Resistance, Rebellion and Death |
Posted by
Marcello
(Guest)
georgiomalik@yahoo.com
- Tuesday, December 28 2010, 20:05:02 (UTC) from 71.104.223.183 - pool-71-104-223-183.lsanca.dsl-w.verizon.net Network - Windows XP - Internet Explorer Website: http://us.mg1.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.gx=1&.rand Website title: Redirect |
You said to me: "The greatness of my country is beyond price. Anything is good that contributes to its greatness. And in a world where everything has lost its meaning, those who, like us young Germans, are lucky enough to find a meaning in the destiny of our nation must sacrifice everything else." I loved you then, but at that point we diverged. "No," I told you, "I can- not believe that everything must be subordinated to a single end. There are means that cannot be excused. And I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice. I don't want just any greatness for it, par- ticulary a greatness born of blood and falsehood. I want to keep it alive by keeping justice alive." You retorted: "Well, you don't love your country." That was five years ago; we have been separated since then and I can say that not a single day passed during those long years (so brief, so dazzingly swift for you!) without my remembering your remark. "You don't love your country!" When I think your words today, I feel a choking sensation. No, I didn't love my country, if pointing out what is unjust in what we love should measure up to the finest image we have of her amounts to not loving. That was five years ago, and many men in France thought as I did. Some of them, however, have already been stood up against the wall facing the tweleve little black eyes of German destiny. And those men, who in your opinion did not love their country, did more for it than you will ever do for yours, even if it were possible for you to give your life a hundred times. For their heroism was that they had to conquer them- selves first. But I am speaking here of two kinds of great- ness and of a contradiction about which I must enlighten you. We shall meet soon again -- if possible. But our friend- ship will be over. You will be full of your defeat. You will not be ashamed of your former victory. Rather, you will longingly remember it with all your crushed might. Today I am still close to you in spirit -- your enemy, to be sure, but still a little your friend because I am with- holding nothing from you here. Tomorrow all will be over. What your victory could not penetrate, your defeat will bring to an end. But at least, before we become in- different to each other, I want to leave you a clear idea of what neither peace nor war has taught your to see in the destiny of my country. I want to tell you at once what sort of greatness keeps us going. But this amounts to telling you what kind of courage we applaud, which is not your kind. For it is not simply preparing for it for years and when violence is more natural to you than thinking. It is a great deal, on the other hand, to face torture and death when you know for a fact that hatred and violence are empty things in themselves. It is a great deal to fight while despising war, to accept losing everything while still preferring happi- ness, to face destruction while cherishing the idea of a higher civilization. That is how we do more than you be- cause we have to draw on ourselves. You had nothing to conquer in your heart or in your intelligence. We had two enemies, and a military victory was not enough for us, as it was for you who had nothing to overcome. (contiued) --------------------- |
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