On anniversary of Stalin's death Reuters reminds us the USSR dictator was a polarizing figure

Doug P. | 12:11 PM on March 04, 2023

The mainstream media has a tendency to be beyond embarrassing when remembering evil people. For example, it seems like only yesterday that the Washington Post reported the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi this way:

null

Reuters seemed to be saying “hold our beer” to the WaPo with their take on the anniversary of the death of Joseph Stalin.

Ready for it?

Here goes:

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of Josef Stalin’s death, attitudes to the Soviet Union’s wartime leader remain mixed in the nations he once ruled with an iron fist.

During three decades of dictatorial rule, Stalin oversaw rapid industrialisation and victory over the Nazis but also the deaths of millions in purges, Gulag labour camps and famine.

With Russia embroiled in conflict again in Ukraine, in what the Kremlin says is a fresh existential battle for national survival, memories of the Soviet dictator loom large.

Wow, that’s the ultimate “both sides” approach! If you have a “but” in your assessment of Stalin something’s gone very wrong.

Hitler: some liked, others didn’t.

— Kyle Smith (@rkylesmith) March 4, 2023

“Opinions vary!”

Waiting for the Reuters story from Roman Churikov and David Chkhikvishvili where they visit Germany and explore the "mixed views" on Hitler in the country.

— Jon Miltimore (@miltimore79) March 4, 2023

An austere genocidal maniac

— Autumn Johnson (@LegallyAutumn) March 4, 2023

Maybe the Washington Post will have a take on the anniversary of Stalin’s death that rivals the Reuters approach.

Just here for the ratio, you sick mass murder-loving mofos

— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) March 4, 2023

Here for the genocidal maniac ratio pic.twitter.com/sBmtHm9D7w

— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) March 4, 2023

“Polarizing” in the sense he was a brutal murderous dictator who even subsequent USSR leaders condemned?

Is Hitler also “polarizing”?

— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) March 3, 2023

How’s this for a “person on the street” interview about Stalin?

“Firstly, thank you for the victory (in World War Two),” said 21-year-old Madina in a typically mixed view of Stalin’s legacy among people on the streets of Moscow.

“Secondly, he is a negative person for me because there were a lot of deaths. A lot of executions, shootings, expulsions, arts were banned, etc. So it’s impossible to have a clear position one way or the other,” she added, declining to give her second name.

“It’s impossible to have a clear position one way or the other.” Oh my God. But thankfully Reuters wasn’t dissuaded from publishing only the hottest Stalin takes.