Thank you for returning to Common Sense Civics and Citizenship and this newsletter. The articles this week concern communist goals for our country that were developed in the 1950’s. Part 2 appears first and part 1 appears underneath it. I divide the discussion into education and the arts. Perhaps you will see the digression of our society as these goals have slowly, but surely been implemented in the last 70 years with a “push” in the last decade. I’ll bet you never thought an inroad to making the USA a communist country began with seemingly inconsequential attacks on the eyes and mind!
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In the article I posted a couple of days ago, we discussed five Neo-Commun-ist goals from a list in “The Naked Communist” by W. Cleon Skousen, 1958. I found the list to be shocking. Apparently, some of you did as well. Thank you for sharing that article so others can choose to join us in considering whether or not these landmarks are being incrementally met, and whether they benefit our society.
Let’s continue our look at more goals on the list:
-Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression (substitute shapeless, awkward, and meaningless forms).
-Control art critics and directors of art museums (promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art).
-Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them ‘censorship’ and a violation of free speech and free press.
-Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting p**nography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
-Due to this format, I cannot write this particular goal word for word, but the idea is to normalize and acclimate society to deviancy.
The above reminded me of a recent experience where my husband and I rented a hotel room on a higher floor in the middle of a downtown area. I surveyed the landscape. Typically, in the city center, there is notable architecture. Maybe it’s older, ornate, or even defies gravity. Perhaps it is the stone or materials used. The design captures your attention. Not so here. This was in a college town, mind you. Every building had the same shape—-everything was square or rectangular. Compare that boredom to the pride in designs of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, like sculptures, frescoes, and dramatic shapes of different kinds. The buildings and their decor at that time were works of art. I saw nothing creative except the sunset (that’s one thing philosophies can’t mess up!). The only difference was in the color of the brick. Look for the artistic factor next time you visit a city center.
Have you noticed what kind of work passes for “art”? I’m so thankful for the preserved works of artistic talent. Now, I don’t mind modern art, per se. However, I have trouble being told that something of beauty which has been made to be ugly is “modern art.” If you take the beauty of creation and make it repulsive, carefully consider its public placement. We hope to receive inspiration and a revived spirit from creative works of art. I know. I know. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” I’m asking us to note what “they” are telling us is “art.” One of my daughters is an art professor. Trust me; I’ve had the argument.
Regarding the last three bullet points, I would ask you if you’ve noticed changes in the meaning of “free press” and “speech.” Do you regard changes in US cultural standards of morality as good for society, especially if all people of all ages must publicly view those standards? Is there a boundary of innocence that has been crossed? Are all things good for a society in the name of free expression? Or is there a time and place for viewing?
In light of Skousen’s list of commun-ist goals from 1958, are we on the road to achieving them? Is this a good thing? Is it ok to label some things as “good” and other things as “evil?” Why or why not?
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship.🇺🇸
