• Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    Well I think there are probably a half dozen interpretations that people on Lemmy use. One I have heard repeated is that they view the Tiananmen Square event as something that China rightfully did… hence “Tankie”

    • OBJECTION!@lemmy.ml
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      5 months ago

      The idea that that’s the origin of the term is a common misconception. The actual origin was about the USSR under Kruschev sending in the military in response to a rebellion in Hungary. Some British communists supported the move, while other communists opposed it and labeled the supporters as tankies.

      But regardless of the origin, it’s changed to where now it’s liberals using it to criticize socialists in general.