Freedom, Art, and the Ugliness of the Berlin Wall
by Michael V. Clinton
8th Grade Student
Winning entry in the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation middle school essay contest for 2019 under the title ‘Why Is Communism Ugly in Theory and Practice?’ Essay prompt:
In the United States and other developed countries, many people are grateful for the ability to be free, prosperous, and safe, and to make a living based on their efforts and skills. What if I told you that not so long ago, there was a time where numerous countries in the world did not have any freedom, safety, democracy, or meritocracy?
This system was called communism. The word for communism is derived from the Latin adjective communis, meaning “shared” or “common,” but in truth it only means “the equal sharing of misery.” (Winston Churchill) Communism was originally invented by Karl Marx but his doctrine got further degraded by Vladimir Lenin who started a violent revolution in Russia. His rule was by force and by striking fear into the population, killing and deporting at least 300,000 to 500,000 innocent people. This was the start of a horrible regime that created the USSR and spread to several continents.
Despite its seemingly well-meaning façade, communism is a very ugly and immoral concept in theory, and it takes this to a dangerous and deadly extreme in practice, because it values the social group and the state over the individual, much like socialism. Communist governments do not care about how many people they may kill but rather about supposedly helping the farmers and the workers’ class. In communism, no person is important, but in democratic countries like America, everyone is important, so that even if one U.S. citizen gets put into harm’s way with another country, this creates conflicts, disputes, or even war. Communism does not protect and cherish individual people and would not mind physically getting rid of people if this serves its purpose. Communism also allows unchecked power to its ruling elite. Those in power can do whatever they want to another person, group, or even their country.
My mother was born in a communist country and spent her childhood and youth in poverty, oppression, and fear. Her grandfather was a noble and humane person who almost died in a communist camp. He was sent there without a reason, as many other innocent people who were seen as a threat by the communist state. My great grandfather survived by chance and returned home to his wife. He was not allowed to work despite being a capable man in his prime. At least he was alive, and a year after his release from the camp, my grandmother was born. If he had perished, I would not be alive today. No political system should have the power to decide human fate in this way.
This summer my parents took me to see the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie Museum (see photo above). I liked the colorful graffiti on the Wall’s remnants—they made me think of freedom and art, concealing the ugliness of this symbol of division and tyranny. They also reminded people, 30 years later, not to be afraid anymore.
In conclusion, communism is an ugly philosophy and practice because it values the group over the individual, negates basic human rights such as life, freedom, or happiness, and advocates dictatorships.
by Michael V. Clinton
8th Grade Student
Winning entry in the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation middle school essay contest for 2019 under the title ‘Why Is Communism Ugly in Theory and Practice?’ Essay prompt:
- While visiting Checkpoint Charlie on June 11, 1982, President Ronald Reagan was asked his impression of the Berlin Wall. He responded: “It’s as ugly as the idea behind it.” In an essay of 600–800 words, explain the ugliness of the idea of communism, and its relationship to the Berlin Wall that once divided one of the great cities of the world.
In the United States and other developed countries, many people are grateful for the ability to be free, prosperous, and safe, and to make a living based on their efforts and skills. What if I told you that not so long ago, there was a time where numerous countries in the world did not have any freedom, safety, democracy, or meritocracy?
This system was called communism. The word for communism is derived from the Latin adjective communis, meaning “shared” or “common,” but in truth it only means “the equal sharing of misery.” (Winston Churchill) Communism was originally invented by Karl Marx but his doctrine got further degraded by Vladimir Lenin who started a violent revolution in Russia. His rule was by force and by striking fear into the population, killing and deporting at least 300,000 to 500,000 innocent people. This was the start of a horrible regime that created the USSR and spread to several continents.
Despite its seemingly well-meaning façade, communism is a very ugly and immoral concept in theory, and it takes this to a dangerous and deadly extreme in practice, because it values the social group and the state over the individual, much like socialism. Communist governments do not care about how many people they may kill but rather about supposedly helping the farmers and the workers’ class. In communism, no person is important, but in democratic countries like America, everyone is important, so that even if one U.S. citizen gets put into harm’s way with another country, this creates conflicts, disputes, or even war. Communism does not protect and cherish individual people and would not mind physically getting rid of people if this serves its purpose. Communism also allows unchecked power to its ruling elite. Those in power can do whatever they want to another person, group, or even their country.
My mother was born in a communist country and spent her childhood and youth in poverty, oppression, and fear. Her grandfather was a noble and humane person who almost died in a communist camp. He was sent there without a reason, as many other innocent people who were seen as a threat by the communist state. My great grandfather survived by chance and returned home to his wife. He was not allowed to work despite being a capable man in his prime. At least he was alive, and a year after his release from the camp, my grandmother was born. If he had perished, I would not be alive today. No political system should have the power to decide human fate in this way.
This summer my parents took me to see the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie Museum (see photo above). I liked the colorful graffiti on the Wall’s remnants—they made me think of freedom and art, concealing the ugliness of this symbol of division and tyranny. They also reminded people, 30 years later, not to be afraid anymore.
In conclusion, communism is an ugly philosophy and practice because it values the group over the individual, negates basic human rights such as life, freedom, or happiness, and advocates dictatorships.