TWO PROPER HEROES

This week saw two personalities pass away. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a Russian who saw the light, witnessing first hand what socialism does to a nation, and Eric Dowling, one of the inspirations for the film 'The Great Escape'.

Solzhenitsyn: considered to be an author of content rather than style, some content! Born into a Russian Orthodox situation, at an early age changed direction to embrace Marxism, which showed a flaw in his early judgement. His progress saw him being honoured in WW11, during which time he became aware of the burgeoning power of centralised control, and Stalin in particular. His criticism of this is now chronicled universally for all to learn. He had to endure years in a Gulag, during which time he was inspired to write his first novel 'One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich'. This was acheived by committing his scraps of writing to memory, so engraved therein, he was able to finalise what was to become a masterpiece of the second half of the twentieth century, confirming what the logical thinker already knew, the disgraceful excesses of the communist SOCIALIST Soviet Republic. A system much admired by the Elite at home. The Trade Union movement were particularly enamoured by these political thugs. In addition we can add the name of the now Lord Healey. Think about it! Solzhenitsyn went on to put pen to paper writing other anti Soviet masterpieces, which led to his deportation to the USA. However, he could not abide being away from his Motherland, eventually returning to the land of his birth determined to continue his work in opposition. It is difficult for an outsider to establish how he became a fan of Putin, as it is patently obvious that here we have a 'control freak' from the ranks of the KGB, operating in his traditional fashion and hiding behind democracy. This could probably be blamed on old age. HE IS IN DEATH, NEVERTHELESS, A GIANT.

Dowling: Here we have a character who just did the obvious, if captured, being obliged to escape. He was one of the instigators of the of the break out from Stalag Luft 111 in 1944. After all his effort and ingenuity, his name wasn't drawn from the hat as a lucky/unlucky escapist, as disciples of the film 'The Great Escape' will know. Strange that here we have a true hero who defied all the odds, surviving forced marches in bitter conditions, as the Germans retreated from the advancing Russians. The wonderful conclusion to this is that he went on to reach the ripe old age of 92, even after all his ordeals having had a far greater lifespan than the star of the film, Steve McQueen, who no doubt suffered from all the gratuitous living of the cosseted celebrity of a Hollywood idol.