Behind the Iron Curtain

            We as citizens of the United States take for granted our freedoms guaranteed by our government. We sometimes fail to realize other people around the world are not so lucky. People who live in countries controlled by communism are unable to live free lives as we in the U.S. do. They are manipulated by their government and cannot even practice their freedom of speech without fear of being punished. Communism today is not nearly as severe as communism used in the 20^th century. However, it is still a government with oppresses its public with its military might and scare tactics to keep the population under control.

            This photograph is a fine example of communism’s power and control. It features three soldiers standing guard in front of a portrait of Mao Zedong at Tianamen Square in Beijing, China. The soldier in the middle of the three is holding up a hand to the photographer who is trying to take a picture of the building and the portrait of Mao Zedong. This shows the control and absolute power of the communist government in China. The soldiers censor and control what tourists and citizens can show to the public. They use fear of their power to take control over the general population. The posture of the men also reflects the government. They stand very stern and official which shows a sort of “take no crap” attitude. Communism does not take kindly to free thinkers and people who “rock the boat.” Whoever does will disappear or be severely punished.

            Communism, though a dying breed is still a very serious problem many countries face today. The absolute power of the government manipulates what the population sees and believes. It exposes the public to propaganda and delivers false messages to make the public believe what the government wants them to. This photograph reminds us just how lucky we are to have the freedoms we take for granted.

 http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/10/behind-the-curtains-of-modern-communism/