Not trying to demonize anybody here, not sure I even totally understand what a ‘tankie’ is aside from the generally accepted definition (low key a part of why I posted this here, its always best to learn from all perspectives)
The “tankies” were originally those who supported the soviets “sending in the tanks” to put down a Nazi coup attempt in Hungary. The tank man in your picture tried to single-handedly stop the tanks from leaving Tiennamen square while an anti-communist riot was being fomented there.
not sure I even totally understand what a ‘tankie’ is aside from the generally accepted definition
It has nothing to do with this photo or even China. It is a dated communist insult going back to the 50s when many communist parties were infighting or splitting over their differing opinions on the Soviet occupation of Budapest following the october 1956 revolt of nationalist and anti-communist forces. I believe it specifically arose from arguments within the CPGB. However the sense in which it is used by liberals against communists today has little to do with any of that, it’s a word barely clinging to any semblance of meaning, much like how “woke” is used by reactionaries
You know, for people who always want to demonize “tankies” you libs sure seem to love this guy a lot even though he is the definition of a tankie.
Not trying to demonize anybody here, not sure I even totally understand what a ‘tankie’ is aside from the generally accepted definition (low key a part of why I posted this here, its always best to learn from all perspectives)
The “tankies” were originally those who supported the soviets “sending in the tanks” to put down a Nazi coup attempt in Hungary. The tank man in your picture tried to single-handedly stop the tanks from leaving Tiennamen square while an anti-communist riot was being fomented there.
It has nothing to do with this photo or even China. It is a dated communist insult going back to the 50s when many communist parties were infighting or splitting over their differing opinions on the Soviet occupation of Budapest following the october 1956 revolt of nationalist and anti-communist forces. I believe it specifically arose from arguments within the CPGB. However the sense in which it is used by liberals against communists today has little to do with any of that, it’s a word barely clinging to any semblance of meaning, much like how “woke” is used by reactionaries
Further reading. https://redsails.org/tankies/
Now u know
Interesting