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Venerating Saint Hugo

By on 3.12.13 @ 6:08AM

Eternal life, Lenin-style, awaits the late, great Chavismo founder.

We’ve seen the nauseating, gushing praise for Hugo Chavez by the left in America and throughout the world. The breathless encomiums by liberals, progressives, socialists, communists, and assorted fellow travelers are, of course, shocking to behold, but hardly surprising. I will not bother repeating the litany here; rather, I’d like to focus on another surreal aspect of Chavez’s death—namely, the rush to preserve and display his body, so the leftist faithful may pilgrimage and pay homage for decades to come.

Here again, I’m sadly not surprised. The far left has never been shy about upholding its heroes as worthy of veneration and (in some cases) even worship. This is supremely ironic, given that many of the subjects of veneration, as well as those doing the venerating, were not merely agnostics and atheists but militantly so. Recent examples include Asian communists Mao Tse-tung and Ho Chi Minh, but the best example remains Vladimir Lenin—which continues to teach us much about the nature of the left.

Upon his death in January 1924, Lenin’s body was embalmed and preserved in a tomb, actually a shrine, in Red Square, whereby the faithful could forever honor the Great One. Etched in the marble holding the Bolshevik godfather’s body is this inscription: “Lenin: The Savior of the World.”

For an atheist state angrily committed to a war on religion, this would seem odd. In fact, however, it is precisely what we came to expect from communist regimes. In short order after Lenin’s death, poems, and songs were written in praise of the “eternal” Lenin who “is always with us.” Yuri Gagarin, the first Soviet cosmonaut, visited Lenin’s mausoleum immediately before his flight so he could meditate over Lenin’s rotting flesh and draw strength for his mission. Later, Gagarin returned to the sacred site to report to Lenin on his mission.

The “Leninization” of the Soviet state’s spiritual life quickly took flight. Throughout the USSR, “Lenin Corners” were established, modeled on the Icon Corners of the Russian Orthodox Church. These mini-shrines included icon-like paintings of Lenin along with his words and writings.

A “secular religion” was established, one that, as noted by Dmitri Volkogonov, Lenin’s biographer, demanded “unquestioning obedience” from its disciples. So certain was the Party of Lenin’s infallibility that in 1925, one year after his death, the Politburo established a special laboratory to remove, dissect, and study Lenin’s inactive brain. The purpose, said Volkogonov, was to show the world that the great, infallible ideas had been hatched from an almost supernatural mind.

This unbridled idiocy continued for decades. Just ask any former Soviet citizen who suffered through the extended nightmare. A Ukrainian citizen, Olena Doviskaya, once told me: “Everywhere you went, there were statues everywhere of Lenin. They wanted you to worship Lenin.”

Most curious about this Lenin reverence and mysticism is the fact that Lenin himself considered any worship of a divinity an outrage. Lenin blasted the notion of “god-building.” He thought the most horribly unimaginable things about religion, calling religion “abominable” and “a necrophilia.” A vicious, hateful man, Lenin would have hastily shot those responsible for deifying him.

Nonetheless, communists and certain elements of the far left have engaged in such insanity for a long time, readily placing their faith in (leftist) men and replacing traditional religion — Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. — with a Marxism or socialism that they essentially treat as a religion. Brian Lowe of the University of Virginia notes that in the Soviet system, Marx was the Messiah, the Party was the Church, the Proletariat was the Elect, the Revolution was the Second Coming, and more. The Communist Manifesto was accorded a level of sanctity approaching Holy Scripture. Marx and Lenin and Stalin were deemed other-worldly.

All of which brings me back to Hugo Chavez and his enshrinement — and its paradoxes.

Chavez comes from a Roman Catholic country. Lenin came from a Russian Orthodox country. In both the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox traditions, suspected saints — people who lived genuinely and heroically holy lives — have been placed in special tombs for purposes of veneration and to see if their dead body is ultimately corruptible. These Churches have taught that the bodies of some saints are uncorrupted, divinely protected on earth even in death.

I could give some scary examples of American progressives, such as the late Corliss Lamont (see my book Dupes), who traveled to Russia in the 1920s and 1930s and wept or swooned at the sight of Lenin in his tomb. On a dime, they then visited one of the Bolsheviks’ atheist museums where a dead saint was displayed with worm-holes and other decay. They ridiculed the saint’s dead body after thrilling over Lenin’s. They hailed Lenin’s incorruptibility compared to the saint’s alleged corruptibility.

