The tragedy of Kudirkas degradation and deprivation during his prison term pales in comparison. however. with the ultimate punishment of the Soviet Union: the denial of the basic freedom of migration. as symbolized by the Berlin Wall. Mobility is such an intrinsic element of the American lifestyle that I think that we are incapable of properly appreciating the restrictions on movementboth internal and externalimposed by the Communist bloc on its captive peoples. It now appears that the Soviet Unior may allow Kudirka and his mother to emigrate to the United States. While we must all rejoice at the personal victory of this one man and its implications for others like him. we cannot let one reversal in Soviet policy distort our perspective. Our joy cannot be complete. our battle not won. until the emigration policy of the U.S.S.R. is permanently and universally altered to allow for consistent freedom of movement for anyone wishing to leave the grim embrace of communism. As long as the Soviet Union continues to confine its population. either through terrorism or taxation. we must and shall continue to deploreand loudlythe unprincipled. dictatorial tactics which are such a characteristic component of the Soviet manner of government. In the meantime. the United States owes Simas Kudirka its every energy.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration