With Christopher Hitchens and Robert Service, hosted by Peter Robinson.
Very interesting.
Robert Service's Trotsky book comes out October 16.
Enjoy.
Source:
Reason's Hit & Run
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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3 comments:
I watched this vid a couple weeks ago because I remembered the name Trotsky from my literary criticism classes. But the video didn't have much to say about his contributions to Marxist literary theory and because I'm not really into history/politics (sorry!) all I can remember thinking was, "Sweet Jesus! Trotsky was killed by an ice pick?!"
Ok, just re-watched the first minute so I could try and say something more substantial. "Very simply and briefly was Leon Trotsky a good guy or a bad guy, Bob?" First, I don't know why, but the way the Peter asked that question was pretty funny, "Bob". Lol. Second, labeling someone simply as a good guy or a bad guy is so crude! You're going to leave out a lot of important ambiguous details. Ok, well, I'd say that was a substance fail.
As for the ice pick comment, watch this video (it is real fun):
http://thestarktenet.blogspot.com/2008/04/trotsky-fights-for-his-life.html
Also, I actually have a Trotsky book on literature and revolution that is still sitting on my book shelf collecting dust, maybe I'll get around to reading it.
"Ok, just re-watched the first minute so I could try and say something more substantial. "Very simply and briefly was Leon Trotsky a good guy or a bad guy, Bob?" First, I don't know why, but the way the Peter asked that question was pretty funny, "Bob". Lol. Second, labeling someone simply as a good guy or a bad guy is so crude! You're going to leave out a lot of important ambiguous details. Ok, well, I'd say that was a substance fail."
Well I agree that the question itself was kind of lame, yet the larger question was "How should we judge Trotsky?" Often there are those that look at Trotsky, and white-wash many obvious flaws this man had and use him as a symbol opposite of Stalin and/or Lenin (with people showing Trotsky in a more positive light than a negative one). Yet as this interview shows, Trotsky was no saint.
Also, the question was probably framed that way because Christopher Hitchens used to be a devoted Trotskyist (who at one time probably thought Trotsky was a "good guy").
How much of that claymation video is real? Did Trotsky actually keep fighting after the crazy-eyed-blonde man stuck a pick in his head? If so that Marxist bastard is totally bad ass! And I'd like to meet this Nora Volkow. :)
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