Re: How Could Szpilman Stay in Poland?

[MaxwellSt <MaxwellSt...>]

In a message dated 3/5/2003 9:01:18 PM Central Standard Time, 
leegoldberg2002 (at) yahoo(dot)com writes:

> My point is that things (and countries) are more complicated than many 
> American-born Jews seem to think.  

As you probably know if you have spent any time with Russian Jews, many 
bemoan the fact that there was a lot of richness, spice and zest (I mean 
zetz?) in the old country that, like Yiddish, has not translated well into 
Yankee life.  Just as we find it hard to imagine living without our creature 
comforts, our hot showers, new cars and other "necessities," some find it 
hard to survive without the culture in which they were born and nurtured, 
even if most of their world was burned down in that same culture.  My 
Professor, the late poet Josef Brodsky, used to say that trying to write 
great poetry out of Russia was like trying to grow a rainforest in a 
greenhouse.  

I hope that bit of soliloquizing is not too off-topic!
Lori (at) MAX