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AlexanderSolzhenitsyn: AWorldSplitApart

Delivered8June1978ontheoccasionofClassDayAfternoonExercisesatHarvardUniversity

AUTHENTICITYCERTIFIED:Textversionbelowtranscribeddirectlyfromaudio

Iamsincerelyhappytobehereontheoccasionofthe327thcommencementofthisoldand mostprestigiousuniversity.Mycongratulationsandverybestwishestoalloftoday's graduates. Harvard'smottois"VERITAS."Manyofyouhavealreadyfoundout,andotherswillfindoutin thecourseoftheirlives,thattrutheludesusifwedonotconcentrateourattentiontotallyon it'spursuit.Butevenwhileiteludesus,theillusionofknowingitstilllingersandleadsto manymisunderstandings.Also,truthseldomispleasantitisalmostinvariablybitter.Thereis somebitternessinmytoday'sspeechtoo,butIwanttostressthatitcomesnotfroman adversary,butfromafriend. ThreeyearsagointheUnitedStatesIsaidcertainthingswhichatthattimeappeared unacceptable.Today,however,manypeopleagreewithwhatIthensaid. Thesplitintoday'sworldisperceptibleeventoahastyglance.Anyofourcontemporaries readilyidentifiestwoworldpowers,eachofthemalreadycapableofentirelydestroyingthe other.However,understandingofthesplitoftenislimitedtothispoliticalconception:that dangermaybeabolishedthroughsuccessfuldiplomaticnegotiationsorbyachievingabalance ofarmedforces.Thetruthisthatthesplitisamuch[more]profound[one]andamore alienatingone,thattheriftsaremorethanonecanseeatfirstglance.Thisdeepmanifold splitbearsthedangerofmanifolddisasterforallofus,inaccordancewiththeancienttruth thatakingdominthiscase,ourEarthdividedagainstitselfcannotstand.

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ContemporaryWorlds ThereistheconceptofThirdWorld:thus,wealreadyhavethreeworlds.Undoubtedly, however,thenumberisevengreaterwearejusttoofarawaytosee.Anyancientanddeeply rooted,autonomousculture,especiallyifitisspreadonawidepartoftheearth'ssurface, constitutesanautonomousworld,fullofriddlesandsurprisestoWesternthinking.Asa minimum,wemustincludeinthiscategoryChina,India,theMuslimworld,andAfrica,if indeedweaccepttheapproximationofviewingthelattertwoascompactunits. ForonethousandyearsRussiabelongedtosuchacategory,althoughWesternthinking systematicallycommittedthemistakeofdenyingitsautonomouscharacterandtherefore neverunderstoodit,justastodaytheWestdoesnotunderstandRussiainCommunist captivity.ItmaybethatinpastyearsJapanhasincreasinglybecomeadistantpartofthe West.Iamnojudgehere.ButastoIsrael,forinstance,itseemstomethatit'sbeenthepart fromthewesternworld,inthatitsstatesystemisfundamentallylinkedtoreligion. Howshortatimeago,relatively,thesmall,newEuropeanworldwaseasilyseizingcolonies everywhere,notonlywithoutanticipatinganyrealresistance,butalsousuallydespisingany possiblevaluesintheconqueredpeople'sapproachtolife.Onthefaceofit,itwasan overwhelmingsuccess.Therewerenogeographicfrontiers[limits]toit.Westernsociety expandedinatriumphofhumanindependenceandpower.Andallofasuddeninthe20th centurycamethediscoveryofitsfragilityandfriability. Wenowseethattheconquestsprovedtobeshortlivedandprecariousandthis,inturn, pointstodefectsintheWesternviewoftheworldwhichledtotheseconquests.Relationswith theformercolonialworldnowhaveturnedintotheiroppositeandtheWesternworldoften goestoextremesofsubservience,butitisdifficultyettoestimatethetotalsizeofthebill whichformercolonialcountrieswillpresenttotheWestanditisdifficulttopredictwhether thesurrendernotonlyofitslastcolonies,butofeverythingitowns,willbesufficientforthe Westtofootthebill. Convergence Buttheblindnessofsuperioritycontinuesinspiteofallandupholdsthebeliefthatthevast regionseverywhereonourplanetshoulddevelopandmaturetothelevelofpresentday Westernsystems,whichintheoryarethebestandinpracticethemostattractive.Thereis thisbeliefthatallthoseotherworldsareonlybeingtemporarilyprevented(bywicked governmentsorbyheavycrisesorbytheirownbarbarityandincomprehension)fromtaking thewayofWesternpluralisticdemocracyandfromadoptingtheWesternwayoflife. Countriesarejudgedonthemeritoftheirprogressinthisdirection. However,itisaconceptionwhichdevelopsoutofWesternincomprehensionoftheessenceof otherworlds,outofthemistakeofmeasuringthemallwithaWesternyardstick.Thereal pictureofourplanet'sdevelopmentisquitedifferentandwhichaboutourdividedworldgave birthtothetheoryofconvergencebetweenleadingWesterncountriesandtheSovietUnion.

