Immigrant Warns US Against Communism, Cites Personal Experience
An immigrant from Colombia, who experienced decades of communist violence, urges Americans to recognize the dangers of socialist and communist ideologies.
A naturalized U.S. citizen, originally from Colombia, has issued a stark warning to Americans about the perceived rise of socialist and communist ideologies, drawing from her firsthand experience with the violence and displacement caused by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The author, who now leads Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, expressed alarm over recent polling data indicating that only one in three Americans holds a positive view of capitalism. While noting that most Americans remain wary of socialism, she highlighted a perceived vulnerability: the increasing electoral success of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates.
She asserted that there is no meaningful distinction between socialism and communism, calling socialism "the on-ramp" to communism, a viewpoint shared by early proponents of the movements. The author pointed to the historical record, estimating that communist regimes have been responsible for the deaths of nearly 100 million people globally and caused massive internal displacement.
"No communist state in history has been concerned about people sneaking in. Every one of them has had to worry about people getting out, a concern that produced a heavily guarded 4,300-mile Iron Curtain across Europe built to face inward. Nations that people flee have not solved anything," the author stated, referencing the exodus from communist countries.
The appeal of communism, she explained, stems from its acknowledgment of genuine pain points within capitalist systems, such as the impersonal nature of big business and a perceived loss of control for ordinary individuals. However, she argued that communism offers false promises and ultimately abolishes economic freedom through central planning, destroying personal agency.
The author contended that the core of economics is the human person, a truth that materialistic ideologies, including communism, fail to fully grasp. She posited that a Christian understanding of human beings, created in the image of God, upholds the nobility of work, the stewardship of ownership, and the inherent dignity of individuals, which are protected by economic freedom and personal agency.
"America remains the beacon of freedom and opportunity. Let us keep it that way," she urged, calling for honest discussions about these ideologies on college campuses and the election of leaders who champion economic freedom.