And so, is the left currently in the process of enshrining Hugo Chavez’s body as a form of saintly veneration? That would be quite ironic, given that Chavez regularly eviscerated the Roman Catholic Church, once dubbing its hierarchy “devils in vestments.” His Lenin-like comments about various Church officials were brutal.

Are we now seeing a sanctification of Chavez? Will he become a sacred symbol of the left’s sacred cows of collectivism, wealth redistribution, and nationalization?

Hey, for the left, I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m never surprised. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that secular/atheistic progressives and socialists don’t have saints and martyrs and gods. They’re every bit as faithful as the most Bible-thumping fundamentalist. And with the death of Hugo Chavez, they might have themselves a new saint. Has the canonization process already begun?

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (“Young Pioneers laying wreath at the Lenin Mausoleum,” May 18-21, 1981)

About the Author

Paul Kengor is professor of political science and executive director of The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. He is author of the new book The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor. His other books include The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism and Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (39) |

OP4| 3.12.13 @ 7:23AM

I've had this argument with ultra-leftist in-laws. When she claims she isn't religious, I point out that she believes in global warming despite the lack of proof. And she worships the giant state, despite all its failures and deaths.

The Left is more faithful than the right, their faith is just horribly misdirected.

Von Mises Jr| 3.12.13 @ 9:13AM

Ask your ultra-leftist in-laws if they have read Comte's "Positivism" or Nietzsche "Beyond Good and Evil" and "Superman""

Comte wrote that the great scientist such as Galileo, Copernicus and Newton combined with the Enlightenment "Age of Reason" Philosophers had ended the Middle Ages and in doing so had rendered Christianity useless, null and void. So he expanded on Rousseau and Hegel's "statism" and declared that "Positivism" was the "Worship of Humanity."
Nietzsche in his "Beyond Good and Evil" taught that there are two classes: Ruling Class that was to be feared and admired versus the ruled that were a herd mentality. There were different moralities allegedly for each group. His "Superman" was like Lenin, Chavez and Obama whom could kill or torture you if he pleased and by his good graces could show pity or mercy on the lower animal from the human herd.

The interesting thing, OP4, is that the leftist know much less about their ideology than many conservatives that actually read the horse$hit they believe and do so without any critical examination.
So let your in-laws know that they do have a religion. It is called "Humanity." And they do have a god. He appears to be a scrawny, obnoxious little black guy named "SuperBama."

Seapuss| 3.12.13 @ 10:22AM

I disagree. The religion of liberals is not humanity. Members of PETA are liberals, but they clearly despise humanity.

Liberals do have a religion. It's called Equality Worship (a/k/a Radical Egalitarianism). And their church in America is called the Democratic Party.

And liberals definitely have a "moral code". Anything that creates or supports equality is deemed "moral" and anything that ignores or detracts from equality is deemed "immoral" and "evil".

If you want to see into the heart of a liberal, read 1 Kings 3:16-28. The liberal is the one who says, "Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." She lies, cheats, steals, and is willing to kill for the sake of equality.

The lesson of the Judgment of Solomon is that the desire for equality is perverse and sick, and seeking to have equality enforced by the sword of government is the height of tyranny and injustice.

Von Mises Jr| 3.12.13 @ 11:15AM

"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you" (Genesis 9:3).
God in the Bible set man over animals. PETA like all liberals insert the rule of man over God's Laws.

You are correct that liberals are corrupt and in defiance of God's Word. I think we said the same thing with different nuances.

I am waiting for the Beelzebub worshipers to demand that they can marry their horse. Perp is rumored to have been ridden by a Shetland pony.

KennesawJack| 3.12.13 @ 11:54AM

I firmly believe there is a place on this Earth for all God's animals. Most fit quite well between the mashed potatoes and the peas.

TLP| 3.12.13 @ 2:08PM

You're such a dick. (I say that, lovingly)

Remember, we have a Huge Contest this weekend.

We're going Main Stream this weekend, as The Contest will be on Ross what's his name's Blog, on the right side of the Home Page.

This is a huge deal for The Contest, and we really need to Hammer This Sucker, so Ross can get some Brownie Points, and I can get PAID.

