Quite a while before now, I lived in Moscow, Russia. I was there when the godless communists were in charge of every layer of society.
Everybody worked, everybody had medical care, everybody had housing, and everybody spent endless hours slogging through their days in pursuit of basic staples at the state-run shops. Everybody carried a “just in case” bag in case a particular product popped up for sale. Men usually carried mostly empty briefcases and women carried string bags, “just in case.”
Everybody was extremely cautious about expressing opinions, as the legacy of informers and punishment had touched most people directly or indirectly. Everywhere, and I mean everywhere, Lenin looked down from building facades, from park and square pedestals, and up from the money in your hand.
“Lenin lived, Lenin lives and Lenin will live,” called out to remind the citizens that their sacrifice for the motherland was well worth the few challenges.
I didn’t think the Russian people would ever demand a better life!
I traveled through the wall in Berlin confident that the East Germans would never give up that slice of power.
I read about Nelson Mandela feeling secure in my oft-voiced opinion that he would die in prison. I never thought Idi Amin Dada would be chased from his murderous ways in Uganda. I never thought peace would come to Northern Ireland.
Well, I was wrong about all those closely held beliefs.
When I walk along the parade in Fremont, a Seattle neighborhood, looking at a statue of Lenin, I can only shake my head in wonderment, as his step down in history was an impossible consideration when I walked various streets across the Soviet Empire.
I hear a lot of talk today that we are in an impossible situation here in America. Yes, we have challenges, but we also have opportunities few referenced above ever had - we can speak up!
We can organize.
We can call on elected officials, reminding them of who they work for-
We have the right to run for office or support any candidate.
Most importantly, we can educate ourselves rather than being fed government speak!
Times change.
Don’t look back wishing you had done something.
Excellent commentary and valuable message.
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