Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Your poem caused me to do some research, because I don't see a lot of difference between the two. The difference seems to be slight. The first paragraph is Fascism and the second paragraph is Socialism:

Political Movements:
National Socialism, Falangism, Nazism, Strasserism, neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism, National-Bolshevism.

Democratic socialism, communism, libertarian socialism, social anarchism, and syndicalism.

Modern Examples:
Recent far-right dictatorships include the Republic of Chile under Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and the Republic of Argentina under Juan Perón (1946-1955) / (1973-1974). There are presently no openly fascist governments in existence.

Modern examples of socialist countries include China, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam. Countries like India, Portugal, North Korea and Sri Lanka also refer to themselves as socialist in their constitution.

Examples:
Fascist governments are generally headed by one person: a dictator. This is not an aberration of doctrine, in fact it is an important component of it.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR): although the actual categorization of the USSR's economic system is in dispute, it is often considered to be a form of centrally-planned socialism.

Variations:
Nazism, Austrofascism, British Fascism, Christofascism, Clerical Fascism, Falangism, Francoism, Italian Fascism, National Socialism, Neo-fascism, Proto-fascism, Tropical fascism.

Market socialism, communism, state socialism, social anarchism.

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

I don't know what is your point, or what do you question in my notes? Instead of writing a huge amount of information, I would appreciate a direct question. The long list of information doesn't help. I lived in Spain while Francisco Franco was in power, he was a dictator and we didn't have the right to vote. During the war, he offered support to Hitler, Franco was a fascist dictator. Since he died, in 1975, Spain has elections the way we do.

I got the information from wikipedia: wikipedia for spanish civil war

The Spanish Civil War (Spanish: Guerra Civil Española)[note 2] was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republicans and the Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the left-leaning Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic, and consisted of various socialist, communist, separatist, anarchist, and republican parties, some of which had opposed the government in the pre-war period.[13] The opposing Nationalists were an alliance of Falangists, monarchists, conservatives, and traditionalists led by a military junta among whom General Francisco Franco quickly achieved a preponderant role. Due to the international political climate at the time, the war had many facets and was variously viewed as class struggle, a religious struggle, a struggle between dictatorship and republican democracy, between revolution and counterrevolution, and between fascism and communism.[14] According to Claude Bowers, U.S. ambassador to Spain during the war, it was the "dress rehearsal" for World War II.[15] The Nationalists won the war, which ended in early 1939, and ruled Spain until Franco's death in November 1975.

The war began after the partial failure of the coup d'état of July 1936 against the Republican government by a group of generals of the Spanish Republican Armed Forces, with General Emilio Mola as the primary planner and leader and General José Sanjurjo as a figurehead. The government at the time was a coalition of Republicans, supported in the Cortes by communist and socialist parties, under the leadership of centre-left president Manuel Azaña.[16][17] The Nationalist faction was supported by several conservative groups, including CEDA, monarchists, including both the opposing Alfonsists and the religious conservative Carlists, and the Falange Española de las JONS, a fascist political party.[18] After the deaths of Sanjurjo, Emilio Mola, and Manuel Goded Llopis, Franco emerged as the remaining leader of the Nationalist side.

The coup was supported by military units in Morocco, Pamplona, Burgos, Zaragoza, Valladolid, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, and Seville. However, rebelling units in almost all important cities?such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, Murcia, and Almería?did not gain control. Those cities remained in the hands of the government, leaving Spain militarily and politically divided. The Nationalists and the Republican government fought for control of the country. The Nationalist forces received munitions, soldiers, and air support from Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Portugal, while the Republican side received support from the Soviet Union and Mexico. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, continued to recognise the Republican government but followed an official policy of non-intervention. Despite this policy, tens of thousands of citizens from non-interventionist countries directly participated in the conflict. They fought mostly in the pro-Republican International Brigades, which also included several thousand exiles from pro-Nationalist regimes.

The Nationalists advanced from their strongholds in the south and west, capturing most of Spain's northern coastline in 1937. They also besieged Madrid and the area to its south and west for much of the war. After much of Catalonia was captured in 1938 and 1939, and Madrid cut off from Barcelona, the Republican military position became hopeless. Following the fall without resistance of Barcelona in January 1939, the Francoist regime was recognised by France and the United Kingdom in February 1939. On 5 March 1939, in response to an alleged increasing communist dominance of the Republican government and the deteriorating military situation, Colonel Segismundo Casado led a military coup against the Republican government, intending to seek peace with the Nationalists. These peace overtures, however, were rejected by Franco. Following internal conflict between Republican factions in Madrid in the same month, Franco entered the capital and declared victory on 1 April 1939. Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards fled to refugee camps in southern France.[19] Those associated with the losing Republicans who stayed were persecuted by the victorious Nationalists. Franco established a dictatorship in which all right-wing parties were fused into the structure of his regime.[18]

