Шолохов

"Sholokhov and We" - this was the name of the international symposium convened by the Institute of Slavic Studies at Leipzig University on March 18 and 19 this year. The occasion was the writer's 60th anniversary, which falls on May 24. Probably, it was this connection with the approaching anniversary that made us completely calm and not expect stormy events or sharp clashes of opinions from the symposium. No matter how much we talk about discussions - they still require not only subjective desires, but also objective conditions - in their most general and decisive form. Habits of discussion are needed, and they are inherent in a newer way of thinking, a nobler mind, a sharper and clearer view that is not afraid to penetrate all the really existing problems and contradictions, that is not tied posthumously to the withered tree of scholasticism, is not deprived of the spark of God to seek the truth. I think this is extremely important, because there are people and minds that quite naturally do not feel any need for discussions. They do not perceive them as a normal atmosphere in which scientific thinking, scientific search and knowledge take place. They are supporters of encyclicals, of the indisputable, of strictly delineated zones - from here to there. Their task is to fight heresies, deviations from Holy Scripture. This is more important than developing science. Although they are very similar to that diligent, but seemingly not very considerate shepherd who protected his flock from the wolves so much that when he turned around, there was not a single sheep in his fold. The bad thing, however, is when these shepherds hold the chairman's bell and do not give the floor to anyone but themselves. When they want to turn their lethargy, infertility or simply incurable mental illness into a rule, into the highest dignity, into an iron respectful principle.