During the Occupation of France, while anticipating Liberation, Albert Camus published a series of “Letters to a German Friend.” He quoted his “friend” saying, 5 years previously, “The greatness of my country is beyond price. Anything is good that contributes to its greatness.”
Conversation
Camus demurred: “No… There are means that cannot be excused. And I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice. I don’t want a greatness born of blood and falsehood. I want to keep it alive by keeping justice alive.”
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“We shall meet soon again—if possible. But our friendship will be over. You will be full of your defeat. You will not be ashamed of your former victory. Rather, you will longingly remember it with all your crushed might…
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“You were satisfied to serve the power of your nation [party] and we dreamed of giving ours her truth. It was enough for you to serve the politics of reality whereas, in our wildest aberrations, we still had a vague conception of the politics of honor.”
Let those with ears hear.