randomWalks

Okay I give up......what happen to his first marriage....ME....Patricia Reed. What am I CHOPPED LIVER. I'm never mention by all these historians, writers, film producer, best friends..people, who really only knew him for a short time in the last 5 to 14 years of his life.

I met him in 1963..married him in Mexico in 1964...and we were divorce in 1973 and had our last love in. But remained very much in each others life.

Being an actress in Hollywood and New York ...I had dated Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley before marriage to Dean....I had a going career.

We met in my Agent's office when I was in a meeting and Dean interrupted to give the Agent some pictures...we were introduced and he call me at the Hotel I was staying in. I had just flown in from New York to do a cigarette commercial with the fame director Garry Marshall....and was dating Les Brown JR. who was playing at the Jerry Lewis Club on Sunset. Dean and I spoke on the telephone for two hours and he made me late for my dinner date with Les and Jerry Lewis. The next night we went out to a party at Roger SMITHS hollywood house, and the next day I went looking for an apt. and DEAN said no way you are moving into my little house. Which I called the TREE HOUSE, since a hugh tree was surrounding the whole house.

WOW! Those 3 or 4 months in the tree house was an amazing, learning experience before we went to Mexico City. We were not Hippies...but we were involved with the happenings of the time...Martin Luther King....Jane Fonda....Indian rights etc.

Dean and I did two films together in Mexico City....and I did three films in Rome and one in Spain where I received the best actress award... in Spain and in Italy 1973 AND 1974.

After the divorce Dean and I stayed close friends, and many times he stayed in my Rome apt. He and Wiebke, his 2nd wife, stayed with me in Rome and at my Palm Springs home in the U.S.A......after his second divorce he came to America and stayed with me and my second husband for a week in San Diego..We have a daughter named Ramona..which he wrote to all the time and called very often and she visit him in East Germany...Rome...and the U.S.A.....He always gave her great attention as her PAPA.

He had called in May 1986 and said he was going to try to come to her High School graduation June 17 and surprise her. He sent her a special music tape where he talked to her and sang a new song he had written just for her and also some of her favorite songs.

So over all I knew Dean from 1963 to 1986...very, very well. And all these people who live off his P.R. speak as they truly knew the man...after their 5 years near the end of his life. True they knew parts of him, and they keep repeating the same stories...BUT how about some research and maybe they would understand the man more. I don't like it when they speak for him!!!

The young man in his 20's and 30's was something great to watch....like the birth of a nation...a bird just trying his new wings. We experienced many first together...we laughed, loved, cried.

I have suitcases of letters, personal pictures, scrapbooks, his writings, scripts we wrote together, all his articles and newspaper clippings, early childhood stuff, sheet music, all his records and 45, his school books and books from famous authors who personally signed wonderful things to Dean, and so many gifts from fans. My journals and letters to my mother were all saved....telling of our every day life and travels and fears. His Russian and East Germany story or history was not his whole life..it is interesting on how he got to those points.

Enough said...and yet there is so much you all don't know...the pillow talk was charming, decision making, serious, giggles, and romantic!!! Patricia

Oh by the way Wiebke and Natasha, very interesting and you writers seem to forget that union also. She is the reason he went to East Germany!

Dean was always in search for the truth:
"Always roaming with a hungry heart
Much I have seen and known" ULYSSES
he underlined that in a book.

When we were in South America he also quoted:

"The voice of any people is the sword that guards them... or, the sword that beats them down."

Harold, act 2. sc. 2

Thanks for writing; you are very beautiful.

Haven't you tried to sell the rights to your own story?

Ho, and all that.....Thanks for letting me lie in the light and dabble in the sea of the past. Dean use to whisper in my ear, at the damnest time, either in a room full of people..or during an interview with the press or a dinner at an Embassy......"YOU ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN DAY..BE ONLY MINE." My face would flush a pink hue as he kissed my ear.

His influence sank into your spirit. He was a creature always interesting. I grew very fond of his frankness and sweetness, but at times he seemed like an old soul that had a long and rich civilisation in his blood that had been polished by time.

But it is hard to express all this, and painful as well to attempt it.......there has been talk to me about a book. MY MEMORY OF VANISHED HOURS...so filled with beauty, joy, adventure, saddness. Exquisite hours, enveloped in light and silence..to have known him once is to have always a terrible standard of enjoyment.

Today Dean is a vast museum where the little wicket that admits you is perpetually turning and creaking....creaking and turning...

How sweet smells the honeysuckle in this hush night, as if the world were one of peace, love and gentleness....yet it is not...but I hope it is in your part of the world. Patricia Reed

Patricia: I'm writing an article about Dean and would love to hear about your life with him.

Patricia,

I too would very much like to talk with you about your husband. There is something I find very compelling about his life's story. I would like to understand more.

Please contact me.

Thank you

As a resident of Berlin between 1970-1974, I remember Dean very well. At the time I was dating a young East German woman . I was an American. I consider Dean one of the props that kept the corrupt blood thirsty Ulbricht regime afloat. He was an aider and abetter of that regime. My girlfriend felt the same way. If the Ulbricht regime had not been in power who knows how our lives would of changed? There is nothing good I can say about this pitiful waste of humanity.

