Svetlana Alexievich. Enchanted by Death (№ 406565)

The party is a conscience, an honor... And doubts did not come to mind ... Each injustice was seen as a special case, where there was a specific culprit. Tell me anyone at that time about the guilt of the idea, about the responsibility of the idea? Mad! I wouldn't run to denounce him, but I would call him a madman, a traitor. Whatever evil was being done before my eyes, I was looking for the culprit: is it him or not... And the fact that he is part of the idea, the atom of the evil idea, the molecule, and in other circumstances would be a different person, we did not understand, no one. That's where now not only me, but many people have the feeling that we lived not our own, but someone's life. Could be other people, another country... If it wasn't for this idea... I don't blame people (even my recent executioners), I blame the idea... It is proved to me that an idea is born in the human head. But I still hate the idea, and people, their behavior can explain to themselves. What can a soldier choose in the ranks? No problem! Keep up!