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Itisasoothingtheorywhichoverlooksthefactthattheseworldsarenotatalldevelopinginto similarity.Neitheronecanbetransformedintotheotherwithouttheuseofviolence.Besides, convergenceinevitablymeansacceptanceoftheotherside'sdefects,too,andthisishardly desirable. IfIweretodayaddressinganaudienceinmycountry,examiningtheoverallpatternofthe world'srifts,IwouldhaveconcentratedontheEast'scalamities.Butsincemyforcedexilein theWesthasnowlastedfouryearsandsincemyaudienceisaWesternone,Ithinkitmaybe ofgreaterinteresttoconcentrateoncertainaspectsoftheWest,inourdays,suchasIsee them. ADeclineInCourage Adeclineincouragemaybethemoststrikingfeaturewhichanoutsideobservernoticesinthe Westinourdays.TheWesternworldhaslostitscivilcourage,bothasawholeand separately,ineachcountry,eachgovernment,eachpoliticalparty,and,ofcourse,inthe UnitedNations.Suchadeclineincourageisparticularlynoticeableamongtherulinggroups andtheintellectualelite,causinganimpressionoflossofcouragebytheentiresociety.Of course,therearemanycourageousindividuals,buttheyhavenodetermininginfluenceon publiclife. Politicalandintellectualbureaucratsshowdepression,passivity,andperplexityintheiractions andintheirstatements,andevenmoresointheoreticalreflectionstoexplainhowrealistic, reasonable,aswellasintellectuallyandevenmorallywornitistobasestatepolicieson weaknessandcowardice.Anddeclineincourageisironicallyemphasizedbyoccasional explosionsofangerandinflexibilityonthepartofthesamebureaucratswhendealingwith weakgovernmentsandwithcountriesnotsupportedbyanyone,orwithcurrentswhichcannot offeranyresistance.Buttheygettonguetiedandparalyzedwhentheydealwithpowerful governmentsandthreateningforces,withaggressorsandinternationalterrorists. Shouldonepointoutthatfromancienttimesdecliningcouragehasbeenconsideredthe beginningoftheend? WellBeing WhenthemodernWesternstateswerecreated,theprinciplewasproclaimedthat governmentsaremeanttoservemanandmanlivestobefreeandtopursuehappiness.See, forexample,theAmericanDeclarationofIndependence.Now,atlast,duringpastdecades technicalandsocialprogresshaspermittedtherealizationofsuchaspirations:thewelfare state. Everycitizenhasbeengrantedthedesiredfreedomandmaterialgoodsinsuchquantityand ofsuchqualityastoguaranteeintheorytheachievementofhappinessinthemorally inferiorsenseofthewordwhichhascomeintobeingduringthosesamedecades.