Dear friends:

My huband and I met Dean in Los Angeles through the auspices of Chile Democratico. He was the hero of these forced-to-live-in-exile activists and it is through their admiration and respect for him that I saw him. He was humble, warm and of course, beautiful. He inspired all of us to continue our political work and I shall never forget him. The pain and confusion of his death a few years later stays with us still. My heart goes out to you and your Ramona. What a beautiful legacy she has. I grieve for her and your great loss. Thank you for letting me say these words which have been on my mind for many years. He truly left a huge emptiness that no one can possibly fill in this troubled world.

Hello everybody!

Dean Reed was a great guy. For us, people of Soviet Union, he was an instance of frank and nice american - one of the best representative of the american nation.

He made lots of excellent films. I don't know about you but his westerns are much better than these featured movies with J.Wayne. His film about chilian Victor Hara is outstanding. Unfortunately I don't have any of Dean's films in my collection. I would really appreciate any advice where I can get them in English or Russian. I am also looking for the sound track from his film "Sing cowboy sing".

God bless a memory of him

I have always been interested in Dean Read for a silly reason, my name is Reid. All the boys in our family are named Reid as well - a family curse. I remember watching American Rebel on late nite PBS years ago after having visited the Soviet Union several times. I had mixed feelings about Dean. He reminded me of that wonderful 60s style enthusiasm for change. But listening to him talk about that slice of heaven he kept calling the "GDR" (East Germany) I could only think how totally misguided he was. He actually thought the GDR and the Soviet Union was a wonderful place? Jesus. How blind could he be. How did he not hear the tales of the wholesale murder and deportations of minorities such as the Lithuanians? On one trip to the Soviet Union, I almost cried listening to the tale of the recently released priest in Lithuania who spent his entire adult life in a coal mine gulag until released by Gorbie. How did a man as obviously intelligent as Dean not realize the monstrous society the GDR was a part of?

He did so much to free the oppressed of South America, but to be so blind to the GDR? to the Soviet Union? Simply amazing. And so sad.

I look forward to the Tom Hanks movie. Dean will always be a remarkable historic figure. But in my opinion, a very flawed man who turned a blind eye to the horrors of the GDR and the Soviet Union.

As a fellow Reed. I will always be a fan.

PS. All forms of Reed (Reid, Read, Reed etc.) comes from the British Isles. It means RED head. How appropriate.

Reid Bronson

To Reid Bronson

How can you judge about Soviet Union? Have you ever lived there? Or the story of some lithuenian priest is all that you've got? Most of people enjoyed the benefits of social system. That system defended the interests of ordinary people. My dad was born in a remote village in a poor family and became a professor. Is this possible at all in your snubbish western society? I don't think so. In your society of money only rich can achieve anything significant.

Dean Reed was a film director and pop star not a politician. Tha fact that he was loyal to GDR or Soviet Union means nothing but that he lived in these countries and had to cope with the system. Communist system gave him everything he wanted. He made lots of excellent films and recorded many albums. Why the hell should he complain about anything?

Look at yourself. You are completly sure that you live in better society. But are you sure you represent all members of your society? Is everybody happy? If your society is so good why they stripped american citizenship from Dean? He spoke too much and dared to condemn american bloody policy in Vietnam. And what happens now? Invasion in Iraq - really much much ""better" than invasion of USSR in Afganistan.

With best regards

Andrey, I am Dean's older brother. How do you know that Dean lost his American citizenship? I have never heard that before and I do not believe it is true. Dale

To Dale

You are probably right. I am just going through Dean's biography. In 1962 he was warned by US officials that his activity contradicts american national interests. Likewise this happened later in 1965 and 1969. In 1969 he was arrested and deprived from the right to work in America.

Thank you for pointing it out for me.

Andrey,

What's the name of the biography you are reading? How recent is it? I'd love more info. Thanks.

Andrey, I know of only two Dean Reed biographies that I would trust to be truthful and both of them are still on the author's computers waiting, I assume, for the best time to publish them.

But not even "Comrade Rockstar" by Reggie Nadelson includes the errors you are reading in your "Dean's biography."

I assume that previously published books about Dean were written more for the entertainment of the reader than for factual content. Dale

My guess is that the biography Andrey read was published in the USSR, certainly not in the West.

During our discussions about my younger brother I suggest we all remember that he lived a competitive, exciting, and short life. He sometimes used outrageous methods to attract customers for his music and films. Dean loved to be loved by his fans, his family, and almost everyone else within hugging distance. Dean was not a government bureaucrat but instead lived the life of a free market trader.

Dean brought American views and ways to collectivist societies resulting in millions of individuals being freer to chose what they want to do with their lives. Some of us may quibble with his methods but no one with a happy heart can fault the results of his courageous activities.

Our father used to say that some people "Live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful memory." This is what Dean chose to do hence we should not be sad that he is no longer with us. Dean lived his life doing exactly what he wanted to do and he expects each of us to do the same. Trading with each other on the basis of love and free trade without forcing others to pay for our mistakes and laziness. Dale

Andrey:

I'm sorry my comments upset you so much. I visited the Soviet Union once and post Soviet Russia twice. I have many friends in Russia, or should I say from Russia since all have moved to the west. Most of them are doctors. I'm sorry, the Soviet Union was a terrible place: the fear, the repression, the empty stores. I'm sorry, but yes, the West is a better place. All of my Russian friends tell me that. Not one will go home. They want to go home to be with relatives and friends but they will not take their children back to Russia. As we say, they voted with their feet.

When given a chance, not one Eastern European country remained with the Soviet Union; not one Soviet republic wanted to stay. As to that Lithuanian Priest, he runs , or did run since it's my guess he has died of the black lung he developed over 40 years in the the coal mines of the gulag, the main cathedral in Vilnius. All the people of Lithuania we met simply hated the Soviets. We were actually shocked at the intensity of the hatred.