Who Knows?| 3.12.13 @ 4:13PM

zip is zip is zip your lip

McClain | 3.12.13 @ 7:47AM

I prefer to believe Yeshua bar Jakob above Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Marx, or Chavez. Ergo, I believe in eternal life for all. I am certain that Chavez has lifted his eyes, being in torment, and saw a empty place of beauty across the great gulf that separates his world from paradise. He imagines on the other side dwells the saints of the common cause and wonders how he ended up on the wrong side. After a time, he bumps into the aforementioned cadre of collectivization and realizes something is terribly wrong. "How long must I suffer in this purgatory?" He asks. "This isn't purgatory, comrade," Lenin answers. "This is hell and it's forever."

In one brilliant flash of insight, Hugo realizes he's wasted his life on a fantasy. He gained fame and fortune but lost something far more valuable.

He cries out to the darkness above him. "Please send someone back to warn my family that this place exists."

He hears no answer, of course, because someone already did return from the dead. It is up to his family to chose whether to believe what He taught.

KennesawJack| 3.12.13 @ 11:55AM

Nice, McClain. Very nice.

Joellen| 3.12.13 @ 8:03AM

And get ready folks, When Bubba Clinton takes his dive into the next world, which PART of him do you think will have been preserved and left out to be worshiped and adored by the femi nazis, pro abortionist, and all the loons of the left. Trust me on this, it wont be his cranial part of the brain.

Maxwell| 3.12.13 @ 8:21AM

Joellen, what a way to start off my morning! I just blew water all over my key board! Thank you for that. After welding class last night, which was a disaster, I needed that laugh.

Louis Jenkins| 3.12.13 @ 9:45AM

Joellen:

I think the part you're thinking about is where the old Slick Meister's mind is always at. Even now in his old age, the tingles never stop, and the cigars abound. Perhaps someone will leave a stained dark blue dress as a momento.

TLP| 3.12.13 @ 2:09PM

Big Contest this weekend, at Kaminsky's Blog, at the right side of the Home Page.

Anthony| 3.12.13 @ 10:51AM

Joellen, Bubba has his humidor all picked out. And like all good pharaohs, Bubba plans on taking a few things along with him on the journey to the next world.
1) His astroturfed El Camino.
2 An endless supply of pork rinds.
3) His favorite White Owl cigars for future conquests in the neatherworld.
4) An icepack.
5) His favorite mummy Monica and her blue dress.
6) A pair of Hillary's bloomers in case a tent is needed for emergency shelter.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 3.12.13 @ 3:03PM

Don't forget the Big Macs with a Diet Coke.

SUBVET| 3.12.13 @ 11:02AM

Joellen..........here's a thought the rapist might be standing next to you at the gate.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 3.12.13 @ 3:10PM

Given the rumors that Clinton was afflicted with Peyronie's Disease, it might have to carefully displayed like a horseshoe above the doorway, lest any of the good luck (or anything else) drain out of it if placed upside down.

Kwan| 3.12.13 @ 8:17AM

I would expect a more modest memorial for our Great Leftist Hero Barakamus YoMama. Perhaps a 500 foot tall statue ( 45 feet taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza ) constructed in an appropriately named location like "Plaza of the People's Revolution". Visitors would get to enjoy recorded speeches by the Great People's Hero that would be looped for ever and ever 24 hours a day: "But I don't want the folks who created the mess to do a lot of talking. I want them to get out of the way so we can clean up the mess...blah, blah, blah...." Ad infinitum.

TLP| 3.12.13 @ 2:13PM

Big Contest this weekend, on Kaminsky's Blog, on the right side of the Home Page.

Albert Constantine Jr.| 3.12.13 @ 3:14PM

Even as it was being constructed, the workers could be treated to broadcasts of his 071312 Roanoke speech "You didn't build that".

Kwan| 3.12.13 @ 9:52PM

Between each inspiring speech YoMama's favorite song is played:
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must all lend a hand
To make this Country strong again
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Barack Hussein Obama
He said we all must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Barack Hussein Obama
He said red, yellow, black, or white,
All are equal in his sight
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Barack Hussein Obama
Yes, hmm, hmm, hmm
Barack Hussein Obama

Louis Jenkins| 3.12.13 @ 9:50AM

Does Chavez think, or thought, that his carcass will go on without him? We all know that fire is a purifier, and one day the earth will be melted into the sun. What a knave, what an idiot! To think that all of his followers will come worship him. Really, they will go about their business as though he never existed. Welcome the new boss, same as the old boss, and we'll all wind up at the Pumpkin Center barn dance.

