And yet Lenin was one of the most consistent opponents of the idea of the workers defending "their" fatherland. He was unalterably opposed to the Russian masses shedding their blood for the greatness of Russia. Why? Because to him "Russia" was not an abstraction, but a real living thing. Because his great realistic mind was able to pierce through the glittering superficialities of patriotism and fatherland and to reach out after the substance of things. And in doing so he finally reached the truth that if the name Russia stands for the tens of millions of its toiling masses, if the greatness of Russia is the same as the well-being, peace and security of the workers and peasants, then the true way of serving the greatness of Russia was to combat the late war and to destroy those forces which were instrumental in bringing the war about.
This was the Lenin-way of being patriotic and loyal to one's nation and country.
As these lines are being written, new war clouds are becoming visible on the Far-Eastern horizon. The capitalists of Japan are preparing to resist the encroachment of the capitalists of America in the division of imperialist spoils in China. The capitalists of America are preparing to impose their will by the force of arms. What does it mean? It means that. we are drifting with progressively greater speed into a war with Japan. In fact, we are already engaged in war.
Look at what we are now doing in China. Ali the manoeuvres of our bankers and officials in China in support of one warring general against another, all the movements of our warships in the Chinese waters, are nothing else than war against the capitalists of Japan for more power and influence over China for the capitalists of America.
Again the air will be filled with "patriotism," love of country, loyalty to the fatherland, etc. Again the workers of the United States will be called upon by their masters to come to the defense of the honor, greatness and even freedom of America. The capitalist press of the country, these giant factories for the production of sham and camouflage to dope the working masses, will again start out on a systematic campaign to befog and befuddle the minds of the masses into the belief that "their" country is in danger of being attacked by a foreign enemy.
And when this begins to happen we shall be badly in need of some antidote to the poisonous influences of war propaganda. And what better means is there for such purpose than the wholesome, nourishing and sustaining food of Leninism?
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