I'm sorry, but the GDR and the Soviet Union collapsed from within. Both were terribly brutal regimes that oppressed the people. Did they do some good? I would hope they did. But remember, while millions tried to leave, Dean entered the GDR.

Again, he was a wonderfully idealistic young man. I still love to watch him in films today. But he was flawed. While he saw the injustice in the West, he saw none of the injustice of the East.

Sorry, but the West won the cold war for one reason, the people of Eastern Germany and the Soviet Union finally had enough.

If you want to remember the best of Dean, I have no promblem with that. But let's not forget what the "old days" of the GDR and the Soviet Union were really like.

Dean was a great artist. But as they say, he was "on the wrong side of history" when it came to his wonderful GDR.

I hope life improves in Russia. The nation is shrinking from emmigration, shorter life spans and lower birth rates. The nation has lost about 5 million people since the Soviet days while all other industrial nations have increased in population. The terrible USA has increased by some 30 million since then. As it turns out, many of them Russians.

Hey, this should be about Dean. He's a great guy, and we all love him. Take care.

Hello everybody

1. The biography of Dean that I am reading is on http://deanr.chat.ru/ (I am sorry the english version of this site seems to be not ready yet)

I don't know how accurate it is so thank you for pointing out on my possible mistakes.

2. To R.Bronson

You are writing the commonplaces. You are actually drawing the official picture from some poorely done propaganda movies during and post-Cold war period. I also moved to the West because West destroyed my country (with a little help of moron Gorby). I agree it is a better here. But only from the first glance.

The things are much more complicated than you want them to see. And by the way are you sure that your russian friends are sincere with you about their feelings? You must admit the fact that America of nowdays is hardly a place of freedom and democracy. If I lived in America and was your friend I wouldn't take a risk saying that America is shit but USSR was just a terrific place.

But anyway you are right we are talking here about Dean.

I think that all considerations about Dean's help to tyranic regimes are rubbish. He was just pop star and film director. He had to be loyal to regime and that's it.

Hey Elvis was CIA's agent wasn't he? Or this is just another bit of Soviet propaganda?

I'm sorry, but I have to answer some of your comments. First, you say America is no longer a place of freedom and democracy, yeah, right. We have 10 democrats saying very nasty things about Mr. Bush, yep, no freedom of speech in America. No democracy? Ask California. They will tell you they have too much democracy with their recall election. Im sorry fellow, even with the patriot act, we are light years ahead of you.

As for my friends, if they really love Russia so much, why do they insist on staying? Not one has moved back. Who knows, maybe they are all spies? Again, I hope things improve in Russia, everyone was very kind and nice to us. We love Russians, But don't give us this bull about no freedom or democracy in the USA.

Hey, people vote with their feet. They are leaving Russia in droves. Luckily, many are coming here. We love them.

Take care.

To R.Bronson

You are right you have some democrats saying against Mr Bush. But they are only SAYING. Don't confuse the TV perfomance with the reality (you live in a world of money don't you?).

I am quite happy that you are so blind about where you are and what people around think about.

I am sure you are not too old to see very soon that you are itching to catastrophe as a nation.

Dean Reed was a rebel. He didn't like the external policy of your country as nobody likes it but he had guts to say it openly. He knew there is nothing to be proud about american "democracy". That's why he left the country and did what he did.He was a real thing and lived in a real world.

I leave this argument because I am not sure that this site is not monitored by some paranoic tracer of Al Queda or something like that.

I love America as a country of people like Dean if there are any left.

Good bye. Take care.

Andrey, Dean left America because his phonograph records were not selling here.

Dean would be very pleased that you "love America" partially because of Americans like him. Dean loved America also and would be living in Colorado on his 65th birthday(September 22) if he had not died.

There are many people living in America attempting to improve it just as I am confident that you are presently attempting to improve life in Russia. Both countries can use considerable improvement that is for sure.

http://www.ios.org/navigator/index.asp

How Chile Was Saved by José Piñera

Leftist legend says that Salvador Allende was a popular, democratic president ousted by a repressive military dictatorship. In fact, the revolution that overthrew him rescued Chile from the horrors of Marxist socialism and started the country on a path to genuine freedom.

Feature Story:

Can There Be an "After Socialism"? by Alan Charles Kors

Virtually every American knows that Nazi Germany brought death to six million Jews and perhaps six million other victims. But how many know that communism is responsible for seven to eight times as many deaths? Until the West has thoroughly confronted this horrific slaughter, communism cannot belong to the past.

Dale

My congratulations about Dean's birthday. I hope you will commemorate it in your family circle.

Dale, forgive me, but your messages describe Dean as some sort of not very succesful show-businessman. "He traded himself..", "He left States because his records were not sold there..".

Now your last message about Chile is actually questioning Dean's film "El Cantor" - one of the best films made by him.

I am really sorry, Dale, but it looks like you are a bit jelous about your brother.

We all depend on money and Dean wasn't an exception. He had to trade himself as you said and he probably left the country in a seek of better fortune. But is that the most important about him? Is that why people still remember him?

If you want to talk about the advantages of communism over capitalism and vice versa it is not a right place for such sort of discussion. We can discuss it anywhere and you'll see that your argumentation is too feable to prove anything at all. Especially in the light of recent events in Iraq, Afghanistan, Serbia and elsewhere.

