmmmm. I wonder if there would be such an uproar if it were a large monument to the "Victims of Fascism".
The left has always felt a cozy spot for Communism, a willingness to turn away from its sins.
The left has always felt a cozy spot for Communism, a willingness to turn away from its sins.
18
schbrg: right on target. Historically there were plenty of leftist intellectuals who from nice and warm Western academic pulpits were praising the progressive work of humanity benefactors like Stalin.
One thing though: do not generalize all people "from the left". Whenever communists were taking over a country, first people they went after were significant segments of "the left". I mean they were hunted down and killed. In Poland there were thousands of grassroots activist of the Socialist (!) Party, killed by communist security forces, for nothing else than having genuinely left-of-center convictions. Understanding "why?" is important to understand what "communism" really was.
Huge part of the anti-communist opposition in Poland consisted of quite leftist people. They devoted their lives (we talk prisons etc here) to restore capitalist democracy, then formed left-of-center political parties. Go figure.
Talking about fascism: Nazi was an abbreviation of National SOCIALIST German WORKERS' Party
One thing though: do not generalize all people "from the left". Whenever communists were taking over a country, first people they went after were significant segments of "the left". I mean they were hunted down and killed. In Poland there were thousands of grassroots activist of the Socialist (!) Party, killed by communist security forces, for nothing else than having genuinely left-of-center convictions. Understanding "why?" is important to understand what "communism" really was.
Huge part of the anti-communist opposition in Poland consisted of quite leftist people. They devoted their lives (we talk prisons etc here) to restore capitalist democracy, then formed left-of-center political parties. Go figure.
Talking about fascism: Nazi was an abbreviation of National SOCIALIST German WORKERS' Party
5
The difference is that quite a lot of people, particularly in the US and now, obviously, in Canada, still like to paint people with perfectly reasonable democractic views as "communists". I get called that regularly, despite my completely ordinary leftwing views and my military service. Conversely, the phrase "fascist" is only bandied about by the odd overzealous university student or stoner. Its that improper linking - and the cynical misuse of that improper linking - that's the problem here. I have no problem decrying the horrors of Leninism, Stalinism and the various variants that have been applied across the world (in fact Id probably be among the first people shot under such regimes - whereas I have always suspected that the "fascist" friends in western ranks would merely accommodate themselves to the dominant zeitgeist) but I have a problem with the misuse of a word to lump millions of people with perfectly peaceful political views with in with murderous regimes.
The suggested memorial isn't a genuine good faith idea, its just another political dogwhistle and a prime example of why politics is held in less regard then ever these days.
The suggested memorial isn't a genuine good faith idea, its just another political dogwhistle and a prime example of why politics is held in less regard then ever these days.
6
Szafran: well-said. I apologize for the tasteless comments of all the ignorant leftist apologists for communism you see here. They are truly embarrassing. Rest assured however, they are on the decline. That is why they are so shrill.
You make a good point about different segments of the left. There were many ethical anti-communist leftists. However, there were not so many in the States and Canada. Because there was very little personal experience with communism on that side of the Atlantic, most leftists from the 20s on were fairly ignorant romantics who supported Russian Communism, to their eternal shame.
You make a good point about different segments of the left. There were many ethical anti-communist leftists. However, there were not so many in the States and Canada. Because there was very little personal experience with communism on that side of the Atlantic, most leftists from the 20s on were fairly ignorant romantics who supported Russian Communism, to their eternal shame.
1
What about the victims of capitalism and capitalist wars for oil and hegemony?
This is a naive view of history, and an obvious political ploy.
Sad that a Canada which I admired as a down to earth, liberal, and measured nation, which resisted predatory banking and the Iraq war, has come to this under a Conservative government.
What a shame.
This is a naive view of history, and an obvious political ploy.
Sad that a Canada which I admired as a down to earth, liberal, and measured nation, which resisted predatory banking and the Iraq war, has come to this under a Conservative government.
What a shame.
74
We have much to be proud of in Canada but Prime minister Harper brings shame to all of us. This is not the Canadian way we are an evolving society and if we wanted to put up a memorial to commemorate past wrongs it should be our past wrongs. I would be prouder of a memorial to commemorate the wanton destruction of our native people from the exterminations on the East coast, the forced conversions to the residential schools.
What was done in the name of communism is little different from the wrongs done in the name of other ideologies. If Mr Harper wishes to curry the favour of refugees from Eastern Europe let him sent the money to an Eastern European capital where this monument may be far more appropriate.
What was done in the name of communism is little different from the wrongs done in the name of other ideologies. If Mr Harper wishes to curry the favour of refugees from Eastern Europe let him sent the money to an Eastern European capital where this monument may be far more appropriate.
