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Why are they going all out to celebrate Karl Marx?

Is this yet another political statement often made, to the effect that the theories of Marx are wonderful, it was just the implementation by a series of despots and tyrants which gave socialism and communism a bad name????

"Is this yet another political statement often made, to the effect that the theories of Marx are wonderful, it was just the implementation by a series of despots and tyrants which gave socialism and communism a bad name?"

By jove, Dilbert San Diego, I think you've got it!!!

This is EXACTLY what my faculty told me in college when I challenged Marxist philosophy, implementation, etc. I told hime to show me examples of governments where it was working.

My first question though to everyone that is speaking positively of socialism or communism is to ask first if they know WHAT socialism and communism means and how it is implemented. They often say yes. Then I ask them to explain it to me. Which they can't. Then I ALWAYS ask if they've read Marx's "Das Kapital" (which I have and holy cow (translated--which is also variable based on translation) and it is DENSE and he isn't a good writer. So VERY hard to get through.)

At this point the person I'm talking to has glossed over eyes. They looked bemused and embarrassed. Because they can only at this point (after asking What?--regarding the title of the book as most have never heard of it.) say no they've never read it. I ask them to read Marx's writings first in full detail. Before deciding whether they support these 'economic philosophies'. Also ask them to differentiate between implementation and written theory as they read.

Of course these people walk away usually looking and feeling like the completely naive and ignorant yahoo that they are. Clueless, robots that repeat others' words. Which I tell them before they leave not to be. And recommend they study these systems for themselves and make up their own minds. As well as encourage them to studying Capitalism etc.