U.S. Socialism Taught To Our Children!
We all "know" of the evils of socialism, right? Socialism is when you try to share everything and people don't get rewarded on their personal success. It's invading our schools and causing our children to all "win" a trophy at the annual Little League banquet. You may not believe it, but we all grew up with some of the ideals of Socialism. What's more, you probably learned about most of these people while in Elementary or High School! Now, your kids are learning the same things. Here is a list of five people who agreed with U.S. Socialism Taught To Our Children!
WOODY GUTHRIE
What child didn't grow up hearing the strains of this folk singer? You probably know him because of his most famous song that has lyrics that go:
This land is your land, this land is my land,
From California, to the New York Island
From the Red Wood forest, to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.
The song was called "This Land Is Your Land" and was written in 1940 in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", which Guthrie considered unrealistic and complacent. In 2002, it was added to the National Registry of Music by the Library of Congress. Since the 1950s, this song has been a pro-USA Cold War song sung in elementary school productions. The truth of the matter is that Guthrie was a socialist who believed in "spreading the wealth". While he was associated with several communist groups, he was never a member of any of them.
HELEN KELLER
"The Miracle Worker" is often a staple of school children's English curriculum. It is the story of how Anne Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the deaf and blind girl, Helen Keller, to communicate and go on to become the first person with her afflictions to earn a Bachelor degree. Keller would go on to become an outspoken author, political activist, and lecturer. She was a member of the Socialist Party of America and campaigned for women's suffrage, workers' rights, and socialism. In 1920, she helped to found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and was a major advocate for Americans with disabilities. She continued with her work until her death in 1968 following a series of strokes.
PATCH ADAMS
Did you see the movie of the same name as this doctor? His real name is Dr. Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams and he is the founder of the Gesundheit! Institute, which began in 1971. The Gesundheit! Institute is a free hospital that utilizes alternative medicine along with traditional healthcare - but doesn't utilize insurance companies. Patch Adams is truly a socialist with his belief in free medicine for everyone. While his name is probably best known for the movie that used his name, he has been outspoken against the plot of the film. He thought the film was made "too Hollywood" for his taste and was critical that Robin Williams, who portrayed Patch Adams, "made 21 million dollars for four months of pretending to be me, in a very simplistic version, and did not give $10 to my free hospital. Patch Adams, the person, would have, if I had Robin's money, given all 21 million dollars to a free hospital in a country where 80 million cannot get care."
FRANCIS BELLAMY
Don't know who this is? He's a Baptist minister who wrote a poem in 1892 in celebration of the 400 year anniversary of Christopher Columbus discovering America. He was a member of the Christian Socialist party in America. Christian Socialists believe that capitalism is an ideology which promotes greed and evil. You may have heard of Bellamy's poem when you were growing up. It goes something like this:
I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Doesn't sound like it is all there? That's because it has been altered four times since Bellamy first wrote it. Initially, you didn't place your hand over your heart, either. Early reciters of this pledge stood facing the flag with their right arm stretched outwards. This looked a little too much like the Nazi salute and was changed during the 1940s. Who would have thought a socialist could come up with something so American?
ERNEST HEMINGWAY
I am a fan of Ernest Hemingway since high school when I had to read his story, Old Man of the Sea. From there, I went on to read A Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises. I honestly didn't know much about this man other than his passion for big game hunting, bull fighting, and winning a Nobel prize for literature. Hemingway's socialist leanings are first seen when he voted for American socialist, Eugene Debs in the 1932 presidential election. It would further come into play during his tenure fighting with the Spanish during the Spanish Revolution (1936-1939). These ideals can be seen in his book, "A Farewell to Arms".
