Shut your eyes, reader. Do you hear the thundering of wheels? Those are the Stolypin cars rolling on and on. Those are the red cows rolling. Every minute of the day. And every day of the year. And you can hear the water gurgling — those are prisoners’ barges moving on and on. And the motors of the Black Marias roar. They are arresting someone all the time, cramming him in somewhere, moving him about. And what is that hum you hear? The overcrowded cells of the transit prisons. And that cry? The complaints of those who have been plundered, raped, beaten to within an inch of their lives.
We have reviewed and considered all the methods of delivering prisoners, and we have found that they are all . . . worse. We have examined the transit prisons, but we have not found any that were good. And even the last human hope that there is something better ahead, that it will be better in camp, is a false hope.
In camp it will be . .. worse.
~ page 703
Talk about cheery stuff eh? I just got shivers reading that final sentence.
Nothing like starting the day with a smile!
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When it comes to inspirational, uplifting, positive content, I deliver!
I’m actually considering becoming one of those Inspirational Blogs who do nothing but spout nonsense and get a bajillion hits. Then I can leverage that into some serious money and become so rich that I can quit my job.
Phhhhh, I don’t think I could live with myself if I turned my blog into something like that….
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I’ll join you in this; what about a picture of a flower and the words YOU ARE SPECIAL in chunky pink font? Or a kitten in a basket with YOU ARE ONE IN A MILLION! written above it! Let’s do it!
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You are evil and I think I just threw up! 😀 😀 😀
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YOU AN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT!
UNLEASH YOUR INNER CREATIVE!
SEND ME $999 FOR FULL INSTRUCTIONS!
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Oh man, we’re going to get SO rich!!!!!!
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You can always set a second, secret blog. Post your Zen insights there 😁
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I actually did that when I was in my 20’s and was a heart broken angst ridden young man 😀
Thankfully, that stage has passed!
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It feels wrong to click ‘like’ on this quote, if you know what I mean. But I appreciate you posting it. This is important, more so because it’s painfully honest.
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I know exactly what you mean.
Thanks for liking anyway 🙂
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Reminds me of Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place. After spending some months in jail and then being transferred from one holding camp to another, Corrie and Betsie kept telling themselves, “Things will be better when we get to Ravensbruck. There will be beds. We will be warmer.”
He is right, it is such a human tendency to tell yourself that just to get to through what you are currently going through.
I recently ordered this book, BTW. Can’t say I’m looking forward to reading it, but it is starting to seem extreeeemly relevant for some reason …
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I hadn’t remembered that about The Hiding Place, but it sure does go to show just how powerfully God made our survival instinct.
Absolutely relevant, unfortunately 😦
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I like how it’s written, based on your quotes. It shows how genuine the reflections on those past events are. Powerful stuff.
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Man it’s been ages since I read this book. Back in college. I should lick it up again.
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My hats off to you!
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Do not know if i would be able to sit through this. Just reading that bit has me feeling a little negative at the moment.
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Yep, that is why I read it only on one day a week and only for a small bit. I think it’s taken me 2 months to get through it? Definitely not a light and fluffy read…
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What a fantastic quote!
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This book was just so quotable. My kindle edition is rife with highlights 🙂
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I understand!
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