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M. Gorbachev Speaks by NATALIE MASON GAWDIAK «Beyond this, there is the need of this entire region for a single voice a mature and experienced voice — in world affairs. The importance of this problem is apparent in the commanding figure and present position of Gor bachev, a statesman of world stature and competence, without whose service as a spokesman for peoples in this entire area all would be impoverished. It is hard to think of any of the aspirants for independence who, try ing to “go it alone,” could be as useful to world peace, or even to themselves, as this one common and enlight ened voice in world affairs could be to all of them.» (George F. Kennan, "Communism in Rus sian History," Foreign Affairs, Winter 1990- 91, p. 183). M. Gorbachev speaks to the world, saying, ”l was, to the best of my knowledge, not directly responsible for the agonizing deaths of anyone. To be sure, there was a radioactive cloud (see how candid I am!) but it passed over my head and I happened not to be looking up that day. Besides, the leaders of the Western world I knew would forgive me this venial triviality for the sake of what History would call Detente (not to mention their own reactors purring on the edge of cities.) Here in the Soviet Union, furthermore, we are rich in people and have always found them to be, as your specialists might say, ’a renewable resource.’ The West, being civilized, has a way of averting its view from unpleasant scenarios, such as those its satellites must surely have seen, and their journalists, while fierce on their own terrain are easiy charmed by diplomatic receptions or by the ‘candid contacts’ we arrange. In this ‘land of mystery’ where the rules of the game are so different from those at home, they can be easily trained to accept with gratitude whatever ‘statistics’ we compose on a given day. And who, after all, when the houselights dim at the Bolshoi ballet would mention — even in whispers the skin sliding off the humans who tried to crawl away from Chornobyl that day? Really, gentlemen, as even your Bible says, there is a time and a place for everything. About the author: Natalia Mason Gawdiak is an American of Irish descent and works as , an editor for a federal agency in Washington, D.C. She is married to a Ukrainian and takes an active interest in Ukrainian community affairs. НАШЕ Ж ИТТЯ”, КВІТЕНЬ 1996 23
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