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STANLEY KUNITZ
in the established order-more particularly in the preservation of
peace. Similarly in its international actions, the Soviet Union is begin–
ning to behave like a "have" power. Even when it sounds most
threatening-as over Berlin-its real purpose may be more con–
servative than appears on the surface. In precipitating the Berlin
crisis, I believe, Khrushchev was not intending to upset the inter–
national equilibrium; he was aiming to freeze the status quo of a
divided Germany and a divided Europe.
If
only we can preserve the peace for a few more years, the
United States and the Soviet Union may come to recognize the in–
terests and aspirations they have in common. Both in theory be–
lieve in human equality; both aim at the elimination of want; both
honor production and scoff at the idler; both define the good life
in terms of peace and security. I have heard that at Moscow Uni–
versity the American students find a warmer welcome than the
Chinese. I am not surprised. For in contrast to the desperation and
ruthlessness of Communism in China, its Soviet counterpart is evolv–
ing toward values that resemble ours. Faced with the new threat
to their left, the Russians are edging their way to a Communist
"liberalism" which may finally transform co-existence from a prop–
aganda slogan into a living reality. In that case, there might emerge
a new type of Popular Front mentality, arising out of a common
desire for peace on both sides of the conventional ideological frontier.
And in such a perspective the Popular Fronts of a quarter century
ago-which I have always refused to regard as mistaken-would
finally figure as what they hoped to be at the time, the ideological
prerequisites for the twentieth-century humanism of a collectivist
society.
STANLEY KUNITZ
The cold war cannot be won by either East or West; it
can only be lost, and precisely because so much sovereign pride and
honor and energy are invested in
it.
Since neither side can afford to
concede defeat, those who clamor for unconditional victory are
actually insisting that we push to catastrophe. What keeps the cold
