24 December, 2009

The Commissar meets the People

I found the following tale from Soviet times in the book Тихий ангел пролетел (A quiet angel has flown by), a book my wife brought from Russia:



They closed the church in a certain village. As they were throwing icons out of the building, a quiet, gloomy crowd gathered around the ruined relics.

One of the Commissars shouted at the villagers, There is no God! None, no God! Here, look!… And he began to shoot his rifle at the faces on the relics.

You see?! he shouted. You see?! So? Where is your God?… Why doesn't He punish me?

He's already punished you, answered a voice from the crowd.

When did he punish me? How?

He drove you mad.

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