TLP| 3.12.13 @ 2:13PM

Big Contest this weekend, on Kaminsky's Blog, on the right side of the Home Page.

Bob K| 3.12.13 @ 9:53AM

I haven't seen many articles in our press or programs on television "venerating" Chavez.

I think the Conservative media is more responsible for keeping his name alive than is the MSM.

As I mentioned here a few days ago when he died he was just another populist South American Caudillo out of the Military who played up to the electorate of a largely poor and uneducated democracy and who became exceedingly wealthy doing so.

The history of South America is replete with Caudillos and there will be more of them in the future.

Later that day, or maybe the next day, National Review also defined him in that manner.

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....lo-editors

Anthony| 3.12.13 @ 10:39AM

The little leftist troll dictator went out with a wimper rather than a bang.
"Please don't let me die"!!! So cried el Gordo. The last words of a coward and bully. But now, the sulphur smell is for all eternity.

McClain | 3.12.13 @ 11:25AM

You ain't whistlin' Dixie, brother. (Or the Internationale, either).

Murl| 3.12.13 @ 12:02PM

I think I am going to bookmark this article and refer to it the next time one of my lunatic friends on the left says that religion is for the (fill in the blank).

They all have their "gods". They just reside in human flesh.

Drunken Sailor| 3.12.13 @ 12:51PM

A Christian learns his religion is his cause.

Many Liberals find a cause and make it their religion.

TLP| 3.12.13 @ 2:14PM

Big Contest this weekend, on Kaminsky's Blog, on the right side of the Home Page.

Butch| 3.12.13 @ 3:01PM

Chesterton said something on the order of when people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing--they will believe in anything.

Dave Williams| 3.12.13 @ 1:17PM

Yep, no question, the impulse to worship is the most damaging impulse humanity has. Either it leads people to bow down before non-existent supposedly supernatural entities (Yahweh, Jesus, Allah, Zeus, and on and on), or it causes them to worship mere humans (Stalin, Mao, Obama, Hitler, and on and on). Only science has gotten things right: we are adrift in a mechanistic universe, with only our reason to guide us to as good a life as we can manage. NO survival after death, NO heaven, NO hell, and certainly NO reason to bow down unthinkingly, as, sadly, so many people do.
Under your skin, christers? Prove me wrong.

Drunken Sailor| 3.12.13 @ 2:19PM

Nope not under our skin at all. It's called free will and your free to disbelieve all you want.

Only science has gotten things right? Really? Entire books could be written on what they got wrong.

Joellen| 3.12.13 @ 5:47PM

I refuse to call you Drunken Sailor - you are a man who eloquently and wisely comments.

I will forever call you Deep thinking Sailor:)

Drunken Sailor| 3.13.13 @ 10:01AM

Why Thanks Joellen. I have my moments of inspiration. I give the God and one of his greatest creations, the elixer of life, all the credit. ;)

markenoff| 3.12.13 @ 3:57PM

The Ptolemaic, geocentric model of the universe was "settled science" for 1300 years.

The atom was once believed by scientists to be the smallest component of matter.

Scientists once believed in the "ether" that was all around us.

It used to be "settled science" that people's health depended upon the balance of 4 "humors" and that illness came from an imbalance in one of the 4.

It was "settled science" that malaria was caused by bad air, hence its name.

The "sciences" of phrenology and astrology have both been mainstream science in the past.

The "settled science" of blood letting was the direct and proximate cause of Washington's death.

Crassus| 3.12.13 @ 3:59PM

Why don't you lighten up, Francis? Or Dave, as the case may be.

cicero| 3.12.13 @ 2:01PM

When you worship money and the acquisition of power, it must come as a suprise when you learn that you can't take it with you. The $2 billion is still out there in some Swiss bank, and his admirers, good liberal athiests everywhere, need to keep Hugo around to remind them of their own immortality. Methinks that they will be just as dissappointed as he must be.

Crassus| 3.12.13 @ 3:16PM

I wonder if they'll do the same in this country to Obama's body when he finally passes away. It wouldn't surprise me at all.

chuck| 3.12.13 @ 9:52PM

Okay, here is the most insensitive thing you've ever heard:

It's a good thing JFK had half his head blown off, otherwise he'd be on display in a glass coffin too.

I just wonder if their going to stuff the Halfrican we he takes the eternal dirtnap.

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