The Same Devil Behind Your Back: How We Ended Up Between Citizens and People

First we trade the right to vote for buckwheat, and then dignity for cowardice.

Citizens have split into two camps. The first demand that their constitutional rights be respected and that any restrictions be introduced through lawful procedure. The second justify the authorities' actions bypassing procedures by pointing to the critical situation.

The first — citizens. The second — people.

In the second case there is nothing wrong with being afraid and, out of one's own fear, allowing the state to violate and restrict the rights and freedoms of all or of certain citizens based on symptoms, religion or nationality.

One can even allow genocide against particular groups or peoples. After all, what are the Constitution and human rights when it is finally, for the first time in 28 years, a matter of citizens' health and lives? Nothing. Let us first heal, and only then start respecting the Constitution, if something else doesn't happen.

In the first case it feels good to sense that the dignity within you is stronger than fear. Of course, it is impractical, romantic, adventurous, foolish, pleasant and selfish. Only a self-infatuated egoist can afford dignity, criticism of the actions of the state and authorities, and defending one's rights.

A citizen who does not care that, because of his lawful demands, people in his country may die, people who do not want to die and who agree to live in a critical situation without rights and freedoms. And there is no need for pompous nonsense about how where "people" begin, "human being" ends.

Just kidding, there is a need. Because first we trade the right to vote for buckwheat, and then dignity for cowardice. In both the first and the second case, the same devil stands behind our backs, whispering to us: "Calm down! They will decide everything without you anyway! Just squeeze the maximum out of this situation".

A maximum of a gram, or maybe even two kilograms.