The illusion of Romania's anti-communism

After a report by a panel of experts on the crimes of communism committed in Romania was published in 2006, a new book titled "The Illusion of Anti-Communism" also dealing with the communist legacy in Romania has appeared. Vasile Ernu, the publisher, explains the following in the Observator Cultural newspaper: "We cannot treat communism as if it were some kind of deformity, something which we were not to blame for because it came from neighbouring countries. Shifting blame and responsibility onto others is a national sport here in Romania. I have always said: the period of [Nicolae] Ceauşescu was the most monstrous, but unfortunately also the most characteristic period in the history of modern Romania. Whether we like it or not, Ceauşescu was the most important event in Romanian politics. Ceauşescu is a Romanian product through and through. He is not a natural phenomenon but a product of our culture ... . We can't wash our hands of the business, we must accept responsibility."

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