Linda’s Reviews > From Under the Rubble > Status Update

“as we already know, the fallacy of all revolutions is that they are strong and concrete on the negative and destructive side, and limp and abstract on the positive and creative side.”

(Rephrased) Pursuing these artificial aims has left us spiritually sapped for generations and tired. These global tasks were useless to us. “We need to get away from the hurly-burly of world rivalries”, the useless space race, and the insane push toward more city living in ramshackle, shoddy buildings so our youth can become more degenerate in the race toward prestige.

Applies to the U.S. unreservedly. “We are ready in our conceit to extend our responsibility to any other country, however distant...provided it declares its intent to nationalize the means of production and centralize power...We meddle indefatigably in conflicts on every continent...We are what the Soviet newspapers until the forties called ‘traders in blood.’”

On the back of repentance that presupposes forgiveness, there must be a behavior change and a change in ideology. “The concept of unlimited freedom (autonomy) is closely connected in its origin with the concept of infinite progress, which we now recognize as false.” No one can endlessly progress with zero limitations, either individual or nation.

“If you are the first to repent, earlier and more fully than others, you must expect predators in the guise of penitents to flock around and peck your liver.” That is quite true - predators see repentance as weakness, an easy target.

Best quote besides that of Augustine (the state without justice is a band of robbers) - “The habit of repentance is lost to our whole callous and chaotic age.”