Why progressives trigger red flags in those of us who escaped communism.

After escaping communism (details about that here >), I came to the US in 1985 during the Reagan years.  Back in eastern europe, we were indoctrinated with all sorts of leftist ideas, with books about what a wonderful Baptist christian man Jimmy Carter was, and how a horrible evil man named Reagan took his place.  I even remember one guy going into a rant about how Ronald Wilson Reagan was was most likely the antichrist (because his first, middle and last names were made up of six letters each).  One thing that I never forgot is the stench of marxism. 
As the years went by,  I began noticing subtle whisps of that odor popping up in the US.  Each time more and more obvious.   Twenty years ago, most of my american friends were completely clueless to it, but by 2020 it just became undeniable and I am glad to see a lot of people waking up to it.  
Democrats react angrily when I say something about it,  and say things like:  "go read a book about communism,  this is not socialism or communism".   When I tell them that I actually LIVED in communism so I know a lot more about it than the book they read, believe it or not the most common response I get is "You're lying"...  Seriously? do I have to show you a passport with a hammer and sickle on it for you to believe?   
First of all, we who have escaped communism are not stupid, and know full well that the ideas that democrats are pushing are NOT the same thing as the classical version of communism which we experienced .  However,  we also see a host of glaring similarities between the two systems and that is what triggers those responses in us.   
So what are the commonalities between Communism and the platform of the democratic party? 
I will hastily list a few things that are undeniably evident in the democratic platform and will come back and review my posting later as I'm strapped for time:
1) Marxism in many of its forms is UNDENIABLY a part of the left's agenda.   In the old country it was mostly the "anti-capitalist" type, but now marxism has blossomed into a whole bunch of different animals with various hidden agendas behind the thin shiny skin of each one.   I believe Voddie Baucham describes Marxism as a train with many different railcars:  "Classical Marxism", "Cultural Marxism","Sexual Revolution",  "Critical Theory", "Gender Revolution", "Gay Revolution", "Wokeism"... etc.   It is simply impossible to deny that the vast majority of democrats subscribe to some type of marxist agenda.  The anti-capitalist Bernie Sanders  is wildly popular and his open love afair with socialism speaks for itself.
2) Anti-Christian sentiment - While this is actually part and parcel of Marxism, I think this topic deserves to be dealt with separately.  Marx himself was a devout christian very early in his youth, but became posessed with a complete hate of God, particularly the God of the christians.  Oh there are many "nice loving" democrats that call themselves "christian", and even more of them who for all intents and purposes are just nominal or "traditionalistic" christians.  But anyone who takes the Bible literally will be instantly met with ridicule.  If one dares to speak of christianity as the "only way to God",  well that is going to infuriate most democrats and it will not be tolerated very well at all.  I could list many who lost their careers, their livelihoods, social status and  friends because they valued their faith over the woke agenda.

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