We have finally finished the book, “I Chose Freedom” written by Victor Kravchenko, the Russian government official who defected to the United States in the 1940s. Dr. James Gerber loaned the book to us.

We say “finally” because it was one of the most depressing books we have ever read, describing the plight of common Russian citizens under the communism of Communist Dictator Josef Stalin.

Kravchenko was raised in Ukraine, a Russian satellite state, originally under tsarist rule.

The Russian people rebelled, throwing out the imperial rulers, with the goal of creating a democratic-style government in which the people had more rights.

After Stalin and the other communists gained control of the government, the old days under tsarist rule must have looked like paradise.

Kravchenko cited the Stalin comment that he “loved” the Russian people but had to do what was necessary (starving them to death in forced labor camps) in order to implement his great socialist paradise.

We’re happy that Stalin never got the chance to “love” us.

Kravchenko made the point repeatedly about the basic goodness of the Russian people, who accepted the dictatorial policies peaceably although resenting the lack of humane treatment.

He was confused when he defected and became acquainted with American citizens at how naive they were in giving Russia too much credit for the allied victory in World War II and believing the Russian propaganda about what a productive and happy society existed in Russia, aided by puff pieces about Russia’s communism in America media, including the New York Times.

Kravchenko described himself as a Democratic socialist who favored a one-world government as a means of controlling rogue countries like Russia that horribly mistreated citizens.

Modern history tells us that Russian people never had decent living conditions until the old Soviet system fell apart of its own accord, aided by former American President Ronald Reagan whose policies created so much pressure on the Russian government that it disintegrated. The situation in Ukraine today indicates another ruthless government strongman, Putin, is attempting to recreate the old Soviet state.

The Ukraine government is seeking to join the European Union (the same one England is planning on leaving) in order to give it additional insulation against Russian interference.

Russia has troops fighting Ukrainian defenders in eastern Ukraine at this time, seeking to whip the country back into line. The battle has been going on since 2014. A column about a former Venezuelan national who has immigrated to the U.S and become a nationalized citizen appears elsewhere on this page, giving more instruction on the glory of communism, which suddenly has become a popular theory among some Americans, especially younger ones.

We thank Doctor Gerber for loaning us the Kravchenko book, the reading of which has been the most nauseous job we’ve had to endure for awhile.

Having said that, we wish every would-be American socialist/communist would read it.

The accompanying column about the young Venezuelan immigrant provides a short course on the subject. We suggest you read it.

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Thanks to subscriber LeRoy Smith for giving the staff members of the Times and Free Press bandanas based on the U.S. flag.

He calls us “the most conservative newspaper in the state,” which we won’t deny, and he asks us not to change. That’s highly unlikely. We’d have to lose all our common sense to do that.

We attempt to tell the other side of the story, which so many miss if they rely on television or other big media as their news source.

Of course, there is so much propaganda (disinformation, if you prefer) projected by the national media a small paper like ours does not have the room to counteract much of it.

We just do what we can.

How happy we are to live in the heart of the Heartland – Kingfisher County – where one can still tell the truth and not be shot for it, at least not yet.