Radio Free Europe Gave a Lot of People Hope – The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator

With so much transpiring regarding federal cutbacks and their impact on decades old programs of support, the fervent hope is that the leadership of the United States and all that it stands for in freedom, liberty, and democracy will not be left in the dust.  In our rightful desire to cut back waste, fraud, and abuse, let’s not overlook the genuine contributions America has made and continues to make on its imprint around the world.  Here is just one example.

Many years ago I was on a train crossing Siberia on a business trip. At a stop along the way, a young Russian man by the name of Sergei, no older than 18, came on board and sat next to me. He clearly was excited to introduce himself and began speaking flawless American English without an accent. I was astonished.

I turned to him and asked how long he had lived in the United States. He told me he had never visited America. I looked at him in amazement and told him he sounded like he had come from Iowa or Nebraska.  “Where did you learn your perfect English?” I asked.

“Oh that’s easy. I learned it from listening to broadcasts on Radio Free Europe over the years. Learning about democracy, freedom, and liberty have always fascinated me. But it did get me into a little bit of trouble.” He then went on, “You see, for a class project I spoke about how the Soviet military had invaded Afghanistan to prop up the Communist government and that they were not winning.  My teacher abruptly stopped me and asked me where I had been told those lies. I told her on the radio … Radio Free Europe.”

She dismissed class right then and took me by the ear, dragging me home. No sooner did we arrive when she told my Mother what had happened and made clear that I was a bad influence on my classmates given that I was sharing garbage and propaganda about the Soviet Union from Western sources.”

The teacher told the boy’s mother that she must assure her that she would throw out the radio and forbid him from ever listening to Radio Free Europe again. His Mother agreed.

“My Mother asked me to swear that if I did not tell anyone, she would let me keep the radio. I promised her I would, and from that day on, I kept my radio under my pillow. Like clockwork, however, I listened to those Radio Free Europe broadcasts.”

Radio Free Europe’s Staff of Heroes

I was incredibly moved by Sergei’s story and told him how much I hoped he would visit the United States someday. With palpable excitement, he told me that in two months he would be visiting America for the first time. I was thrilled for him and asked what he wanted to see the most, expecting to hear him say the Capitol, White House, or the Statue of Liberty.

He then began to list a handful of people whose names I did not recognize. I asked him who they were. He answered, “They are my heroes. They are the people who I have listened to on Radio Free Europe over all these years.” It was a response that made me choke up.

I don’t know if those “heroes” stayed with Radio Free Europe for very long after that Siberian train trip, but I have never forgotten Sergei or his gripping story about his introduction to America and free speech. And so if the doors of Radio Free Europe are about to close, I would just say to their reporters and anchors over the years, job well done!  America is proud of you!

READ MORE from James P. Moore Jr.:

A Consequential Moment for Humanity in Time and Space

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