89
So whose money? NOT mine, I hope, for this senseless project, in Ottawa or anywhere else.
1
Well stated, Mo.
1
Do your homework. No other ideology came even close to Communism in its number of victims. Stalin starved 8 million to death in Ukraine alone. Mao and the fanatics in his party slaughtered tens of millions. That was how they took power, by killing anyone in the countryside who disagreed.
Communism killed many more people in the 20th century than died in all the wars of the preceding 1000 years. And you folks think we should ignore this.
Communism killed many more people in the 20th century than died in all the wars of the preceding 1000 years. And you folks think we should ignore this.
1
As a Canadian I have been deeply humiliated every day, for the last eight years, by Stephen Harper and his neo-con government. Everything they do is wrong, or is done for the wrong reasons. They exist only to stay in power and are able to do so by pandering to a poorly educated segment of our population. Attack adds at Christmas in non-election years, persistent cheating during elections, complete lack of respect for our parliamentary process, and the continuous use of wedge issues such as the monumental monument that you see in this article, have profoundly weakened our country. The polarization that you live with in the United States exists here as well. You should know.
78
"Everything they do is wrong, or is done for the wrong reasons." Really? You are sounding like a bitter election loser, exactly what you are complaining about. You should accept the fact that your candidate lost the election - that's how you avoid polarization.
3
Where is the monument to the victims of capitalism?
104
Or Christianity? Crusades, Inquisition, 30 Years War, just to start the list. Plenty of good slaughter-memorial material there.
5
When "capitalism" sets up gulags and reeducation camps, we'll talk.
2
Perhaps across the street, someone might build a child labor sweatshop as a tribute to all those condemned by capitalism. Then, dialectically, one could stand in the center of the street and conduct an inquiry into the strengths and iniquities of communism and capitalism, while being quite careful not to tilt or otherwise prejudice the outcome of the argument--since such balanced opinions, synthetically achieved, are evident in a judicious mind.
47
Actually what they should do is highlight their onr of their major "accomplishments", i.e. , almost completely eliminating the original inhabitants.
They could call it the "More Thorough than Stalin" monument
They could call it the "More Thorough than Stalin" monument
32
Canada was not particularly nice to first nations' people but to imply there was genocide or the brutality shown in the usa is astretch.
2
brupic, I suggest you read about the cultural genocide and rampant physical and sexual abuse of the Canadian residential school system. Sadly, the USA was not the only country to commit brutality against its aboriginal peoples.
1
i'm well aware of that. I said Canada wasn't particularly nice. nor were we with Japanese Canadians in ww2. however, there wasn't mass murder was my point. as bad as things were, they were not slaughtered.
1
Thank you, Madame Chief Justice. National Capital Region is splendid the way it is for the most part. The monument to our peace keepers is a particular favourite of mine. Green and gold.
7
Why don't they turn it into a monument commemorating the victims of colonialism? Of course it would have to be four or five times bigger.
47
How about a grove of trees populated with art commemorating Canada's first peoples. One in Ottawa and one in every provincial and territorial capital.
If we're going to have a monument (or monuments) let the sentiment be one of thanks not of horror.
If we're going to have a monument (or monuments) let the sentiment be one of thanks not of horror.
1
But then, you couldn't dump on Americans, since we had only one major "colony," the Philippines, and that was only after a war with the Spanish masters. And then the Japanese took over for a while. No, you'd have to start with the Brits and the Belgians (considered by some as the worst of the colonialists), etc.
1
As someone who spends quite a bit of time in Ottawa with friends and family there, the whole concept of this monument is offensive. It's something that "Tribute to Liberty" and that fool Stephen Harper want built to prove a political point, not something that belongs in Ottawa. My Ukrainian-Canadian best friend, God rest her, detested Harper and everything he and his party stand for, with good reason.
50
One would think that if Canada were going to build a monument to the victims of something, it might pick something relevant to Canada, such as the decimation of its First Nations peoples. (Of course many of them held property in common, so one might claim they were commies, or at least pinko, and thus not worthy of a memorial.)
In a perverse sort of way it is reassuring to see Canada joining the big time, joining the United States in its brazenly craven and political use of the commons and national symbolism, thereby furthering the view that, despite one's (and my) fervent hope to the contrary, it is striving to make good on the view that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of America Inc.
In a perverse sort of way it is reassuring to see Canada joining the big time, joining the United States in its brazenly craven and political use of the commons and national symbolism, thereby furthering the view that, despite one's (and my) fervent hope to the contrary, it is striving to make good on the view that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of America Inc.
