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Undesignated
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Written by James A. Miller Jr.
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Monday, 29 August 2011 00:00 |
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Background:
Note: "Fellow-Traveler" was a 1940-1950's American anti-Communist euphemism for a technically non-communist, but none-the-less sympathizer. It also worked for just big "L" Liberals; "pinko's" you didn't like. Conversely, the Chinese Communist had their "running dogs" (I love dogs), and the Soviets--good grief! I was never a believer in economic (Marxist) Communism. I respected early American Christian, Moravian-style communism as once practiced in my beloved Old Salem, North Carolina. But I believed it too idealized to survive in America, as such. To me, Capitalism is amoral (the goal neither good nor bad; just bottom line profit: whichever); better is "Free Enterprise" where the bottom line is not immoral profits for the owners only; best of all, for all; is "Enlightened Free Enterprise", that seeks a moral balance between owner investors, investors of their labors (workers), and consumers protect too. I went to the then Soviet Union (and afterwards Israel) not as an Enemy, nor True Believer; but simply as an Observer, and hopefully as a Friend of it's people, whatever it's ideology; and hopefully I would be received as their fellow friend, whatever my nation's ideology; right or wrong, likely some of both. In c1969, I was an Eastern Air Lines, Raleigh-Durham Airport, ramp serviceman. I flew on an Alitalia (spelling?) Airlines pass; but could only make reservations in the winter. I made reservations a year in advance so I could bid my vacation to fit. The Italian Communist Party booked the rest of the seats. The Soviet 2nd class (what I could afford and wanted anyway) hotels reservations was complicated; I needed once a week, flight reservations. Likely this does not fit with Italian ancestry and you can not use it as such; but can possibly otherwise help. I'd love to meet again, WWII partisan "Hello" especially. Both Italians and Soviets treated me well. I especially liked the Italian Party's speaking up for Solzhenitsyn at the Writers Union.
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