Saturday, March 01, 2008

Collective Mandate

Opinion of the masses, we tell what you like us to tell

This is an old Russian joke. Stalin decided to see if he was as beloved a figure as his 'well-wishers' seem to insist. So he went to a Moscow cinema incognito. As the newsreels began, the cinema hall turned dark, Stalin was moved to tears when the audience stood up, seemingly on their own, with gusto applauded his image when it appeared on the screen. Stalin was struck by such a public display of affection, but it was cut short when his neighbour leaned down and whispered - ''comrade, we all hate him too. But its safe to stand up and clap''

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