Many Americans, especially young people, do not know the value of liberty. This makes them susceptible to the alluring promises of socialism, which they encounter on college campuses.
You might know someone who went to college and returned home with socialist views. Due to their Marxist leanings, they see traditional values and conservative beliefs as outdated or oppressive. These values are often labeled as intolerant. They might even accuse you of being a racist simply for holding conservative views.
This editorial is for those influenced by Marxist teachings – offering a contrast between Frederick Douglass and Karl Marx.
Why Young People Are Drawn to Socialism
Young people are drawn to the deceptive promises of socialism because they have not been exposed to Frederick Douglass' message of liberty. If they were more familiar with Douglass' philosophy, they might better grasp the importance of protecting individual freedoms and the dangers of giving too much power to the government.
Douglass' message of liberty teaches that true equality and fairness come not from government control, but from empowering individuals to shape their own lives. While young people are captivated by socialism's promises of equality and fairness, they often overlook its history of failure and loss of freedom.
Contrasting Visions of Justice
In the 19th century, two influential figures – Frederick Douglass and Karl Marx – spoke out against oppression, but their methods for achieving justice differed greatly. Douglass' views were shaped by his firsthand experience as a slave, whereas Marx, who never faced oppression, held a flawed and uninformed perspective. The truth is, socialism has never worked.
A comparison of their ideas – what I term "Frederick Douglass-ISM" vs. Marxism – reveals two contrasting approaches to creating a better society.
Frederick Douglass: Advocate of Liberty and Personal Responsibility
Frederick Douglass, America’s greatest messenger of liberty, was born into slavery in 1818. Escaping to freedom in 1838, he dedicated his life to ending slavery and fighting for equal rights.
Douglass strongly believed in the principles of the U.S. Constitution, calling it a "glorious liberty document." It is impossible to convince someone who escaped slavery to disregard their respect for the Founding Fathers and their admiration for the U.S. Constitution.
Douglass believed in God-given rights and self-reliance, arguing that true freedom comes through education, hard work, and good character.
Frederick Douglass rejected the idea of being a victim, famously saying, "I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs." His quote highlights the idea that personal action and initiative are crucial for achieving liberty. While prayer has its place, Douglass emphasized the importance of taking determined steps toward one's goals.
Douglass-ISM is clearly pro-liberty, focusing on protecting our God-given rights and the freedom to pursue our own American Dream.
Karl Marx: Advocate of Class Struggle and Revolution
Also born in 1818, Karl Marx, known as the “Father of Communism,” was a German philosopher and economist. Marx criticized the inequalities of capitalism, believing that true equality required getting rid of private property and creating a classless society.
Marx believed that a revolution was bound to occur, during which the working class would overthrow the capitalists and establish a "dictatorship of the proletariat," meaning rule by the working class.
This, he claimed, would lead to a communist society where resources are shared according to need. However, this system restricts individual freedoms for the benefit of the collective, resulting in oppression where people lose control over their own lives and are forced to submit to a ruling authority.
Marxism fundamentally leads to a form of slavery.
Contrasting Views about Liberty
Douglass-ISM emphasizes personal responsibility, self-determination and moral integrity.
Marxism, on the other hand, focuses on collective ownership and class struggle, often downplaying individual choices in favor of group action. This focus on the group over the individual is why Marxism is a pro-slavery philosophy; it demands the surrender of some, if not all, of our God-given rights to the government.
Different Paths to Social Change
Douglass sought reform through education, persuasive speeches, dialogue, political agitation and legal means, working within America’s existing systems, like the Constitution.
In stark contrast, Marx advocated for revolutionary upheaval – tearing down capitalism and the power structures he believed oppressed the working class. For Marxists, violence and disorder are essential to creating a “fairer” society.
Economic Beliefs and Free Markets
Douglass supported free-market principles and believed economic independence empowered people. He believed in the right to own property, seeing it as crucial for personal freedom and financial independence. His own success – dying with up to $200,000 in net worth, which would be worth millions today – showed the opportunities available in a free-market system that rewards hard work.
Under Marx's philosophy, which advocated for the abolition of private property and wealth confiscation, Douglass' financial success and ability to provide for his family would have been unattainable.
It's interesting that Marx never held a real job in his life. Instead, he relied on his “capitalist-minded” family and friends for financial support. Unlike Douglass, Marx died in poverty.
Moral and Ethical Foundations
As a Christian minister, Douglass' views were based on God-given rights and the belief that every person has inherent worth. Marx's ideas were based on dialectical materialism, which rejects religion and traditional morals. Marx’s writings and personal letters show a fascination with anti-religious themes, leading to claims that he was a Satanist. This starkly contrasts with Douglass' embrace of faith and morality.
Frederick Douglass believed in allegiance to Almighty God, while Karl Marx believed in allegiance to an all-powerful government.
Never forget that God and Marxism cannot coexist due to the conflict between those who seek to control others and the concept of a higher allegiance. In a Marxist system, the recognition of God as a higher authority threatens the control and supremacy of the ruling class.
A Choice Between Liberty and Slavery: Douglass or Marx?
Douglass-ISM, based on personal freedom, moral reform, and faith in American ideals, is very different from Marxism, which calls for a revolution and a total restructuring of our society. Marxism leads to a form of slavery that suppresses individual will for the perceived good of all. The techniques of oppression used by plantation slave masters are the same as those employed by socialist or Marxist governments.
Who resonates more with your beliefs and values – Frederick Douglass, with his message of liberty and self-determination, or Karl Marx, who promoted communism, wealth confiscation and government control, ideas akin to slave master oppression?
To contact KCarl or request a speaking engagement, go to www.kcarlinc.com The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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