Monday, August 4, 2008

Rest in Peace, Solzhenitsyn

Alexander Solzhenitsyn passed away this week. May he rest in peace.

His work helped to undermine one of the most pernicious and cruel systems of government since the days of the Assyrians, with perhaps the exception of Nazi Germany.

So long as his books are read, bearing testament to the horror of the Soviet gulags, apologists for communism must skulk away shamefaced and fools who find the hammer and sickle or its associated symbolism to be stylish, might as well be wearing swastikas.

Literally millions of people were killed as communism sought to conquer the world.

Solzhenitsyn tore the gilded cover off and exposed the squirming maggots within.

Rest in peace, brave Alexander. Russia has produced many great men and women. You are among them.

2 comments:

Ian Lidster said...

While his screeds againt the hideous Soviet regime were thoroughly appreciated and valuable, remember he also defamed the US, his adopted country.

Eastcoastdweller said...

Ian, I'm glad to see you back!

I love my country and I am not of that strange species of American who considers the US to be the most horrible nation that has ever existed.

I believe that few countries in the world have given so freely, inspired so many and shed their own blood so copiously on behalf of freedom -- their own freedom and that of perfect strangers.

That being said, I guess Mr. Solzhenitsyn's writings about the US have to be judged on just one criteria: are they true?

Having not read those writings, I cannot judge at this time.

Perhaps the world would have been better off if the US hadn't interfered so heavily and for so long in the affairs of its southern neighbors. Our treatment of the "Indians" and of our African population was horrible.

We can be arrogant, naive, wasteful and even stupid. I recognize that.

But thanks to our interference, the march of communism was halted, the people of Europe to the Byelorus border are free, the people of South Korea are free, Japan has become a good neighbor of a nation and a world that knew no democracies a scant 232 years ago now has a plethora.