East-West Divide?

„Today many people still seem to believe that communism, as a theory, was better than the hatred-based ideology of the Nazis, and only the practical implementation suffered some flaws.  In their imagination happy young people wearing T-shirts with a red star and sickle-and-hammer print make the homicide of millions, the demolition of nations and the vanishing of generations a regrettable – and slightly amusing – blunder. But, at least here in Central and Eastern Europe, the red star, similarly to the swastika, is the symbol of state-organized terror, the humiliation of mankind and the use of people as mere pawns. We had to fight for our freedom against both totalitarian systems, and many had to fight for their independence.

International, as well as National Socialism used the same kind of terror, humiliation, tyranny and violence against entire populations, peoples and classes. Does it matter for the particular individual that one gets smashed because of being Jewish or ‘Kulak’ (peasant with larger areas of land)? It is irrelevant if someone was victimized by national or by international socialism. Our concept of liberty rests on the assumption that it is in firm opposition to all kinds of totalitarianism. If we do not hold on to that, our democracy also becomes weaker.

Europe today defines itself as being democratic, and claims it promotes freedom and is against dictatorial political systems. And notwithstanding its shortcomings, of course this is true. But in our understanding, if Europe does not disapprove of all sorts of totalitarian ideologies, even in symbolic terms, this would challenge its democratic stance.”