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Intheprocess,however,onepsychologicaldetailhasbeenoverlooked:theconstantdesireto havestillmorethingsandastillbetterlifeandthestruggletoattainthemimprintmany Westernfaceswithworryandevendepression,thoughitiscustomarytoconcealsuch feelings.Activeandtensecompetitionfillsallhumanthoughtswithoutopeningawaytofree spiritualdevelopment. Theindividual'sindependencefrommanytypesofstatepressurehasbeenguaranteed.The majorityofpeoplehavebeengrantedwellbeingtoanextenttheirfathersandgrandfathers couldnotevendreamabout.Ithasbecomepossibletoraiseyoungpeopleaccordingtothese ideals,leavingthemtophysicalsplendor,happiness,possessionofmaterialgoods,money, andleisure,toanalmostunlimitedfreedomofenjoyment.Sowhoshouldnowrenounceall this?Why?Andforwhatshouldoneriskone'spreciouslifeindefenseofcommonvaluesand particularlyinsuchnebulouscaseswhenthesecurityofone'snationmustbedefendedina distantcountry?Evenbiologyknowsthathabitual,extremesafetyandwellbeingarenot advantageousforalivingorganism.Today,wellbeinginthelifeofWesternsocietyhasbegun torevealitsperniciousmask. LegalisticLife Westernsocietyhasgivenitselftheorganizationbestsuitedtoitspurposesbased,Iwould say,onetheletterofthelaw.Thelimitsofhumanrightsandrighteousnessaredeterminedby asystemoflawssuchlimitsareverybroad.PeopleintheWesthaveacquiredconsiderable skillininterpretingandmanipulatinglaw.Anyconflictissolvedaccordingtotheletterofthe lawandthisisconsideredtobethesupremesolution.Ifoneisrightfromalegalpointof view,nothingmoreisrequired.Nobodywillmentionthatonecouldstillnotbeentirelyright, andurgeselfrestraint,awillingnesstorenouncesuchlegalrights,sacrificeandselflessrisk. Itwouldsoundsimplyabsurd.Onealmostneverseesvoluntaryselfrestraint.Everybody operatesattheextremelimitofthoselegalframes. IhavespentallmylifeunderaCommunistregimeandIwilltellyouthatasocietywithout anyobjectivelegalscaleisaterribleoneindeed.Butasocietywithnootherscalethanthe legaloneisnotquiteworthyofmaneither.Asocietywhichisbasedontheletterofthelaw andneverreachesanyhigheristakingveryscarceadvantageofthehighlevelofhuman possibilities.Theletterofthelawistoocoldandformaltohaveabeneficialinfluenceon society.Wheneverthetissueoflifeiswovenoflegalisticrelations,thereisanatmosphereof moralmediocrity,paralyzingman'snoblestimpulses.Anditwillbesimplyimpossibletostand throughthetrialsofthisthreateningcenturywithonlythesupportofalegalisticstructure. TheDirectionOfFreedom Intoday'sWesternsocietytheinequalityhasbeenrevealed[in]freedomforgooddeedsand freedomforevildeeds.Astatesmanwhowantstoachievesomethingimportantandhighly constructiveforhiscountryhastomovecautiouslyandeventimidly.Therearethousandsof hastyandirresponsiblecriticsaroundhimparliamentandthepresskeeprebuffinghim.Ashe movesahead,hehastoprovethateachsinglestepofhisiswellfoundedandabsolutely flawless.

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Actually,anoutstandingandparticularlygiftedpersonwhohasunusualandunexpected initiativesinmindhardlygetsachancetoasserthimself.Fromtheverybeginning,dozensof trapswillbesetoutforhim.Thus,mediocritytriumphswiththeexcuseofrestrictions imposedbydemocracy. Itisfeasibleandeasyeverywheretoundermineadministrativepowerandinfactithasbeen drasticallyweakenedinallWesterncountries.Thedefenseofindividualrightshasreached suchextremesastomakesocietyasawholedefenselessagainstcertainindividuals.It'stime, intheWestItistime,intheWest,todefendnotsomuchhumanrightsashuman obligations. Destructiveandirresponsiblefreedomhasbeengrantedboundlessspace.Societyappearsto havelittledefenseagainsttheabyssofhumandecadence,suchas,forexample,misuseof libertyformoralviolenceagainstyoungpeople,suchasmotionpicturesfullofpornography, crime,andhorror.Itisconsideredtobepartoffreedomandtheoreticallycounterbalancedby theyoungpeople'srightnottolookornottoaccept.Lifeorganizedlegalisticallyhasthus shownitsinabilitytodefenditselfagainstthecorrosionofevil. Andwhatshallwesaycriminalityassuch?Legalframes,especiallyintheUnitedStates,are broadenoughtoencouragenotonlyindividualfreedombutalsocertainindividualcrimes.The culpritcangounpunishedorobtainundeservedleniencywiththesupportofthousandsof publicdefenders.Whenagovernmentstartsanearnestfightagainstterrorism,publicopinion immediatelyaccusesitofviolatingtheterrorist'scivilrights.Therearemanysuchcases. Suchatiltoffreedominthedirectionofevilhascomeaboutgradually,butitwasevidently bornprimarilyoutofahumanisticandbenevolentconceptaccordingtowhichthereisnoevil inherenttohumannature.Theworldbelongstomankindandallthedefectsoflifearecaused bywrongsocialsystems,whichmustbecorrected.Strangelyenough,thoughthebestsocial conditionshavebeenachievedintheWest,therestilliscriminalityandthereevenis considerablymoreofitthaninthepauperandlawlessSovietsociety. TheDirectionofthePress Thepresstoo,ofcourse,enjoysthewidestfreedom.(Ishallbeusingthewordpressto includeallmedia.)Butwhatsortofusedoesitmakeofthisfreedom? Hereagain,themainconcernisnottoinfringetheletterofthelaw.Thereisnotruemoral responsibilityfordeformationordisproportion.Whatsortofresponsibilitydoesajournalistor anewspaperhavetohisreaders,ortohishistoryortohistory?Iftheyhavemisledpublic opinionorthegovernmentbyinaccurateinformationorwrongconclusions,doweknowofany casesofpublicrecognitionandrectificationofsuchmistakesbythesamejournalistorthe samenewspaper?Ithardlyeverhappensbecauseitwoulddamagesales.Anationmaybethe victimofsuchamistake,butthejournalistusuallyalwaysgetsawaywithit.OnemayOne maysafelyassumethathewillstartwritingtheoppositewithrenewedselfassurance.

