ABSTRACT

In its diagnosis of our situation, Charter 77 revealed the pathological symptoms of the diseases of power and lying. It is possible that in the midst of tribulations and struggles, the symptoms of another malady to which the Charter pointed indirectly have receded in our awareness: I refer to the disease of hate. By virtue of its creation and survival, as well as its entire meaning and mission, the Charter was an act which indicated a cure for this disease, and by actually having overcome hatred itself, the Charter showed the path to unity. This aspect of the Charter has not been stressed sufficiently. Nevertheless, I believe it to be fundamental, and an indication of how we may identify the deeper roots of our poverty, with a view to transforming ourselves individually and collectively, and providing a remedy to society's ills. This is a matter which falls outside the scope of the Charter, but is one of humanity's fundamental problems: the quest for inner unity.