THE PRICE OF IMMORTALITY!

What makes a man murder innocent people and claim a victory for himself? For instance, the recent Oslo bombing and mass murder of young men and women at a camp in Norway by the right-wing political extremist Anders Behring Breivik who called himself a fundamentalist Christian. He said he is a supporter of a “monocultural Christian Europe”–all this in face of the change in Europe toward a secular society. In no way can his murderous insane actions be prompted by any understanding of the teachings of Jesus.

In Breivik’s case it is personal importance at any price. So pertinent is the tale from the foreword of Lajos Egri’s “The Art of Dramatic Writing” where, in classical Greece, a young man is caught for defacing major statues. He is asked if he knows the penalty is death. He answers, “I am a nobody. All my life I’ve been a nobody. I’ve never done anything to distinguish myself and I knew I never would. I wanted to do something to make people notice me . , . and remember me.” After a moment’s silence he added, “Only those people die who are forgotten. I feel death is a small price to pay for immortality!” Breivik will not be forgotten.

The Volga Sinking~a Russian National Disaster

Does it take the deaths of scores of innocent people to shake the moral conscience of a people? It has happened before in Russia and the event is often so quickly forgotten. The recent tragedy on the Volga is but the latest. But today, with such transparent media, hopefully something will change in that land where the absence of personal responsibility so often culminates in failure, or human disaster. “It is not my responsibility” is the rationale for inaction, especially to help others.

The owners and operators of the ancient “Bulgaria” cruise ship indeed should be held responsible, but the moral defect goes much deeper. It is part of the culture and certainly a deep fault that must change. The story continues to become clear about this accident, one that we would more likely hear happening in a third-world land without responsible leadership. But, the incredible and horrible part of this tale on the Volga was the fact that two other ships passed by and didn’t stop to save lives. “It is not my responsibility” they must have said. That is horrible, immoral, and unthinkable. To learn those good people and loving children drown — it makes me mad, and sad, very sad.

Russia and Russians have a great future if they take seriously the changes needed. Much of that is indeed happening, I know. A country that has the best rockets into space, but who cannot build decent cars and manage a safe river cruise industry is one that should indeed take a look at itself collectively and individually and develop the personal responsibility so needed by every civilized society. This will not be dictated from the top. It must grow from the people themselves. I hope this event will indeed spark the societal and moral change so badly needed.

 ”Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”—Matthew 19:19

There is much I admire about Russia and Russians (yes I do!)  Read it here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

Nothing of Importance since 1812?

Russians can come out with the most amazing opinions.

There was a large gathering in Moscow’s Red Square for the 50^th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War (aka WWII) and I was listening to the National Symphony Orchestra from Washington,  DC, conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich.

After the Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, the bells of the Kremlin (really!) and cannon (really!) there was a “parade of the ages” that I had seen in Japan and elsewhere. Costumed heroes from the past ride in their carriages or on horseback. On this occasion they rode out of the Kremlin gates, including Alexander Nevsky who defeated the Teutonic Knights during the Battle of the Ice in 1242, and then General Kutuzov who chased Napoleon back to Paris in 1812. And then that was all. I looked for more.

Then I asked a policeman, “Is that all?” His answer had more meaning than he intended. He looked at me for a moment and then said, “Nothing of importance has happened since then.”   

As usual in Russia, the answer can have two, maybe three, meanings.

Learn more about Russians. Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

Bernard Herrmann~an Artist that Thrills

I learned in film class that the better the film score, the least you notice it. It is just an invisible but vital part of the story. But some scores are historic and live forever on their own. The music of Bernard Herrmann is among the most thrilling and memorable. I love it. What would Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and Vertigo be without that music?

On LA’s great radio station KUSC they played a two hour special to Herrmann’s music. He scored 52 films until his last, Taxi Driver (Martin Scorcese) in 1976. A few were Citizen Kane, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, North by Northwest, and Fahrenheit 451.

His work won many awards, five Oscars or nominations. What an artist—Bernard Herrmann!!

What Is To Be Done?

What is to be done to move Russia into the 21^st century world? It always has been a very tough question, but more possible of success today than ever before. It will lift Russians who can accomplish so much more if they develop an environment of cooperation and mutual need and respect. But it’s not easy. While it does not require sleeping on a bed of nails, as the hero did in Nikolai Chernyshevsky’s famous novel What Is To Be Done to prove his dedication to his Markist ideals, it does require a clear and serious intent, dedication, perservance, and many other things.

