“Yes, the USSR performed atrocities, but the fact that the west has as well excuses that.”

It’s not like those are the only two instances of human rights violations by the USSR, and they’re infamous for lying about numbers.

Misery is not s competition. You don’t have to pick sides. There can be more than one violent authoritarian regime in the world, they can all be bad, and you can oppose all of them. There’s really no reason to defend any imperial powers.

I used to be like this, but it was a social anxiety thing. People say wrong and insulting things all the time without loosing friends. The key is keeping an open mind and being willing to admit when you’re wrong. If your intentions weren’t to cause harm, most people will forgive your faux pas.