Some days I wish the Ceaucescus were still alive

[jmowreader]

Nicolae Ceaucescu was the dictator of Romania from March 1965, when his predecessor died of pneumonia, to December 25, 1989, when he was captured, tried in a kangaroo court, and executed by firing squad. Ceaucescu was one of Europe's most prominent assholes; his death toll makes Saddam look like a piker.

I want him back for one reason: we could have talked some sense into him and saved all right-thinking Americans a lot of grief. In 1966, Ceaucescu declared the fetus to be the property of the entire society and called all wantonly childless couples to be traitors. He raised taxes on couples without children. He banned not only abortion but also contraception. And being a Communist, Ceaucescu also cracked down hard on free speech, free association, a free press and all of those other piddly things Americans love.

The Romanians didn't want to live the way Ceaucescu wanted them to, but we've got thousands of fundamentalists who would LOVE to live exactly the way Ceaucescu had to force his people to live. Fundies would ADORE a society where abortion was banned. Where having one child after another is not only condoned but commanded. Where newspaper editors who print a critical word about the nation's leadership find themselves in prison, and television only showed programs praising the government and the Lord.

No, Ceaucescu was just ahead of his time, that's all. Teach him English but not very well, have him profess his love of Jesus at every turn, and the fundies would flock to follow Ceaucescu. Man, he wouldn't even need a secret police; the fundies would police themselves.

And with them gone, America would be far better off.

[Ruby Romaine]

1. I keep telling everyone he's Bushcescu!

And don't forget the universities had to teach science, ala Ceaucescu.

[MelanieArt]

2. True, only one problem....

My sister married a Romanian man (she spent 3 years in Romania with the Peace Corps and they're coming home for good next month.:) and her husband, now in his mid 20's, grew up under Ceaucescu. In most ways I would agree with you, only the fundies would not like the forced absense of religion the Romanians dealt with (the only god allowed from what I understand was Ceaucescu). Listening to my brother in law's stories from growing up has been pretty amazing.

Other than that, I bet they'd feel right at home. Just add Bush's fundie brand of Christianity and they're good to go.

BTW- Personaly I am an Atheist, but the idea of forced Atheism makes me just as ill as the idea of forced religion.

[jmowreader]

3. A "Ceaucescu as he was" wouldn't attract the Bible-beaters

A "Ceaucescu with a song in his heart" would be a different story.

I don't think anyone here believes Bush is actually a Christian--he certainly doesn't act like one. God whacked a lot of people in the Bible, but "they're on my oil" wasn't one of his justifications.

You'd have to upsell Ceaucescu on the benefits of Christianity: "say you believe and they'll do absolutely anything for you, including killing people you don't like."