Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watcgl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!whuxlm!whuxl!houxm!mhuxt!mhuxr!ulysses!burl!clyde!watmath!watnot!watcgl!jchapman From: jchapman@watcgl.UUCP (john chapman) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Re: America-bashing Message-ID: <2348@watcgl.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 09:53:43 EDT Article-I.D.: watcgl.2348 Posted: Tue Aug 13 09:53:43 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 00:53:40 EDT References: <3268@drutx.UUCP> <10615@rochester.UUCP> <1684@psuvax1.UUCP> Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 40 . . . > I would like to provide just two examples of differences between USSR and USA > which are not rumors: > a. If Americans know a little about USSR then this is the result of their > lack of interest. An excursion to an academic library or a decent book- > store would supply anyone with plenty of material. In USSR the goverment > carefully controls the content of books, journals and libraries. I can > read Pravda here (and I do), I cannot read any noncommunist newspaper > in USSR (I learned it from Russians when I was there). This is third hand but: my father (a trust officer) had a client who travelled frequently in the USSR who told him that he had approached a woman on a park bench in Moscow who was reading.... TIME! She said there was no problem getting copies to read as it was not restricted. > b. The rigths of an American citizen are specified in the bill of rights. > The Soviet Constitution lists rights, then duties like work, cooperation > with the law enforcement by all available means, protecting the enviroment, > military service, increasing the friendship between nations etc. > Subsequently, it states that utilization of rights and freedom is linked > with the fullfilment of duties. Perhaps their implementation isn't all you desire but the idea that rights are linked to the fulfillment of duties hardly originates with the USSR nor is it (I think) all that objectionable. > Then what rights do you deserve if you haven't increase the friendship > between the nations (or, more realistically, you haven't said everything > to KGB about the political views of your friends). > > R. Namreb -- John Chapman ...!watmath!watcgl!jchapman Disclaimer : These are not the opinions of anyone but me and they may not even be mine.