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Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn.
Potentially the most important author of the 20th century, his seminal work, The Gulag Archipelago, cut deep into the heart of one of the most dangerous authoritarian regimes of all times, the Soviet Union.
Listen carefully to his words:
Potentially the most important author of the 20th century, his seminal work, The Gulag Archipelago, cut deep into the heart of one of the most dangerous authoritarian regimes of all times, the Soviet Union.
Listen carefully to his words:
The simplest and most accessible key to our self-neglected liberation lies right here:
Personal non-participation in lies.
Though lies conceal everything, though lies embrace everything -- but not with any help from me.
Personal non-participation in lies.
Though lies conceal everything, though lies embrace everything -- but not with any help from me.
This opens a breach in the imaginary encirclement caused by our inaction. It is the easiest thing to do for us, but the most devastating for the lies. Because when people renounce lies it simply cuts short their existence.
It's dangerous. But let us refuse to say that which we do not think. This is our path, the easiest and most accessible one, which takes into account our inherent cowardice, already well rooted.
If we did not paste together the dead bones and scales of ideology, if we did not sew together the rotting rags, we would be astonished how quickly the lies would be rendered helpless and subside.
That which should be naked would then really appear naked before the whole world.
So in our timidity, let each of us make a choice: Whether consciously, to remain a servant of falsehood, or to shrug off the lies and become an honest man worthy of respect both by one's children and contemporaries.
(Declare it with me, my brothers, my sisters, around the World, who are looking with horror at the disintegration of society:)
From this day onward I will:
From this day onward I will:
... not write, sign, or print in any way a single phrase which in my opinion distorts the truth.
... utter such a phrase neither in private conversation not in the presence of many people, neither on my own behalf not at the prompting of someone else, either in the role of agitator, teacher, educator, nor in a theatrical role.
... not depict, foster or broadcast a single idea which I can only see is false or a distortion of the truth whether it be in painting, sculpture, photography, technical science, or music.
... not cite out of context, either orally or written, a single quotation so as to please someone, to feather my own nest, to achieve success in my work, if I do not share completely the idea which is quoted, or if it does not accurately reflect the matter at issue.
... not allow myself to be compelled to attend demonstrations or meetings if they are contrary to my desire or will, will neither take into hand not raise into the air a poster or slogan which I do not completely accept.
... not raise my hand to vote for a proposal with which I do not sincerely sympathize, will vote neither openly nor secretly for a person whom I consider unworthy or of doubtful abilities.
... not allow myself to be dragged to a meeting where there can be expected a forced or distorted discussion of a question.
... immediately walk out of a meeting, session, lecture, performance or film showing if I hear a speaker tell lies, or purvey ideological nonsense or shameless propaganda.
... & not subscribe to or buy a newspaper or magazine in which information is distorted and primary facts are concealed.
Of course, we have not listed all of the possible and necessary deviations from falsehood. But a person who purifies himself will easily distinguish other instances with his purified outlook.
No, it will not be the same for everybody at first. Some, at first, will lose their jobs. For young people who want to live with truth, this will, in the beginning, complicate their young lives very much, (but) it is necessary to make a choice.
There are no loopholes for anybody who wants to be honest.
On any given day any one of us will be confronted with at least one of the above-mentioned choices even in the most secure of the technical sciences.
On any given day any one of us will be confronted with at least one of the above-mentioned choices even in the most secure of the technical sciences.
Either truth or falsehood: Toward spiritual independence or toward spiritual servitude.
And he who is not sufficiently courageous even to defend his soul—don't let him be proud of his “progressive” views, don't let him boast that he is an academician or a people's artist, a merited figure, or a general. Let him say to himself:
I am in the herd, and a coward.
I am in the herd, and a coward.
You say it will not be easy? But it will be easiest of all possible resources. It will not be an easy choice for a body, but it is the only one for a soul.
No, it is not an easy path. But there are already people, even dozens of them, who over the years have maintained all these points and live by the truth.
So, you will not be the first to take this path but will join those who have already taken it.
And if we get cold feet, even taking this step, then we are worthless and hopeless, and the scorn of Pushkin should be directed to us:
Why should cattle have the gifts of freedom?
And if we get cold feet, even taking this step, then we are worthless and hopeless, and the scorn of Pushkin should be directed to us:
Why should cattle have the gifts of freedom?
