I just want to cite a remark Anatoly made yesterday at a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. When asked whether Mr. Gorbachev was a "new" kind of Soviet leader who would allow increased Jewish emigration. Anatoly replied. "I was told that I had to put a tie on to meet leaders of Congress. that I needed to change my image. But just because I changed my image does not mean that I changed my beliefs." Not only is that response indicative of his remarkable sense of humor. but it tells us that we should not expect significant improvements in the plight of the 400.000 Soviet Jews still seeking to emigrate. That is why. as Anatoly reminded us. we must keep the pressure on. both public and private pressure. If Anatoly Shcharansky can stand up to the Soviet system for a decade under the threat of death in order to sustain his sense of freedom and Jewish identity. we certainly can muster the courage to continue the fight in every fashion possible.
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emigrate emigration