... Mutual Lack Of Understanding Carries The

A Horrible Human Toll The Russian Orthodox Church Suffered Throughout Almost The Entire 20th Century. The Church Is Just Rising From Its Knees. Our Young Post-soviet State Is Just Learning To Respect The Church As An Independent Institution.

One Should Never Direct People Towards Happiness, Because Happiness Too Is An Idol Of The Market-place. One Should Direct Them Towards Mutual Affection. A Beast Gnawing At Its Prey Can Be Happy Too, But Only Human Beings Can Feel Affection For Each Other, And This Is The Highest Achievement They Can Aspire To.

If We Could All Take A Sober Look At Our History, Then We Would No Longer See This Nostalgic Attitude To The Soviet Past That Predominates Among The Less Affected Part Of Our Society.

Violence Can Only Be Concealed By A Lie, And The Lie Can Only Be Maintained By Violence.

Gorbachev's Administration Was Amazingly Politically Naïve, Inexperienced And Irresponsible Towards The Country. It Was Not Governance But A Thoughtless Renunciation Of Power. The Admiration Of The West In Return Only Strengthened His Conviction That His Approach Was Right. But Let Us Be Clear That It Was Mikhail Gorbachev, And Not Boris Yeltsin, As Is Now Widely Being Claimed, Who First Gave Freedom Of Speech And Movement To The Citizens Of Russia.