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Becauseinstantandcredibleinformationhastobegiven,itbecomesnecessarytoresortto guesswork,rumors,andsuppositionstofillinthevoids,andnoneandnoneofthemwill everberectifiedtheywillstayoninthereaders'memories.Howmanyhasty,immature, superficial,andmisleadingjudgmentsareexpressedeveryday,confusingreaders,without anyverification.ThepressThepresscanbothsimulatepublicopinionandmiseducateit. Thus,wemayseeterroristsdescribedasheroes,orsecretmatterspertainingtoone'snation's defensepubliclyrevealed,orwemaywitnessshamelessintrusionontheprivacyofwell knownpeopleundertheslogan:"Everyoneisentitledtoknoweverything."Butthisisafalse slogan,characteristicofafalseera.Peoplealsohavetherightnottoknowandit'samuch morevaluableone.Therightnottohavetheirdivinesouls[stuffedwithgossip,nonsense, vaintalk.]Apersonwhoworksandleadsameaningfullifedoesnotneedthisexcessive burdeningflowofinformation. Hastinessandsuperficialityarethepsychicdiseaseofthe20thcenturyandmorethan anywhereelsethisdiseaseisreflectedinthepress.Suchasitis,however,thepresshas becomethegreatestpowerwithintheWesterncountries,morepowerfulthanthelegislative power,theexecutive,andthejudiciary.Andonewouldthenliketoask:Bywhatlawhasit beenelectedandtowhomisitresponsible?InthecommunistEastajournalistisfrankly appointedasastateofficial.ButwhohasgrantedWesternjournaliststheirpower,forhow longatime,andwithwhatprerogatives? ThereisyetanothersurpriseforsomeonecomingfromtheEast,wherethepressisrigorously unified.OnegraduallydiscoversacommontrendofpreferenceswithintheWesternpressasa whole.Itisafashiontherearegenerallyacceptedpatternsofjudgmenttheremaybe commoncorporateinterests,thesumeffectbeingnotcompetitionbutunification.Enormous freedomexistsforthepress,butnotforthereadershipbecausenewspaper[s]mostlydevelop stressandemphasistothoseopinionswhichdonottooopenlycontradicttheirownandthe generaltrend. AFashioninThinking Withoutanycensorship,intheWestfashionabletrendsofthoughtandideasarecarefully separatedfromthosewhicharenotfashionablenothingisforbidden,butwhatisnot fashionablewillhardlyeverfinditswayintoperiodicalsorbooksorbeheardincolleges. Legallyyourresearchersarefree,buttheyareconditionedbythefashionoftheday.Thereis noopenviolencesuchasintheEasthowever,aselectiondictatedbyfashionandtheneedto matchmassstandardsfrequentlypreventindependentmindedpeoplegivingtheir contributiontopubliclife.Thereisadangeroustendencytoflocktogetherandshutoff successfuldevelopment.IhavereceivedlettersinAmericafromhighlyintelligentpersons, maybeateacherinafarawaysmallcollegewhocoulddomuchfortherenewalandsalvation ofhiscountry,buthiscountrycannothearhimbecausethemediaarenotinterestedinhim. Thisgivesbirthtostrongmassprejudices,toblindness,whichismostdangerousinour dynamicera.Thereis,forinstance,aselfdeludinginterpretationofthecontemporaryworld situation.Itworksasasortofapetrifiedarmoraroundpeople'sminds.Humanvoicesfrom17 countriesofEasternEuropeandEasternAsiacannotpierceit.Itwillonlybebrokenbythe pitilesscrowbarofevents.