In a land historically devoid of the predictability of law, the cement of Russian society is built on personal relationships. That interwoven matrix is complex. That is why one never makes commitments he cannot deliver. It is deeds, not words that count. Character is more important than contracts. Once that trust develops, I found the Russians reliable, resourceful, dedicated, and extremely hard-working. New leadership can develop out of that growing pool of forward-looking younger men and women. And contracts can be a result.

Read more »

Heroes! —“The Great Patriotic War”

I have always admired the veteran Russian men and women in their baggy suits and medals from WWII, “The Great Patriotic War.” They suffered so much—and survived. Several of these men were the “guards” at a desk by the door to our office building in Moscow. If they knew you, they would shake their head in their gesture of acceptance.

One day, during the time of celebration of the end of the war, Victory Day,I was invited down into the basement where there was a lunch room and was asked to give a talk. I made it short and said wars were not started by men like them, and me. It was politicians who made wars. They all applauded and shook their heads in agreement. When I told them I drove a tank in the Army, then I was really accepted.  Then they gave me a poster, one like we had in America. It was a woman with a red head scarf and a finger to her mouth with the admonition “Don’t Talk.” (See above.) The American one read “Loose Lips Sink Ships.”

That poster hangs in my office today.After that, I was always treated with extra respect.

Learn more about Russians. Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

The International Space Station

Tonight I watched the International Space Station fly overhead, a star-like speck, illuminated by the distant sun, silently sailing by the almost full moon,  It took six minutes from the Pacific horizon to the horizon over Arizona and the US. This is called Expedition 28 and there are six men up there, three from Russia, two from the US, and one from Japan. The commander is Andrey Borisenko from St Petersburg. (His story is fascinating.)

What a time to stop, watch, and think about our travels in space—they have gone so far, and so far to go in the future. The final Space Shuttle mission to the ISS is scheduled for July 8. As a boy I read all the Jules Verne novels, all amazing forecasts of what has happened since. I remember where I was when Sputnik first flew over head—I was in Maine. And when our first astronaut, Alan Shepard, was in orbit—I was in California.

 We will see much more in the future. What a life!

Now it’s Russian art at the auctions!

One of my favorite Russian artists is Ilya Repin. The painting above is called “They did not expect him.” It is in Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery. I always enjoy seeing it. Repin was one of the “Peredvizhniki” or “The Wanderers.” These famous artists in the late 19^th century rebelled against the academic formalism of the Imperial Academy and portrayed the hard lot of the poor folk, the common men and women. Today much of Repin’s art can be seen in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg as well as the Tretyakov.

Now Russian art is getting the big money. I was amazed to see where a Repin recently was sold at Christie’s auction for over $7.3 million. It was one he did in Paris, called “Parisian Café.”

There is a very interesting story behind Repin’s “They did not expect him,” but that is for another time. Contact me if you want to discuss this or any of the “Peredvizhniki,” as it is all a favorite art subject of mine. Repin, clearly, is one of the best.

Learn more about Russian Art, Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

How Fiction Becomes Truth

The great painting by Johannes Vermeer, “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” is sometimes called “The Mona Lisa of the North.” I visited it once in The Mauritshuis in The Hague, the Netherlands. That girl’s gaze will rivet the most impatient viewer.

I had read the popular book on this painting, “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier, and after seeing the painting, I wrote Tracy and told her of my experience. I told her about the man who sat in front of the painting for hours , his eyes glued to those of the girl in Vermeer’s painting.  I assumed the man had read Chevalier ’s historical novel and for him, like for me, that story became the truth about Vermeer and the girl in the painting. Tracy agreed how, especially in the absence of any pertinent historical facts, the fiction becomes fact, the story.  Tracy Chevalier did a masterful  job. Great movie, too.

Writing a historical novel myself on two Rembrandts, it has been an enjoyable task to separate what is known from what is not known and create a compelling story.  I hope to get this published within the near future.

Artist’s across the Water~ LA and St. Petersburg

It’s a wonderful start in understanding the world, when children can paint for friends across the sea, and learn about the world and its different people.  One thing learned is that we are not so different. For the second year the Los Angeles-St. Petersburg Sister City Committee is sponsoring a student art exchange between student’s of the Los Angeles and St. Petersburg, Russia.

The LA display of several hundred paintings, including 82 from St. Petersburg has just closed and will be on its way to St. Petersburg in late June. It will be displayed in this famous Russian city as part of the renowned Master Class International Art Festival during the fabulous “White Nights”   this summer.

The painting shown above is the work of the 9-year old Maxim Domochevsky.

Learn more about St. Petersburg, Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.