Alarming News: You keep waiting for this to be a joke...

June 13, 2004

You keep waiting for this to be a joke...

IGNAT SOLZHENITSYN understands why so many people have warm thoughts of Ronald Reagan, but one of his earliest memories is on the frigid side.
In 1980, Ignat was an 8-year-old transplanted to Vermont by his father, the famous chronicler of Siberia's gulags. As Ignat tells the story, on the morning after the presidential election he got a taste of American political re-education at the progressive private school he and his brothers attended.

In response to the Reagan victory, the school's flag was lowered to half-staff, and the morning assembly was devoted to what today would be called grief counseling. The headmaster mourned "what America would become once the dark night of fascism descended under the B-movie actor," recalled Mr. Solzhenitsyn, who is now the music director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. "At one point he interrupted himself to inquire if anyone present did not share his gloomy view of the Reagan victory."

The only students to raise their hands were Ignat and his two brothers, Yermolai and Stephan. After a stony silence, he recalled, they were sent outside, without their coats, to meditate on the error of their ways underneath the lowered flag. Vermont in November was hardly Siberia, but there was frost on the ground, and they spent an hour shivering and exercising to stay warm. Still, Ignat said, their political exile was a relief from sitting in the auditorium listening to the party line.

My father called me and read the whole thing to me over the phone. He was shocked by it. I can't say that I am, though.

Posted by Karol at June 13, 2004 08:07 PM | TrackBack
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“recalled Mr. Solzhenitsyn, who is now the music director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia”

I think that the opposition from the left that conservative students endure gives us life skills that enable us to achieve success.

Posted by: Jake at June 13, 2004 10:18 PM

the headmaster - another participant on the wrong side of history.

Posted by: scot at June 13, 2004 11:54 PM

But it was, after all, Vermont! What else can one expect?

Posted by: 49erDweet at June 14, 2004 03:23 AM

no, I keep expecting a day at spot on without the word Reagan appearing. I think I'm starting to miss your Kerry obsession.

Posted by: dawn summers at June 14, 2004 10:34 AM

I for one am shocked by this. I didn't know THAT could happen :0

Posted by: The Dissident Frenchman at June 14, 2004 10:57 AM

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Posted by: Karol at June 14, 2004 12:06 PM

:-) Loser.

Posted by: Dawn Summers at June 14, 2004 12:28 PM

It's funny that Solzh sent his kids to a school like that. It didn't surprise me, though. I read some things he said about America, and couldn't believe how he could be so ungrateful for the refuge he got here. Could it be that Nobel prize that he got for his sloppy, if truthful, writing? Ah, who cares.

Posted by: Ivan Lenin at June 14, 2004 06:16 PM