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IhavementionedafewtraitsofWesternlifewhichsurpriseandshockanewarrivaltothis world.Thepurposeandscopeofthisspeechwillnotallowmetocontinuesuchareview,to lookintotheinfluenceoftheseWesterncharacteristicsonimportantaspectsofanation'slife, suchaselementaryeducation,advancededucationinthehumanitiesandart. Socialism ItisalmostuniversallyrecognizedthattheWestshowsalltheworldawaytosuccessful economicdevelopment,eventhoughinthepastyearsithasbeenstronglydisturbedby chaoticinflation.However,manypeoplelivingintheWestaredissatisfiedwiththeirown society.Theydespiseitoraccuseitofnotbeinguptothelevelofmaturityattainedby mankind.Anumberofsuchcriticsturntosocialism,whichisafalseanddangerouscurrent. IhopethatnoonepresentwillsuspectmeofofferingmypersonalcriticismoftheWestern systemtopresentsocialismasanalternative.HavingexperiencedHavingexperienced appliedsocialisminacountrywherethealternativehasbeenrealized,Icertainlywillnot speakforit.ThewellknownSovietmathematicianShafarevich,amemberoftheSoviet AcademyofScience,haswrittenabrilliantbookunderthetitleSocialismitisaprofound analysisshowingthatsocialismofanytypeandshadeleadstoatotaldestructionofthe humanspiritandtoalevelingofmankindintodeath.Shafarevich'sbookwaspublishedin FranceShafarevich'sbookwaspublishedinFrancealmosttwoyearsagoandsofarnoone hasbeenfoundtorefuteit.ItwillshortlybepublishedintheUnitedStates. NotaModel ButshouldsomeoneaskmewhetherIwouldindicatetheWestsuchasitistodayasamodel tomycountry,franklyIwouldhavetoanswernegatively.No,Icouldnotrecommendyour societyinitspresentstateasanidealforthetransformationofours.Throughintense sufferingourcountryhasnowachievedaspiritualdevelopmentofsuchintensitythatthe Westernsysteminitspresentstateofspiritualexhaustiondoesnotlookattractive.Even thosecharacteristicsofyourlifewhichIhavejustmentionedareextremelysaddening. AfactwhichcannotbedisputedistheweakeningofhumanbeingsintheWestwhileinthe Easttheyarebecomingfirmerandstronger60yearsforourpeopleand30yearsforthe peopleofEasternEurope.Duringthattimewehavebeenthroughaspiritualtrainingfarin advanceofWesternexperience.Life'scomplexityandmortalweighthaveproducedstronger, deeper,andmoreinterestingcharactersthanthosegenerally[produced]bystandardized Westernwellbeing. Therefore,ifoursocietyweretobetransformedintoyours,itwouldmeananimprovementin certainaspects,butalsoachangefortheworseonsomeparticularlysignificantscores.Itis true,nodoubt,thatasocietycannotremaininanabyssoflawlessness,asisthecaseinour country.Butitisalsodemeaningforittoelectsuchmechanicallegalisticsmoothnessasyou have.Afterthesufferingofmanyyearsofviolenceandoppression,thehumansoullongsfor thingshigher,warmer,andpurerthanthoseofferedbytoday'smasslivinghabits,introduced bytherevoltinginvasionofpublicity,byTVstupor,andbyintolerablemusic.

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Therearemeaningfulwarningswhichhistorygivesathreatenedorperishingsociety.Such are,forinstance,thedecadenceofart,oralackofgreatstatesmen.Thereareopenand evidentwarnings,too.Thecenterofyourdemocracyandofyourcultureisleftwithoutelectric powerforafewhoursonly,andallofasuddencrowdsofAmericancitizensstartlootingand creatinghavoc.Thesmoothsurfacefilmmustbeverythin,then,thesocialsystemquite unstableandunhealthy. Butthefightforourplanet,physicalandspiritual,afightofcosmicproportions,isnotavague matterofthefutureithasalreadystarted.TheforcesofEvilhavebeguntheiroffensiveyou canfeeltheirpressure,andyetyourscreensandpublicationsarefullofprescribedsmilesand raisedglasses.Whatisthejoyabout? Shortsightedness Verywellknownrepresentativesofyoursociety,suchasGeorgeKennan,say:Wecannot applymoralcriteriatopolitics.Thus,wemixgoodandevil,rightandwrong,andmakespace fortheabsolutetriumphofabsoluteEvilintheworld.Onthecontrary,onlymoralcriteriacan helptheWestagainstcommunism'swellplannedworldstrategy.Therearenoothercriteria. Practicaloroccasionalconsiderationsofanykindwillinevitablybesweptawaybystrategy. Afteracertainleveloftheproblemhasbeenreached,legalisticthinkinginducesparalysisit preventsonefromseeingthesizeandmeaningofevents. Inspiteoftheabundanceofinformation,ormaybebecauseofit,theWesthasdifficultiesin understandingrealitysuchasitis.TherehavebeennaivepredictionsbysomeAmerican expertswhobelievedthatAngolawouldbecometheSovietUnion'sVietnamorthatCuban expeditionsinAfricawouldbestbestoppedbyspecialU.S.courtesytoCuba.Kennan'sadvice tohisowncountrytobeginunilateraldisarmamentbelongstothesamecategory.Ifyou onlyknewhowtheyoungestoftheKremlinofficialslaughatyourpoliticalwizards.AstoFidel Castro,hefranklyscornstheUnitedStates,sendinghistroopstodistantadventuresfromhis countryrightnexttoyours. However,themostcruelmistakeoccurredwiththefailuretounderstandtheVietnamwar. Somepeoplesincerelywantedallwarstostopjustassoonaspossibleothersbelievedthat thereshouldberoomfornational,orcommunist,selfdeterminationinVietnam,orin Cambodia,asweseetodaywithparticularclarity.ButmembersoftheU.S.antiwar movementwoundupbeinginvolvedinthebetrayalofFarEasternnations,inagenocideand inthesufferingtodayimposedon30millionpeoplethere.Dothoseconvincedpacifistshear themoanscomingfromthere?Dotheyunderstandtheirresponsibilitytoday?Ordothey prefernottohear? TheAmericanIntelligentsialostitsnerveandasaconsequencethereofdangerhascome muchclosertotheUnitedStates.Butthereisnoawarenessofthis.Yourshortsighted politicianswhosignedthehastyVietnamcapitulationseeminglygaveAmericaacarefree breathingpausehowever,ahundredfoldVietnamnowloomsoveryou.ThatsmallVietnam hadbeenawarningandanoccasiontomobilizethenation'scourage.

