I have quoted this book numerous times since starting it... And it took me quite a while to read it. Partially because of work, partially because it's pretty dense, but the reward of reading Imperium was certainly worth it.I have had a long standing fascination with the Soviet Union - a fascination that was strengthened by my visit there in 1993. Kapuscinski, a Polish journalist takes a look at the hundred years that shaped the nation, one that is truly from a people's perspective as opposed to the governing perspective. He is truly a humanitarian at heart, and it shows in his writing.
One last quote:
Three plagues, three contagions, threaten the world.
The first is the plague of nationalism
The second is the plague of racism
The third is the plague of religious fundamentalism.
All three share one trait, a common denominator - an aggressive, all-powerful, total irrationality, Anyone stricken with one of these plagues is beyond reason. In his head burns a sacred pyre that awaits its sacrificial victims. Every attempt at calm conversation will fail. He doesn't want a conversation, but a declaration that you agree with him, admit that hie is right, join the cause. Otherwise you have no significance in his eyes, you do not exist, for you count only if you are a tool, an instrument, a weapon. There are no people - there is only the cause.
He is much better with words than I....
2 comments:
Good quote...when was the book written? Is it recent or was he foreseeing our problem with religious fundamentalism ahead of his time?
1994 - translated in 1995
Russia has dealt with many of the problems we have now - including religious fundamentalists - well before our current issues.
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