It was a truly ugly chapter in U.S. history. It's not surprising at all that Mc Carthyists would perceive something sinister in Esperanto and try to destroy it's enthusiasts along with all the other lives they managed to destroy. I had never heard of this before. I plan to learn more about it.

Not to mention the plain fact that Stalin actively persecuted Esperantists.

wow, what a dark history. Thanks for sharing OP.

sudanglo:It is true to this day that many Esperantists are of a left-wing persuasion. Dekstruloj are thin on the ground.

Only when Esperanto becomes more mainstream (if ever) will a normal balance be established (normal = typical of the population at large).

Whether the assessment of Maldekstruloj is so, I cannot say. However, if that should be the tendency, I would say that Esperanto is doomed, because the Centrists and Rightists will condemn it out of hand, regardless of its merits, and regardless of argumentum ad hominem.

I have read posts here on lernu! (details need not be relevant) which might outrage some people who are not Leftists. The problem, wrong but understandable, is that people will associate a language with a socio-political position if most of those who use the language are of that socio-political persuasion. Sad, but that is a blunt fact of life.

Not to mention the plain fact that Stalin actively persecuted Esperantists.

I don't know about him, but its pretty sure that Hitler persecuted Esperantists because Zamenhof had jews roots, so Esperanto=Ugly language filo-jewish in his mind.

bartlett22183:

sudanglo:It is true to this day that many Esperantists are of a left-wing persuasion. Dekstruloj are thin on the ground.

Only when Esperanto becomes more mainstream (if ever) will a normal balance be established (normal = typical of the population at large).

Whether the assessment of Maldekstruloj is so, I cannot say. However, if that should be the tendency, I would say that Esperanto is doomed, because the Centrists and Rightists will condemn it out of hand, regardless of its merits, and regardless of argumentum ad hominem.

I have read posts here on lernu! (details need not be relevant) which might outrage some people who are not Leftists. The problem, wrong but understandable, is that people will associate a language with a socio-political position if most of those who use the language are of that socio-political persuasion. Sad, but that is a blunt fact of life.

Given that I'm right of center politically speaking (at least as the US views the right/left divide), there's at least one komencanto who isn't attacking the language.

And isn't assuming things about the "other side" part of the problem in general?