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ButifafullfledgedAmericasufferedarealdefeatfromasmallcommunisthalfcountry,how cantheWesthopetostandfirminthefuture? Ihavehadoccasionalreadytosaythatinthe20thcenturyWesterndemocracyhasnotwon anymajorwarwithouthelpandprotectionfromapowerfulcontinentalallywhosephilosophy andideologyitdidnotquestion.InWorldWarIIagainstHitler,insteadofwinningthatwar withitsownforces,whichwouldcertainlyhavebeensufficient,Westerndemocracygrewand cultivatedanotherenemywhowouldproveworse,asHitlerneverhadsomanyresourcesand somanypeople,nordidheofferanyattractiveideas,orhavealargenumberofsupportersin theWestastheSovietUnion.Atpresent,someWesternvoicesalreadyhavespokenof obtainingprotectionfromathirdpoweragainstaggressioninthenextworldconflict,ifthere isone.InthiscasetheshieldwouldbeChina.ButIwouldnotwishsuchanoutcometoany countryintheworld.Firstofall,itisagainadoomedalliancewithEvilalso,itwouldgrant theUnitedStatesarespite,butwhenatalaterdateChinawithitsbillionpeoplewouldturn aroundarmedwithAmericanweapons,Americaitselfwouldfallpreytoagenocidesimilarto theinCambodiainourdays. LossofWillpower Andyetnoweapons,nomatterhowpowerful,canhelptheWestuntilitovercomesitsloss ofwillpower.Inastateofpsychologicalweakness,weaponsbecomeaburdenforthe capitulatingside.Todefendoneself,onemustalsobereadytodiethereislittlesuch readinessinasocietyraisedinthecultofmaterialwellbeing.Nothingisleft,then,but concessions,attemptstogaintime,andbetrayal.ThusattheshamefulBelgradeconference freeWesterndiplomatsintheirweaknesssurrenderedthelinewhereenslavedmembersof HelsinkiWatchGroupsaresacrificingtheirlives. Westernthinkinghasbecomeconservative:theworldsituationshouldstayasitisatany costthereshouldbenochanges.Thisdebilitatingdreamofastatusquoisthesymptomofa societywhichhascometotheendofitsdevelopment.Butonemustbeblindinordernotto seethatoceansnolongerbelongtotheWest,whilelandunderitsdominationkeeps shrinking.Thetwosocalledworldwars(theywerebyfarnotonaworldscale,notyet)have meantinternalselfdestructionofthesmall,progressiveWestwhichhasthuspreparedits ownend.Thenextwar(whichdoesnothavetobeanatomiconeandIdonotbelieveitwill) maywellburyWesterncivilizationforever. Facingsuchadanger,withsuchsplendidhistoricalvaluesinyourpast,atsuchahighlevelof realizationoffreedomandofdevotiontofreedom,howisitpossibletolosetosuchanextent thewilltodefendoneself? HumanismandItsConsequences Howhasthisunfavorablerelationofforcescomeabout?HowdidtheWestdeclinefromits triumphalmarchtoitspresentsickness?Havetherebeenfatalturnsandlossesofdirectionin itsdevelopment?Itdoesnotseemso.

