The Stalin Bust: Why Don’t They Get It?

Lee Edwards / September 08, 2010

The national convention of the American Legion joins a long list of Americans of all political views in condemning inclusion of a bust of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va. Some 3,000 delegates last week adopted a resolution saying the Stalin bust “flies in the face of history which has seen countries tearing down—not erecting—statues of Stalin.”

So far, the reaction of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, which installed the Stalin bust in June and in the wake of outrage is “reviewing” the decision, continues to be … silence.

The American Legion’s action follows opposition to the Stalin bust expressed by, among others, the Central and East European Coalition, representing 20 million Americans; the North Korea Freedom Coalition; the Joint Baltic American National Committee; and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, of which I am chairman. Also weighing in against the bust: Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA); Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA), whose district includes Bedford and the memorial grounds; the Bedford County Board of Supervisors; and, in an editorial, The Washington Post. (more…)