The war became notable for the passion and political division it inspired worldwide and for the many atrocities that occurred. Organised purges occurred in territory captured by Franco's forces so they could consolidate their future regime.[20] Mass executions on a lesser scale also took place in areas controlled by the Republicans,[21] with the participation of local authorities varying from location to location.[22][23]

thank you for the review

gypsy

reply by barbara.wilkey on 06-Jul-2024

I'm sorry I upset you. It wasn't my intent, and I didn't question any of your notes. Your poem caused to wonder what is the difference between a dictator, socialism, and communism. I didn't see a difference. I remember being in Spain during Franco's rein and seeing armed police on every street corner in Madrid. I know it was horrible. When we lived in Germany, I could feel the horrors that happened in Dachau under Hitler. I was in Berlin when the wall came down. I understand history. I just don't see the difference in those different forms of government. Just their name is different. That's all I was wondering about.

reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

Since you are an expert, I will not question your beliefs and I respect your point of view. I hope you do the same.

My poem was about Spain in the civil war of the 30s.

from my opinion...

Fascism is a government system led by one person, a dictator, who has complete power over the country. Far-Right Ideology - Fascism falls on the far right side of the political spectrum, favoring racial purity, religious fundamentalism and limited personal freedom.


Communism indicates that workers who are responsible for producing wealth should have a share of that wealth, collective ownership.


Socialism principle of protecting those oppressed by others, is seen as a responsibility of government. Examples of government programs aimed to help underserved members of society include universal healthcare and welfare programs. Separation of Church and State - Socialists support religious freedom but do not believe in a relationship between the state and any religion in particular.

reply by barbara.wilkey on 06-Jul-2024

I am far from an expert and did in no way claim to be. I was simply wanting more information. I am not sure at all where this went so wrong. I am sorry for sharing my curiosity with you. It's nothing more than curiosity. I am soooo sorry. I thought we were friends and could share thoughts. I was not questioning anything you said. It just caused me to wonder. I guess wondering is wrong.
Please accept my apology.

reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

No worries, it's water under the bridge

reply by barbara.wilkey on 06-Jul-2024

Thank you. My ADD kicked in. I wasn?t questioning anything you said.

reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

really, Barbara, it's okay, it was a misunderstanding, we are good

Comment from Mike Stevens

Excellent

Another fine poem, Gypsy....and one thing's for certain, Franco is someone Trump would hold in high esteem. This is the reality our country finds itself in today

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

yes, trump would love franco

Thank you very much, Mike

Gypsy

Comment from Neonewman

Excellent

I don't know them

but they call my name

from the trenches

This is a powerful and heartwrenching piece you have crafted and the author notes are appreciated, Gypsy.
God bless,
Steve

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

Thank you very much, Steve
Gypsy

reply by Neonewman on 07-Jul-2024

Always a pleasure.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

A civil war is so horrible! Brother and sister are being killed by their own family members fighting for ideals that the warring parties are pushing on the people. And they are just people wanting to live! Great poem!

 Comment Written 06-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

Yes, all wars are horrible but between family and friends is the worse

Thank you very much, big sister.

Gypsy

Comment from shelley kaye

Excellent

with the black background that front guy in the top pic looks 3D! way cool.

great deeply thought-provoking free verse
i liked the stanzas either couplets of tricets
i think it made a bigger impact
smooth flow and good imagery

thank you for sharing -- let's hope we don't keep going backwards :-P

shelley :)

 Comment Written 05-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 06-Jul-2024

Thank you very much, Shelley

Comment from RJ Heritage

Excellent

We all are connected to our past, whether we admit it or not. As a person of color, a Black man who never experienced slavery, I still feel pain when I encounter the history of the African people that is,all around us.
You definitely feel connected to what these people experienced.
Your words express this, in the imagery it created on my mind

RJ

 Comment Written 05-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024

Thank you, RJ. You are right, the blood of ancestors run through our veins.

Thank you very much for your excellent review and kind words.

Gypsy

reply by RJ Heritage on 06-Jul-2024

You're welcome

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

Having just written about Hemingway's experience of the Spanish Civil War, I know a little about it but your verse skilfully captures the essence in evocative and poignant imagery. Your succinct notes and beautiful presentation complete this excellent post. I'm wondering if it should read: country m(e)n and women.... ? Well done, Gypsy. Take care Debbie

 Comment Written 05-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 05-Jul-2024

Hello, Debbie, thank you for your wonderful review and kind feedback. I corrected that error, thank you!

Gypsy