"The Americans, meanwhile, were innocently asking members of the Soviet Writers' Union: 'Why are you silent when your colleagues are imprisoned?'
"They were silent because they knew that they only had to open their mouths to follow in Elena's footsteps. They did not share her courage; officially acknowledged writers lead an easy life, they have a great deal to lose. In any case, we're not their colleagues--we have never participated in any of the Soviet propaganda activities which are mandatory for Writers' Union members, so we were not members ourselves. For it is impossible to serve both God and Mammon. One must choose. And the choice was made: we chose one, they chose the other. We have never regretted our choice, and I don't think they regret theirs. Different people have different destinies. . ."
~~ from Grey is the Color of Hope by Irina Ratushinskaya
Alex Kudera’s award-winning novel, Fight for Your Long Day (Atticus Books), was drafted in a walk-in closet during a summer in Seoul, South Korea. Auggie’s Revenge (Beating Windward Press) is his second novel. His numerous short stories include “Frade Killed Ellen” (Dutch Kills Press), “Bombing from Above” (Heavy Feather Review), and “A Thanksgiving” (Eclectica Magazine).
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