The Indiscreet Charm of Tyranny (part 3/5) by Ian Buruma
From part two: " The violent break with history, the illusion of a tabula rasa, appeals to a certain kind of youthful idealism. There is beauty in destruction. Think of the relish with which thousands of Chinese students took hammers and axes to the priceless treasures of Buddhist or Confucian... Sign in to see full entry.