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music: :Excerpt from Litany (613k)-22 sec.
"They closed the portals, those our adversaries."
Dante: Inferno--Canto VIII: 115
photo: Ceausescus on trial (31K)

Image: In late December 1989, with the revolution spinning rapidly out of control, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu fled Bucharest by helicopter, were soon captured, then held at a military base in northern Romania. Here a makeshift courtroom has been arranged for their speedy "trial". Charges against the Ceausescus are formally read by the military tribunal, condemning them to death. Nicolae blusters "I do not recognize this." Bangs fist. "How can you condemn me?" Ordered to stand up Elena shouts, "We are people. You can't treat us this way." The spokesman for the tribunal continues "In the name of the law of the people we are declaring you are condemened to death. All your possessions will be collected and transmitted to the people according to the penal code. We are pronouncing this public sentence today Dec. 25, 1989." (credits: cameraman at the trial).
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Music:
excerpt from Litany by Arvo Pärt.

"O Lord Jesus Christ,
write me down in the book of life
and grant unto me a good end..."

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(c) 1999 John Borneman & Linda Fisher, All Rights Reserved