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TheWestkeptadvancingsociallyinaccordancewithitsproclaimedintentions,withthehelpof brillianttechnologicalprogress.Andallofasuddenitfounditselfinitspresentstateof weakness. Thismeansthatthemistakemustbeattheroot,attheverybasisofhumanthinkinginthe pastcenturies.IrefertotheprevailingWesternviewoftheworldwhichwasfirstbornduring theRenaissanceandfounditspoliticalexpressionfromtheperiodoftheEnlightenment.It becamethebasisforgovernmentandsocialscienceandcouldbedefinedasrationalistic humanismorhumanisticautonomy:theproclaimedandenforcedautonomyofmanfromany higherforceabovehim.Itcouldalsobecalledanthropocentricity,withmanseenasthe centerofeverythingthatexists. TheturnintroducedbytheRenaissanceevidentlywasinevitablehistorically.TheMiddleAges hadcometoanaturalendbyexhaustion,becominganintolerabledespoticrepressionof man'sphysicalnatureinfavorofthespiritualone.Then,however,weturnedourbacksupon theSpiritandembracedallthatismaterialwithexcessiveandunwarrantedzeal.Thisnew wayofthinking,whichhadimposedonusitsguidance,didnotadmittheexistenceofintrinsic evilinmannordiditseeanyhighertaskthantheattainmentofhappinessonearth.Itbased modernWesterncivilizationonthedangeroustrendtoworshipmanandhismaterialneeds. Everythingbeyondphysicalwellbeingandaccumulationofmaterialgoods,allotherhuman requirementsandcharacteristicsofasubtlerandhighernature,wereleftoutsidetheareaof attentionofstateandsocialsystems,asifhumanlifedidnothaveanysuperiorsense.That providedaccessforevil,ofwhichinourdaysthereisafreeandconstantflow.Merely freedomdoesnotintheleastsolvealltheproblemsofhumanlifeanditevenaddsanumber ofnewones. However,inearlydemocracies,asintheAmericandemocracyatthetimeofitsbirth,all individualhumanrightsweregrantedbecausemanisGod'screature.Thatis,freedomwas giventotheindividualconditionally,intheassumptionofhisconstantreligiousresponsibility. Suchwastheheritageoftheprecedingthousandyears.Twohundredorevenfiftyyearsago, itwouldhaveseemedquiteimpossible,inAmerica,thatanindividualcouldbegranted boundlessfreedomsimplyforthesatisfactionofhisinstinctsorwhims.Subsequently, however,allsuchlimitationswerediscardedeverywhereintheWestatotalliberation occurredfromthemoralheritageofChristiancenturieswiththeirgreatreservesofmercyand sacrifice.StatesystemswereStatesystemswerebecomingincreasinglyandtotally materialistic.TheWestendedupbytrulyenforcinghumanrights,sometimeseven excessively,butman'ssenseofresponsibilitytoGodandsocietygrewdimmeranddimmer. Inthepastdecades,thelegalisticallyselfishaspectofWesternapproachandthinkinghas reacheditsfinaldimensionandtheworldwoundupinaharshspiritualcrisisandapolitical impasse.AlltheglorifiedtechnologicalachievementsofProgress,includingtheconquestof outerspace,donotredeemthe20thcentury'smoralpovertywhichnoonecouldimagine evenaslateasinthe19thCentury.

