Two flower seedlings have been planted in the wastelands of twentieth century Russian history. One is of the species known there as Glassnost; the other is called Perestroika. In English-speaking countries they are known as Frankness and Reconstruction. Both of these plants are as yet very fragile, needing careful and diligent nurturing. This is because they have been planted in a great wasteland left by torture, genocide and Siberian imprisonment. Not a very healthy environment! Many more seedlings could be sown and then who knows, maybe even in our own time, we who remember the purges and misery, the slaughter and enslavement there, may see a beautiful free-flowering garden, where before, we could only hear of suffering and agonies. It takes a long time and careful husbandry to convert a wasteland to a beautiful garden. There will be many more seeds to sow and many more rows to hoe; but let us praise the courage of the Head Gardener, Mikhail Gorbachev who is trying so hard against all odds. Let us hope and pray that he has the green fingers.
9th October 1987