At some historical moments communist system indeed suppressed freedom and caused victims. But now this system is no longer exist and freedom suppression has been taken over by "democracies". In 10-20 year term you'll see that using terms "capitalism" or "communism" in arguments about freedom will be only useful in retrospective way.

Best wishes

Andrey, Americans are constantly on the move in their efforts to earn a better living.

Dean's and my family moved every two or three years because our father was looking for "greener pastures."

I moved my family after I received my Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at Boulder, Colorado to Seattle, Washington where the work was.

Americans(including Dean) do not consider moving immoral but instead we think that it is the right thing to do when there are better opportunities for ourselves elsewhere.

It was very important to our father and his three sons that they produced more than they consumed during their lifetimes. Dale

Dale

I didn't mean that the moving is immoral. I meant something different (read my post carefully). But doesn't matter.

Best wishes

With Dean's birthday, I think we all should remember his positive deeds and follow his example, being not afraid to ask, disagree or discuss general issues. Our world is different than it was before Dean's death but I think there are still lots of challenges we daily meet and we should not be afraid to accept. That's what I will always remember on 22nd September.

Andrey, I come from the former Czechoslovakia and can tell you I am happy the communist times are over and that my kids will be brought up in a country where it's not prohibited to speak openly. I know the western society is not ideal, but who of us, its members, is? Your dad was lucky to become a professor from a poor village man. I know many examples when it happened on the contrary - lots of the educated people in the former Czechoslovakia became prisoners or poor manual workers just because of their opinion.

Take care and my best wishes to Dean's family.

Robert

I are celebrating Dean's birthday by eating a bowl of hot chili which was his favorite food. Dale

CANCIONERO EN MP3 featuring: Somos los Revolucionarios by Dean Reed.

To Robert

Dean's positive deeds? I agree. Is something you have to say about his negative deeds?

I am afraid you are confusing 2 different things. Dean Reed has nothing to do with your fears in Czeskoslovakia neither with the bright future of your kids in a country where they can speak openly but would hardly ever use this nice advantage or have any profit out of it for one simple reason - nobody cares.

Andrey,

The person of Dean Reed and his work (music, films) has to do a lot with the communist system (not only) in the former Czechoslovakia. He was used by the communist propaganda to prove that the communist system was better than the US democracy - look, such a fighter for freedom and leaves USA to live in the socialist eastern Europe! Negative deeds? Could someone who was so active about political issues around the world be so blind when living in the part of world where it was far from any democracy? I believe he wasn't blind, he just was afraid to speak loud as many others before and after him. I like Dean Reed for having being brave critisising American bloody policy in Vietnam or Latin America. I just don't understand why he was silent when the Soviet army invaded Afganistan, when the signatories of Charter 77 were arrested and beaten in prisons, etc. He was just a singer and actor, I know, but he also was a political activist.

Robert

Dean was far from alone in willingly (or not) turning a blind eye to the reality of Stalinism in wanting to believe that Socialism truly existed. Look at Paul Robeson, for example.

Robert

So you blame Dean Reed that he didn't protest about Afghanistan? What a negative deed indeed! And he was used by communist to advertise the socialist style of life! And these are his negative deeds! You are right he had to commit a suicide not to be used by communists. That all he needed to be ideal in your eyes. Let me ask you a personal question - what did you do on the day of invasion of Soviet troops to Afghanistan? Were you striking or burning Soviet flag near the Soviet embassy? I guess not. How dare you judge Dean for what he had not done?

Not a single burgeous son-of-a-bitch-pop-rock-film star in America protested or said a word against war in Iraq (apart of Michael Moore probably).Are you telling me that they were so blind and naive and were misled by Bush's propaganda? They were and are just bloody scared. Scared to say a word that would sound non-patriotic. God bless America and you.

Zagg

you may well make much longer list of outstanding people who turned their blind eye to the reality of western "free" world.

Andrey,

I agree with you 1000 percent. I'm a socialist living in the belly of the beast here in the U.S. I believe firmly that the U.S. government is the biggest obstacle to actual democracy in much of the world today. (I also think the supposed upward mobility in the U.S. is largely a myth).

My point was merely that I don't think that Dean's defense of the USSR was some sort of moral shortfall on his part, in contrast to what Robert was implying.

For years people who wanted to fight capitalism looked at the USSR too uncritically and I'm guessing Dean was in that camp.

The top-down "socialism" that was imposed by the USSR, China and other regimes is a far cry from the actual socialist tradition that spurred the Russian revolution in the first place. Those ideals are what made so many people become communists and socialists. But I think we have to be honest about what happened in Russia. The whole system got turned on its head. That's not to say it didn't have its good points, but I think we can do better than either the U.S. model or the U.S.S.R. model.

zagg, you say you are a "socialist." Apparently(recent article in a Denver newspaper) my brother Dean wanted to be referred to as a

"Marxist-Leninist instead of a communist."

So what are the differences between all of these?

Thanks for the info. Dale(a selfish, greedy, capitalist)

Who is John Galt?

hahahaha.

you sound like me, dale, before zagg and xowie led me to the literature online.

To Zagg

I agree with you too. USSR collapsed because soviet leaders had lost any flexibility in appraising the situation in a world and taking decisions. Unfortunately I can see that the same happens with the leaders of Western world.