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AnUnexpectedKinship Ashumanisminitsdevelopmentbecamemoreandmorematerialistic,itmadeitself increasinglyaccessibletospeculationandmanipulationbysocialismandthenbycommunism. SothatKarlMarxwasabletosaythat"communismisnaturalizedhumanism." Thisstatementturnedoutnottobeentirelysenseless.Onedoesseethesamestonesinthe foundationsofadespiritualizedhumanismandofanytypeofsocialism:endlessmaterialism freedomfromreligionandreligiousresponsibility,whichundercommunistregimesreachthe stageofantireligiousdictatorshipsconcentrationonsocialstructureswithaseemingly scientificapproach.ThisistypicaloftheEnlightenmentinthe18thCenturyandofMarxism. Notbycoincidenceallofcommunism'smeaninglesspledgesandoathsareaboutMan,witha capitalM,andhisearthlyhappiness.Atfirstglanceitseemsanuglyparallel:commontraitsin thethinkingandwayoflifeoftoday'sWestandtoday'sEast?Butsuchisthelogicof materialisticdevelopment. Theinterrelationshipissuch,too,thatthecurrentofmaterialismwhichismosttotheleft alwaysendsupbybeingstronger,moreattractive,andvictorious,becauseitismore consistent.HumanismwithoutitsChristianheritagecannotresistsuchcompetition.Wewatch thisprocessinthepastcenturiesandespeciallyinthepastdecades,onaworldscaleasthe situationbecomesincreasinglydramatic.Liberalismwasinevitablydisplacedbyradicalism radicalismhadtosurrendertosocialismandsocialismcouldneverresistcommunism.The communistregimeintheEastcouldstandandgrowduetotheenthusiasticsupportfroman enormousnumberofWesternintellectualswhofeltakinshipandrefusedtoseecommunism's crimes.Andwhentheynolongercoulddoso,theytriedtojustifythem.InourEastern countries,communismhassufferedacompleteideologicaldefeatitiszeroandlessthan zero.ButWesternintellectualsstilllookatitwithinterestandwithempathy,andthisis preciselywhatmakesitsoimmenselydifficultfortheWesttowithstandtheEast. BeforetheTurn Iamnotexaminingherethecaseofaworldwardisasterandthechangeswhichitwould produceinsociety.Aslongaswewakeupeverymorningunderapeacefulsun,wehaveto leadaneverydaylife.Thereisadisaster,however,whichhasalreadybeenunderwayfor quitesometime.Iamreferringtothecalamityofadespiritualizedandirreligioushumanistic consciousness. Tosuchconsciousness,manisthetouchstoneinjudgingeverythingonearthimperfect man,whoisneverfreeofpride,selfinterest,envy,vanity,anddozensofotherdefects.We arenowexperiencingtheconsequencesofmistakeswhichhadnotbeennoticedatthe beginningofthejourney.OnthewayfromtheRenaissancetoourdayswehaveenrichedour experience,butwehavelosttheconceptofaSupremeCompleteEntitywhichusedtorestrain ourpassionsandourirresponsibility.Wehaveplacedtoomuchhopeinpoliticalandsocial reforms,onlytofindoutthatwewerebeingdeprivedofourmostpreciouspossession:our spirituallife.IntheEast,itisdestroyedbythedealingsandmachinationsoftherulingparty. IntheWest,commercialinterestssuffocateit.Thisistherealcrisis.
TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanRhetoric.com. Copyright2006.Allrightsreserved.

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ThesplitintheworldislessterribleThesplitintheworldislessterriblethanthesimilarity ofthediseaseplaguingitsmainsections. Ifhumanismwererightindeclaringthatmanisbornonlytobehappy,hewouldnotbeborn todie.Sincehisbodyisdoomedtodie,histaskonearthevidentlymustbeofamorespiritual nature.Itcannotbeunrestrainedenjoymentofeverydaylife.Itcannotbethesearchforthe bestwaystoobtainmaterialgoodsandthencheerfullygetthemostofthem.Ithastobethe fulfillmentofapermanent,earnestdutysothatone'slifejourneymaybecomeanexperience ofmoralgrowth,sothatonemayleavelifeabetterhumanbeingthanonestartedit.Itis imperativetoreviewthetableofwidespreadhumanvalues.Itspresentincorrectnessis astounding.ItisnotpossiblethatassessmentofthePresident'sperformancebereducedto thequestionhowmuchmoneyonemakesorofunlimitedavailabilityofgasoline.Only voluntary,inspiredselfrestraintcanraisemanabovetheworldstreamofmaterialism. Itwouldberetrogressiontoattachoneselftodaytotheossifiedformulasofthe Enlightenment.Socialdogmatismleavesuscompletelyhelplessinfrontofthetrialsofour times.Evenifwearespareddestructionbywar,ourliveswillhavetochangeifwewantto savelifefromselfdestruction.Wecannotavoidrevisingthefundamentaldefinitionsofhuman lifeandhumansociety.Isittruethatmanisaboveeverything?IstherenoSuperiorSpirit abovehim?Isitrightthatman'slifeandsociety'sactivitieshavetobedeterminedbymaterial expansioninthefirstplace?Isitpermissibletopromotesuchexpansiontothedetrimentof ourspiritualintegrity? Iftheworldhasnotcometoitsend,ithasapproachedamajorturninhistory,equalin importancetotheturnfromtheMiddleAgestotheRenaissance.Itwillexactfromusa spiritualupsurge:Weshallhavetorisetoanewheightofvision,toanewleveloflifewhere ourphysicalnaturewillnotbecursedasintheMiddleAges,but,evenmoreimportantly,our spiritualbeingwillnotbetrampleduponasintheModernera. Thisascensionwillbesimilartoclimbingontothenextanthropologicstage.Nooneonearth hasanyotherwayleftbutupward.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanRhetoric.com. Copyright2006.Allrightsreserved.

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