Hysteria over burning of books

Romanian newspapers recently reported that an avant-gardist burned a book written by the renowned author Mircea Cartarescu. Although the report turned out to be false, the writers' association threatened the artist with immediate expulsion from the association. The Romanian daily Cotidianul writes: "This is a classic example of how for the past twenty years Romanian intellectuals have been creating hysteria for foolish reasons. They have always enjoyed doing battle against weak opponents like this writer, who immediately denied everything. ... It is one thing to burn all the books of an author; that is indeed abuse. But it is quite another to demonstratively burn a single copy. ... This is not an incitement to burn books. I feel an urgent need to escape this totally destructive form of provincial lassitude. ... I declare my solidarity with any true avant-gardist who burns a book in an act of intelligent protest."

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