At the same time I can not think about any vital alternative to the existing society. I think that the only chance was during the first years of Perestroika when there was a sort of attempt to make socialism flexible and with the "human face" as they said. I would imagine that nowdays it is really hard to talk about something containing word "socialism" in it. People have a stereotype of thinking - socialism is what used to be in USSR and it appeared to be corrupted and broke apart. The most sad thing about Soviet Union - the very good idea of society improvement has been discredited and for long.

Yet it is not a reason to accept the reality as it is. We have to think and look for the better.

Together we are strong!

Cheers, comrade.

To Dale

I think Dean wanted to say that he belives in ideas of Marx and Lenin but not agrees with how these ideas were manifested by communist leaders. There is a hell of a difference.

To be honest time to time I read Marx's "Kapital" and I can put my signature of approval under every thesis in this book. He was 100% right talking about capitalist society. However, communists used his theories in quite arbitrary way. I don't think that the last generation of communist leaders did really understand what he was saying. Isolation from the rest of the world is not the best way to understand it.

Apparently(recent article in a Denver newspaper) my brother Dean wanted to be referred to as a "Marxist-Leninist instead of a communist."

So what are the differences between all of these?

Marxist-Leninist, in my experience is a term that Maoists use even though for the most part it's different from Marxism and/or Leninism. But that might be a more contemporary use of the term. I don't know if that's what Dean meant, though, since Maoism (and Cheism) is more associated with small peasantry-based revolutions. It doesn't sound like that's the direction Dean leaned toward.

The socialist/communist movement is unbelievably fractured today. This page only lists groups that consider themselves Trotskyists of some stripe and it still has dozens and dozens of groups on it.

"Communist" and "socialist" are more over-arching terms. There's not really that much a difference between the two in reality, although in the 1930s there was a large Communist Party and a large Socialist Party in the U.S. I think it gets very confusing because the differences between the groups did not directly stem from what they called themselves. It had more to do with the way they operated in practice and their analysis on certain issues. In general, more people refer to themselves as socialists today as a way of distinguishing themselves from Stalinism, which is what has come to represent what people think Communism is. (This is regardless of whether people today are Stalinists or not. Stalinist apologists tend to bury their stance.)

As I understand it, the only real difference is that in theory socialism is a stage between capitalism and full-blown communism.

Marxism-Leninism was the official ideology of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).

And "full-blown communism" occurs after we all have evolved toward the highest stage where we voluntarily work to our maximum ability, only use what we need, without the rewards of private property. And the state has withered away.

Right?

I don't think it would be as clinical or robotic as you describe it. I'm also not sure what "work to maximum ability" means.

I think a true communist society is one without exploitation where decisions about production are based on meeting human needs first (rather than on meeting profit expectations) in which people are free to pursue their goals and dreams. Right now we have the productive capacity to end world hunger. We don't do it cuz it's not profitable to feed the hungry.

Also, I think there would still be some private property--as in personal possessions. But the part about the state withering away is correct.

I can't believe anyone is still saying nice things about Marxist-Leninist doctrine. Folks, it's over. The doctrine had its shot and blew it. The only folks, other than some college professors, who still believe in Marxist-Leninist doctrine are in North Korea and Cuba, two huge disasters, two dictatorships and two economies in ruins. The two Marxist-Leninist giants, Russia and China are rushing to establish capitalist societies. Marxis-Leninism failed, completely and totally. People voted and Marxist-Leninism lost bigtime. It's over. Move on. Get a life.

How did we get talking so much about this? Let's talk about Dean. Yesterday I saw Adios Sabata. Dean was so cool. He was the best looking guy on the planet. What a wonderful smile. And that hair, Jesus, what great hair. I am so jealous. But really, he lit up the screen. That smile captured your attention and would not let go. He was nothing less than magnetic. I wish he had not left us.

Would it be appropriate to bring China into this discussion?

There are excellent books out there about the role of democracy and socialism in the post-Maoist regime in the PRC.

One of them is "Democracy after Tianammen." It was written by one of the blacklisted thinkers in China in the 90s.

His thesis is that, like what one of the posters mentions above, Democracy AND Socialism were both co-opted and actually misinterpreted into the form we see in China today, a form that is violently and abrasively in some instances changing again today.

he says that the leaders of china took democracy to mean that "the decisions for the people should be made by the leaders who thought best for the people."

It's interesting to see this, because on National Day this October 2, The Education and Manpower Bureau of Hong Kong has recommended "classes in national identity" for all the students in Hong Kong city schools.

interesting indeed.

I wonder how much "education" by the state is needed for this eventual "withering away of the state," which I know is a natural and required process for socialism.

to Reid:

May we publish your statement on "Adios Sabata" on our Dean-Reed-website?

To: Andrey

First, I am not judging Dean for something what he hadn't done. I am talking about what he had done. If someone is critisising the western world and is blind to what's happening in the eastern world, then his critics become ridiculous. This is what has happened to all communist representatives: they have been loudly pointing out every "western" false step but covering their own, even worse. You are right saying that Dean would have comitted suicide critisising the USSR. Yes, he could have ended as those millions of other nameless guys in gulags right? And that is what makes the difference: in a democratic country this wouldn't happen as it should be built just on critisising and discussions.

In my view socialism would have fallen down much earlier than it did after your perestrojka. (remember Hungarian, Czechoslovak or Polish attempts to get rid of that bloody utopia, in the first two cases cut by Soviet troops) The only thing that kept socialism alive was Soviet millitary power.

