by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
In my latest Folha article, I invited readers to remain vigilant in the face of Soviet actions in the Czechoslovak crisis, then reaching its climax. It was necessary not to interpret any seeming restraint by the red despots as a manifestation of gentleness or unselfishness, which they do not possess in the least. Their attitudes would not be brutal only to the extent that their policy required. The USSR rulers will achieve invaluable political advantages by donning the mask of pacifism. So, if their actions show anything generous and prudent, it will only be due to their efforts not to drop the mask that has benefited them.
Last week’s events can be fully understood using this criterion. On the surface, the Soviets were prudent. They left at the head of the government in Prague the same “liberal” leaders whose policies had so worried and annoyed them. Thus, Czechoslovakia would continue to have a genuinely Czech and Slovak government. The Soviets would not dominate the country but instead work with its native authorities. As evidence of this, at the time of writing, Soviet tanks are leaving the center of Prague and quietly moving to its suburbs. Under these conditions, the heart of the capital, where the central government and administrative buildings are, is now “free.”
However, this superficial respect for the rights of weaker peoples is so primitive, and the brutality of Soviet actions remains so evident, that no argument is necessary to demonstrate that Czechoslovakia is crushed under the heel of Russian communism.
In other words, their mask has fallen despite their tricks.
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You don’t have to look far to see that it has dropped. The core brutality of the communist mentality, whether Soviet, Chinese, or any other form, clearly shows itself in the various acts of aggression the TFP has endured during its fight against leftist infiltration in Catholic circles.
Although not all of these attacks originate from communists, the communist mentality extends beyond communist circles. It spreads to various leftist groups surrounding them like successive concentric circles. In this way, such attacks demonstrate the communist mentality, even when their agents are only socialists or progressives.
Someday, the list of these attacks might be published, surprising many people. For now, however, we can highlight their main tools:
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a) Brute force, meaning attacking our signature collectors with the evident and futile aim of inciting several fights that could justify shutting down our campaign because it disturbs the peace.
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b) Slander involves falsely accusing us through graffiti and various acts of violence, without the slightest hint of truth. When summoned to present evidence, the accusers remain silent, yet their slanders reappear. “Lie, lie, lie, something will always remain,” said Voltaire. His cynical assertion is false in our case, as no one believes the slander. Nevertheless, it continues tirelessly in hopes of turning the public against us and hindering the campaign’s progress.
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c) Compulsory silence. Friends from a large city in our country recently voiced their dismay at the attitude of most local media outlets. The latter welcome news and comments unfavorable to the TFP but are strictly closed to information, corrections, and refutations from our association.