Solzhenitsyn

I am a 23-year-old American, and a great admirer of Russian literature and culture. Philosophical artists such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky have always impressed me more than just the clever storyteller. Rightfully included among these giants of Russian literature stands Alexander Solzhenitsyn, whose recent return to his homeland has sparked a controversy. The man has his motives, and I accept that without question. What concerns me is what Solzhenitsyn will encounter in his journey across Russia, particularly in its major cities.

Since the collapse of communism in 1991, Russia has fallen victim to widespread crime, poverty, and increased political upheaval and ugliness. Despite the confusion, opportunities to profit from a “free” market have emerged for cunning entrepreneurs both in and out of Russia. This includes, of course, America, which some have labeled as the truest model of capitalism in the West. Well, I’ve lived for 23 years within this model, and have enough experience and exposure to formulate my own opinion.

Bombarded daily by people vying for my money, I’ve decided that the capitalist wheel kicks up lots of mud, and it is beginning to manifest itself in Russia’s centers. There we are seeing the proliferation of billboards, posters, and other types of advertisements endorsing American products. Russians are now watching their ancient cities, so rich in history and replete with beautiful structures, being littered by cheap American culture. I wonder what will go through Solzhenitsyn’s mind when he sees the same flashy billboard from a highway in Vermont towering over the streets of Moscow.

JEFFREY M. LANDI

Thousand Oaks