To answer your personal question: Andrey, when first soviet troops entered Afganistan, I was three years old. I hope you understand I couldn't burn Soviet flags at that age. However later I saw my mother being beaten by socialist police just because we entered a peaceful demonstration to support Vaclav Havel, being arrested at that time for having not being silent. Thank you for such a society. Robert

To Robert

Could you please bring an example of Dean's political activity aimed to criticize the western society and propagate the eastern one? His revolts against American policy were made during his life in Latin America and Italy as far as I know.

As for the communist society so much hatred by you - it is very easy to blame Russians in all your faults, but don't forget - you had enough of your own communists who did it to you. Don't stoop to the state of slaves blaming their masters in everything that happened to them.

And don't confuse an obscure time of "transition" period with the happy days of socialism.

As for the Russian invasions - it was a mistake,and I am sorry for this(I am not personally responsible anyway, but just as a part of a nation), but look - americans do the same nowdays.Everywhere in a world. The same bloodshed, the same misery and terroristic acts. And I am not sure that 10-20 years later there won't be people like you coming from Serbia or Iraq or Afghanistan or other parts of the world blaming americans in absolutely the same way as you do Russians.

So what sort of freedom in "democratic" states are you talking about? You are free as long as you are silent or writing hurray-patriotic messages on this board. But have a go - try to criticize the system. I can't wait to see what's gonna happen to you.

Greetings to All;

I am the filmmaker (top of this page) who was walking through Red Square in 1979 and saw Dean being mobbed for his autograph. I assume that someone copied the above from an article "Red Elvis" by John Culkins in the Prague Pill. I am pleased that it has inspired this forum.

In making the film "AMERICAN REBEL", I recorded many interviews with Dean. The following is from a transcript of an interview I did with Dean on July 1, 1981.

Will: "Marxism of course has a lot of negative conotations to Americans, who just hear the word and associate that with communism, or radicalism, or whatever. What does Marxism mean to you?"

Dean: "Marxism is a political philosophy, an economical philosophy where we believe that we can change society, to make it better for human beings. That we are not trapped in a society through metaphysical means, where the society changes by itself and we are trapped, as in jail, and we have to put up with these conditions. For example, the church in South America believes not in a Marxist viewpoint but in a metaphysical viewpoint. Meaning that the world is made, so you are made poor and must accept that you are poor. And if you are good and accept this then you'll go to heaven in the end. A Marxist says, "No, we can change conditions, we can better the conditions of the world. We don't have to wait for God to do it. We can do it. Human beings can do it, together as masses, the working people." I do not call myself a Communist. Everybody has diffirent definitions of words. I believe a Communist is one who is a member of a party. I am not a member of any party, and that is why I call myself a Marxist, or a socialist. Because I have a philosophy of life, certain people have said "Dean is a puppet of the Kremlin." I accept no labels. I can take a sword 360 degrees around me and I cut no strings. I'm my own man and I follow my conscience for 20 years of my life, which has brought me problems with all governments. Usually because I follow my own conscience and not a party line, or not any type of orders, whether they were orders from my father, orders from my church, or orders from a government."

Permit me to say that Dean was an independent socialist. He thought that Communism was an "ideal", and did not really exist. He was also an internationalist, and what I would call a multi-cultural man.

His philosophy did change over the years. After our visit to Nicaragua in 1984 and meetings with some of the proponents of Liberation Theology, he began to question and change some of his attitudes about the Church in South America.

As far as his activities in the Eastern Bloc, he did fight to "try to make socialism, a better socialism". These battles were not covered in the press. Otherwise headlines in Moscow might have read "Dean Reed threatens to cancel all performances in USSR if he is not permitted to sing "My Yiddisha Mama" and "Halvai Negili (msp?)" in concerts" and he won that battle. Or in Prague you might have seen a headline "Dean Reed exposes music payoffs and bribes CZ musicians must pay to travel", and he lost that battle and was banned from CZ performances for 3 years. During his last years in the GDR he was rocking the chairs of some very high officials.

I think we might all agree, his life and his story are amazing.

Warm respects,
Companero,
Will

Will

This is fantastic contribution! Thank you very much! You couldn't put it better. I hope that all my opponents (Robert in particular) have read Will's posting and can now see that Dean Reed was a fantastic man, absolutly non-corrupted and unbiased who belived in freedom and did his best to achive it.

I belive that America has all of a sudden found her real hero who will soon take his place in American history that is well deserved.And I hope that this will change America in better direction.

Such a shame he won't see it.

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=socialism

Main Entry: so·cial·ism
Pronunciation: 'sO-sh&-"li-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1837

1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

http://www.working-minds.com/ARquotes.htm

"Capitalism is the only system that can make freedom, individuality, and the pursuit of values possible in practice." ('Romantic Manifesto')

Many of us respectfully disagree, Dale -- but we don't want to change your mind. Rather, we want to honor the memory of your brother.

I will honor my brother for what he was rather than what others try to make him out to be for their own purposes.

Dean was not a socialist government functionary. Dean developed and sold his considerable talents in a competitive capitalist marketplace. He enjoyed the fruits of his labors valuing private property as evidenced by his expensive clothes, fast powerful cars, large homes, and at least one motor boat. A motor boat a heck of a lot larger than my kayak.

Dean loved America and demonstrated its courage and spirit of free enterprise and individual initiative all over the world. And his audiences loved him for it.

And none of you will ever convince me any different. Dale, the very proud older brother of Dean Reed.

if you never knew him, whose memory are you honoring?

