St Francis Preparatory School - San Fran Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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Tkachenko: Freedom of choice, because from this all other liberties stem. Berzins: ln America, the individual's free- dom of choice is guaranteed by the Consti- tution, but in Communist Europe, man's personal liberties have been taken away entirely, and in all Europe, they have been greatly lessened. Tkachenko: From my observations, the older generation and the veterans of World War ll are well aware of their freedoms, how- ever, our own generation should be re- minded of these freedoms and urged to safeguard them. Berzins: They will better appreciate their freedoms when they come to realize the sacrifices made by previous generations to preserve them. lt is our duty to guarantee this heritage to future generations. More so, a fuller appreciation of American free- doms is realized when one compares the way of life in America to that of European countries. Freedom A C l fr C . Dnlneliacam town -near Belgrade, in Yugosiavia is my native place. I on Ju1yf26, 1934 sisczniot wealthy parents---my father was a lawyer. mymothut a pharmacist. After lHBYiflQ.f8ff8lf'Id8diffh6'El8l'I'1BI'1fSl'Y School of Novi Beisei,-I entered the high of Beckerekg where lcould remain only at time because mtl-the.advancg1 eff Russian troops which compelled us lmvpnrenrgand mel me team .auf int Novi Becei land all bther posses- giafiggf-Attifst wetted Tb Backai'aadi1ttsQn.thraggh Qvlungary to Austria, driven by thaftherrors of war. Our firstistayi in-Austria was Salzburg- In April 1945. wefmoved to .Dombim,jsituatedi,attlithe.--border oi SwitzerIand, when I en- tered tha, second term of-high Eupdasreal Gymnasium, iwhich I at- tendeclxtll Juty 1949. The li-R.-0.,iii,h F949 declared us eligible to emigrata to the United Statesrgarsd we rtoolpnidvaritage lotithis brilliant opportunity. The lnternationaI,Airport in New,Yufl-g-lwas the ,place where I stepped on -American ground for the first 'times October l2, lf949 was the date, when I saw for-theifirstytime the American- people: isndiih the same month l was.: . student at ST. FRANCIS. PREP.--all 'HIYjQ5!P94'5lfQfi6l'lS were surpassed. Berzins: Americans should be careful to real- ize the corresponding duties with each of their rights. Not to fulfill these duties would be the greatest danger to their free- dom. Consequently, they must be edu- cated in these Christian principles. Berzins: ln Latvia, the Russians came in l939 to use the Baltic ports under a diplomatic agreement-the people believed this to be nothing more than a friendly deal guar- anteeing protection and an additional in- come. ln less than a year's time the true purpose of the Russians was seen-to des- troy the national integrity of the Baltic States and to completely Sovietize them. Tkachenko: ln Yugoslavia, the story was Be much the same. The minority of the popu- lation favored Communism because of in- fluence by propaganda and ignorance of facts. The greatest part of the people was indifferent. Another small percentage who had experienced Russian rule con- vinced others of the coming dangers and persuaded them to flee their country. rzins: ln Latvia also, those of the older generation who had been educated in Rus- sia, warned their fellow citizens of the threatening dangers. However, their ad- vice was overwhelmed by propaganda, Berzins: lt was first brought home after a Tk series of mysterious arrests from which my father narrowly escaped. However, the controls placed on the people and the loss of personal property in many cases had al- ready brought about a pall of depression. This was followed by typical Russian elec- tions-and then we knew. achenko: Disorder with stealing and plun- dering, no respect for authority, and a general chaos, soon showed the people the true nature of the Communistic doc- trine of equality , Equality, ironically, was never to come about. .lil Berzins: lt was too late then to take any effective action, The brutal Soviet army and its secret police, Checka, had taken over the control of the occupied states, and they worked hard arresting and ar- ranging deportation for thousands consid- ered dangerous to the new regime. There was deep depression because a giant brute force was raping three little nations, each consisting of less than two million people. People never smiledg they didn't trust each other, and many were hiding in forests, because anyone who ever had any personal property and had seen better days was branded a capitalistic, imperial- istic conspirator . Tkachenko: Partially because of ignorance of the people and propaganda, but mainly because they were overrun by troops and subjected to a Russian reign of terror. Tkachenko: No, l don't think so. People are generally more educated-a free press exists here in the United States and the people would not be so easily deluded by Communist progaganda. Today, the United States fully realizes that interna- tional Communisim is its enemy, and the defense program is being readied for any such possibility,

