On June 24, at the Bolshoi Theater, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang as its last hymn "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again." As the choir concluded, a brief moment of silence fell on the theater as if each of the assembled guests were taking note of the moment for future reference. The idea of the choir singing in Moscow, literally across the street from the Kremlin, was unthinkable for the previous 70 years.
During recent days with the outpouring of stark images - hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens gathered to protest the hard-line coup, tanks ramming ramshackle barricades and individual citizens draping cloth over tanks to block their destructive vision - I have recalled that silent moment in the Bolshoi.One hundred ten Utahns were in the audience that night at the theater. They were the guests of Jon and Karen Huntsman. The Utah group had earlier witnessed the dedication of a new cement plant built by the Huntsmans in the Soviet Republic of Armenia and the groundbreaking for the headquarters of the LDS Church in Armenia.
Many on the trip had wondered aloud as to the trip's purpose. After all, it was not the usual course of commerce for someone to bring 100 plus citizens of Utah half-way around the world to observe ceremonies.
The answer to the "why" came while watching the flood of news reports about the coup and the Soviet citizens' spontaneous reaction of protest.
The Soviet citizens of Armenia, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and the other Soviet republics have not for more than 70 years witnessed the forces of freedom.
They do not know from their own experience how a market economy (even with its multiple faults) can supply them and their families with the material goods to maintain their society. On a visceral level they know the communist apparatus does not work, but they do not have a ready-made experience or tradition to replace it.
The Huntsman trip and efforts like it are a first step. It is a step that must be repeated a thousand, a million times. The exchange of values and perspectives will create a tree of democratization that will weather any tyrant storm. We must remember, however, in the luxury of our calm (at least by comparison) or stable culture that we have an obligation to provide aid and assistance to the Soviet people.
Unlike Tiananmen Square where the Western world seemed to titillate itself with the grotesque images of tanks crushing the infant forces of democracy, we must stand with the Soviet people. Americans must find ways of giving real support for the Soviet aspirations to a democratic tradition.
The Huntsman-sponsored trip was an exercise in a 200-year tradition. The tradition, in part, is of freedom as defined by the United States Constitution and honed by two centuries of practical application.
The First Amendment, which was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791, defines a triad of principles to ensure freedom. The first side of the triad is the guarantee of free exercise of religion and the restriction on the government from establishing a religion. The second side guarantees the freedoms of speech and of the press. The third guarantees people's right to petition their government for a redress of grievances.
This triad depends for its vitality on freedom and competition. The ability of an individual to exercise his or her freedom of religion is dependent upon others in society exercising their freedoms, while at the same time tolerating diversity of views.
It is easy in America to look at the Soviet chaos and say "it's their system that doesn't work." In part, this is correct, but only in part. We are witnessing the break up of 70 years of "order."
Powerful individuals, groups and factions are losing their power. Such a loss is not easy. The West must offer these "losers" or at least those they love, opportunities to which they can aspire in addition to "traditions." The triad provides an abstract, time-proven tradition, but the West needs to offer concrete aid.
The recent events in the Soviet Union should serve as a catalyst for Americans to rededicate themselves to understanding and perpetuating the principle of our representative democracy. Now that this storm of tyranny has been weathered, the Huntsman type trip should be repeated as often as possible.
Soviet citizens from all walks of life should be brought to this country for educational programs.
We should not shirk back from our system. We should candidly admit it has flaws. But we should proclaim for ourselves and others the virtues of representative democracy. If we do nothing, if we remain glued to our television sets waiting for the next dreadful scene, we will have lost an opportunity to defend and perpetuate our legacy.
Let us hope in these trying times that people like the Huntsmans will be able to encourage others who have been similarly fortunate in receiving the benefits of our capitalist system to see that humanitarian aid be directed to the Soviet Union.
As these exchanges occur, perhaps the Soviet people and their leaders will see the wisdom of our 200-year-old triad. The triad for the ancients Greeks was a sign of stability. It shall be a sign of stability for us and our Soviet friends if we "stay the course."