I wonder how much "education" by the state is needed for this eventual "withering away of the state," which I know is a natural and required process for socialism.

d fresh, the Welfare State will not go easily. But we SepSchoolers are giving it a push.

http://www.sepschool.org

Come on over and help us:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SepSchool/

Reid, apparently the Chinese commies have not given up yet.
http://tinyurl.com/ox7v

The Four Cardinal Principles mentioned in Jiang's speech are: adherence to the socialist road, the people's democratic dictatorship, Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and the leading role of the Communist Party of China.

I just came across this site. It's truly wonderful. Especially, Will's post of Dean's thoughts on Communism/Socialism/marxist/Leninism.

"Unite for Peace"

With great respects, Companeros.

Hey

On this day I just trembled across the phenomena D Reed. Wow

Conserning his death; have someone made an inquiery in the STASI documents?

Martin A
Oslo

Hey

On this day I just trembled across the phenomena D Reed. Wow

Conserning his death; have someone made an inquiery in the STASI documents?

As for you Patricia. Please give us more!!!

Martin A
Oslo

Here we go again!

One should always read the hole thing before comenting. Therefor, Dale!!!! your opinion about your brother seems from my brief knowledge with D Reed, shockingly narrow and unrefleckted. Does not your horizon paint your picture? Your answere on reflex. You show litle (hardly any) knowledge of socialism. I belive you have some fruitfull times ahead if you manage to know your prejuce. Ok Case closed hopefully. As I commented my knowledge on D Reed is litle.But as for this forum I a blown away over american(US) ignoranze, best manifested by Reid Bronson. You personalize my prejudgments about US narrow mindness. There is no free society! As Andrey so remarkebly puts it "in a country where they can speak openly but would hardly ever use this nice advantage or have any profit out of it for one simple reason - nobody cares" And the Iraq issue is the perfeckt example. Almost everybody ( of importans )knew the build up was wrong. Despite this every newspaper knowingly brought futher the propaganda wich was produces for justification. The post-process in Britain is simmilar. Evryone knows Blairs agenda and doings before the war. Jet this is never pointed out directly. No significant change has accured. Blair still in power! For the first time since the second WW a large amount of the people "saw" this great scam. And this will go to the history as an extremly importent time. One should not surpress that the advantage of "the free world"; the fantastic fact that when people all over the world saw this took to the streets. Millions marched with no direct effeckt. But in long term, the US and its allies has paid a large portion of political credit.

Therfor; Are we in the west free? To a minor extent yes. As the historicall wheel is turning our society will turn in our direction when we force it. That is when we are aware and express our thought. Sadly after the -70 we care more about DVD than Democracy. The ideologi of consumption is Huxleys soma. We do not care, couse we do not see.

Martin A

Martin:

Sorry guy, a free America voted to invade Iraq. As a result, one of the worlds great fascists is on the run. Removing fascist governments is a good thing, from Milosivich to Saddam, a very good thing. Crazy man Bush has liberated another 24 million people. Lets hope Bush removes a few more fascist leaders.

As to freedom, what on earth are you thinking, there is no more free place on earth than the Western democracies. We have complete freedom. You may not like what the people have chosen, buts that what freedom is all about. America voted to go to war with Iraq. And now 24 millions Iraqis are free for the first time in decades. Any nation that votes to reelect Saddam by 100% to 0% is a little short on the freedom scale. Just a bit short.

I'm sorry you did not like the Iraq war. Not everyone did. But its time to install the first democratic government in the Arab world. Cool. No freedom in the West? Gee, what would you call those massive demonstations against the war? I call it freedom. Did they work? No. Of course not. Crazy Bush was on a mission, destroying terrorists and terrorist supporting nations. Personally I wish he went after Iran first, a much larger Fascist nation. But, hey, Crazy Bush was in his zone.

Im sorry your man Saddam is out of power. Why do you back Fascist leaders? Iraq was perhaps the least free nation on the planet. Not even close to the Western democracies. I'm sorry, I realize I sound like the typical crazy American war monger. But Milosivich and Saddam deserved to go. Noone is crying for either of them.

There was a saying in the American Civil Rights movement: Keep your eye on the prize. Remember what was accomplished: Iraq was liberated, Saddam was removed. What a wonderful result. With few civilian dead, fewer than Saddam executes in a year, a nation of 24 million is liberated from a ruthless tyrant. What a wonderful prize. Oh, its still a mess in Iraq, it will be for sometime. Nation building is a messy business. Hey, America won the Cold War, though we were frequently call the bad guys, the war mongers. But history now shows we were the good guys, Europe is free because of war mongers like Crazy Ronnie. But I do remember all the demonstrations in Europe saying we were the cause of the cold war, not those nice guys in Moscow. Gee, where are those nice guys in Moscow today? Sitting on the dustbin of history? I realize the world is not very pleased with the USA. Well, we are used to that. But today, fascist governments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Serbia are gone. They need a lot more work, but hey, its a start.

Just remember, though I love Dean, what a wonderful guy, his beloved GDR is gone because of a real crazy nutcase from the USA. I realize noone likes us, I see it when I travel. But keep your eye on the prize, from winning the cold war to winning the war on terror, the crazy USA is on the job. Cut us some slack. Removing fascist governments is a good thing, a very good thing. Nite all.

Martin:

Sorry guy, a free America voted to invade Iraq. As a result, one of the worlds great fascists is on the run. Removing fascist governments is a good thing, from Milosivich to Saddam, a very good thing. Crazy man Bush has liberated another 24 million people. Lets hope Bush removes a few more fascist leaders.

