PLATFORM : Growing Up Serious

Politically, I thought I knew what the Soviet Union would be like, as far as it being a communist or socialist country was concerned. But it was very different.

I think the Soviet youth are a little more serious than our youth, and I think they have to be. Our young adults always feel there’s going to be a tomorrow, and they don’t really start worrying about life until after they graduate from college. Whereas for most Soviet youth, I feel as soon as they’re of reasoning age, as soon as they start to reason and really think, and as soon as they can empathize with their parents and what their parents are going through, they immediately know their economic situation and what there is to look forward to.

The Soviet youth that I talked to feel that the economic situation will become worse. And that’s depressing, but it also made me really see what patience is. They’re an incredibly patient people and they have so much strength. They can still laugh and smile and take things lightly.