“The Invisible Communist Revolution” – Folha de S. Paulo, January 9, 1972

by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

I promised readers a commentary on the words of General Humberto de Souza Mello, Commander of the Second Army, to honor the Navy during Admiral Tamandaré Week.

Now that I have the text in hand and am preparing to fulfill my promise, I hesitate to choose the topics that most invite analysis: the sober and vigorous praise of Tamandaré, the moving praise of the Navy’s mission and achievements, or the characterization of a dangerous adversary who, at the moment, threatens our homeland. However, the criteria for the choice are clear. While focusing on the first or second topic would be more appealing, the third is more important for shaping public opinion. Therefore, I must choose it.

General Souza Mello describes his target with clear, noble language and military bravery: “Communism, a cunning, cowardly, and illogical adversary” driven by “spurious interests contrary to our way of life,” but “easy to spot.”

However, the reader should not assume that the general will address the communist danger in conventional terms.

He is right. Indeed, while the goals of the communist movement are always clear, its tactics are becoming more obscure due to urgent tactical necessity. In the past, communists were known for their brutality, openly preaching their ideology and engaging in violent revolutionary actions. However, the practical results of this brutality have been limited. More than a hundred years have passed since Marx began the struggle. To date, communism has not gained an electoral majority in any country on either side of the Iron Curtain. I say any because Chile is no exception. In an article published in this newspaper (“The Whole Truth About the Elections in Chile,” on September 10, 1970), I demonstrated that Allende owed his victory to the Christian Democrats. The Marxist vote had actually decreased in the election that brought the communist senator to power.

Thus, communists are experiencing a significant failure to win over the masses. This is clearly shown by a recent study in the magazine Est-Ouest, which I plan to discuss next Sunday as a follow-up to this article. I will note in advance that this well-known magazine shows, with solid statistical data, that Communist Parties are declining across Europe. Recently, news agencies reported a new data point that supports Est-Ouest’s findings: the communists have also been defeated in Finland.

We must therefore reject the false idea that communism can truly attract the masses.

However, it cannot be denied that this movement has top-tier technicians skilled in psychological crowd manipulation. Faced with this failure, these technicians would inevitably seek new methods.

What is happening, therefore, is inevitable. Without abandoning violent indoctrination and action (classic subversion), communists have simultaneously crafted an entirely new style of struggle, which General Souza Mello focuses on.

* * *

The Commander of the Second Army describes this new type of action with rare clarity:

1. It involves a “shrewd … use of our media: newspapers, magazines, cinema, theater, radio, and television; or through the arts and literature of popular collections by great socialist writers.” As the reader can see, this clever propaganda is spread extensively through innuendos, discreet, implicitly communist statements, and semi-communist doctrines or programs that can gradually develop into pre-communist and, ultimately, communist positions.”

“All this represents a crucial contribution to deeply influencing the lives of people in urban and rural areas, especially university students, young workers, and farmworkers,” the General reflects. And rightly so. This more subtle process can gradually introduce the communist mentality into these spheres of opinion, which have so far shown little openness to traditional overt communist techniques.”

2. The General also mentions advocates of tumultuous and inconsiderate reformism who aim to “fast-track the transformation of social structures without regard for the internal balance that requires the necessary psychological adaptation and economic adjustments over several generations to withstand the influential changes in today’s society.” As a Catholic, I note with sorrow that this observation seems rightly to refer to Hélders and Comblins, who are well known for advocating truculent and hasty reform programs.”

3. Finally, another critical point is the “looming alcoholism, shameless sexualism and drug abuse that lead to collective dissolution by unleashing dangerous and reckless instincts, and destroy traditions in the highest moral, spiritual, and religious standards.” This observation insightfully links current communist tactics to the widespread moral, religious, and cultural decline that is increasingly wrecking our youth. I have written extensively here about various aspects of this phenomenon, so it seems unnecessary to repeat the point.

Therefore, I will go directly to the conclusion, which appears to be of utmost importance: According to the Commander of the Second Army, the set of activities he listed represents “the invisible communist revolution, as important, or perhaps more so, than that recently preached by Fidel Castro.” The same Castro who addresses the crowds, “pointing to violence as the only solution for seizing power in Latin America, despite considering the conditions that enable socialist revolution through communist rule to be very good.”

* * *

General Souza Mello has both personal and official authority to express these ideas. Although they were spoken at a primarily military commemoration, I believe they should be shared with the country’s entire civilian population.

Despite Brazil’s impressive economic successes and the decline in violent subversion, the country is experiencing an unprecedented communist revolution. A revolution with modern, aggressive, and subtle tactics, invisible yet deeply impactful, enticing yet dangerous, seeking to envelop the nation in an atmosphere that gradually and profoundly intoxicates it with communism.

In my view, “the invisible communist revolution, as important as, or perhaps even more important than, the one preached by Fidel Castro,” is the greatest danger of the moment.

* * *

Consequently, while addressing the Navy on behalf of the Second Army, the General exclaims: “Therefore, it is up to us to watch for and respond to that cunning and invisible penetration through a well-crafted psychological campaign in homes, schools, the arts, cultural institutions, and public entertainment, and to curb its expansion through a continuous and violent fight against various types and forms of struggle advised by communist leaders and carried out by party organizations.”

Clearly, civilians bear a significant responsibility in fulfilling this noble mission of fighting the “invisible communist revolution.” I believe General Souza Mello’s analysis shows that no Brazilian can afford to stand idly by while this terrible ideological fog covers their homeland. It is our duty to stay alert and resist in proportion to the severity of the threat at home, in schools, universities, workplaces, leisure spaces, and religious sites.

That is why I use this column to urge readers to take the words of the Commander of the Second Army seriously and treat them as a plan of action.

* * *

General Souza Mello’s closing words are inspiring. With well-deserved pride, he states: “The Second Army is prepared and trained, and has been working with other commands and security agencies to defend Brazilian institutions and the peace of law-abiding populations in its jurisdiction, with faith and hope in the truth rooted in the love and peace of Jesus Christ, sacrificed on Calvary.”

This reassurance of vigilance and dedication from the military, with eyes fixed on the Man-God, gently resonates in people’s spirits during these days still marked by the sweet anointing of Holy Christmas.