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i? l Paul P. Berzins Riga, the heart and capital of Latvia at the Baltic Sea is my birthplace and hometown. l am the second son of Peter Berzins, a known Latvian Master of Pharmacy and his wife Veronica. In l94O, when l was about to enter school, the Soviet Army broke into the Baltics and in less than a year our independence no more existed. When three years later the Soviets reoccu- pied the land due to the Nazi defeat in the East many were evacuated to Ger- many. We lived in a small Bavarian town named Altotting, which was a famous haven for Catholics. My parents were to work hard, that l might continue my education in the local Volkschule . ln l945, with the Allied victory, camps were formed for foreign refugees and we were given the Dis- placed Persons' status. Then we moved to Stuttgart in Wilirtemberg and thereafter, a period of uncertainty and waiting followed. Finally the New Displaced Persons Bill of 1948 and the affidavit of a good friend opened to us the door to this country. On October 4th tthe feast of St. Francis? l949, l viewed for the first time the Statue of Liberty, After almost a whole decade of war and wandering we have found peace and a home again. Berzins: l believe not, but the results of Communism are so terrible that the United States should always be alert against it. Cione: What part did the press play in propa- gandizing the Baltic States? Berzins: Freedom of the press was destroyed and the press became the voice of the state, falsifying the truth, distorting news and viciously condemning democratic ideals and practices. Clone' ln your opinion, how free is the press in the United States? Tkachenko: Exceptionally free. The criti- cisms of the State Department, the mili- tary leaders, and the municipal and state governments that appear daily in the press are striking evidences of this freedom. Clone' Do you believe this freedom is bene- ficial to the American Government? Berzins: Yes, in a government of the people, it is necessary that they be informed and that they have a stronge voice so that their representatives in the government may know what they think. This is true only in America, and the proof of the value of this freedom is the wonderful government and country that the United States has. Rooney: Do you think that Communistic government was any help at all? Berzins: Definitely not! Tkachenko: No! Meehan: From your own observations, how was the Church treated under Commun- ism? Berzins: Churches and all their possessions were nationalized and a high rent was placed on the use of these for services. This rent was usually unpayable so that many churches were closed for failing to pay. Furthermore, State police detectives attended every religious meeting to see who was present and what was said con- trary to Communist doctrines. As time went on, more and more priests began to disappear, after being accused of mis- conduct or sabotage against the state. Meehan: What hope remains of religion re- turning to the countries which you left? Berzins: Due to the fact that among all other European peoples, the Baltic nations have most bitterly suffered from Soviet deport- ations within a systematic program of Rus- sification, there is a poor hope for a quick recovery for religion returning to the con- try l left. lt may take decades, perhaps even generations, till the old spirit of re- ligion will flourish there again. Rooney: Did the coming of Communism have any effect on your personal education? Berzins: During the Bolshevik rule in Latvia, l was too young to be forced into any clubs or organizations. Older students, however, were obliged to attend such poli- tical meetings or so-called red corners. Every absence was regarded as conspiracy against the state and subject to severe penalty such as imprisoning the parents. Rooney: What would your career hate been under Communism? Berzins: I would have been brought up in a Siberian slave labor camp, separated from my parents and then probably enlisted in the vast masses of the Soviet Army among fanatical Communists for a life term . Cellure: Do you think freedom in America raises the American standard of living? Tkachenko: Yes, since there are no barriers to a man's ambition, he may achieve all that his industry and talent can gain for him. Therefore he desires to live better and works toward this realization. Clone, What do you think the American high school student can do to spread the spirit of freedom to other peoples of the world? Tkachenko: l-le must not be afraid of being branded Chauvinistic in his demonstrative appreciation of his freedoms. lt is essen- tial that he show others so that he might inspire them toward a positive, active ap- preciation. l-le should make such simple manifestations as writing letters to peoples of foreign countries explaining the merits of his land, participating in civic celebra- tions, teaching others, especially the young, a true reverence for his country's tradition and going on record as being opposed to foreign isms that jeopardize national interests. People of the world will eventually hear of this unanimity in the U. S. and of this loyalty and they will, in time gain courage to work and fight and pray for a free world for all peoples.