11.03.04

Perspective

I live these days as a permanent houseguest of my friend S., a stern-looking, white haired Russian Pushkinist. S. grew up as an expatriate in Czechoslovakia before making his way to Germany and then the United States.

In 1994, when the Republican Revolution took place, and there was much gnashing of teeth at Jesse Helms becoming chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, I remembering asking my friend S. whether he was upset at the outcome.

My friend smiled and shook his head no. "You know," he said, "The last time I was upset was in 1968."

View this post in context