Life Under Communism
- Survivors and Stories -
- Survivors and Stories -
Survivors
Articles
Literature
- Cuba – “ANA: The Soul-Crushing Misery of Communism”, by Agustin Blazquez with the collaboration of Jaums Sutton
“I apologize for this depressing letter, but I am writing it so you won't be fooled by Castro and his friends abroad. Here, everything is getting worse.” - Cuba - “IMAGINE IN THE U.S.”, by Agustin Blazquez with the collaboration of Jaums Sutton
“Imagine that the U.S. Constitution is set aside by a populist leader who promises social justice, government programs, free health care, education and equality. Sounds great, right? There may be a bit of a price to pay....” - Cuba – “ESCAPE”, by Agustin Blazquez
Agustin tells the riveting story of trying to leave Cuba on a student scholarship, but there is one hold-up after another in the airport lounge. The government officials don’t seem too keen on actually letting him board the flight....
Articles
- Yugoslavia - “Life under Communism” by Charlotte Cushman
“Oh, how the people suffered! On the farm in Ljubljana, my family got up at 4 AM and worked until 10 PM, and the government took everything….”
Literature
- Soviet Union - We the Living – Ayn Rand’s autobiographical novel of life in Leninist Russia. The shattering climax drives home the point about individualism versus collectivism like nothing else you’ve ever seen.
- Soviet Union - Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin - In this tale for advanced young readers, an idealistic 10-year-old boy in the Soviet Union can’t wait to grow up to be a good Communist like his father. But reality soon diverges from professed ideals. Instead of ‘everyone being equal’, the family has a larger apartment because the father is a Party member. A jealous neighbor falsely accuses him of being a spy and the boy’s fortunes descend into a world of enemies lists, food shortages, coerced confessions, and official indifference to the plight of individuals. (see review by J. Wiltz)