31
I'm not surprised that some Canadians can't get behind this. I think all left-liberals, including the NYT and most of its readership are very uncomfortable about having to face up to what Communism did in the 20th century. After all, it was decidedly uncool to be an anti-communist; most left-liberals were either neutral or on the wrong side during the Cold War. Having to think about 100 million dead people is somewhat embarrassing for them.
11
Charles, we are against Harper and this monument, not because we are leftists, but because it is too large and in the wrong place. Secondly, the issue really has to do with authoritarianism, which, if you were a communist or a right wing, anti democratic extremist, are about the same thing. Just read any book about communism and fascism and they talk about the similarities.
Don't you see the irony in this? Harper's authoritarianism, as so well represented by the railroading of this project, is really about putting up a monument to himself, and the very totalitarianism that he proposes to stand against. My God!
Don't you see the irony in this? Harper's authoritarianism, as so well represented by the railroading of this project, is really about putting up a monument to himself, and the very totalitarianism that he proposes to stand against. My God!
10
Why communism?
Lenin hijacked the Russian revolution and replaced it with the Party to further his own ambitions, much as ISIS have hijacked Islam to further theirs. The Bolsheviks, virtually all of whom Stalin wiped out, were champions of democratic socialism.
Civilization's real enemy is not social cooperation but authoritarianism.
Monopoly power is no more democratic than communism and is, if given the opportunity, as inherently authoritarian. Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) is no more democratic than the Party.
Authoritarianism on the left or the right is equally as toxic. This monument to corporate triumphalism is as bleak and dead as a statue of Lenin. It stands for domination and celebrates nothing.
Lenin hijacked the Russian revolution and replaced it with the Party to further his own ambitions, much as ISIS have hijacked Islam to further theirs. The Bolsheviks, virtually all of whom Stalin wiped out, were champions of democratic socialism.
Civilization's real enemy is not social cooperation but authoritarianism.
Monopoly power is no more democratic than communism and is, if given the opportunity, as inherently authoritarian. Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) is no more democratic than the Party.
Authoritarianism on the left or the right is equally as toxic. This monument to corporate triumphalism is as bleak and dead as a statue of Lenin. It stands for domination and celebrates nothing.
86
Rubbish. The Bolsheviks enthusiastically backed Lenin's leadership of the Party and did not consider it a "hijacking" of the revolution. They also enthusiastically backed the Cheka and the mass murder of opponents. To call them "champions of democratic socialism" is absurd. They were champions of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the ruthless crushing of so-called "class enemies".
And what do you mean by the term "monopoly power"? To assert that something like AT&T in the 50s was "no more democratic" than communism is so nonsensical that it's not even wrong, it's just incoherent.
And what do you mean by the term "monopoly power"? To assert that something like AT&T in the 50s was "no more democratic" than communism is so nonsensical that it's not even wrong, it's just incoherent.
9
I don't think anything was more toxic than the big three: Stalin, Mao and Hitler.
3
In the last 2 presidential elections, each side raised $1 billion in campaign contributions from people who wanted something back in return, and they got it.
They then ignored the rest of us who didn't have a spare $100,000 to contribute.
That's why for example we got a health care system that serves the interests of drug companies, insurance companies, and hospitals, rather than the patients.
I suppose you could define that as "democracy" and deny that plutocrats and monopolies run the government and the country, but you won't convince many of us.
They then ignored the rest of us who didn't have a spare $100,000 to contribute.
That's why for example we got a health care system that serves the interests of drug companies, insurance companies, and hospitals, rather than the patients.
I suppose you could define that as "democracy" and deny that plutocrats and monopolies run the government and the country, but you won't convince many of us.
5
A large monument to "victims of Communism" that has nothing to do with Canada, in a prominent location among Canada's federal government buildings is prima facie a political ploy. If it were not, it would not be given a prominent location like that and the government would not be helping to pay for it. No one knowing Harper's methods should be surprised. Harper is the Canadian version of our GOP: bullying, anti-democratic, extremist in the defense of wealth.
121
Well stated! Especially the last sentence.
9
Harper has not presented a very positive Canadian image, at least not the wonderful gentle civilized image Americans have. He sounds like a man looking to leave a legacy, no matter how publicly dreadful. May saner heads prevail. We love and admire Canada. This is not comparable to the Wall in D.C., a beautiful place, admired and much visited. It fits the landscape and was carefully designed to do that.
2
I am glad that our southern neighbors know all about our abject prime sinister... I mean minister. Please know that our shame is as high as it can get, especially here in Quebec.
Thank you.
Thank you.
1