As to freedom, what on earth are you thinking, there is no more free place on earth than the Western democracies. We have complete freedom. You may not like what the people have chosen, buts that what freedom is all about. America voted to go to war with Iraq. And now 24 millions Iraqis are free for the first time in decades. Any nation that votes to reelect Saddam by 100% to 0% is a little short on the freedom scale. Just a bit short.

I'm sorry you did not like the Iraq war. Not everyone did. But its time to install the first democratic government in the Arab world. Cool. No freedom in the West? Gee, what would you call those massive demonstations against the war? I call it freedom. Did they work? No. Of course not. Crazy Bush was on a mission, destroying terrorists and terrorist supporting nations. Personally I wish he went after Iran first, a much larger Fascist nation. But, hey, Crazy Bush was in his zone.

Im sorry your man Saddam is out of power. Why do you back Fascist leaders? Iraq was perhaps the least free nation on the planet. Not even close to the Western democracies. I'm sorry, I realize I sound like the typical crazy American war monger. But Milosivich and Saddam deserved to go. Noone is crying for either of them.

There was a saying in the American Civil Rights movement: Keep your eye on the prize. Remember what was accomplished: Iraq was liberated, Saddam was removed. What a wonderful result. With few civilian dead, fewer than Saddam executes in a year, a nation of 24 million is liberated from a ruthless tyrant. What a wonderful prize. Oh, its still a mess in Iraq, it will be for sometime. Nation building is a messy business. Hey, America won the Cold War, though we were frequently call the bad guys, the war mongers. But history now shows we were the good guys, Europe is free because of war mongers like Crazy Ronnie. But I do remember all the demonstrations in Europe saying we were the cause of the cold war, not those nice guys in Moscow. Gee, where are those nice guys in Moscow today? Sitting on the dustbin of history? I realize the world is not very pleased with the USA. Well, we are used to that. But today, fascist governments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Serbia are gone. They need a lot more work, but hey, its a start.

Just remember, though I love Dean, what a wonderful guy, his beloved GDR is gone because of a real crazy nutcase from the USA. I realize noone likes us, I see it when I travel. But keep your eye on the prize, from winning the cold war to winning the war on terror, the crazy USA is on the job. Cut us some slack. Removing fascist governments is a good thing, a very good thing. Nite all.

who posted this now?!

I don't remember the circumstances, but the post had been lost to our system; the archive page was online but comments didn't work etc. I'd been meaning to rectify this forever and found some time this morning.

Ah-ha! What comments ...

"I don't remember the circumstances, but the post had been lost to our system; the archive page was online but comments didn't work etc. I'd been meaning to rectify this forever and found some time this morning."

What happened is someone (not me!) was deleting comments and deleted the post by accident. So the flat file remained, because MT doesn't proactively delete it's files (which is good).

AMERICAN REBEL is finally out on DVD: January 2006

http://www.customflix.com/208088

Hello! I'm very happy of reading some comments from Patricia!. Patty, I hope you're reading this post... I'm Nilda, from Argentina... my mother and I used to be friends of you and Dean, we really love you both and admire you also. We have a lot of pictures about you and us, in your house in Parana Street in the north of Buenos Aires, i'd be very happy if you could remember us, because we remember you with a lot of love. If somebody know how to contact her, please tell me, it would be great!

Lots of love from Argentina !!!!

Hello everybody! I'm looking for information about Dean's visits in Minneapolis in '70-'80s.
I'll appreciate any help in that.

Dear socialists, I admire your concern for poor people. But take it from one who lived under Soviet socialism. It collapsed because it was unworkable.
You cannot make people equal by force and by destroying those who sincerely work to make a better life for themselves (in the process helping others as well). People on the public dole rarely have the will to work at all. And human nature makes people in government who are making decisions for everybody no less selfish than anybody else.
Only worse, they use other people's money, not their own. Didn't socialist leaders lead a capilalist's life? Only a free, open society has the power to succeed in making everyone's life better.

I am interested the films & music of Dean Reed, especially "Sing Cowboy Sing" and "Story of a Good for Nothing". Are they available in the U.S.?

I remember Dean living in my home in Fresno Ca. for 3-5 days or so. I just discovered a picture of him inscribed to my parents, with a warm loving note on the back of the photo.

Hi,

I'm the owner of the website about Dean in Russian, which, we believe, is long overdue (www.deanreed.ru)

I'm also one of only two people who are currently taking care of Dean's Grave.

I never knew Dean personally. I was only 13 when he died.
I dedicated my life to doing what he thought would be the right thing to do. I left USSR and came to live in his native town of Lakewood (which is right by Denver), next street over after Wadsworth.

One question for Patricia. (And, fo that matter, for everyone who so eagerly professes their love and/or closeness to Dean during his life - how come you never come to his Grave?

How come i always come across long statements online about how much Dean meant in your life, but i never see you come to visit him - September 22, or June 13?

I'm there every week. And i'm there the whole day on both his bday and the day of his death. Never saw any of you at his Grave.

Together with Will Roberts i've been taking care of Dean's grave for the last 7 years (Will carried on way longer before me, with Ruth, then Ruth died...). I always know who comes. I always know who leaves the flowers.

Never Patricia.
Never Ramona.

I can see it is hard for Renata to fly to Colorado, but what is your excuse, Patricia?

Well-well... Good! Out from eyes it means out from heart...It's Russian saying...
Sad situation!!!
Dean Reed deep in our hearts to now.