Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-07
'Sputnik' and Freedom

launching of the "Sputnik," its little
man-made moon, the Kremin has had
this to say. Artificial earth satellites
will pave the way for space travel and
II seems that the present generation
will witness how the freed and conscious
labor of the people of the new socialist
society turns even the most daring Of
mans dreams into reality"
But we know that 1.-The new socialist
society" embracing the Soviet Union
and all the lands 1t holds captive behind
the Iron Curtain, is not free The great
masses living in it have no real voice in
their government, no direct part In the
shaping of their destiny. Instead, all
decisions are made for them by hand
full OF men. And whether they like those
decisions or not, they must obey them.
For they are the regimented creatures
OF the most thoroughgoing despotism in
history. and they can defy their masters
only at the risk of calling down upon
themselves the SevereSt kind OF punish
ment. including death.
Despite all this. however despite the
repreSSive and terroriStic features OF
the new socialist society,"" it is obvious
that at least one group inside the Soviet
Union has enjoyed, and still enjoys, a
large measure Of liberty. These are the
scientists. Although they have been sub
Iected 10 theological controls up to a
point, the poSt-Stalin Kremlin appar-
entity has had the vision and good sense
to let them be themselves in their own
i9l RnI6 T,N
have been allowed to live and work as
human beings with free inquiring minds
minds that have aSpired, with the as
sent and massive help of the Moscow
dictatorship. TO build a roadway to the
stars and conquer space. And the first
solid step in that direction. a history
making achievement of the first mag
nitude. has now been taken by them
with the launching of their world-en-
thralling "sputnik
What We have here is a brilliantly
shining example of mans intellect re-
fuSing 10 be earthbound, breaking out
OF the letters of ignorance, soaring freely
into space TO open up fresh frontiers OF
human knowledge And here, too, be-
cause the Kremlin itself has fully sup
ported this pioneering assault on the
mysteries Of the universe around US, we
have what may be profoundly hopeful
turn in the evolution Of the new social
iSt society" For this achievement is the
achievement Of minds at liberty, and
the Russian people themselves, as they
take proper pride in what their country
has done. must feel a touch OF that
liberty'S contagion, and must be exhilar-
ated by II, and must tend to want more
and more of it.
So one wonders whether this great
event might not tempt even the deSpotS
of Moscow to emulate their artificial
moon, and soar a bit themSelves-soar
above their bleak Marxist dogmaS that
have long since become obsolete in the
new age, throw of their theological
chains and be bold enough. imaginative
enough, to let freedom spread and -four
iSh throughout their empire. We are
living in such strange and marvellous
times that even a revolutionary Soviet
transformation for the better is not in
conceivable. and certainly. if it comes,
mans finest and most daring dreams
may we'll become reality for all
humanity.