KV Jr Meetup - Moscow

Whoa Betty... here are a few words from out intrepid leader. Observes
that Muskovites are a little "thick", while Kurt compares US governement
to "chimpanzees". Whew.

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From the Arts section of the Moscow Times.
http://www.context.themoscowtimes.com/story/136845/

Wanted

"The local community is a little thick when it comes to books and arts,"
Vladislav said in fluent English.

By Kevin O'Flynn
Published: October 8, 2004

Vladislav, a real estate consultant, doesn't think much of the
intellectual debate currently available around town in Moscow. He hopes
to drag people out of the kitchen and into cafes with his book/debate
club in honor of the great American writer Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

"It's not a book club per se. We want to go beyond the boundaries and
have an intellectual conversation ... an opportunity to communicate," he
said.

Best known for his antiwar epic "Slaughterhouse-Five," Vonnegut is still
writing vivid denouncements of government and war at the age of 83; see
his essay "Cold Turkey," written this spring, in which he bemoaned the
"power-hungry chimpanzees in charge" of the United States.

"I was so innocent I still considered it possible that we could become
the humane and reasonable America so many members of my generation used
to dream of," Vonnegut wrote earlier this year. "But I know now that
there is not a chance in hell of America's becoming humane and
reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely."

"He is an open-minded person. His ideas are charged with social and
political matters," Vladislav said, explaining the appeal of K.V. Jr.

But the organizer seemed as disappointed by Russian responses to the book
club as the writer is by his country.

Locals call to ask whether Vonnegut will be at the meeting, or if it is a
way to practice their English, he said. And the manager of the Bookberry
bookstore hadn't even heard of the venerable author.

"The local community is a little thick when it comes to books and arts,"
Vladislav said in fluent English.

"All people think about is upgrading cars and buying stuff," he
commented. But he was quick to understand the irony of somebody in real
estate complaining about consumer society. He admitted that he liked
expensive cars, as well.

As he talked, I could hear someone mumbling in the background. According
to Vladislav, this was a great Russian writer, who was giving much better
answers than him. Now and again he would pass them on like a simultaneous
translator.

"In America, it's only white trash who upgrade," he said, talking of
consumerism again. I wasn't exactly sure who thought up that gem.

Eventually the club hopes to become established enought to contact
Vonnegut's agents and maybe attend one of his lectures, or get a video
linkup with the great man himself, Vladislav said.

"I hope that I can bring together people who are into contemporary
literature and progressive and open thinking."